“Ask,” he said, staring at her with admiration or irritation, she wasn’t sure.
She stomped her feet, not out of exasperation, but rather to warm up. “And if she says no, then what?”
The man looked her over, making her feel about two feet tall with his size. “We leave, without her.”
“Promise,” she asked, her teeth beginning to chatter.
“Yes, we promise. I’m not a monster, Ms. Barnes,” Sebastian said from behind her and she turned to face him.
“I didn’t say you were, but—”
“If Ms. Holland doesn’t want to go, then she and her daughter stay here, in Holland Springs,” he said.
“Oh.” She shivered again and his icy blue eyes narrowed. “But—”
“If you don’t get your arse inside, then I won’t be held responsible for tossing you over my shoulder, without your permission, and hauling you to your store myself,” he growled. “That I promise as well.”
She tipped her chin, refusing to be intimidated by him. It wasn’t like she was going to stand out here all day, just as long as she needed to. “All you need to promise is that you’re not here to hurt Rose or her daughter.”
His eyes narrowed even more and his mouth thinned. “I promise.”
“And you promise if she says no, that you’ll leave, without her?”
He turned his head for a moment, then gazed back at her. “If you’re so damned worried, I’d be happy to ask her in front of you, in public. Perhaps right here on this corner.”
Weighing his words in her mind, she thought of all the positives, of all the things she did know about him. He was a public figure, a viscount, not some underworld mob boss, and his twin brother lived in Holland Springs with her cousin. This wasn’t some stranger, and he had no reason to lie to her.
Plus, he’d ended up paying for the cupcakes. Evil didn’t pay full-price, and then some for cupcakes, did it?
“You promise to do that, then go through with it, and I won’t call the cops on you,” she said softly.
“Or the CIA,” she added quickly.
He smiled, all the way to his eyes, and she felt something warm grow inside of her, finding its way around and making her all soft. Something that had never happened when she’d been around his brother who was his twin, for goodness sake, so it couldn’t be just his looks.
Although, his looks were very pleasing to her eye. Pale blond hair, all slicked back, crystal blue eyes, full lips and to-die-for cheekbones.
Then that gorgeous smile turned into a smirk and she stepped back. “I promise,” he said and took her hand. He shook it, like they’d just conducted a business transaction, and let it go, but not before a thrill of something ran up her arm. “Off you go before I make good on my promise to haul you back inside.”
Just as she opened her mouth to protest, another gust of wind blew right through her sweater and jeans. Sebastian stood there, with his bodyguard, neither of them bothered at all by the sudden drop in temperature, which meant that neither of them would leave before she did.
“Fine,” she said, her teeth chattering. “Merry Christmas to y’all.”
She practically ran back to her store, and spent the next hour drinking hot chocolate while chatting with her customers, until they all left. Not quite convinced Rose was completely safe, Daisy stayed open later than usual to keep an eye on things.
At four-thirty Rose Holland, along with her daughter, walked inside Daisy’s store and pop rocks began to zing around Daisy’s stomach.
Rose asked for her usual while Daisy contemplated the best way to tell her Sebastian was looking for her. But she didn’t want to make Rose worry, when she had nothing to worry about. And what if he’d already left town? She'd look stupid for getting Rose all worked up over nothing. Plus, he’d promised, and from what she knew of him, what she’d read of him (yes, she was unabashedly nosy about Sebastian Romanov, the twin brother of her cousin’s husband, and his title and his world and his, well, everything.) and what she’d heard of him, his word was everything.
Still…she had to do something.
Mind churning, Daisy wiped down all her counters and tables, swept the floors, and turned her sign from open to closed. “Stay as long as you like,” she said, then she shuffled to the back of her store, emptied the dustpan, and hung up the broom. “Don’t be stupid, Daisy. Tell the woman.”
The bell on her door rang and she heard Rose call out her good-bye.
“Oh, crap.” Daisy turned sharply, slipping on the floor and falling. She caught herself on her hands. She scrambled to her feet, snagged her cell phone, and raced outside.
A black Mercedes idled by the curb. Rose stood at the corner, her back to Daisy, while Sebastian stood facing her, as the two of them talked.
“Brilliant.” Sebastian clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “Let’s go.”
Daisy skidded to a halt, clutching her phone so hard that her knuckles hurt.
“Where are we going?” she heard Rose ask.
Rose didn’t sound afraid or coerced. She sounded excited. Daisy relaxed her grip on her phone and slid it into her back pocket.
He gently tweaked Rose’s daughter on the nose and said, “To jolly old England, of course.”
She’d worried for nothing. Sebastian had kept his word, like he said he would. Like she’d known in her heart and brain he would.
He was not a monster.
His eyes met hers over Rose’s head. Daisy smiled sheepishly at him. He simply stared at her, then turned his attention to the woman in his arms and guided her into the waiting car.
Suddenly, for some reason Daisy couldn’t explain, she wished it was her in his arms.
Chapter Two
For the second time in a month, Sebastian stood just outside The Sweet Shop, contemplating the desserts in the display window, or so he told himself.
Actually, he wanted to see Daisy again.
Pushing open the door, he walked inside. The shop was empty. Daisy stood, with her back to him, humming while she worked behind the counter.
“Excuse me,” he said and she whirled around, her eyes widening.
That same feeling hit him again. His palms grew sweaty, his knees weak and the earth tilted on its axis. Oh hell. It hadn’t been a fluke. “What in the world are you doing here?”
She sounded less than pleased to see him, and he seriously considered cutting his losses and leaving. Again. “I’d like to order more cupcakes.”
Her brows rose. “Will you pay before you walk out of my store this time?”
He nodded.
“Did you help Rose and Alexander get back together?” she asked.“They seem happy.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Alexander’s stop pestering me.”
She cocked her head to one side. “Why was your cousin pestering you?”
“I assumed it was because he was lonely and missed Rose.”
“Do you miss him pestering you?”
Yes. He pulled a face. “You really don’t expect me to answer that, do you?”
“Not if you don’t want to.” She winked at him, and dusted off her hands, then moved to a nearby sink to wash them, returning with a smile. “So, how many do you want, Viscount?” she asked, her full lips twitching. “One bwa-ha-ha, or two bwa-ha-ha?”
“Ah—” Sebastian began, flustered. Daisy sighed, her face flushing a little. “Sorry, that wasn’t very nice of me, and you probably have no idea what I’m talking about. So, how about one on the house to make up for it?”
Her apology sounded sincere, something he rarely encountered. So when it did make an appearance…“How about two…bwa-ha-ha?” Things like that happened. Although a part of him wanted to say—See, I can be humorous, too. As for her Sesame Street reference, his brother had guest starred on the show. Though Sebastian would never admit it, he had watched everything Christian had ever been in.
“Oh.” She blinked, pretty eyes going round. “Two…it is.” Licking her lips, she glanced down and picked out the two he’d been coveting the most, then placed them on a green and silver plate. “Something to drink: coffee, hot chocolate, water, mil—”
“Water.”
She handed the plate to him. “Most people want coffee or milk.”
Biting into the Christmas confection sent thrills of pleasure streaking through his taste buds. “Not most people,” he said around the first cupcake. What did one need with coffee or milk? Neither, in his opinion, served to enhance the flavor. Give him a roomful of sweets and an unlimited supply of water.
The bells on the door rang.
“Excuse me, but I have another customer.”
He raised a questioning brow and concentrated on not dropping a crumb. Not only because he was fastidious by nature, but this manna from Heaven couldn’t be wasted. When Daisy returned, he practically had his nose against the glass, searching for the next candidate.
“Berry Lemon is a customer favorite,” she said. “Or Red Velvet Dream.” The bells rang again. “Hold that thought, I’ll be right back.”
He straightened, watching Daisy as she handed an older gentleman a white box tied up with a green and silver bow. The man waved good-bye, and then went on his way, paying no mind to Sebastian or the two rather large Russian bodyguards standing on each side of her door.
“Where were we?” She smiled and he scooted closer to bask in the warmth of that smile. “Make a decision?”
“I’d like the two you recommended.”
In no time at all, she’d given him what he’d wanted. He walked to the closest table and sat down, centering the plate in front of him. To his eternal surprise, she sat down at the table for two, directly across from him. She placed a glass of iced water beside his plate.
“Who are you looking for this time?” she asked.
You. “No one.”
“Are you up to something again?” she finally asked, her gaze assessing. It felt as though she could see through him, as though she could see through the mask he constantly wore in public. Outside his inner circle, he wasn’t exactly known for being the most gregarious bloke.
“World domination,” he said. Not a total lie.
Sighing, she placed her chin in her hand. “Can’t help you there.”
“Why are you sitting with me?” he asked, and then wanted to kick himself.
“I like people.”
“So do I.”
She dipped her head to hide a smile, but he’d caught it and wanted her to do it again. “You kinda have a funny way of showing it.” She glanced at the watch on her wrist. “It’s almost lunch time. Can I fix you something, or…I know! Want to help me fix lunch? After the first of the year, I’ll be offering cooking class. You can be my test subject.”
If her cooking was anything like her sweets, he’d never leave Holland Springs without her. “Expanding your horizons?”
Rising to her feet, she shrugged. “Thinking ahead. Can’t ever tell what will happen in business.”
Smart woman. “What does helping you ‘fix lunch’ involve?” he asked, standing and following her to the back.
“You’ll have to take off your coat and put on an apron.” Her hips swayed as she walked, enticing him to quicken his pace. “Maybe even a hair net.”
“A hair net?” He practically growled the question.
She laughed. “I’m teasing.”
He stopped when she turned to face him, her breasts brushing his coat. Desire burned through him, making his clothes too tight and his skin scorching hot. “And the apron?” he asked, his voice deeper than usual to his ears.
Her full lips parted. He wanted to kiss her, to taste her lips and nibble at them. Sweet or tart, he had to know. Dipping his head, he closed his eyes and—
“That’s non-negotiable,” Daisy squeaked, sidestepping him, completely unable to stop looking at his gorgeous face.
His eyes opened, blue as the sky in winter. “Wasn’t aware this was a contract in the making.”
Heart pounding, lust raging, and knees wobbling, she fanned herself. “It’s hot back here, isn’t it?” She almost kissed him! Well, he almost kissed her, and she’d almost let him. What in the world was she thinking?
“If you can’t take the heat…”
Narrowing her eyes at him, she said, “Did you just try to make another joke?”
“Perhaps,” he said, his gaze roaming around her kitchen. Assessing and weighing everything he found it seemed.
“Are you allergic to anything, besides people and good manners?” She almost smacked her hand over her mouth.
A smile quirked his lips. He unbuttoned his coat and shrugged out of it, hanging it on a hook beside hers. “No.”
“And your bodyguards?” Two men stood like sentinels on either side of her front door. Whether they scared off any day-before-New-Year’s-Eve customers remained to be seen.
“They won’t be joining us.”
Grabbing two aprons, she handed one to him and tied the other around her waist. What a contrast between the faded apron and fine suit he wore. Oh my mercy, she thought, he still had on his suit jacket. “You might want to take off that, too. Maybe roll up your sleeves.”
“Plan on getting down and dirty, darling?” he asked in that accented voice of his, once again removing more clothes and bringing back the raging lust and wobbly knees.
She washed her hands and dried them. “Uh…no.” That really wasn’t a question he needed to be asking her, mostly because it should be a statement of fact. God help her if he ever took off all his clothes in front of her. She was liable to burst into flames and go all gooey inside, like a roasted marshmallow. “Wash your hands, too, please.”