“Hey, you,” she said, resting a hand on his chest and craning up on her tiptoes to kiss him; Alex saw how carefully blank Seb’s face went, and knew more than ever that he’d been right Yeah, take that, angel boy, he thought before he could help it.

Willow sank back to her feet. “I’d better go see if Liz wants help with dinner,” she said. “We’ll talk later, okay, Seb?”

“Yes, I’d like that,” he said softly. He watched her go, his eyes lingering on her petite form.

Alex propped himself against the metal railing where Willow had just stood. “Okay, let’s get something straight,” he said in Spanish. “If you think I don’t know you’re after my girlfriend, you’re crazy. And if you try to put any sleazy moves on her while you’re here, you’re going to regret it.”

Seb’s knapsack was at his feet. He took out a pack of cigarettes; tapped out the last one and lit it. Settling back against the door jamb, he gave Alex a considering, faintly humorous look. “Sleazy moves?” he repeated. “Don’t worry, I don’t do sleazy moves.”

“Let me rephrase,” said Alex coldly. “Any moves. Just keep your hands off her.”

Seb was silent as he blew a stream of smoke towards the sky. “This isn’t really any of your business, you know,” he said finally. “Whatever happens between Willow and me is up to her. Not you.”

Alex gave a short laugh. “Not my business? Think again – this is my girlfriend we’re talking about. And I want to make sure that you know it’s up to her.”

“Well, you can put your mind at ease then.” Seb’s voice was mild, but with a thread of steel through it. “Because I don’t pressure girls, and I don’t make moves where they’re not wanted. If Willow only wants to be friends, that’s all we’ll be.”

Alex nodded slowly, watching him. “Okay,” he said at last. “But if you do anything to hurt Willow – if you make her uncomfortable in any way while you’re here – I will seriously make you wish you hadn’t.”

Seb took another another puff of his cigarette. “Be my guest. Look, I really don’t want to discuss this with you. But I’d die before I did anything to hurt Willow – or before I let anyone else hurt her, either. End of conversation, okay?”

Watching Seb as he smoked, Alex wondered, despite himself, what it would be like to finally find another of your own kind, after searching for so many years. He knew that if he were Seb, he wouldn’t be prepared to just walk away from Willow either. The realization didn’t exactly make him warm to the guy.