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[Dinner For Two]

SEBASTIAN

I sighed, nearing the point of annoyance, watching as my mother and best friend hovered over my mate, sickeningly sweet, fawning and asking a platitude of questions.

Sierra could barely breathe before they asked another question. She, though, was too sweet to tell them all to shut up and let her breathe. I wasn’t.

“Okay, okay, give her some space to breathe, would ya? I’m sure my mate could use a shower to wash off the gunk from the long drive. Rory, I need to see you in my office.” I took Sierra’s hand and headed up to our floor.

“I can’t thank you enough for saving me back there,” she smiled tightly. “Your family can be a bit--“

“Overbearing? Suffocating?” I finished for her.

“I was gonna say sweet, that can work, too.” She laughed.

I scoffed. “Please, you’re the sweet one. If that was me, I’d tell them all to shut the hell up. My family is a bunch of vultures—gregarious.”

Sierra smacked me on the arm and threw her head back in laughter. “The