Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus Betrayal Read online

  “Come on, Sebastian, tell me. Where are we going?” Lily asked, heartbeat quickening in excitement and not a little anxiety. The two emotions seemed to go hand-in-hand wherever Sebastian was concerned.

  “We’re almost there,” was all he said.

  True to his word, they soon pulled into the Westin Peachtree Plaza, home to the fifth-tallest building in Atlanta. The skyscraper soared above them, a round monolith of glass that reflected the lights of the city in a kaleidoscope of twinkling colors. The gold lettering above its entrance declared it to be a hotel, which only confused Lily more.

  “Um, what are we doing here?” she asked as they pulled up to the entrance and a valet headed toward them.

  “What do you think, silly?” he asked with a grin. Before she could protest further, he had exited the car and was handing off the keys. Then he came around to help her out before waving a thanks at the valet.

  Lily tried to calm herself with a few deep breaths. It wasn’t the formality of the location that made her nervous—she actually preferred formal to informal, as it was easier to hide behind a protective wall of politeness. But not knowing where they were going or what they were doing made her stomach clench uncomfortably. She preferred to be in control of her environment; life was just safer that way.

  Sir Kipling’s words about worry and expectations came back to her and she resisted the urge to scowl. That blasted cat was too smart for his own good.

  Smoothing her expression into a demure smile, she took the arm Sebastian proffered and followed him up the marble steps, trying to keep her grip light and relaxed even as nerves fluttered like butterflies in her chest. They passed into a soaring lobby of glass, marble, and sparkling chandeliers, and her eyes widened as she gazed upward at the impressive sight. Not even her grandparents’ manor house, which was built of stately stone and filled with priceless antiques, was this grand.

  Instead of leading them toward the front desk, Sebastian headed straight for the elevators. To her surprise, even the elevator had an operator, as if the guests of the hotel were considered too important to push their own buttons. As they entered, Sebastian leaned in and whispered into the man’s ear, slipping him something in the process. Probably a tip, as would be proper. The man did not reply, but simply nodded and slid a small key into the elevator control panel, turned it, then pressed the unlit button marked “73.”

  Wondering nervously what Sebastian was up to, Lily kept her eyes on the red-carpeted floor as the elevator ascended. Whatever it was, it would be marvelous, she told herself, trying out the whole positive-expectations thing. It would be relaxing. Enjoyable. Definitely not illegal. She wasn’t sure if her mental exercise was working, but the last thought did coax a fond smile to her lips as she recalled their past misadventures—Sebastian tended to view rules and regulations more as suggestions than requirements.

  When the elevator finally dinged, announcing their arrival at the seventy-third level, Sebastian gave a silent nod of thanks to the operator and held out a hand to Lily. “Shall we, my lady?” His smile was crooked and teasing, the laughter twinkling in his eyes inviting her to share his mirth. His excitement infused the air between them and sent a shiver of anticipation down to her toes as she raised her hand to place it—trembling only slightly—in his. Before she knew it, Sebastian had whisked her out of the elevator and down a corridor toward a dark flight of stairs. The elevator doors pinged behind them as they closed, leaving them alone in the dimness. By the still silence around them and the chill air that raised goosebumps on her skin, Lily guessed this part of the hotel was either unused or closed for some reason. Above her at the top of the stairs, she could tell the room opened out into a large circular space, its far reaches lost in the gloom.

  “Close your eyes,” Sebastian prompted as he prepared to lead her up the stairs. When she gave him a doubtful look, he only grinned wider. “I promise, you’ll enjoy it more that way. What’s a surprise without a little mystery thrown in?”

  Hoping she didn’t trip and fall flat on her face, Lily squeezed her eyes shut, resisting the urge to peek. Sebastian carefully guided her up the steps and around a corner, leading her into the middle of the large, open space, the echo of their footsteps muffled on the carpet. He positioned her carefully as soft music began to play in the background and the glow of muted light grew behind her eyelids.

  Sebastian moved behind her and his hands, palms surprisingly warm and soft, rested on her bare shoulders as he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Open your eyes.”

  The sight that greeted her was breathtakingly magical. A wide circular space surrounded them, its walls made entirely of glass that afforded a stunning, three-sixty-degree view of the glimmering expanse of Atlanta spread out below. Tiny pinpricks of gold, silver, and green twinkled in the air throughout the room, almost like Christmas lights but with no visible support, reminding her of the ethereal beauty of Melthalin, the fae realm they had visited last September in the midst of their adventures. The effect was surreal, making Lily feel like they were in the heavens among the stars, looking down on the world, its hustle and bustle muted so that its true majesty could shine through.

  Moisture pricked the corners of Lily’s eyes, the unexpected beauty of it all overwhelming her.

  “What do you think?” Sebastian’s breath tickled her ear and the skin of her neck left exposed by her fancy updo. He hadn’t moved, and the warmth of his body behind her was comforting in the chill.

  “I—I’ve never seen anything more beautiful,” she breathed, though the words felt clumsy and didn’t do the scene justice. She felt Sebastian relax behind her, and a part of her laughed inside. He’d been nervous.

  Well, that made two of them.

  “I’m glad you agree,” Sebastian murmured in her ear, voice cracking as he slid his hands down her arms to gently capture her fingers and give them a squeeze. “Since it’s what I think every time I look at you.”

  His words did something funny to her body, and she found she couldn’t move as every nerve hummed and her knees turned weak and wobbly. Her senses sharpened, and she became hyper-aware of his soft touch, the gentle cadence of his breathing, and the faint, musty smell of him offset by a hint of spice. All of it put together turned her brain to mush, handily short-circuiting any form of coherent thought. Was this what swooning felt like? It was a good thing she wasn’t facing him, because she might have just collapsed into his arms.

  Sebastian saved her from having to reply—which she couldn’t have done anyway—by nudging her toward the edge of the room. “Come look. You can see Atlanta even better from over here.”

  The wobble-inducing moment passed, giving Lily’s brain a chance to reboot with a sputter as Sebastian led the way to the edge of what turned out to be a railed platform. They stood at the top of a three-tiered construction, with two more levels below them. The middle level was wider than the top and filled with lounge-type seats—open-aired and railed as well—while the bottom level extended all the way out to the glass wall and was full of tables and chairs.

  “Welcome to the most picturesque restaurant in Atlanta,” said Sebastian.

  Lily drank in the sights below her, walking slowly and following the curve of the rail to get a look at every side of Atlanta’s vast expanse. “It’s amazing,” she murmured, then tore her eyes from the spectacle to give him a concerned look. “But why is it empty?”

  “Oh, just temporarily closed for repairs. I know a guy who knows a guy, so I managed to get us a little, shall we say, private evening.” He grinned, eyes sparkling in the lights that hovered around them. “The levels normally turn slowly to show off the view, but of course everything is shut down for the renovations.”

  That explained why it was so chilly, though Sebastian’s hand still wrapped around her fingers helped to stave it off. She wondered what it had cost him to organize such an elaborate affair. She knew his parents had left him a considerable sum, but he had always been loath to use it. The idea that he had dipped into it
just for her made her heart swell. Needing a distraction, she looked back out over the glittering cityscape, the thrill of meeting in such a private place warring with her ingrained rule-following nature. “Um…are you sure we can be up here? What if the hotel owners find out?”

  “We’re fine, Lil, I promise,” Sebastian said, squeezing her hand. “I totally could have snuck us in no problem. But I knew you would disapprove, so I made sure to get permission from the appropriate parties, even if they did need a little persuading.” The grin in his voice made her blush, and she pursed her lips, partly annoyed at being so predictable, but mostly trying to hide the exasperated smile that threatened to give her away. If he caught her being amused by his obstreperous ways, it would drive him to new heights of mischief. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice. With a gentle tug, he drew her back toward the center of the room where there was an island, which looked like it served as the bar when the restaurant was in use.

  Now that her attention was no longer distracted by the mesmerizing view, Lily noticed the little table pulled up next to the bar, white tablecloth draped across it and two candles burning between sets of shining silverware. On the bar sat several plastic bags bulging with unknown items. After pulling out a chair for her and getting her seated, Sebastian began to rummage through the bags, pulling out one item after another.

  “It’s not exactly five-star fare, but I showed a menu to Sir Kip and he pointed out your favorite things, so…” He laid a plastic takeout container in front of her, then opened it with a flourish.

  A wave of savory deliciousness wafted up, drawing a surprised chuckle from her throat. “Fried chicken? Seriously? You brought me to the fanciest restaurant in all of Atlanta to serve me fried chicken? On a cat’s advice?”

  “Hey, I’ll have you know it is a tried-and-true classic, the very essence of southern cuisine. Besides, Kip is a smart cat.”

  “That he is,” Lily agreed, shaking her head. “But fried chicken is a finger food, and I’m wearing velvet.”

  “You, my dear madam, are a wizard. Do you mean to tell me that in all the history of magic there has never been a spell created to vanish grease spots?” Sebastian struck a dramatic pose, a hand over his heart. “My faith in wizardkind is shattered.”

  Lily rolled her eyes, trying—and failing—to hide her smile this time as she made a mental note to discuss situation-appropriate meal choices with her too-smart-for-his-own-good feline.

  Sebastian coughed and returned to his bags, pulling out more items. “That’s not all, of course. No fried chicken meal would be complete without potato salad, corn pudding, mashed potatoes, and collard greens with bacon.” He unveiled each with the gravitas of a five-star chef, along with a gallon of what looked like sweet tea, its rich amber color gleaming in the twinkle of the fairy lights.

  Lily did her best to remain dignified, nodding gravely at each item instead of giving into the fit of giggles that threatened to escape her lips. As ridiculous as the situation seemed to her, Sebastian had obviously put considerable thought and effort into it, and his earnestness made her feel warm and floaty all over again. She was determined to simply enjoy the moment instead of micro-analyzing everything into oblivion. Smiling up at her date, she let the smell of southern comfort food and the sight of Sebastian’s tall, handsome figure drive away her lingering anxiety. “It looks wonderful. So, can we eat? I’m famished.”

  The flash of relief on his face, which was quickly covered by an expression of comical formality, tugged at her heartstrings. Bowing at the waist, he offered her an empty wine glass. “Of course, madam. Tea?” She accepted the glass and held it as he poured. To top it off, he produced a slice of lemon that he perched on the edge of the cup with a flamboyant gesture.

  After pouring himself some tea as well, Sebastian began to serve the food with utmost care, not spilling even the tiniest morsel on the pristine tablecloth. Lily was quite impressed, though a small, exasperated part of her wondered why he wasn’t this neat and tidy all the time. It was Sebastian’s apartment and car—both of which closely mimicked a biohazard zone—that made her appreciate men who took cleanliness seriously. If only he could be more like—

  Lily stopped herself, a flash of guilt making her insides squirm. Why did her brain have to constantly critique everything? As Sebastian took his seat, she shrugged her stole higher against the chill and focused on enjoying herself.

  “Er, sorry about that,” came Sebastian’s voice. She looked up to find him back on his feet and removing his tux jacket. “I tried to get them to turn on the heat for the evening, but that would have been a bit too noticeable. This will keep you warm.”

  Lily tried to protest, but Sebastian simply waited until she had run out of excuses before he held the jacket out again, an endearing smile on his face. Hoping the light was too dim to show the color that flushed her cheeks, she let him help her into the jacket. As he returned to his seat, she tried not to stare at the pleasing way his tall frame filled out the shirt of his tux, his sparkling eyes and boyish grin only adding to the sight.

  When they sat down again and dug in, the food was bordering on lukewarm, but nothing short of delicious in all its flavorful, southern glory. For a while, the only sound was the soothing background music and the scraping of their silverware. Sighing contentedly over a mouthful of corn pudding, Lily couldn’t help but think of her childhood growing up in the Alabama countryside. Her mother wasn’t exactly Martha Stewart, but she believed that good, homemade food was essential to a strong family, and made sure their evening meals were something to look forward to after a hard day’s work. Struck by a sudden curiosity, Lily set down her fork and plucked up her courage to ask a personal question—something she normally avoided.

  “Um, Sebastian?”

  “Uuuhhhrr, yef?” he replied, eyes wide in a guilty expression, probably because of the indelicately large bite of fried chicken dangling from his mouth.

  Lily giggled at his deer-in-headlights look, then slapped a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you a question right in the middle of a bite.”

  “Ouh, ur fie, I ust, um…” he trailed off at her quickly thinning lips, closed his mouth, and chewed while looking down contritely. When he was done he dabbed his lips carefully with a napkin and gave her an innocent smile. “You were saying?”

  “Yes, um, well…I was wondering…that is, I was thinking about dinner growing up and was curious…what was it like for you? Growing up, I mean? With, um…your family?”

  A shadow passed over Sebastian’s face, and Lily could have kicked herself for being so stupid. Who wanted to talk about their dead parents on an enchanting date? But instead of closing down, Sebastian just sighed, a sad smile on his lips and a wistful look in his eyes. “Mom was…spontaneous. She preferred being outdoors and sometimes forgot to start cooking early enough, so we had a lot of late dinners. But she had the most wonderful garden in the back yard, and we always had fresh vegetables, herbs, berries, you name it. Sometimes, when I was really little, I’d get in trouble for eating things right out of the garden instead of waiting for supper.” He chuckled at the memory, and Lily couldn’t help but smile with him.

  “So, was your dad the organized one?”

  Sebastian’s laugh turned harsh. “More like obsessive. He was usually too engrossed in his books to remember to clean up, except every now and then when he’d suddenly realize the real world existed and nobody was allowed to rest until everything was put just right.”

  Lily didn’t know whether or not to smile at that. “Um…sounds…”

  “Chaotic?”

  “Weelll,” she hedged. “I was going to say exciting, but at least you come by your, um, habits honestly.”

  Now Sebastian really did grin. “Wondering where my compulsive cleaning sprees have been hiding all these years?”

  Lily blushed and looked down, but Sebastian burst out laughing. It soon died away, though, and Sebastian’s face grew grave again. “I take more after my mo
m, I guess. Golden Boy Freddie got Dad’s obsession with books and learning. Probably why Dad always seemed to like him better.”

  “Oh no, I’m sure that’s not true!” Lily protested. At his skeptical look, her heart constricted and her hand moved of its own accord, reaching across the table to wrap around his. “My stepfather is a farmer through and through, and I never really understood him. He always got along better with my stepsiblings and my little brother. I used to think it meant he didn’t love me, but now I know it was just that he didn’t know how to relate to me. We didn’t have much common ground. But that didn’t mean he cared for me any less.”

  Sebastian shrugged, his eyes on their joined hands.

  “You know,” Lily tried again, “I bet he was always fussing at you to study more and work harder, right?”

  Her friend gave a derisive snort. “You can say that again.”

  “Well, that means he cared too much, not too little. When you don’t care about something, you ignore it. Your father must have loved you, he probably just didn’t understand why you weren’t more like him.”

  Sebastian finally raised his eyes to hers, their depths full of pain but also something else. Perhaps longing. “You think so?”

  “I’m sure of it,” Lily promised, though she really had no idea. She would say anything to ease those lines of sorrow creasing her friend’s brow. For a long moment they didn’t move, hand in hand, staring into each other’s eyes. Lily didn’t know what was happening, but it didn’t feel right to break the silence, so she let Sebastian take his time. Finally, he looked away.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some dessert.”

  Letting the matter drop, Lily took a deep breath and arranged her face in a pleasant smile. “Certainly. What’s on the menu?”