Sebastian looked up from the computer as be watched her slow collapse like it was happening in slow motion.Isabel curled up on the leather couch with one hand tucked under her cheek and the other still holding a pen.
He exhaled silently and then, without thinking, he stood and crossed the room with slow and careful steps.He grabbed the soft gray blanket folded over the couch arm and draped it over her gently.
Her lashes fluttered but she didn't wake up as a strand of her hair fell across her face.He hesitated but then gave in and brushed it aside with one finger.
He stepped back immediately as he felt her warm skin.He turned to walk away but then her voice murmured sleepily:
"Thanks…"
Sebastian froze as something dangerous moved through him as he walked away quickly.
When it was past midnight.Isabel woke up with a groggy groan.She pushed the blanket aside, stood up too fast and the room tilted in her eyes.She tried to take a step but her heel slipped on the edge of a rolled blueprint.
She gasped as she waited to land but she didn't hit the floor as she felt a hand catch her waist and pulled her upright as one arm locked around her waist and the other braced on her shoulder.
Her palms landed against his chest instinctively as she heard his voice.
"Careful," he said softly.
"I wasn't— I didn't mean to—"Isabel stammered.
"You never mean to and yet you keep ending up in trouble."Sebastian said with a low voice.
"Let me go."She said as she grabbed his wrist but he didn't let go of her instead he just kept looking at her.
"Sebastian." Isabel called out lightly.
Sebastian finally exhaled and stepped back, releasing her slowly.
"We should finish," Isabel said quickly.
"Yes," he replied, but his voice wasn't steady.
They returned to the blueprint but every time their hands brushed…every time their shoulders touched…There was a charge in the air that hadn't been there before which could be spark.
By the time the office clock ticked past 2:07 AM, the last line on the blueprint was drawn, the final measurements checked, and the entire project outline stacked neatly on Sebastian's desk.
"If I see one more column or measurement, I might cry." Isabel said as she set her pencil down with a victorious sigh.
"Yeah,It's done." He said as he cleared his throat.
Isabel looked around the office and then at the clock.It was then she realized that it was already very late.
"I should go."She said as she stood up abruptly.
"I'll drive you."Sebastian said as he stood up too
"No, it's fine."
"It's not fine," he said, already grabbing his keys.
"It's two in the morning."
"I can call a ride."
"No."
She blinked at the firmness of his tone. "No?"
"Yes, no. You're exhausted,gou can barely walk straight and I refuse to let you stumble into another drunk idiot on the street."
Isabel's mouth opened and then shut.
"I'm not your responsibility." She said as she crossed her arms.
"That's debatable," he muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She frowned. "Sebastian, I don't need—"
"You do," he cut her off.
"And I'm not arguing about it."
Her jaw tightenedas she glared at him.She hated how bossy he was and how he assumed control like he owned the entire city.
"I said no," she repeated as she turned toward the elevator but Sebastian moved faster first and eblocked her path with his arms folded across his chest.
"Move," she snapped.
"No."
"Sebastian, I'm tired. Please don't start."
"Tired is exactly why I'm not moving."
"You're impossible."She said as she glared at him.
"Get used to it." He said as his eyes darkened a little.
"Why? We're not—"
"We're partners on this project," he reminded her.
"And that means I make sure you don't collapse on the sidewalk."
"I won't collapse!"
"You almost collapsed earlier in my office."
"That was different."
"How?"
"Because—"She floundered and had nothing to say.
"Exactly." He said as he raised a brow.
"Sebastian… I just want to go home quietly." Isabel said with a soft voice.
"It's not safe," he said quietly.
"I'll be fine." She said as she looked away.
"You weren't fine last night."
"I don't remember last night that much." Isabel said as she swallowed hard.
" But I do."Sebastian said.
Isabel turned back to him, meeting his eyes but he looked away first and then exhaled sharply as held out his hand.
"Keys," he said.
"What?"
"Give me your car keys."
"No!"
"Isabel."
"Sebastian."
They stared each other down for several seconds and then he said the one thing that made her instantly furious:
"You are the most stubborn woman I've ever met."
"I'm not stubborn,I'm independent."Isabel said as she stepped towards him.
"You're exhausted," he corrected.
"I can handle myself."
"I know but that doesn't mean you have to."
The words hit harder than she expected.She looked down at his hand and then at h
is face and for the first time since they met, she didn't feel challenged by him.
She felt… seen.
She slowly reached into her bag and then placed the keys in his hand.
Sebastian closed his fingers around them with an unreadable expression.
"Good," he murmured.
"Let's go."