“What do you know about this guy?” Bobby asks, peering out the window in Ned’s living room. It has a perfect view of the front porch, and of Sebastian standing at the edge of the driveway, staring at something down the street that I can’t see.
I fold my arms across my chest. “Enough.” My body is aching from hours of stooping over and climbing stairs and lifting. I don’t know how many times I had one of these guys trying to tell me to back off because something was too heavy for me, and me yelling at them that I’m fine.
I should have listened.
“Why?”
“Dude’s weird.”
“No he’s not. He’s just quiet. That’s how I like my men. Not chatterboxes.” I stare pointedly at Bobby. He hasn’t shut up for more than five minutes all day.
“Where does he live?”
“In a house.”
“Ivy . . .”
“He kicked your asses yesterday. Like I’m going to give you guys his home address.”
Bobby scratches the back of his head. “Yeah, he did. What kind of guy needs to know how to do that?”
“He was in the navy. He served in Afghanistan,” I finally offer, more because I want Bobby and the guys to show some respect for Sebastian.
Bobby nods slowly, as if that clears things up for him. “What does he do now?”
“He’s a bodyguard.”
“For what company?”
I shrug and scowl. “I don’t know.”
“I can ask around. What’s his last name?”
“You’re not asking around about him. Leave him alone.”
Bobby looks at me in shock. “You don’t even know the guy’s last name, do you?”
“So what if I don’t? I don’t know your last name. Hell, I don’t know what your dad’s real name is!” I know it’s not Moe, just like Tiny’s real name isn’t Tiny.
“Yeah, but you’re not bangin’ my dad or me.”
I cringe at the suggestion.
“I’m just lookin’ out for ya, is all. That’s what Ned would want us to do. This guy just shows up out of the blue right after Ned dies, and now he’s stuck on you like glue.”
“He doesn’t do things half-assed.” I think it’s all-or-nothing with a guy like him. Just like it’s all-or-nothing with me.
“Yeah . . .” Bobby doesn’t sound convinced. “Something about him doesn’t sit right with me. You’ve always been a smart girl. Use your gut and get some answers about him. I don’t trust him.”
“Funny. He doesn’t trust you either.” Though Sebastian hasn’t come out and said it, I see it in his eyes every time he looks at Bobby.
“Yeah . . . I figured as much. I’m takin’ off now.” He slings his jacket over his shoulder. “Same time tomorrow?”
I sigh, offering a grudging, “Thanks for the help.”
“Thank my dad. He tore a strip off my hide yesterday for gettin’ mad at ya.”
I listen to Bobby’s heavy footsteps pound down the steps, considering his words.
Sebastian is still a mystery, I’m aware of that. But is there something that I definitely need to know, and now?
Something he’s not telling me?
The last thing I want to do is pry. He’ll tell me more about himself when he’s ready, just like Dakota said. As weird as she is, she has the uncanny ability of being right about these things.
“Hey, Ivy!” Sebastian’s deep voice calls out and my entire being automatically responds, my heart skipping a beat, energy spiking, a thrill coursing through my limbs. All at the sound of his voice calling my name.
“Yeah?”
“Let’s head out. I need to eat.”
“Coming.”
“Ned used to eat subs at least three times a week,” I murmur through a mouthful. Not graceful, I know, but I’m starving.
“Hey, listen, would Dakota mind if I stay at your place for a few nights?” he asks, his eyes are on his rearview mirror more than the road ahead, as they have been since we left Ned’s house.
“Not at all.” I frown. “What’s wrong with your place?”