Filed to story: Once Upon a One Night Mistake Book PDF Free by Simone Shirazi
“Fine,” Taliana snapped, grabbing her phone from her bag. “Just tell me when we get there, okay?”
“Will do. Now leave us alone.”
Admitting defeat, Taliana shoved the white buds of her headphones into her ears and settled down for what was bound to be the longest trip of her life.
* * *
Taliana wasn’t sure when during the ride she’d fallen asleep, but the next time she opened her eyes, the sun was setting, and her phone told her she was almost through her playlist. Yawning, she pressed the pause button and gently pulled the earbuds out, taking in the soft classical music playing in the car. Both Marcus and Jacob were fast asleep, and even Michael had his head against the window. It was odd to see the three boys sleeping; they all looked so innocent, which, save for Marcus, they definitely weren’t.
Taliana yawned again, this time catching Sebastian’s attention.
“Hey, Sleeping Beauty,” he murmured, shooting her a crooked smile through the rearview mirror. “Have a nice nap?”
She grunted and massaged her sore neck. “How long have I been out?”
“A while,” he replied as he flipped on the turn signal, smoothly merging into the left lane. “We’re almost in Southampton now.”
Taliana nodded and looked out the window, taking in the soft shades of pink and orange as the sun made its final salute of the day. Beautiful as it was, she lost interest quickly and turned her attention back to Sebastian.
After hours behind the wheel, he’d slipped into his own little relaxed world, navigating the highways with ease. His left hand loosely gripped the wheel, and the other rested on the gearshift. His fingers occasionally drummed along to the melody of the classical piece Taliana didn’t recognize, but he seemed to know it well.
The dim light from outside cast shadows on his face, causing his already high cheekbones and strong jaw to appear even more defined. His dark hair draped against his forehead and out of his eyes as if he’d been running his fingers through it over and over to get it to stay in place. She couldn’t help but smile at that, knowing his hair was a bother to him but that he’d go as long as he could without cutting it. Honestly, the boy was so gorgeous it was hard to believe he was real.
“Having dirty thoughts about me again, baby?”
His voice snapped Taliana out of it, and she blushed. She hoped it was dark enough that he couldn’t tell. “You wish,” she scoffed.
“Yes, I do wish,” he replied wistfully, though his grin made it obvious he was just joking.
Taliana rolled her eyes, but her cheeks weren’t getting any cooler. “You’re starting to sound like Michael.”
“Is that a bad thing?” he teased. “I thought you liked the way he hits on you constantly.”
“I don’t mind it, but it’s different when you’re the one doing it.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know,” Taliana said, trying to think of something that wouldn’t sound completely idiotic. “Probably because Michael is, well, Michael. He can’t go three seconds without hitting on someone. But you…” She trailed off, still attempting to formulate the sentences that didn’t want to come out. “Honestly, I don’t know what to say about you. I just never thought you’d ever hit on me of all people, even if you are just teasing.”
Taliana finally looked back at him, but regretted it instantly when she saw his face. The smile that had been there just moments before had disappeared, replaced with a slight frown.
“Talia, I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something,” he began quietly. “It’s probably stupid that I haven’t brought it up sooner, and I have a feeling you’re just going to think I’m crazy when I say it, but-“
Before he could finish his sentence, he narrowly avoided being slapped upside the head by a stretching Michael, who’d just woken from his nap.
“Thank god, we’re finally here,” he moaned in relief. “I thought we’d never get out of DC with that traffic.”
Michael’s loud observation roused the two boys beside me.
“We’re here?” Marcus questioned sleepily, rubbing his eyes as Jacob wiped a trail of drool from his chin.
“Almost,” Sebastian replied, turning off the current street and onto a darker, more secluded stretch of road. “The house is another block or so down.”
“House” was definitely the wrong word to describe the Phillips family’s summer home. The only word that seemed halfway fitting was “mansion” but even that seemed to be a weak description of the sprawling structure they approached a few minutes later. And Taliana hadn’t even seen it up close yet.
After stopping briefly at the front gate to punch in a complicated passcode, Sebastian continued down the brightly lit macadam drive toward the mansion. Taliana gazed out at the lush green grass that seemed to stretch infinitely on either side, only interrupted by the occasional guest house, tennis court, or garage that housed the family’s pricey cars. Soon enough, they came to a halt in front of the main house, an old Victorian with ivy crawling up its facade in the typical New England fashion.
“Home sweet home,” Michael said, shoving his door open as soon as the car was in park.
Jacob and Marcus followed suit, both obviously glad to be out of the cramped quarters. Sebastian, however, took his time turning off the engine as he stared at the house.
“Hey, what were you saying a minute ago?” Taliana asked as she took off her seatbelt. “You sounded like you wanted to get something off your chest.”
He opened his mouth to respond but was once again cut off when the trunk was thrown open and the boys began unloading the luggage.
“I’ll tell you later,” he assured her, slipping the keys from the ignition.
Taliana nodded, though she was still curious. “Just find me when you want to talk.”
The smirk he flashed made her stomach do somersaults. “You can count on it.”
The only thing she managed in response was a weak smile before clambering out of the car and grabbing her lone duffel, somehow managing to lug it up the front steps and into the grand foyer without having to stop to catch her breath. The sweeping marble staircase was the focal point of the room, but the portraits and the intricately carved molding that lined the walls easily stole the show. Sebastian wandered inside a moment later, and a man who appeared to be the butler emerged from one of the inner doorways.
“Welcome back, Mr. Phillips,” he said, offering Sebastian a nod. “Would you like some assistance getting the bags up to your rooms?”
“That’d be great,” he replied tiredly, dropping his bag by an antique table near the door. “Have the others gotten here yet?”
“Indeed, sir. Your cousin and his coterie arrived a few hours ago, though they have since left the premises.”
“Figures. We all know Jude can’t stay in one place for very long,” he murmured to Taliana before turning his attention back to the butler. “Mind getting Jacques to make something for us? I think everyone is hungry.”
“Of course, Mr. Phillips.” The man nodded again before turning on his heel.
“God, I’m starving,” Michael complained as he brushed past Taliana and started down the hallway that led out of the foyer. “Billiards room or theater, Seb?”
“Lounge,” he corrected, moving after Michael and gesturing for Taliana to follow. “We can see the beach and Bentley Clarke’s house from there, so we’ll know when the party finally starts.”