He frowns down at it. “Damn mole, gets me every time.”
I lean in close, lowering my voice to a whisper. “My Spanish is a bit rusty, but don’t you mean sangre?”
His lips twitch, dark eyes flickering over my face. “No. I don't. Authentic, home-cooked chicken mole. My favorite.”
Instinct tells me to leave, but interest keeps me in my seat. “Home-cooked, huh? There’s someone slaving over a hot stove for you?” Surprise leeches into my question. I'd thought Sebastián was unattached.
“I do, actually. Once a week.” A half-grin toys with Sebastián's mouth, like he doesn't actually mind at all. “Command performance.”
“Wow. That's quite an obligation.”
“When an obligation is a pleasure, it's no problem at all.”
“And what … you just eat and run? Some kind of woman you have.”
“Well, I haven't lived with my mother in several years, so that's generally what I do after dinner.”
I cough. “Your mother?”
“You expected someone else?”
My cheeks heat. I shouldn't be thinking about Sebastián's private life. I shouldn't be thinking about Sebastián at all. “Sorry to disappoint you, but your private life is of no interest to me.
He pins me with a long, searching stare. “Do you play poker?”
“Poker? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Humor me.”
I release a sigh. “I have played, yes. But it's been a while.”
“Well, you really shouldn't. Your face is too expressive. Anyone paying attention to you would pick up on your tells immediately. You would lose.”
I briefly close my eyes. ”You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.”
“Really?” His scrutiny sears my skin. “And why is that?”
“I grew up pulling cons. You only see what I allow you to.” As a rule, I don't speak about my childhood. At least, not until I started spending time with my half-sister, Aislinn.
Somehow she managed to pull me out of my shell, and I've enjoyed getting to know her. And letting her get to know me. It's been kind of … nice to have a friend.
I've never had one before.
But she's been so preoccupied lately with the coming baby, it's almost as if words have bottled up in the back my throat and Sebastián's presence has loosened them.
Opening up to him is a mistake I’m sure I will regret.
“So right now, you want me to see your disdain?”
The tips of my ears feel hot, but I resist the urge to rub at them. “Should I hide it?”
He looks around. “We are in what some might call polite company.” At the last two words, he raises his hands to make air quotes.
“That’s your opinion.”
“And what’s yours?”
I shrug my shoulders, trying to slip back into my normally aloof mode. Sebastián is getting under my skin, and I don’t like it. “Nest of vipers might be more accurate.”