Rita stood at the expansive granite island and chopped strawberries. “It’s not as nice as your little Trenton cottage, but it’ll have to do.” Sebastian closed the door behind us, then strode into the wide-open living room.Ī noise from the kitchen caught my attention.

I tried to make an unimpressed face, though the sunlight streaming through the windows kept drawing my eye. Simple, Spartan, but somehow luxurious at the same time. Masculine and polished, the space had been meticulously decorated to fit Sebastian’s tastes. Dark wood floors, floor to ceiling windows, and rich furnishings. The doors slid open and revealed a luxurious penthouse with views that would take even a New York realtor’s breath away. Sadly, I’m a science teacher, so I can tell you, without reservation, that your facts are baseless conjecture.”

“If I were a lit teacher, I would likely comment on the importance of perspective. It was so insane that I couldn’t help but smile. “I saved you from that dimwit, gave you a castle full of your favorite things, and am prepared to lay down my life for you in case of fire or other calamity. “Seriously?” I gawked at him in the reflective door. “Every bad guy is the hero of his own tale.” “I know you are.” I leaned against the back wall of the elevator as we moved smoothly upward. He entered a code for the penthouse, and the elevator doors closed. “You’ll save me? I didn’t think the bad guy ever saved anyone but himself.” “I’ll save you.” His matter-of-fact tone had me arching an eyebrow.

The elevator won’t open for you, and the stairwell has a keypad.” If you pass the front door, I’ll get an alarm. “The penthouse is wired similarly to the house. When the door closed, Sebastian helped me from the car and walked me to the elevator. The car pulled into a private garage at the base of a shiny high rise. “I know.” This time, I intended to avoid any more interaction than necessary. “The deal is still on for the evening, you know.” He leaned close to my ear, his whisper sending a shiver down my spine.

Read the bad guy by celia aaron