“Ah…” My gaze flicks between his face and the coat. “I’m okay—”
“Grace, take the coat.” He sighs.
“What about you?”
“I’m used to the cold,” he says, and somehow, I don’t believe he’s only talking about the weather.
I hesitate for a moment longer, but when he doesn’t let up, I take the coat from him, muttering a thank you. It fits easily over my layers, and the thick wool is like a warm blanket around me.
Sebastian takes my hand, and I startle at the unexpected contact.
He starts to fold the material that hangs past my hand, and I watch his face as he concentrates on his task. When he’s finished, he takes hold of my other one and starts folding it the same way.
“What do you need, Grace?” he asks, still focussed on what he’s doing.
“What do you mean?” I ask, searching his face.
He finally lifts his head, and the look he gives me is so much more intense than I expected but somehow soft at the same time.
“I mean, you have one bag and not a very big one at that,” he says, and understanding dawns on me. “You need—”
“I don’t need anything,” I say, cutting him off.
And I don’t.
Not anymore.
Never again will anyone else provide for me. I left that behind when I escapedhim. I’ve survived the last three months with what I have, and I’m okay. I might need Sebastian’s help to finally get out of here, but I don’t need his help with this.
“Grace…” he starts.
“I’m fine, really,” I say, pulling my hand from his now that he’s finished with the sleeves. “I have everything I need.”
Sebastian sighs, but he lets it go, and I’m thankful for it.
We trail behind Shadow as he trots along the beach, close to the water’s edge. There are only a few others along the beach with their dogs, but the early hour and the dark clouds that look like they could turn into a storm without a minute’s notice might have something to do with it.
Sebastian walks beside me, but his mind appears to be elsewhere.
“What are we doing here?” I ask, rubbing my hands together to fight off the chill and maybe a little bit from nerves.
“What do you mean?” He meets my gaze, a slight frown on his face like the answer is obvious.
I sigh. “What amIdoing here, walking along the beach… with you? You’ve been avoiding me all week, ever since…”The kiss.I look away, swallowing the words down. “I just don’t understand why you’d want me here, now.”
Last night felt different.
Hefelt different.
Like he wasn’t trying as hard to stay away from me. Maybe I have it all wrong, and it’s nothing more than him wanting to keep an eye on me.
His eyes flicker, and I know he understands what I’m asking. Although, I’m not sure I want the answer anymore. Just when I think he isn’t going to respond, his words surprise me.
“You’ve been in the penthouse all week. I thought you’d like to get out.” I catch his eyes darkening and the slight clench of his jaw before he looks away, and I get the feeling there’s something he isn’t saying.
“It’s been so long since I’ve been to the beach,” I say, deciding to let it go for now. “I forgot how calming it is.”
His lips lift at the corners, barely perceptible.