181 An Unexpected Intimacy
The statement hung between us, weighted with meaning I wasn’t ready to acknowledge. Sebastian reached into a compartment between our seats and produced a water bottle. He twisted the cap open before handing it to me.
“You clearly needed the rest,” he said simply. “You were sound asleep before we even
left the mountain roads.”
“You can recline your seat if you want to rest,” Sebastian suggested, his voice gentle against the backdrop of snow falling outside. “We still have about forty minutes before we reach the city.”
Heat flooded my face. “An hour and a half? Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Hazel? We’re here.”
Sebastian shrugged, as if it were nothing. “I had calls to make. Some emails to send.” He held up his phone. “I was perfectly occupied.”
“Oh God.” I buried my face in my hands. “I’m so sorry.”
I smoothed my hair, horrified. Had I snored? Drooled? Made any embarrassing noises? The questions must have shown on my face because Sebastian’s smile widened.
“Thank you,” I said, handing the water bottle back. “For the ride, and for… letting me sleep. And the coat.”
“Hazel Shaw.”
Sebastian looked at me for a long moment, something unspoken simmering in his gaze. Just as I was about to close the door and flee to the safety of my office, he called out.
“What? Where-” I looked around frantically, recognizing the familiar surroundings of iny office parking lot. “Did I-?”
bastian watched me with those intense eyes of his. “Better?”
“My pleasure.” His voice had dropped lower, sending an involuntary shiver through me that had nothing to do with the temperature.
I nodded, suddenly hyperaware of everything about him-the way his shirt stretched
across his broad shoulders, the faint scent of his cologne that clung to his coat, now folded neatly in his lap, the patient way he waited for my response.
The last thing I needed was to appear vulnerable in front of Sebastian. Being alone in his car already felt too intimate, too close.
“You’re probably thirsty,” he said.
Sebastian nodded, though his eyes told me he saw right through my hasty retreat. “Of
course.”
## Hazel’s POV
I glanced out the window, seeing the snow had turned to a light dusting here in the city. Sebastian had driven me all this way, then simply waited in the parking lot until I woke naturally. The thought made my heart beat faster.
I needed to escape this car, this moment, before I did something stupid like lean across and kiss him. The thought startled me so much that I fumbled for the door
handle.
“Fall asleep? Yes,” Sebastian confirmed, his eyes crinkled with gentle humor. “For about an hour and a half.”
“You shivered a bit when we hit the highway,” he explained, taking it from me. “The temperature dropped further.”
“It’s been a long day,” he persisted. “Just close your eyes for a bit.”
“Better?” he asked.
“I rescheduled.” His voice was calm, unbothered. “Nothing was more important than making sure you got back safely.”
I shook my head. “No, I’m fine.”
Yes,” I admitted reluctantly. “Thank you.”
“Don’t be. I was happy to let
you rest.”
That’s when I noticed something else-Sebastian’s expensive cashmere coat was draped over me like a blanket. At some point, he had covered me with it. The gesture was so intimate, so caring that it sent a strange flutter through my chest.
“Your coat,” I said, lifting it awkwardly.
I pushed the door open, stepping out into the cold afternoon air. It cleared my head immediately. I leaned down to say a final goodbye.
I closed my eyes, just to sell the charade. The gentle hum of the engine, the warmth of the heater, and the smooth motion of the car created a lulling effect. Sebastian drove carefully, avoiding bumps and taking turns with deliberate gentleness.
I accepted the bottle, our fingers brushing momentarily. Even that small contact sent electricity up my arm. I took a sip, grateful for the cool water against my dry throat.
Just five minutes, I told myself. Five minutes of pretending to sleep, then I’d “wake up” and we could resume our awkward silence.
I planned to merely pretend to rest, to avoid further conversation. Sebastian reached over and pressed a button on my seat. It reclined smoothly, tilting back to a perfect angle. The leather was buttery soft against my neck.
Sebastian kept his eyes on the snowy road. “I won’t tell anyone if you do.”
I checked my watch, feeling increasingly flustered. “You missed your afternoon meetings because of me.”
A small smile tugged at my lips despite myself. “Fine. Maybe just for a few minutes.”
“I wouldn’t actually fall asleep,” I insisted, though exhaustion tugged at my limbs. Eleanor’s probing questions and the emotional tension of the day had drained me.
“I should go,” I blurted. “I have a lot to catch up on.”
The next thing I knew, someone was saying my name.
My eyes flew open. Sebastian was watching me, his expression amused. I bolted upright, mortified as I realized what had happened.
“You just sat here? Waiting for me to wake up?”
“You sleep peacefully,” he assured me. “Though you did mutter something about fabric orders once.”
I froze, my heart suddenly pounding. The way he said my name-my full name-sent a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the winter chill.
“Thanks again for the ride.”
