Unrestrained (Unrestrained 3)

"Don't take that the wrong way," he said quickly, a small grin starting on his mouth. "I know, I know. You have a fiancé. You're taken. I promise I'll be totally professional, although it will be torture…"

I didn't smile. "I'll think about it. But only if you're on your best behavior."

"On my honor," he said, his hand over his heart. "I promise no more talk about your personal life other than to say that I don’t often meet someone who shares both my profession and my obsession. I find it hard not to pursue both."

He was a charmer, of that there was little doubt. I knew that if I had never met Drake, and I met Sefton instead, I would have been flattered by his attention.

"So can I tell Talia that you'll take the Master class? I know she's looking forward to having you in it as much as I am. And I mean that sincerely, as a professional."

I nodded, finally smiling. "I'll consider it."

"Please do," he said and smiled back. Then he looked around and made a face. "Oh, there's a man here, standing over at the door, looking at us very intently. He looks, from what I remember, like your man."

I glanced at the door and a shock went through me.

It was Drake. He leaned against the back wall, a cup of coffee in his hand, his gaze fixed on me. Other than his dark expression, he looked delicious, dressed in his faded jeans, a white shirt and over top of it, his lab coat. He must have come on a break between classes or surgeries. I smiled and stood up. "Excuse me," I said to Sefton, who also stood.

"Tell him not to worry," Sefton said, his voice conspiratorial. He took the opportunity to touch my shoulder. "I'll be a perfect gentleman if you take my class."

I went to Drake, searching his face to detect his mood. His face was unreadable, with the exception of his lips, which were pressed a bit thinner than normal. I knew he was upset at finding Sefton talking to me, the two of us smiling at each other.

"Ms. Bennet," he said, his voice soft. He took a sip of his coffee, as if trying to appear calm. "I thought I'd pop in and see what it is you artists do when you're not being watched. I take it that's your other suitor?"

"He's not a suitor," I said. "How long have you been here?" I put a hand on his shoulder to make a connection with him, show him and Sefton how I felt.

"Long enough."

I frowned. "What do you mean, long enough?"

"Long enough to know that he's got his eye set on you, Kate."

I forced a laugh, but it sounded hollow even to me. "He promised to be a complete gentleman and apologized for being improper."

"I'll bet he did."

"Drake…"

Drake exhaled loudly. "Kate, if you can't see his behavior for what it is, let me enlighten you. He wants you. He's probably decided to lay on the charm so he doesn't scare you off."

"He admitted as much." I shook my head. "He promised to be entirely professional."

"Of course he did. I did, too, if I remember correctly, and we all know how that turned out."

"What are you saying?"

He shook his head and glanced over my shoulder. I turned and saw that for his part, Sefton leaned against the wall by the huge bank of windows, his arms crossed. He stared across the room at me. When my eyes met his, he shrugged slightly, as if to say he wasn't at fault.

If looks could kill, Sefton and Drake would have already slain each other. I could almost feel the sparks fly between them. Drake took a sip from his coffee, but his eyes never left Sefton. For a moment, I felt as if this could only end in some kind of confrontation, so instead of letting the two men stare each other down any longer, I put my hands on Drake' shoulders, deciding to make a public show of my affections to drive home to both Drake and Sefton where my loyalties and desires lay.

I leaned up to kiss him but his body was rigid, his eyes half-hooded and I could feel the tension in his neck when I rested my hands around it. He didn’t bend down to meet me for a kiss so I had to stand on my tiptoes in order to reach him. He kissed me back, but it was perfunctory rather than heartfelt.

Talia came up to us.

"Kate, is there a problem? We're about to finish up."

I t

urned to Talia. "I'm sorry. This is my fiancé, Drake Morgan. He popped in for a moment."