"Instead of grappa?" He wrinkles his nose like I’ve suddenly developed a bad smell.
Not that I didn’t like the taste of it, but there’s a reason I’m asking for beer. “In fact, make it a pint. You know us Brits; we never settle for anything less."
He shoots me a look filled with disgust.
"There, there, it can’t be all that bad." I pat his chest. The heat of his body instantly soaks through his shirt to bleed into my skin. I shiver. To say the man is ripped is an understatement. I mean, I have touched walls which were less firm. Okay, maybe a tad exaggerated on my part, or not. I swear, the man must spend all of his spare time working out.
He glances down at where my hand seems to have developed a relationship with the front of his shirt.
"Oops, sorry."Not.I lower my hand to my side.
"Your hair..." He points to where I have piled my hair on my head. Half of it has come undone, and strands now hang about my face. The curse of having thick hair. Not to mention, the humidity in this establishment pretty much means my hair is frizzy and escaping from its messy bun.
"What of my hair?" I scowl.
"I’ve seen bird’s nests that are tidier."
"Such sweet compliments. Keep that up, and I’ll be sure you have a crush on me."
He smirks.
I glower up at him.
The skin around his eyes creases. Then he reaches over and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. Tendrils of loathing—it has to be loathing—shiver out from where his fingertips brushed my earlobe.
Someone clears their throat. That’s when I realize Theresa is standing beside us.
"Erm… hello, everything okay?" she finally asks.
Her voice breaks the fugue state I seem to have descended into. I blink. Seb lowers his hand to his side at the same time.
"Elsa? Seb? What's going on?" she questions.
"What's going on is that your grumpster bodyguard seems to think he owns the place," I snap.
"I do, actually." Seb looks me up and down. He seems to notice my dress for the first time and his features harden. "What the fuck are you wearing?" he growls.
"Excuse me?" I open and shut my mouth. "What did you just say?"
"You may as well be parading naked, for all that you have on."
"What the hell?" I plant my hands on my hips. "Who the hell do you think you are, you asshole?"
"That's alphahole to you," he says through gritted teeth. "Also, we’re leaving!"
"You can take her; I am not going anywhere." I turn away.
"Don’t turn your back on me," Seb orders.
"I’ll do what I want, when I want," I shoot back.
I can’t see his features, but I’d wager he’s grinding his teeth so hard, he probably split a molar.
I sense him lean forward, but out of the corner of my eye, I notice Theresa tug at his sleeve. Something hot stabs at my chest. Damn it, why am I jealous? She’s in love with another man. She’s only trying to calm Seb down. Besides, what do I care who touches him?I don’t. I don’t...
"Don’t," she says in a soothing voice. "Let me handle this."
There’s silence for a second, then he must nod, for she touches my shoulder. "Elsa, I think it’s time for us to leave," she says softly.