Free Indulgence (Taking Chances #1) by Jeanne McDonald

from me.  “Your name, Miss?”
    I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak.  This man had me under some sort of spell.  His every movement was smooth yet stoic.  Nothing about him was out of place.  His hair styled perfectly, his tie straight, and even his jacket contoured to his body as if it were afraid to move without his permission.  He carried himself as I imagined royalty would.
    “Miss?” he repeated, his voice decadently smooth with a hint of amusement.
    I blinked a few times, trying to clear the fog.  “I’m sorry.”
    “Your name is I’m sorry ?”  
    “No.  I…”  
    God, what the fuck is wrong with me?
    His lips twitched, but never produced a true grin.  
    “George.  Addison George,” I blurted out.
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you.  Are you sure there’s no problem?  From what I just witnessed, you seemed discontent with some of our rules.”  He tapped scary lady’s shoulder, who immediately removed my card from the box and handed it up to him.  His eyes scanned my information before returning his gaze to me.
    I swallowed, shaking my head.  David was right.  Being in the presence of Sebastian Hawk was much different than seeing him on the cover of a magazine or on television.  So many people knew his face and his fortune, but few knew the man himself.  Media salivated over anything they could find on him, but most times the stories contradicted something that had previously been reported.  One thing was for sure though, well two actually.  One, he had a damn good press secretary, and two, he was a magnificent specimen of man.
    Taking a deep breath, I found it in me to answer, “No, Sir.  No problem at all.”
    Sebastian raised his shoulders and dropped them in an almost sigh.  It was the only chink in his armor I’d seen, but was gone as quickly as it came.  The way his tuxedo hugged his body made me weak in the knees.  Never had I been more jealous of fabric as I was at this very moment.  He handed my information back to scary lady and tucked his hands into his pockets.  “Very well.  If you require any assistance tonight, do let me know.”
    “Personally?” fell from my lips before I could stop it.
    “Addison!” Amber hissed.
    The corner of his mouth twitched into the most delicious crooked grin.  “Have a lovely evening, Ms. George.”  He cocked his head to the side, eyeing me with immense curiosity.  He straightened his back, narrowing his shoulders.  With one last lingering glance, he clicked his heels, turned around, and disappeared from whence he came.
    “Holy shit.  That was…that was…” I blathered.
    The scary lady smiled.  Had I not been still mystified by Sebastian, I might have been frightened.  Damn, those were some sharp-looking teeth.  “Amazing, yes,” she mocked.
    “C’mon,” Amber snarled, grabbing me by the arm.
    “Oh, Miss George,” the scary blonde lady stopped us.
    “Yes?”
    She dangled the offending sex partner card from her fingertips.  “You’ll need this.”
    With a huff of frustration, I grabbed the card and wrapped it around my arm as Amber pulled me past the desks, toward the doors leading into the great room.   
    “What’s wrong?” I asked.
    “Just shut-up and walk!” she demanded, having obviously forgotten all about David because he was still standing at the signing desk watching us disappear.  
    “What did I do wrong?”
    Just past the doors, she slammed on the brakes and turned to face me.  Her hazel eyes now burned bright red with rage.  “I can’t believe you just did that.”
    “Did what?”
    Amber tossed her hands in the air, throwing what I would’ve called a childish temper tantrum.  “Damn it, Addison, pay attention.  That was Sebastian Hawk.  The Grand Master.  David told you that people treat him with reverence here.  If that means nothing to you, then consider the fact that you’re in his home.  Show some respect.”
    I sighed and nodded.  “I’m sorry, but I still feel