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Tilly
“This is for me?”
Bending over, Sebastian kisses me lightly. “This is all for you.”
I look down at the wooden tray he placed in front of me when he came walking into his bedroom.
There’s a glass of orange juice, one piece of toast and scrambled eggs.
I’m ravenous.
We had the most amazing night. We made love on the sofa and then showered together. Before we went to bed, we took a quick visit to the roof to gaze at the stars.
He sits on the bed next to me. He’s already dressed in a navy blue suit and a blue dress shirt.
I have no idea what time it is, but judging by how dark it is outside still, I doubt that dawn has broken.
“Tell me what you do at work, Matilda.” He picks up the glass of juice and takes a small sip. “Sometimes in the middle of my day, I stop to imagine what you’re doing right at that minute.”
I touch the edge of the toast, my hand suddenly trembling. “No two days are ever alike. I suppose, in that way, my job is like your job.”
His hand grazes my chin. “Do you know how many times I’ve walked past Premier Pet Care in the past few years?”
“Once or twice?” I take a small bite of toast.
“Dozens.” He gazes into my eyes. “Maybe even more. I had no idea you were right inside.”
“When did Maya first tell you she had a sister?”
His mouth curves. “Julian told me. He told me that she had twin sisters. I wanted an introduction right away.”
“You did?” That surprises me. Maya had mentioned Sebastian and Griffin, Julian’s other close friend, early on in their relationship but I was focused on the men I was matched with on my dating apps.
Once I heard that Sebastian was a police officer, I told Maya I wasn’t interested. It was my track record with members of the NYPD that pushed me to decide not to go on a blind date with Sebastian. Now, I’m regretting it because I wasted so much time that I could have spent with him.
“I knew that Maya was an incredible woman, so it made sense to me that you would be too.”
“Maya adores you.” I take a bite of eggs. “She talked about you non-stop before we met.”
“What did she tell you?” He wipes his finger over the corner of my mouth.
“That you were kind and funny.”
“Kind and funny?” he balks with a grin. “No wonder you didn’t want to hookup with me. She made me sound like I’m boring as hell.”
“She made you sound incredible.” I caress my hand over his cheek. “You are incredible.”
“You’ll never stop thinking that, will you?”
How could I? I’ll never meet another man like him. I’ll never love anyone the same way I love him.
“Never.”
“The best decision I’ve ever made was moving into this bedroom.” He pats the blanket. “My life changed that day.”
“Mine too.” I push my hair back from my cheek.
His gaze darts to the clock on his bedside table. “I have a meeting before work.”
I look back at the time. “It’s six.”
“I’m sorry I woke you.” His chin dips. “I’ve imagined what it would be like to make you breakfast in bed and today I had the urge. You can go back to sleep until it’s time for you to go to work.”
“Who are you meeting so early?” I breathe. “Most of the city is still asleep.”
I see the hesitation in his eyes. It’s so apparent that I’m tempted to tell him to forget it, but I don’t. I wait in silence for an answer to my question.
“My lieutenant,” he answers succinctly. “I need to go over a few things with her, so we’re meeting at a diner for breakfast.”
“I wish you could stay here with me.” I inch the sheet that’s been covering me down to expose my breasts.
His gaze follows the path of the sheet. “I wish I could too. You make it hard for me to leave.”
I lean forward to brush my lips against his. “One day will you tell me all your secrets, Sebastian?”
The question catches his breath. He stills with his lips hovering over mine. “Only if you promise they won’t chase you away.”
“I promise,” I whisper into the air between us before he presses his lips to mine for a slow, sweet kiss.
