Fantasy. Lori Foster

this farce any further than that. The idea of a trip together is absurd.”

      “No, it isn’t.”

      She frowned at his firm disagreement, but he didn’t give her a chance to argue. He towered over her, his expression mild, his tone calm.

      “Your sister has made me your gift. By now, everyone here knows it. If we tried to avoid the trip, someone would surely find out and the auction would lose its credibility.” He tilted his head at her. “Why are you so set against going?”

      Since she couldn’t very well tell him the truth, she mustered up her most sarcastic tone. “Gee, let’s see. I’ve just met a total stranger and now I’m supposed to go off on a private trip with him.”

      He only grinned at her, amused by her forced acerbity. Brandi sighed. Well, so much for insulting him. “Mr…. Sebastian. I don’t know you. I don’t know anything about you.”

      “Funny, but with the way you stared earlier, I assumed you’d be pleased to have my company.”

      She drew herself up, which was pathetic given the fact she stood at least a foot shorter than him. “You put yourself on a stage for just that purpose! Besides, I wasn’t the only one watching you.”

      “But you are about the only one who’d cause such a fuss over a free vacation package! I think just about any other woman here tonight would be happy to go.”

      “Maybe I should just give one of them my gift then, and you can both be deliriously happy.”

      He stood glaring down at her for a moment, then his expression cleared and he chuckled. He had a nice chuckle…for a mountain. “Damn, I can’t believe I’m standing here debating this with you. Talk about a blow to the old masculine ego.” He took her arm and, without asking, led her toward a quieter corner. “I suppose if I must be abused, I ought to at least find some privacy so I can salvage a little pride.”

      Now Brandi felt totally flustered. Abused? She certainly hadn’t meant to abuse him. But she also didn’t want privacy. She wanted to go home to her quiet apartment and pretend none of this had happened. But looking around, she realized they were drawing notice, so she allowed him to drag her away.

      When they stopped in the corner Sebastian motioned for her to seat herself at a wooden bench there. She did, and then he sprawled beside her, taking up too much room, letting his thigh touch hers. Brandi stiffened. “Mr…. Sebastian. I’m sorry if I’ve insulted you in any way. Really. That was never my intent. It’s just that I don’t like being forced into a corner.”

      He stared at her for a moment before he seemed to come to some sort of decision. “I have to tell you, Brandi. Your attitude really surprises me.”

      “Oh?” She didn’t want him delving too deeply into her attitude, so she said, “You’re used to strange women jumping at the chance to go off alone with you?”

      “I wouldn’t exactly call you strange. A little different, maybe. But then again… No, don’t storm off in a huff.” He caught her arm and eased her back into her seat. “I was only teasing.”

      His smile was so catching, she almost smiled, too.

      “You know I’m your sister’s friend. I assume you trust her?”

      “Of course I do. She’s my sister.”

      “Then you know I can’t be a totally reprehensible character or Shay, who has no tolerance for unkindness in any form, wouldn’t have bought me for you. Correct?”

      Exasperation overrode her annoyance. “Good grief. You aren’t exactly a packaged present, for heaven’s sake. It’s a donation is all. You make yourself sound like a toy to play with.”

      He chuckled and Brandi felt her face turn hot as she realized what she’d said. He reached out and touched her cheek with his knuckles, softly, just brushing her skin. Brandi almost shot off her seat.

      “I don’t know how much playing I’m up to, Brandi, but I’ll try not to aggravate you too much.”

      His mere presence aggravated her, but not the way he assumed. She cleared her throat. “I didn’t mean to insinuate…”

      “I know.” He took his taunting knuckles away. “Now, back to dissecting my character. Shay told you I own a personal protection agency. People, the majority being politicians or those with high-profile positions, hire me as a bodyguard, or to keep watch over various functions where they might expect trouble. But I also take on other, more personal cases, with endangered women or children. It never ceases to amaze me how men can so easily brutalize someone smaller than themselves.”

      Brandi shivered. There was a savagery in his eyes as he spoke that unnerved her. She had no doubt of the contempt he felt for bullies; but then, she shared that contempt.

      He seemed drawn into his own thoughts for a moment, then he continued. “I was trained by the military. Spent eight years with Uncle Sam on special assignments that included keeping guard over some big government officials. Then I bailed out, worked for a firm for two years, and now I own my own business. I don’t like people who hurt or frighten other people. So I’ve made it my job to stop people who do.”

      “How?”

      “Excuse me?”

      She had to ask. She had to know. “How do you stop them?”

      His teeth closed over his upper lip and he pinned her with his gaze, refusing to let her look away. “However I have to. Without violence whenever possible. With extreme violence when necessary.”

      She shuddered, but otherwise hid her reaction. For some reason, having him give her the unvarnished truth lessened the impact of his ruthless words. Brandi glanced at him, then muttered, “At least you’re honest.”

      “Always.”

      The drop in his voice nearly did her in. It was almost as if he suffered the same confusing mix of emotions that she did. Of course that was impossible. Her situation was unique to women; a man wouldn’t understand.

      “I’ll always be honest with you, Brandi. As you get to know me—”

      “I don’t want to get to know you.”

      “—you’ll learn that I never lie.”

      She wanted to growl in frustration. No man had ever so diligently pursued her. She’d given him options, offered to let him out of the absurd situation. Yet he remained insistent. “What do you get out of this, Sebastian?”

      “Other than your sterling company?”

      There was that touch of mockery again. She lifted her chin. “Yes. Why would you allow yourself to be sold in the first place? You seemed…disgusted by it all.”

      “I was, a little.” Then he smiled. “Actually, a lot. I’m not one for rich crowds. Especially since my job usually keeps me in the shadows. And throwing money away—”

      “On a very good cause.”

      “I agree. But the battered women’s shelter wasn’t the motivation for most of the bids. Even without the cause, those people would have been comfortable tossing away thousands of dollars. To them it was no more than a lark, and the waste of it sickens me.”

      “So, why would you do it if you hated it so much?”

      “Because the money is desperately needed. Because the number of battered women and abused children rises every day. I see it in my job, I live with it. And I knew, with Shay in charge, the auction would be a success. She refused my check because she needed bodies to fill the stage. And when Shay sets her mind on something, she can be pretty damn persuasive.”

      Brandi drew a sigh, then shook her head. He was a likable man, whether she wanted to like him or not. He was mostly polite, even with his arrogance, and his motivations certainly weren’t suspect. If anything, she had to admire his sense of obligation. “Shay has always