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cabernet merlot?’
    Nelson reddened, clearly worried that she might have heard what they were talking about. Seb, however, appeared completely unfazed by her sudden reappearance. His lip curled slightly as his thumb and forefinger played with the stem of his glass.
    â€˜Delicious.’
    â€˜Thank you.’ She tossed her head. ‘I’ll be sure to tell the winemaker that he’s doing a marvellous job, next time I’m on my estate down south.’ She knew she sounded completely snooty but just couldn’t help herself.
    Nelson cleared his throat nervously. ‘You own a winery down south?’
    â€˜My family does. But for me it’s really just a hobby on the side.’
    â€˜Is that so?’ Seb’s lips curled even more.
    â€˜Yes.’ Claudia glared at him. ‘When I finished high school I went to law school. Graduated top of my class.’
    â€˜Really?’
    â€˜And I supposed you passed the bar exam too?’
    â€˜With flying colours,’ she shot at him.
    â€˜Let me guess,’ Seb smirked, ‘you found law too boring to practise so you went home to play.’
    She lifted her chin. ‘It’s more complicated than that.’
    â€˜Why? Because now you’re back in town to work at a bar. Just not the one you qualified for.’ He polished off his wine. ‘A plausible story.’
    â€˜Oh, I don’t work here.’ She shook her head. ‘I just came to visit a friend.’
    Seb stood up, dropping a fifty-dollar note on the counter. ‘Sweetheart, just keep the change.’
    Claudia saw red. A vein near her temple began to throb as Nelson stood up quickly too, grabbing both document bags from the ground.
    â€˜You really think you’re a good judge of character, don’t you?’ she said quietly.
    â€˜My attention to detail has often been remarked upon,’ Sebastian admitted without modesty.
    â€˜So has mine.’ Claudia’s eyes narrowed, indicating his person with flick of her hand. ‘The tailored suit, a little too expensive for the B-grade executive because you’ve had it specially made to show you’re a cut above the rest. You need that because you’ve got no friends to tell you so, no free time to spend with them even if you did. And why black? It’s the colour of your soul and your complete and utter loss of faith in humanity.’
    She did gain a lot of satisfaction at the way his eyes rounded as each of her little darts found home. There was a pause, but he wasn’t done.
    â€˜Ah,’ he returned in a patronising tone, ‘don’t try and play games that are above your grade.’
    She knew in that moment that her temper was about to get the better of her and she was going to do something rash.
    But to hell with it.
    She was mad enough to spit fire.
    â€˜What did you say your name was again?’
    â€˜I didn’t.’ He looked back over his broad shoulder as he began to walk away. ‘You are unlikely to need it, given we move in completely different circles.’
    And that’s when that rash action she had dreaded took hold.
    â€˜You’re completely right, of course. I doubt my Uncle Cyril or Uncle Robert would ever have heard of you.’
    At these words, Seb stopped and turned back.
    That’s it, prick. Take a second look.
    At this stage, she was feeling not in the least bit guilty about borrowing Bronwyn’s family for a couple of seconds. In fact, she was sure her best friend would approve.
    â€˜The Eddingses?’ Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
    â€˜That’s right,’ Claudia lifted her chin. Somebody needed to take this guy down a notch.
    â€˜You really have no shame, do you?’
    Claudia drew in a sharp breath as Seb and Nelson walked out. She thumped her forehead with her fist.
    Seriously, girl, your uncles?
    She shut her eyes as hot embarrassment streaked through her. It was no wonder he didn’t believe her.