"Thank you, honey. Sebastian and I were having the most delightful conversation. You didn't tell me he was your boss, Chast.i.ty. I guess that explains why he's here."

Chast.i.ty didn't have to ask her mother what that meant because she already knew. Normally, Brenda's cattiness just rolled off her back, but with Sebastian standing witness, the comments stung.

"And exactly why would you think I'm here?" Sebastian asked, turning his quizzical green gaze her mother's way.

"You're obviously here to work. Chast.i.ty is always willing to go that extra mile. She was like that in school as well, doing extra credit work-you know, always the teacher's pet. But, I guess since she didn't have much of a social life, she didn't have anything better to do."

"Brenda, I doubt Sebastian wants to hear anymore about my high school years," Chast.i.ty said through clenched teeth, her face burning with shame.

"On the contrary. I'd love to hear more," Sebastian said, taking a seat next to Brenda.

The older woman beamed triumphantly, sending her daughter a smug look as she touched Sebastian on the knee. "I have so many stories to tell. I don't know where to start," Brenda trilled.

Chast.i.ty took a seat, with the feeling of her heart being squeezed. If she could just imagine she was somewhere else right now, this wouldn't be so bad.

Sebastian prodded. "I'm sure you can think of something." Why was he doing this to her? Had he fallen under her mother's spell too? Brenda was a man-eater and if Sebastian couldn't see through it, then they were welcome to each other.

"Well, you really can't say she's had the most exciting life. I guess she takes after her father, G.o.d rest his soul. He had a lot of meat on his bones too, but it looks so much more attractive on a man." Brenda's eyes cut slyly in Chast.i.ty's direction, and it took everything within her not to get up and walk out of the room.

She should have known that nothing much had changed where her mother was concerned, but Chast.i.ty hadn't counted on someone witnessing it.

"I will have to disagree with you there. I think a little extra 'meat' as you so delightfully put it, looks rather well on some women. And maybe I'm a little biased where Chast.i.ty is concerned, but I think she carries herself rather well."

Chast.i.ty didn't know whether to laugh at the comical look on Brenda's face, who clearly wasn't used to being gainsaid, or to smile at Sebastian's defense of her.

Again her mother laughed, this time sounding phonier than ever. "You're such a sweet man, Sebastian, for being so kind to Chast.i.ty. I am, of course, glad to see that she's not a total disaster now. Lord knows she's spent most of her life in the awkward stage. I guess she inherited some of my genes after all." Brenda sighed like the long-suffering matron.

"She certainly didn't inherit her personality from you. On my short observation, you two are night and day," he intimated.

"Oh, heavens no. I'm much more outgoing. I guess that's why all of her little friends used to gravitate toward me, whenever she brought them home."

Sebastian looked Chast.i.ty's way, but she refused to meet his eyes. She felt like screaming and telling her mother to stop running her down, but once again, the old insecurities took over. She looked down at her lap, her hands tightly clenched together.

"Can I ask you something, Brenda?" he asked, his voice dropping an octave.

"Of course, sweetheart. You can ask me anything."

"Great, because I'd really like to know why you feel the need to rip your daughter apart the way you do. You just met me, yet you've let me know just how little you think of her. She's sat there and taken it like a lady, when most women would have knocked you out by now. You claim to have the looks and personality between the two of you, but it's obvious to me who got the cla.s.s."

Brenda's mouth fell open, giving her the appearance of a gaping fish. She wasn't the only one left speechless because Chast.i.ty was floored. Chast.i.ty couldn't remember a time when anyone, let alone a male, had ever talked to her mother like that.

Brenda took a moment to recover. Blinking, she said, "I beg your pardon?"

"You heard me. If you haven't figured it out yet, Chast.i.ty and I are more than just employer and employee. I care about her very much and take exception to anyone talking about her in the way you have for the past twenty minutes."

Brenda shot Chast.i.ty a pleading look. "Are you going to allow him to talk to me like that, Chast.i.ty?"

"Uh, Sebastian, I think it's probably best if you left. I appreciate everything you've done for me this week, but I need to spend some alone time with my mother."

His mouth tightened. "Is that what you really want?"

She nodded. "I think it's for the best. Let me walk you to your car."

Once they were outside, Sebastian let loose. "How could you just sit there and let her do that to you?"

"She's been doing it all my life. I'm used to it now. Most times, she's really not like she was just now."

"There was a lot more I would like to have told her, but I had to keep in mind that she's your mother. It's too bad she's forgotten that."

Chast.i.ty was touched by his indignation on her behalf. She placed her hand against his broad chest, stood on the tip of her toes and gave him a kiss on his jaw. "Thank you. No one has ever stood up for me like that before."

"Then why are you asking me to leave? Her picking will probably get worse without me around."

"No. It will get better. She only gets that way when there are men around, and no matter what, she's still my mother. We don't have a made-for-television kind of relationship, but I understand her."

"Then make me understand too, because I wanted to shake her."

Chast.i.ty's heart did a series of somersaults. It was going to be hard as h.e.l.l walking away from the way he made her feel. Her conscience told her to sever ties now to make the break easier, but as she looked into his pale green eyes, Chast.i.ty couldn't do it.

"From an early age, my mother had been told how beautiful she is. She grew up in a situation where her mind wasn't nurtured. All she had was her looks to rely on. As she gets older, Brenda realizes her own mortality. How can I hold it against her, when I know just how insecure she is? I admit that sometimes what she says can be hurtful and makes me doubt myself, but I've learned to accept her for the person she is."

Sebastian cupped her cheek, his thumb moving lightly over her skin. "You're amazing, Chast.i.ty. I only wish-you're very wise to see that."

She smiled at his compliment although it didn't distract her from the fact that he'd changed what he'd really wanted to say in midstream. She wondered what it was, but decided not to delve further into the matter. "A good friend pointed it out to me not very long ago. In her own way, she does care about me, but I've learned the hard lesson that the only approval I need is mine."

He brushed his lips against hers, causing a stirring between her thighs. "When shall I bring your wretched animals back?"

"Brenda is heading out in the morning."

"Good. I'll bring them back at noon. We'll make a day of it." Chast.i.ty would have protested, but Sebastian covered her lips with his finger. "I won't take no for an answer. See you tomorrow?"

She nodded, against her better judgment. Sebastian gave her another quick kiss before walking to his car. It just wasn't right for one man to look so d.a.m.n s.e.xy. When his car drove out of her line of vision, she sighed in resignation and walked back into her house, only to find her mother looking more than slightly miffed.

"Sorry that took so long," Chast.i.ty apologized.

"Who does that man think he is? Did you hear him call me cla.s.sless? I hope you gave him the what for."

Here we go again. "Uh, yeah. We did have a talk, but you know, Brenda, you were laying it on a bit thick."

Hazel eyes widened, the picture of mock innocence. "What did I do? He asked about you and I told him."

"Yes, but it's funny that you always manage to come out on top at my expense."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Absolutely nothing. If I thought it would make a difference, I'd have plenty to say, but it's probably better if we just drop it."

"No. I don't want to drop it. Chast.i.ty, I may not be the best example of motherhood, but I do love you. If something I've said or done has upset you, I wish you'd let me know."

"Brenda, it's much too late to play the mother role with me."

The older woman released a sigh, twisting the large emerald ring on her finger. "You're right. I haven't been a very good parent to you, but I did the best I could. Maybe I can never be the maternal figure you need, but can't we at least be friends?"

Chast.i.ty shrugged. "That's the problem. I never wanted your friendship. I wanted a mother. I'd like to be able to have a conversation with you without being told what a loser I am."

Brenda frowned. "I don't think you're a loser."

"Really? It sure seems like you do. Look, I realized that it's not me. It's just the way you are, but sometimes, like today, you can be extremely hurtful. I've had enough."

"I see." Brenda stood and walked over to her daughter. "Sweetheart, I don't ever think I can be the person you want me to be, but I'm sorry that I've hurt you. I...well, the truth is, I've just been so d.a.m.n jealous of you. I hated myself sometimes and instead of-" She broke off to nibble on her bottom lip.

Chast.i.ty was too stunned to hear her mother admit what others had only speculated. It was obviously a day of revelations. "Jealous of me? You're gorgeous, and men fall over themselves to get to you."

A faint smile touched Brenda's burgundy-smeared lips. "There's no denying that, but so are you, sweetheart. You look great, by the way. I knew you always had so much potential, and that's why...I'm not proud to admit this, but I flirted with all your boyfriends to prove to myself that I was still a desirable woman. Call me ignorant, but I didn't realize how damaging that was to you. I was too wrapped up in my own self and issues to see that you were hurting. Besides, men look at me and want one thing. Men look at you and they want more."

"Hardly," Chast.i.ty snorted. "I was such an introvert."

"Yet, you inspire loyalty in a lot of people. Look at how protective Dallas is of you, and you remember that silly boy you brought home from school and caught me with? While he was with me, all he could do was talk about you. He was guilty as h.e.l.l afterwards and I really think he cared about you, but you know how boys think with their little heads at that age."

This was news to Chast.i.ty.

"And look at your Sebastian...if I were you, girl, I'd hold on to that man and never let go. It's obvious he's crazy about you, Chast.i.ty. I've never said this before, but I'm very proud of you and I admire you."

Hearing her mother say the words after all this time meant a lot. Brenda wrapped her slender arms around Chast.i.ty and kissed her on the cheek. It was the first time Chast.i.ty's mother had ever hugged her since she was very small. Maybe things would be okay between the two of them now.

Chast.i.ty didn't fool herself into thinking that things would be perfect, but at least an understanding had been reached. Now, all she had to do was figure out what she should do about Sebastian.

Chapter Fourteen.

Chast.i.ty pushed away from her desk and stood to stretch her tense muscles. She must have been sitting for three hours straight, the last half hour of which she'd spend trying to draft the same letter. A nice ma.s.sage would be great right now, she thought, but it wouldn't solve her problems.

If anything, work was the least of her worries. Things weren't going according to plan. In fact, her mission to exact revenge against Sebastian Rossi had gone completely haywire. When she and her friends had come up with their strategy, Chast.i.ty didn't calculate on falling even harder for him than she had before. A few months had now pa.s.sed since they'd become lovers, and each time they came together was explosive.

Chast.i.ty would daydream about the way his tongue danced over her body, how his c.o.c.k felt plundering her wet p.u.s.s.y, and the way he'd hold her afterwards, stroking and kissing her neck as if they were more than just f.u.c.k buddies.

The thing was, she wasn't really sure what they were anymore. From the day he'd taken her to his house to take care of her, there'd been a shift in control. Sebastian no longer allowed her to call all the shots. They'd fallen into a pattern. At work, things were kept as professional as possible, with the exception of the time he'd caught her in the file room alone.

Sebastian had quickly locked the door, pulled her against his hard body and fingered her until her knees went weak. Most nights when he wasn't bogged down with work, Sebastian would come to her place or she'd go to his and they'd f.u.c.k until all hours of the night. On the weekends, they'd go out, doing things like a real couple. Even her friends were beginning to suspect there was something going on between the two of them that had nothing to do with Chast.i.ty seeking revenge.

She shouldn't have let things go this far, and now Sebastian was talking about taking her to Long Island to meet his mother. Chast.i.ty glanced at her desk clock and sighed. Five o' clock, quitting time, yet there was still so much to be done. Sebastian had made no mention of getting together tonight, since he didn't know what time he'd get back from court.

Maybe that was for the best. It would give her time to figure out what she needed to do. Whatever it was, Chast.i.ty had to do it fast, or else she would be in deeper than she already was. Even though she had a pile of paperwork on her desk, she figured it wasn't anything that couldn't wait until tomorrow. Just as she was shutting down her computer, Sebastian walked over, startling her. "Chast.i.ty."

She jumped in surprise. "Holy cow, Sebastian! You're going to give me a heart attack."

"I'm sorry. I know this is short notice, but do you mind staying late tonight? I have a few things I'm going to need to have done by tomorrow morning."

Chast.i.ty furrowed her brows. He looked distracted, cagey almost, as if something was weighing heavily on his mind. "Sure. What do you need me to do?" she asked, grabbing her pad and pen. In this way she could relate to him, because then she didn't have to a.n.a.lyze her feelings. She jotted down a list of items he rattled off to her.

"Anything else?" she asked.

"No. I think that's it. If you need me, I'll be in my office. I'm staying late as well." There was no s.e.xual undertone to this statement, which was fine, but again, Chast.i.ty got the impression that there was something going on that he wasn't letting on to.

"Okay. I got it."

"Oh, and don't worry. A few others have agreed to help out as well. I really appreciate you doing this for me."

Pearl chose that moment to walk over to them, hands on hips and lips pursed in one thin, angry line. Her faded blue eyes narrowed slightly as she looked up at Sebastian. "Don't expect me to stay late. Carl and I have our bowling league tonight. You can't expect a body to stay late without giving proper notice."

Chast.i.ty wanted to sock the old biddy. In the last several weeks, Pearl had become harder to deal with, constantly muttering under her breath and making snide comments. On most days, Chast.i.ty could ignore her, but there were times, like today, when the urge to shake the disagreeable woman was nearly too strong to resist.

"Sebastian was talking to me, Pearl, not you," Chast.i.ty pointed out.

Pearl's head whipped around so fast she looked like the kid on the Exorcist. Her eyes shooting daggers. "I wasn't talking to you, Miss High and Mighty. Just because the two of you are having an affair, doesn't give you the right to talk to me like your stuff doesn't stink."

It was now Sebastian's turn to glare. Lifting a sinister dark brow, he asked, "I beg your pardon? Would you care to repeat that, Pearl?"

Embarra.s.sment flickered briefly over the older woman's face, before defiance replaced it. "Well, it's no big secret that the two of you have something going on. I see the way you look at each other, and personally, I think it's disgusting. You two have made this a hostile work environment for a decent Christian woman like me."

"Those are very serious charges you're levying against us. Have you caught the two of us in the act?"

Pearl's nostrils flared. "I'm not stupid. I don't have to see it, to know it's happening! I see the way you two go off together. Aren't there rules against stuff like this?"

Sebastian remained expressionless, but Chast.i.ty could tell he was p.i.s.sed. "I suggest you think long and hard before you bring this up again in my or Chast.i.ty's presence, if you want to continue working here." He spoke with such dead calm that made Chast.i.ty feel the chill from where she stood.

Pearl lost all color in her face. Chast.i.ty couldn't figure out if Pearl was incredibly stubborn or just plain stupid when she didn't back down right then and there. "Oh, so now you're threatening me for speaking my mind? I work just as hard as the African Queen over here, but because I don't spread my legs for you, I'm the one who gets the flack."

Chast.i.ty's hand flew to her mouth to hide her gasp. Pearl had said some pretty nasty things in the past, but nothing this vicious. She was practically begging to be fired. Instead of exploding like Chast.i.ty thought he would, Sebastian remained calm.

"That's quite enough, Pearl. No one is keeping you here right now. Have fun at your bowling league tonight, but I think you should start looking for a position elsewhere, if you have a problem working in this 'hostile environment'. As a matter of fact, it would probably be for the best," he said, before turning to Chast.i.ty. "Thanks for staying." He walked off then.

Chast.i.ty shook her head at Pearl, who stood there with her mouth agape. "You miserable old battle-ax. Sebastian has more cla.s.s in his pinky than you have in your entire body."

"How sweet of you to defend your lover, but he'll soon get tired of you like the rest of the s.l.u.ts who parade through here. His kind can't keep it in his pants. I can't wait to find another job and get away from the likes of you two."

"Pearl, you're going to make me forget I'm a lady, and that you're old enough to be my grandmother, if you don't leave this minute."

"I'll leave when I'm good and ready. I'm not going to let some stupid cow tell me what to do. You're nothing but a dumb-"

"Say it, and I'll hand your teeth back to you in a bag." Chast.i.ty's hands clenched into tight fists. Pearl must have read something in her eyes because she quickly turned away muttering under her breath.

Chast.i.ty stood with folded arms as she watched her nemesis gather her things. Pearl sent her one last scathing look before marching off in a huff. Old b.i.t.c.h. With a deep breath, Chast.i.ty sat down at her desk again. It wasn't the first time someone had insulted her, and unfortunately it wouldn't be the last, but she was still ticked.