Gramercy Nights (The Argo Press Trilogy Book 1) (17 page)

I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear, suddenly embarrassed. “This is the first time I’ve been to one of these things where I don’t feel like a fraud.”

Aki laughs. “I know the feeling. Now that I can say I’ve been published in a national magazine, I’m hoping my parents will lay off.”

“Not thrilled with your chosen vocation?”

Aki takes a swig of her beer. “Poet doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that I’ll ever be able to financially support myself. Or them in their fast approaching old age.”

“Just find yourself a power lesbian,” Max advises and Aki smiles wistfully.

“If only,” she says with a theatrical sigh. Everyone laughs.

Max pats her shoulder. “One day, my dear.” And then he excuses himself and heads towards the podium.

“Show time,” Connor mouths and I lean into him as I jealously eye Aki’s motorcycle boots. This is the last time I wear heels when I could be wearing flats instead.

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of a familiar mop of dark curls. Megan Thomas is standing a few yards away and when our eyes meet, I give her a friendly wave. I hadn’t expected to see her, but then literary New York is a small world. She lifts a finger to indicate she’ll find me later, and I turn back to the podium, where Max is fiddling with the microphone. Once the mic is high enough, he taps it twice, making sure it’s on.

He clears his throat. “Thank you all for coming out tonight. We have a great line-up for you.” The room quiets, all eyes trained on Max. “Before we begin, I just want to say, if it weren’t for all of you, we wouldn’t be here right now. It’s been a long, hard road paved in whiskey and tears.” He pauses dramatically. “And it’s been worth every second.” He beams and everyone claps. “I’d like to quickly congratulate Danielle Sutton, whose translations from Catalan first appeared in our spring issue, on her forthcoming book with Argo Press.” There’s more clapping and I feel the color coming up to my cheeks. When his eyes find mine, he gives me a wink.

All I can think is, fuck! What if Megan read my manuscript and hated it? And now she’ll think I’ve been bragging to everyone that they’re publishing my translation when really she’s about to tell me it’s a no go.

“Now, grab a drink. Get comfortable. Tip our wonderful bartenders. And let’s have a kickass night.” Everyone claps and there are a few hoots from the audience. He raises his glass before stepping down and melting back into the crowd.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around to see Megan grinning at me. Her cream-colored dress stands in perfect contrast against her olive skin and dark hair. She kisses me warmly on both cheeks and I introduce her to Connor and Aki.

“Way to go scooping this one up,” Connor says, draping an arm over my shoulder and squeezing me to him.

Megan considers Connor for a moment before laughing. “I’m glad you approve.”

“Approve? If Brooklyn Quarterly starts releasing books, I’m going to fight you for her.” I crinkle my nose in embarrassment. “It was great meeting you. I’d love to talk more later, but sadly, duty calls,” Connor says, excusing himself to go introduce the first reader. Megan’s eyes follow him up to the stage.

“How long have you two been together?”

“Just old friends,” I explain. Megan lifts one eyebrow incredulously and I laugh. “Seriously. We’ve known each other since college.”

I turn back to the stage. Megan can think whatever she wants. But right now, I don’t care. Seeing Connor on stage, I feel a swell of pride. I envy Connor’s ease. The way he can move a room. Everyone is riveted. He was made for the spotlight. He jokes around as he introduces the first reader, a poet from the Bronx, and then steps down to join us in the crowd.

Readings always give me secondary embarrassment but Connor was right, tonight’s line up is great.

After the three readers have gone and the applause dies down, Megan says she’s heading to the bar and Connor suggests we all go. Maybe it’s because everyone is already on their third or forth round, but the atmosphere has changed. Everyone is more relaxed, and we’re practically screaming over one another just to be heard.

Connor puts his arm around me and orders four shots of whiskey. “I’m officially off duty,” he says, grinning foolishly.

“Thank god,” Aki exclaims.

Megan lifts her shot glass and says, “To new talent,” before throwing it back in one fluid movement. Her eyes linger on Aki for a moment and then she turns back to the bar to order another drink.

I grimace as the whiskey burns a path down my throat and slam my empty glass down on the bar. Give me a bourbon on the rocks any day, but shots of whiskey are just not my thing.

“I’m seeing you later this week, right?” Megan confirms, wiping the excess whiskey from her lips with the back of her hand.

“You bet.”

“Just so you know, I looked over the manuscript.”

“And?”

“It’s great. I’m looking forward to sitting down and discussing it in more depth. But for now, breathe easy. It’s really good.”

I laugh, suddenly relieved. I don’t want to admit how much Megan’s opinion mattered to me. Megan’s eyes catch on something behind me and her lips turn down into a puzzled frown, but it’s quickly replaced by a warm smile in my direction. “Fantastic. There’s someone here you need to meet.”

I turn slowly, arching around Connor. And then all the blood drains from my face.

Standing a few feet away is Sebastian. And the look on his beautiful face says he’s less than happy to see me.

Chapter Nineteen

Sebastian cuts effortlessly through the crowd, ignoring everyone around him, his green eyes fixed on mine, and it’s like the room fades away. I’m distantly aware of the murmur of voices, of ice clinking in glasses and music pouring through the speakers, but all that pales as I watch Sebastian. His hands are balled into tight fists at his sides, his jaw set firm, and then he’s towering over me, so close I can practically feel the heat of his body. I catch the way his eyes flick over Connor before returning to my face and I straighten, reminding myself this is the same man who went down on me in the back of a limo, the same man who paid off a security guard at the Met so he could fuck me. I know Sebastian, I do, and yet, it’s like I’m looking at a stranger. Cold, determined and obviously in a shitty mood.

“Seba,” Megan’s voice drags me back to reality and I’m suddenly reminded that we aren’t alone. “This is Danielle Sutton. She’s translating the Marc Serrat book. Danielle, Sebastian Casal. My boss.”

It takes me a second to process her words and then my mouth drops open in surprise. I think I’m going to be sick.

“Megan told me a lot about you,” he says coolly, giving no indication that we’ve met before.

“Nice to meet you,” I say finally, trying to shake off the sinking feeling in my gut. If Sebastian owns Argo Press, that means he knew about the book deal. More than that, he probably arranged it.

I want to punch myself for being such an idiot.

Sebastian leans down to kiss my cheek. His lips barely brush my skin, but I can feel his touch intimately, which only fuels my anger. Anger directed at myself for responding so easily to his touch and anger directed at Sebastian for keeping this from me.

Connor shifts next to me. “Connor Stuart,” he says, reaching out his hand, but Sebastian casts a dismissive glance in his direction before looking back at me.

“I hope everyone is having a good night,” he says dryly and it’s clear his words are directed at me.

“You work for Argo Press?” My abrupt question wins me a questioning look from Megan, but we both ignore it.

“Technically, I own Argo Press.” There’s just a glimmer of amusement in his voice when he says this and I feel my face burning with shame. He leans past Megan to ask the bartender for a bourbon on the rocks.

“I didn’t think I’d see you tonight,” Megan says, momentarily drawing Sebastian’s attention towards her.

“I was in the neighborhood.” He shrugs dismissively. “I thought I’d pop in.”

“Do you spend a lot of time in Williamsburg?” I ask pointedly.

Sebastian throws a twenty at the bartender and takes his drink, one eyebrow raised like he’s waiting for the other shoe to drop. “More so recently,” he answers.

“It doesn’t seem like your scene.”

By now, everyone is openly staring at us, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. When I can’t take Sebastian’s piercing stare any longer, I shake my head, turning to Connor. “Wasn’t there someone you wanted me to meet?”

Connor looks at me in surprise but finally nods. “There are a couple people actually. Let me just grab a drink.”

When I glance back at Sebastian, his brow is drawn in frustration and he steps forward, making me more than a little aware of his intimidating stature.

“Mind if I steal your
girlfriend
for a minute?” he asks Connor, struggling to keep his voice level. “There’s a brief business matter we need to discuss.”

Sebastian doesn’t wait for Connor’s response. He takes my hand, his firm grip sending a spark of electricity through me that’s impossible to ignore, and pulls me through the crowd.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he hisses the second we’re outside, spinning me around to face him. “I made myself abundantly clear. I. Don’t. Share.”

“What the fuck am I doing? What the fuck are you doing?” I scream. “Do all of your
women
get book deals?”

“Don’t change the subject. I asked you a question,” he answers curtly.

“You’re the reason Megan contacted me.” When Sebastian doesn’t respond, I laugh bitterly. “Did you make her sign me?”

“Don’t be an idiot,” he retorts before squeezing his eyes closed and taking a deep breath. I can tell he’s struggling to keep control of himself and when he finally opens his eyes, he’s visibly calmer. “How many Catalan translators do you really think are floating around New York City? I would have heard about you eventually. I’m sure Megan mentioned that we’ve been planning a Catalan series for a while now.” Sebastian sighs before continuing, “Trust me, I couldn’t make Megan do anything even if I wanted to. All I did was suggest she look at your work.”

“You should have told me.”

“I thought you knew.”

“How the fuck would I know that?”

“Ever heard of Google?”

“Fuck you. I don’t google everyone I meet.”

Sebastian lets out a heavy sigh. “I realize that now. I didn’t want you to get the wrong impression,” he says at last, avoiding my eyes.

“And what impression would that be?”

“That you don’t deserve this,” he answers wearily.

“What you mean is, you didn’t want me thinking it was a pay-off for sleeping with you.”

“Danielle,” he sighs, rubbing his face. “This has nothing to do with us. I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you. I didn’t know you were a translator. Hell, when you told me, I thought you were joking. That you already knew who I was. Obviously, I was wrong. And it didn’t take me long to realize you were the real thing. Are the real thing.”

I glare at Sebastian. “Bullshit.”

“I wouldn’t lie to you,” he says, eyes wide. “I couldn’t even if I wanted to.” He shoves his hands into the pockets of his dress pants. “How long have you been seeing him?” he asks warily.

“Connor? He’s a friend.”

Sebastian lifts one eyebrow and I can tell he doesn’t believe me.

“Megan asked me the same thing. Jesus, he’s a friend.”

“What kind of friend?” I can hear a dangerous edge to Sebastian’s voice and I shiver.

“A good one.” My coy response wins me another sharp look.

“Answer the question, Danielle.” He runs his fingers down my cheek, caressing me, the gentle touch surprising me before he firmly cups my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “The truth,” he demands fiercely.

“This is none of your business.”

“Really? That’s where you’re mistaken. This is most definitely my business.”

I glare at him, knowing he won’t drop the subject until he’s satisfied with my answer. I glance at a passing car, unable to meet Sebastian’s fierce gaze as I answer. “He’s my best friend. He’s my family. The only family I have,” I admit, sagging under the truth of those words.

“Danielle…” I can hear the heartbreak in Sebastian’s voice, as if he knew exactly what I was going through. Sebastian’s thumb brushes against my lips and I’m helpless to pull away from him. My pulse quickens and my nipples harden painfully and I’m suddenly aware of every inch of my body, the places where Sebastian’s skin touches mine and all the places where it doesn’t. Why does my body have to react like this to him? Even now, when I’m angry, I can’t deny the attraction between us, the way my body perks up the second he’s near.

“You’re not dating?”

“Of course we’re not dating,” I answer, feeling my patience wearing thin.

“Are you fucking him?” I shake my head and watch as Sebastian’s eyes soften slightly. “I don’t like the way he was touching you.” Sebastian’s voice is stubborn. “Like you’re his. Like he’s seen you naked.”

I can’t help it; I find myself laughing. “He has seen me naked.”