Mom was already back and watching me as I turned away from where Sebastian had stood. Her eyes twinkled, a naughty look on her face as she closed the kitchen door behind her.

Damn flushing reflex. He'd just told me we couldn't be together, hadn't he? And I was still all fangirl gooey over him.

Mom had the decency not to say anything, just crossed the room and hugged me.

"I thought you had a meeting?" I didn't mean to be grumpy. She let me go, retrieved her ...