“You should,” a familiar husky voice said from behind her.
A tingle of anticipation started in Gigi’s stomach. Sebastian. She turned and spotted her old friend, hating the way she was immediately drawn to him. He had information he’d kept from her. She should be wary of him, not want to wrap her arms around him and melt into his embrace.
Dammit.
“Hi, Sebastian. Glad you could make it.” She put her hand out, intending to shake his, but he just grabbed it and pulled her into the hug she’d been longing for. Both of his arms slipped around her, tucking her close. There was no stopping it. She pressed her cheek into his chest, breathing in his woodsy scent. The world slipped away and for a moment, it was just her and Sebastian, back in their treehouse in the woods, keeping each other safe.
“Sebastian!” Lucas called. “It’s good to see you. I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
Gigi slipped out of Sebastian’s arms and took a step back as Lucas put his calloused hand out to shake Sebastian’s. There was no hugging this time as the two men shook and made small talk.
“I hear you’re going to be here for at least the summer,” Lucas said. “Got time for some hiking? I could really use a trail buddy.”
“Absolutely,” Sebastian said with a nod. “Since I’m taking a little hiatus from the courtroom, I’ve got plenty of time. Just let me know when and where. I’ll be there.”
“Excellent. Let’s set up a time for next week.”
Gigi watched as the two men made plans and wondered if she should warn Lucas. But warn him about what? That Sebastian had information about her mother’s disappearance but hadn’t told her? That somewhere in the far dark corners of her mind, she feared that Sebastian had some part in her mother’s disappearance? It couldn’t be true. She just needed to get him talking. “Sebastian,” she said, slipping her arm through his. “I hate to interrupt, but there’s something I want to show you.”
“Of course.” He placed his hand over hers and gave Lucas a nod. “Thanks for the invite. I’m looking forward to it.”
As Gigi led Sebastian toward the French doors that led outside, she glanced over her shoulder at Lucas. He gave her a thumbs-up, and she wondered what exactly he was up to. Surely Hope had told him what this evening was really about. Why had he asked Sebastian to go hiking with him? This wasn’t the time to find out. She had recon to do.
After leading him outside to her patio, she stood at the railing, staring out at the ocean. The energy of the house was the reason she’d purchased it, but she’d be lying if she said the view wasn’t a close second. The time spent near the ocean filled her well and centered her. She supposed that was why she brought Sebastian outside to have this conversation.
“Nice party,” Sebastian said, his gaze trained on the churning sea below them.
“Thanks.” She glanced over at him, taking in his gorgeous profile. Sebastian had a strong jawline and gorgeous silver eyes. Normally he was cleanshaven, but that evening he had a sexy five-o’clock shadow.
His lips curved up into a seductive half smile as he turned to her, clearly aware that she was staring.
Gigi averted her gaze, trying to pretend she wasn’t imagining what it would feel like to rub her cheek against his.
“So, Gigi, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?” he asked.
Her gaze snapped back to his. “What makes you think I wanted to talk to you about something?”
He chuckled and gestured to the house. “Maybe because you have a house full of people, but the moment I got here, you dragged me outside where no one else could interrupt us. Don’t forget, Clarity,” he said, using her given name, “I know you. We might both have more years and a few wrinkles on us now, but neither of us have changed that much. Something’s on your mind. I can tell by that line right here.” He touched her forehead lightly with one finger.
Gigi let out a frustrated sigh, hating that he knew her so well. There really was no beating around the bush about this. He’d see right through her. “I need you to tell me everything you know about my mother’s disappearance.”
Chapter Seven
Sebastian blinked at Gigi, surprise flashing in his gray eyes. He glanced over at the French doors again and then back at her. “That’s why you changed your mind about seeing me again? You think I have information about your mom?”
Gigi narrowed her eyes, wondering if any of his surprised reaction was an act. At any other time in her life, she’d have said no. But now… after the message from the ghost in her attic? She really wasn’t sure. “Don’t you?”
He shook his head and mumbled something inaudible as he turned to head back into the house.
“Sebastian, wait,” she called, unable to let him leave until they talked this out. “Please. Can you just tell me what happened that day when you came by the house?”
He paused, held still for a couple of beats, and then sighed as he turned around and walked back to her. “There isn’t anything new that I didn’t tell you then.”
“Okay,” she said, nodding. “I believe you, but would you mind humoring me? I… well, I just feel like I’m missing something.”
He frowned. “What is this about? Is there a new lead in your mom’s case?” he asked.
Gigi closed her eyes and shook her head slowly. “No. It’s not that. Not really. I’ve just been… getting this feeling that I need to look at what happened with fresh eyes. I can’t keep burying it and pretending I’m fine. Because I’m not.”
“I see,” he said softly, reaching out and draping an arm over her shoulders.
Gigi stiffened for a moment, but when he pulled her into a hug, she let him, unable to resist the physical comfort. It was a weird juxtaposition with her body welcoming his affection while her head screamed no. After a few seconds, she pulled away and crossed her arms over her chest.
Sebastian placed his hands on the railing and stared out at the horizon. “That was the day I was supposed to give you a ride after our last class, but I was held up by Mr. White because he wanted to talk to me about being a TA for his class the next semester. By the time we finished the meeting, I was an hour late meeting you at my car. You’d left me a note that you were going to take the bus. I immediately drove to your house to apologize, but you weren’t there.”
“I was at The Apothecary, trying to get a job,” Gigi said, remembering that while she’d been walking to the bus, she’d slipped into the herbal store and noticed a help wanted sign. She’d spent the next two hours talking to the owner and proving her worth as an herbal specialist.
“Right. Your mom didn’t even realize you hadn’t come home yet. She actually told me you were in your room, but when I went to find you, it was obvious you hadn’t been home that afternoon. When I went back to let her know you weren’t there, she was pacing the kitchen floor, muttering something about stale coffee and bad come-ons.”
Gigi smiled sadly. Her mother had been a coffee junkie. She must’ve gotten the new lazy barista who didn’t care if he was serving hours-old coffee and spent way too much time hitting on her.