Page 51 of Shattered Crown
"What the hell are you doing here?" A few heads turned in our direction. I didn't care.
Sebastian's expression shifted, the shock giving way to something darker. "I could ask you the same thing."
"I'm here on business."
"So am I."
We stared at each other. The pieces were clicking into place, I could see them assembling behind his eyes, the same realization that had hit me moments ago.
"Don't tell me," he said slowly, "that you're here to buy this hotel."
I scoffed. As if he didn't already know. As if this whole thing wasn't exactly what he'd planned.
"This hotel is mine, Sebastian." I lifted my chin, holding his gaze. "I don't know what you think you're doing here, but you're not taking this from me."
"I'm not taking anything." His voice was cool, controlled, that infuriating corporate tone he probably used in boardrooms. "I'm pursuing a legitimate business opportunity. If you can't handle competition…"
"Competition?" I stepped closer, close enough to see the flecks of silver in his gray eyes, close enough to smell that woodsy cologne I'd been trying to forget. "You aren’t even worth five minutes of my time.”
“And yet…” he trailed off, raising his eyebrows.
I knew what he was hinting at. I changed tactics. The best defense is a good offense. “You knew. You must have known I was interested in this property."
"I had no idea you were involved until this moment."
"Liar."
"I don't lie, Aria. Unlike some people, I don't need to play games to get what I want."
"If there's anyone playing games here, it's you." The words tumbled out, fueled by three days of confusion and anger and something else I refused to name. "You were trying to use me."
Sebastian arched an eyebrow. "Use you how, exactly?"
"You were trying to seduce me. To get what you want." I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "I knew you were manipulative, but I didn't think you'd stoop so low. Seducing an unsuspecting woman for financial gain."
He stared at me for a beat. Then he scoffed. "Seduce you?" He took a step closer. I held my ground, even as my heart rate spiked. "You think I planned that kiss? You think I orchestrated a hundred-thousand-dollar charity bid and a private dinner just to throw you off your game for a hotel I didn't even know you wanted?"
"It's exactly the kind of thing you'd do."
"You give me too much credit." Another step. We were inches apart now, close enough that I could see the tension in his jaw, the heat in his eyes. "And not enough to yourself. Because as I recall, you kissed me back."
"I did not…"
"Deny it." His voice dropped low, almost a growl. "Deny it, and so help me God, I'll be forced to remind you of just how badly you wanted that kiss."
My mouth opened. No sound came out.
He was too close. I could feel the warmth radiating off his body, and I could see the pulse jumping in his throat. The memory of that night crashed over me, his hands in my hair, my back against the car, the sounds I'd made that I'd been trying to forget.
The lobby had gone quiet around us. I was dimly aware of staff members frozen at their posts, pretending to look atpaperwork while their eyes tracked our every move. A couple near the door had stopped mid-conversation to stare openly. Even the birds outside seemed to have gone silent.
Neither of us moved.
"Can I get you both a room?"
The voice came from somewhere to my left, bright and amused. "So you can get all this tension out of your systems?"
I jerked back, heat flooding my cheeks. A young woman stood a few feet away, watching us with barely concealed entertainment. She was beautiful—mid-twenties, dark hair pulled back in a casual ponytail, warm brown skin, wearing a hotel polo shirt and khaki shorts. Her smile was mischievous in a way that made me want to sink through the floor.
