Page 10 of Home Again

“She’s eighty if she’s a day, but that doesn’t stop her from talking about my ass.”

“What?!”

“Swear to God. She told me that her great-niece would really like me because I’m kind and that I have a great ass. I almost spit out the sweet tea that she’d made for me. But if you ever tell anybody that I told you, I’ll deny it.”

Sebastian’s eyes danced with mirth, and now Gianna thought his eyes were spectacular.

“I really want to read her letter of recommendation. However, I wonder if she would give you one, seeing as how she probably wants you for her great-niece.”

“Well, there is that,” Sebastian agrees with a grin. “I saw pie in the fridge, want some?”

“Nah, I’m full. I need to get back to the carriage house.”

“I’ll walk you back,” Sebastian said.

Gianna looked out the window at the wind and rain. “No, you won’t. There’s no reason for us both to get soaked. Stay here, I’ll be fine.”

She headed for the coat rack and Sebastian followed her. He reached over her head and grabbed his jacket when she grabbed hers.

“I’m serious, Sebastian. I don’t need you walking me the few yards it takes to get to the cottage.”

“Okay.” He nodded. He helped her put on her coat, then put his on. She walked to the back door and he opened it for her. When she stepped out onto the porch, he put his arm around her shoulder.

“You’re not going to listen to me, are you?” She had to shout to be heard above the wind and rain.

“Nope.”

He kept her close as they walked down the gravel path and around to the front of the carriage house. When they got under the overhang, she pushed open the door.

“You didn’t lock it?” he asked as they got inside.

“Of course not,” she said as she took off her coat and hung it up.

“Gianna, you always need to lock your door.”

“I never have to lock my door here, nobody lives here. It’s fine.”

Sebastian stepped forward with a hard look on his face. His hands came up and captured her face. “You never fuck around with your safety. Ever. Never. You got me?”

His expression was intense. Beyond intense. Freaked.

“Okay, Sebastian, I’ll lock my door, I promise,” she whispered.

Then, as if he noticed what he’d done, he stepped back. “Okay, good.” Sebastian walked over to the window, then shook his head. “Shit, there are no hurricane shutters.”

“What are hurricane shutters?”

“Helen is gaining strength and due to hit New Orleans tonight. I can’t believe Neil hasn’t installed hurricane shutters on this place. You’re going to need to stay the night in the big house. Pack a bag.”

“What are you talking about?”

Sebastian motioned for her to follow him to the window that faced the big house. “There, see how all of the windows on the second and third floors have closed shutters over them? Those are hurricane shutters that Neil must have closed before he and Ophelia went home. Armand should have already shut the ones on the first floor.” Sebastian shook his head with disgust.

Gianna saw the pretty green shutters covering all of the windows. She’d noticed them before, and thought they were just for decoration.

“They don’t really get hurricanes where I live. We occasionally get a tornado every now and then, but those are few and far between.” Gianna bit her lip. “How bad is this going to get?”

“It was only a Cat Four in Georgia, but it went south into the Gulf of Mexico and gained speed and is now heading our way. I’m hearing it could be a Cat Five by the time it lands. It’s not good. Now pack a bag, and I’ll get the shutters closed on the first floor when we get back to the house.”

“Okay.”