Free Underneath It All (Storm Series) by Cassandra Carr Page A

angry wasps. Now can we go in?” He nudged her shoulder with his and she shook her head, smiling. If he could keep that look on her face he was golden.
    Sebastian met them at the door. “I’m so happy you could make it, Alaina.” He stuck out his hand and Alaina shook it. “Come in. Sarah’s doing some long word to the salad dressing.”
    “Dork, ” Rob gave his friend his standard greeting.
    Sebastian didn’t even react, but Alaina whacked Rob on the stomach then raised one eyebrow.
    He smirked. Yeah, abs of steel, baby.
    “Be nice ,” Alaina reprimanded. “English isn’t his first language, right?”
    “Yeah, Rob, be nice,” Sebastian echoed, his gaze darting between him and Alaina.
    The kid was many things, but stupid wasn’t one of them , and no way could Rob hide his interest in Alaina. Then again, why should he?
    “I wasn’t even ma king fun of his language skills,” he said, shaking his head in mock sadness. “It’s how I always say hi when I see him.”
    “That’s even worse, ” Alaina said.
    “ Yeah,” Sebastian retorted.
    “Kids,” he muttered.
    “Who’s talking about kids?” Sarah asked, breezing into the room and wiping her hands on a dish towel. Turning to Alaina, she said, “A pleasure to meet you. As I’m sure you’ve guessed, I’m Sarah.” Then she regarded Sebastian. “Did you tell them to sit down? Offer a drink? I know you weren’t raised in a barn—I’ve seen your parents’ house.”
    Sebastian gave her an unrepentant smile , and she patted the side of his face. Rob tried to control his envy. Normally it didn’t bother him to see his friends being all lovey-dovey, except when they went too far with the cuteness. But as he watched the pair, he realized how badly he wanted that for himself. He’d been so close with Christa all those years ago and had played the field since then, not wanting to go through the agony of another breakup. It still freaking hurt every time he let himself think about it. But he wanted to settle down. The realization hit him like a puck aimed at his head, leaving him disoriented.
    Shaking his head, Rob pulled Alaina down on the couch with him and put his arm around her, which earned him patronizing looks from his friends. Yep, the gig was up. Oh well. As they conversed, he played with Alaina’s hair, lost inside his head, thinking about his recent revelation until she elbowed him.
    “Sarah asked you a question.”
    “I’m sorry, what was that?” He looked up at the woman standing in front of him, tapping her foot, a smirk firmly in place on her face.
    “Wine or beer?” Sarah repeated.
    “Beer.” Rob didn’t drink a lot during the season, but one or two with dinner didn’t hurt anything.
    Sebastian went to the kitchen with Sarah , and Alaina turned to Rob. “I like your friends. They don’t pull any punches.”
    “No, they certainly don’t. Wait, what did they say? Did I miss something?” Rob knew his friends would never say anything mean or disparaging, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t embarrass him like hell if the opportunity arose.
    “ You were a million miles away. I thought so. Where did you go?”
    “No where important.” He wasn’t about to share his thoughts with Alaina yet.
    She didn’t look convinced, but before she could press him on the matter , Sebastian returned and handed Alaina a glass of white wine and Rob a beer. “Emulsifying. That was the big word.”
    “Ah,” Alaina said. “Yeah, that ’s one you’d have to understand the definition, in English or in French, to be able to translate it.”
    “I’ve been here long enough that I think in English, but yes, so me words…” Seb flailed his hands, “just go away. Pretty annoying.” Turning toward the kitchen once more, he said, “I’ll be back in a second. I want to make sure Sarah doesn’t burn herself.”
    Both he and Rob cracked up , and Alaina looked between the two of them as if they’d sprouted alien heads. Rob explained how the