Bait for a Gentleman novel Chapter 95

Before Audrina could say a word, the line connected.

Willow's groggy voice filtered through the speaker, sounding exactly like someone who had just been dragged out from under a warm duvet.

"Who is it?"

Sebastian was still waiting for his answer, surprised that the call had picked up so fast.

Audrina's attention was instantly pulled away; she didn't even glance at him.

He leaned back against the seat, propping his fingers against his temple, and stared intently at her.

Instinctively turning away, she spoke into the receiver. "It's me. I just moved out of the Lakewood Villa. Can I crash at your place for the night?"

The line went dead silent for a second.

Then, pulling the phone slightly away, Willow cursed, "Shit," followed by what sounded like a scolding directed at someone next to her. "Stop it."

Before Audrina could process that, a man's voice drifted through the line.

It sounded familiar, laced with a very punchable, teasing amusement: "Make me."

Audrina's grip on the phone tightened as faint, breathy gasps echoed from the speaker.

She clamped a hand over the mouthpiece, turning to look at Sebastian with a highly conflicted expression. "I think... I'm interrupting something."

Sebastian glanced at the phone in her hand from where he was leaning back.

He gave a knowing nod. "Yeah. She's with Carter Garrison."

"What? Those two..." Audrina trailed off.

Clearly, she had no idea when Willow and Carter had gotten involved.

Before she could finish her thought, Willow's voice came through again.

She sounded much more composed this time, though her breathing was still a bit unsteady. "Drina, wait for me downstairs. I'll be there in fifteen minutes, max."

Just as Audrina was about to agree, Carter's voice complained in the background, dripping with annoyance, "...I don't finish that fast!"

Before Audrina could respond, Willow shot back sharply without missing a beat, "Three minutes is generous, speed it up."

"Wait for me, Drina."

Beep—the call disconnected.

The moment Audrina and Willow disappeared into the building, Carter rolled down his window.

Resting his arm on the doorframe, he flashed Sebastian a smug, completely satisfied grin, tilting his chin up in greeting.

Sebastian gave him a slow, assessing look up and down, before his lips twitched.

"Are you alright? Getting here that fast... I guess three minutes really was generous."

Carter's grin instantly froze on his face.

Sebastian was already pulling open his door and sliding into the back seat.

Layne jogged around to the driver's side, started the engine, shifted gears, and sped off into the night in one seamless, effortless motion.

...

Willow wheeled Audrina's suitcase into the entryway and flipped on every light in the living room.

Audrina stood near the door, taking in the comfortably cluttered apartment.

Two throw blankets were tossed over the sofa, half-opened snacks littered the table, and a set of golf clubs Willow had been too lazy to put away leaned against the TV console.