Part 12 (2/2)

”I used to go in them to buy beer all the time in college.” At her skeptical look he admitted, ”Okay, Sergei used to go inside to buy us beer when I blackmailed him to but a few times I walked in with him just so when they carded us I could flash my diplomatic credentials.”

”Us?

”Yeah, me and Anton.”

”Hmm, beer and strippers did you two actually do any learning in college?”

”Oh Kisa, I learned a good many things in University.” How did he do that? Imply the wink and keep looking at her with a straight face.

”I meant in cla.s.s. Anything academic.”

”As little as possible.” She shook her head and he added, ”I take it you don't approve.”

”You don't know how lucky you are, do you? I would have loved to go to college.” There was a slightly wistful expression on her face as she thought of all those movies she'd watch just to see the red brick buildings and ivy; and students walking around carrying books and wearing sweaters with the school colors. Somewhere where she could see the leaves change in the fall and go to bonfires and have long philosophical discussions about the meaning of life over cappuccinos and scones. Maybe Maine or Virginia, she'd always thought.

”Well then why didn't you go?”

Kat couldn't stop herself from giving him a patronizing look. ”Oh, well why didn't I think of that? I should have gone then.” She turned to grab an apple and shook her head at him.

”Really, why didn't you?”

”Because college takes money and time. Neither of which I had just lying around.”

”You have to make time for things you really want. No school you applied to made it worth your while?”

”I didn't apply anywhere.”

Sebastian's eyebrows knit together. ”You didn't apply at all? Well why ”

Kat had reached her threshold for this conversation. ”Look there was no way I could go, okay, so why be heartbroken over something there was no way I could have? My biology teacher said everyone has an urge to apply to Harvard and Yale to see if they can get in but if you don't plan on going you're just taking a spot from someone who would. So I didn't apply. I couldn't have paid for it and I couldn't have left home because someone had to take care of . . . everything so I just let that dream go, okay. I don't want to talk about this anymore, you're done deflecting. Now how did your date with Opera Lady go?”

Sebastian had the urge to wrap his arms around her but she would not have appreciated it. It would have made him feel better, at least attempting to blot out the pain of a decision she still regretted even if she wouldn't admit it out loud. He'd seen everything he needed to in her eyes. Including how much of his privileged life he so casually took for granted.

”Eh,” he answered.

”Eh? What's 'eh' supposed to mean?”

”All the good women in America, they find me charming and irresistible ”

”Naturally,” Kat interjected with irony.

” but when I mention that I'm looking for a wife to marry in two months, they laugh or look at me like I'm crazy or just get up and walk out. The number of women who ask me if I'm a Nigerian Prince is staggering. Somehow I have become the embodiment of an internet scam. You should really just marry me and we can be done with it.”

”Hmm,” Kat thought, ignoring that last comment as her eyes laughed, ”I never thought of it that way. What do you think we should do?”

”I've been thinking on that. I may have an idea.”

Kat waited but he didn't continue. ”Well are you going to tell me?” she finally asked, leaning across the counter conspiratorially.

Sebastian just winked at her. ”Yes. Once I have it all figured out.”

”Are you going to get that done soon? Time is ticking away.”

A devilish grin spread across his face. ”Kisa, you know I have impeccable timing. I know when to go fast, when to go slow, and always get the job done. You remember, don't you?”

”Pig,” she murmured turning, hoping he missed the smile on her face.

”That man called for you,” Blaze murmured darkly the minute they walked into the room.

”That man? Big brother?” Sebastian asked with a furtive look over his shoulder.

”That's the man,” Blaze corrected with a quick grin. ”That man is Kat's on again, off again leech of a boyfriend I refuse to acknowledge. They think they're Ross and Rachel. I think they're Kat and Dude Who's Nowhere Near Good Enough For My Sister.”

”Did you take a message?” she asked idly.

”No but it was probably something along the lines of 'Yo, Babe, Grunt Grunt, Ayhhh.' You sleep with him, why, again? Oh, I forgot. His eloquence.”

”Be nice,” Kat chided.

”Don't hold your breath.”

”Why can't you just leave Marco alone?”

”Because he's a snake,” Blaze said.

”He's not a snake,” she protested mildly.

Blaze turned to Sebastian with a disbelieving look. ”How can she not see it?”

”d.i.c.khead blindness.”

”Seriously guys, knock it off. I don't need to hear anything else about this. I get it, you don't like Marco. Moving on,” Kat grunted with a roll of her eyes as she sorted the mail.

Blaze rolled his eyes in annoyance to match and Sebastian had an idea. ”I have a story.”

”Great, a new subject. Let's hear it and just let Kat drop the whole thing, shall we?” Blaze's voice dripped with sarcasm.

”So,” Sebastian said, ”my friend's boss's cousin ”

”You have friends with bosses?”

” is twenty eight and ”

”Is she blond? Is she stacked? I see where this story is going.”

”Let me tell the story?” Sebastian said. ”I promise, you're going to hate it.”

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