Billionaire Behind the Mask (Texas Cattleman's Club: Rags to Riches 5)

But if the blazing attraction didn’t return, Sebastian would be sorely disappointed.

Four

Lauren was just nervous. Yeah. That was it.

There was no other explanation for why this was quite possibly the most boring date she’d ever been on in her life. She was dining with a handsome, rich and powerful man at the best and most expensive restaurant in town. It shouldn’t be that hard to have a good time. The food had been amazing and the wine deliciously paired with each course. Sebastian was an excellent conversationalist, getting even her introverted self to talk freely. And he was also charming and polite, favoring her with that same beautiful smile she remembered from their first night together. They’d had a nice enough time.

It just didn’t feel like a date. It felt like dinner with a friend from out of town. Pleasant enough, but not charged with that same undeniable spark of attraction that had left her breathless from the moment they’d first met.

Now the green eyes she’d lost herself in at the gala were studying her across the table as they finished their desserts. The same chiseled jawline she’d kissed was moving gently as he chewed the last bite of his cheesecake. Every physical indication pointed toward Sebastian being the man she was with that night. Everything but the most important part—the chemistry.

After he paid the check, they walked around the beautifully designed grounds of the Bellamy Hotel for a while. The weather was cooler, but the skies were clear, making for a pleasant fall evening for Texas. She might have even enjoyed the stroll if not for the pressure she’d put on herself for tonight to be special. And, of course, for the heels from the party she’d worn again, as though some magical shoes would make the difference.

Once again, they didn’t do much more than pinch her toes and make her regret wearing them. They were going in the donation pile the minute she got home.

They finally made their way back to Sebastian’s car, and with no other reason to continue their night together, he drove her back to her small home, far from the luxurious ranches and expensive mansions of Pine Valley. Her place was small and much more modest in every respect except the kitchen. She had it remodeled to suit a chef and now it likely rivaled even the most expensive home in Royal. You wouldn’t know it when you looked at the outside of the house, though.

He pulled into her driveway and, like the gentleman he was, ran around the car to open her door and then escorted her up the cobblestone walkway to her front porch. It was nice, but her big, bad wolf hadn’t been entirely a gentleman. He’d taken what she’d freely given and she missed that intensity tonight. She missed everything from their first night together.

“Sebastian,” she said as she stopped on her doorstep and turned around to face him. He was following close behind, but thankfully not too close. She didn’t think he’d be asking for a kiss or anything more tonight.

“Yes?”

“I had a nice time this evening.”

“I did, too,” h

e said with a blankly polite smile that proved to her that he was as unimpressed with their date as she was.

She felt like an obligation to him, and that was worse than their lack of sexual attraction. She had to end this before they wasted any more time just being courteous. “And I appreciate you making an effort to turn our night together into more. But I’m not sure we should go out again.”

His expression was mildly surprised. “Are you breaking up with me? I’ve never been dumped in my life.”

“I wouldn’t say dumped,” she corrected. Lauren didn’t want to be known as the only woman dumb enough to break it off with Sebastian Wingate. “I’d say we parted ways by mutual decision. You can’t tell me that you had an amazing time tonight and can’t wait to see me again.”

“Well, no,” he admitted sheepishly. “But I’ve had worse dates. And I don’t know that I’m ready to give up on us so soon. It was just one night. Maybe we should do something different next time. Something a little less formal and stuffy. I think we both put too much pressure on ourselves to make this date successful.” He cleared his throat. “How about we drive up to Dallas and do something fun? There’s plenty of restaurants, museums and other things to do there.”

Lauren studied his face and felt conflicted by his words. He was trying. He really was. But if it was only out of obligation, she didn’t want any part in it. So, they had a night of hot, anonymous sex. He shouldn’t feel guilty for that. That said, one more date wouldn’t be too much to ask. If it didn’t work out, she could at least say she had taken a real shot at trying to recapture the magic.

“Okay.” She relented. “We can try another date. One more. And we’ll see how it goes. A trip to Dallas sounds like an all-day affair, though. I won’t be able to get away until next Wednesday when the trucks are closed.”

Sebastian’s brows knit together in confusion. “Don’t you have staff that can handle things?”

“Yes...” But she wasn’t the kind to leave her metal-and-rubber babies without supervision.

“You took last Saturday night off. I think you can do it again.”

Lauren sighed. “I’ll talk to my team and see what I can do.” She supposed everything did go fine last weekend with the trucks. Amy and Javier were competent sous chefs. She just wasn’t great at relinquishing control. That was why Amy had entered her in the contest to begin with.

“Great.” Sebastian leaned in, his eyes asking the question she wasn’t prepared to answer yet. But she didn’t pull away. She let it happen, closing her eyes as his lips met hers. It was a brief kiss. A soft, gentle kiss. But a kiss completely unlike any of the ones they’d shared Saturday night.

She’d let the kiss happen in the hopes that it would spark something between them. That perhaps their bodies would finally remember what they’d shared and the fires would light in her belly again.

Nothing.

When he finally pulled away, Lauren noted a flicker of disappointment and frustration in his green eyes. She knew exactly how he felt. They could both tell something was off, but neither of them knew what to do about it. Maybe a casual day in Dallas would make the difference.

She hoped so.