191 A Gentleman’s Overcoat
The shock in her voice drew curious glances from passing travelers. Standing in Sebastian’s oversized coat, with my past and present colliding unexpectedly, I realized I would have to relive the whole painful story once more.
## Hazel’s POV
“Well, uncomplicate it for me,” she laughed, linking her arm through mine as we headed toward the exit. “Did you and Alistair split up? Last we talked, you were planning the wedding!”
I hesitated, unsure how to explain everything that had happened since we last spoke.
The gesture was so unexpectedly playful that I laughed. “Are you always this stubborn?”
“Hazel! Oh my God, it’s been forever!”
“I should go,” he said reluctantly. “Early meeting tomorrow before the celebration.”
He smiled, the kind that reached his eyes and made them crinkle at the corners. “Just got back from London. Business trip.”
“The celebration was a convenient excuse to schedule some meetings at our UK office,” hi mitted. His gaze softened. “But seeing you here makes the trip worth every minute of that miserable red-eye flight.”
“That would be lovely,” I said, surprising myself with how easily the acceptance came.
The assistant nodded and stepped back discreetly. Sebastian turned his full attention back to me.
“Ah, so am I.” His smile widened. “Perhaps I could drive you both tomorrow? Save you the trouble of parking.”
He shook his head. “I’m heading straight to a heated car. You’re standing here waiting”
“Hazel?”
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ten.”
“Are you picking someone up?” he asked.
“Wait, is this Alistair’s coat?” she asked, her fingers touching the expensive fabric. “I thought he always wore those skinny European cuts.”
The thought of spending more time with Sebastian made my heart skip. After my conversation with Vera last week, I had promised myself to stop fighting these feelings so hard.
She pulled back, her sharp eyes taking in my appearance. “And you look… different. Good different.” Her nose wrinkled as she detected the masculine scent surrounding me. Her eyes dropped to the oversized coat with the sleeves tied in front of me.
Charlotte stopped walking abruptly, her mouth falling open. “Divorced? Wait, what? Didn’t you two just get married a few months ago? How are you already divorced?”
“You look amazing,” I said, returning her embrace. “Paris clearly agrees with you.”
My heart dropped. Of course, she didn’t know. We’d kept in touch, but clearly not about everything.
The deep voice behind me sent a shiver down my spine. I turned around, already knowing who I’d find.
“No arguments.” His tone was playful but firm. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he took the empty sleeves of the oversized coat and tied them loosely in front of me. “There. Now you can’t give it back.”
“It’s complicated,” I admitted.
I inhaled deeply, the scent of him surrounding me. This was happening, I realized with startling clarity. I was falling for Sebastian Sinclair, and I wasn’t fighting it anymore.
I turned to see Charlotte rushing toward me, her blonde hair now cut in a stylish pixie cut instead of the bob I’d been expecting. She threw her arms around me in a tight hug, her familiar perfume mingling with the scent of Sebastian’s coat.
“Keep it as long as you need.” His eyes held mine. “Seeing you was the perfect end to a
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191 A Gentleman’s Overcoat
long day, Hazel.”
The arrival hall at the airport buzzed with activity. Families reunited, business travelers hurried past with determined strides, and I stood among them, checking my watch for the third time. Charlotte’s flight had landed fifteen minutes ago, and I was eager to see my college roommate after so many years.
“Sebastian, I can’t take your coat. You’ll freeze on the way to your car.”
My phone pinged with a text from Vera: “Did she land yet?”
Sebastian frowned. “You’re cold.”
“London to attend the university anniversary?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Ms. Shaw is here for her own purposes, Ashley,” Sebastian clarified smoothly. “A happy coincidence.”
A fresh wave of travelers streamed through the arrival gates. I scanned the crowd, looking for Charlotte’s familiar blonde bob.
I typed back quickly: “Yes, just waiting for her to come through arrivals.”
I nodded. “My college roommate Charlotte. We’re both attending the anniversary celebration tomorrow.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened with interest. “A friend? Or a ‘friend’?” She made air quotes and grinned.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. “We didn’t just split up, Charlotte. We’re divorced.”
“Only about things that matter,” he replied, his voice dropping to a gentle rumble.
With that, he turned and walked away, his assistant falling into step beside him. I watched him go, feeling strangely bereft despite the warmth of his coat around me.
His hand reached out, briefly touching my cheek. The contact was feather-light but left my skin tingling.
Sebastian Sinclair stood there, looking impossibly handsome despite the clear signs of travel fatigue. His dark hair was slightly tousled, his jaw shadowed with stubble, but his
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191 A Gentleman’s Overcoat
eyes lit up when they met mine.
The weight of his gaze made my cheeks warm. His coat enveloped me in warmth and his scent-sandalwood and something uniquely him.
A young woman with a sleek bob haircut approached us, clutching a tablet. “Mr. Sinclair, your car is ready. And is this-” she glanced at me with obvious interest.
“Thank you for the coat,” I said softly. “I’ll return it tomorrow.”
“No, it’s not Alistair’s,” I said carefully. “It belongs to a friend.”
Before I could protest, he was shrugging out of his heavy overcoat. The expensive wool looked as soft as it felt when he draped it around my shoulders, his hands lingering there a moment longer than necessary.
“Sebastian,” I said, unable to hide my surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“But-”
A cold draft swept through the arrival hall as the automatic doors opened. I shivered involuntarily, my thin cashmere sweater offering little protection.
The university’s ten-year anniversary celebration had brought many old faces back to town, including Charlotte, who had built a successful career in Paris after graduation. We had kept in touch through occasional calls and social media, but this would be our first face-to-face meeting in nearly five years.
