Chapter 5
Chapter five
“Do you mind if I change before we eat?” Katrina asked, glancing at Darwin over her shoulder as they walked into her room a few hours later, plates of hors d’oeuvres and mini pastries they’d gotten from the ballroom in her hands.
“Go ahead,” he said, placing their wine glasses on the coffee table in front of the couch. “I think I’ll change, too.”
As Darwin disappeared through the connecting door into his room, Katrina walked over to the dresser and took out a pair of shorts and a super soft T-shirt she’d brought to sleep in.
It was probably a little too casual for a first date, but after all the crap with her parents pretty much dissing Darwin––not to mention browbeating Asher into making Upton be a groomsman so she’d be forced to spend time with him––all she wanted to do the rest of the night was relax and chill.
Going into the bathroom, she quickly changed, then went back into the other room to wait for Darwin. Hopefully, he’d go with something casual to wear, too.
She’d just curled up on the couch when he walked in through the connecting door.
He was wearing black athletic shorts and a gray T-shirt snug enough to show off the defined muscles of his chest and shoulders.
She could definitely work with that, she thought, trying not to stare.
It was difficult, though. He was really. ..built.
“We could get room service if you want something else to drink instead of wine,” she said as he joined her on the couch. “I know you’re more of a beer guy.”
He chuckled. “True. But I’m good. We’ll probably be drinking a lot of wine while we’re here, so I might as well get used to it. Besides, wine goes better with this kind of food, right?”
“I agree that beer probably wouldn’t be my first choice when it comes to these particular hors d’oeuvres, but there honestly aren’t any rules.”
“Good to know.”
Darwin reached for the plate of hors d’oeuvres, waiting for Katrina to take one before helping himself to something that looked like a chubby mozzarella stick. He bit into it, chewing slowly.
“Mm. This is good,” he said. “What is it?”
“That’s a smoked trout croquette. It’s a deep-fried mashed potato filled with smoked trout, mozzarella, Parmesan, and chives.
The others are dates stuffed with goat cheese and salami, Brie and prosciutto shortbreads, and cheddar and herb gougères,” she said, pointing each of them out before holding up her own, adding, “And this is a caviar and crème fra?che tartlet.”
Darwin eyed the plate thoughtfully. “I have no idea what any of those are going to taste like, but I’m eager to find out.” He took another bite of the croquette. “Did you eat this kind of food all the time growing up?”
“Not really.” Katrina nibbled on her tartlet.
“This kind of stuff was reserved for parties, especially if my parents were trying to impress people. If we were having a formal family dinner, the food was pretty fancy, but most of the time, Khloe and I ate our meals with Francesca, so it was simple stuff.”
“You and Francesca seem close,” Darwin said, reaching for his glass of wine.
She smiled. “We are. She’s been like a second mother to me since I was a kid.”
In some ways, Francesca was more of a mother to her and Khloe than their real mom.
Francesca had taught them how to ride a bike and helped them with their homework.
She’d taken them shopping for their prom dresses and helped them move into the dorm when they’d gone to college.
She was still the person Katrina went to whenever she needed advice.
“Is she the reason you became a nanny?” Darwin asked, reaching for the Brie and prosciutto shortbread.
Katrina considered that as she sipped her wine. “I never really thought about it, but yeah, I guess so. When I was a little girl, I always wanted to be like Francesca. And since I wanted to work with kids, being a nanny was a no-brainer.”
“Did Francesca help you get the job with the McDaniels?”
“Kind of.” She helped herself to one of the dark chocolate truffles and took a nibble to find that it was espresso cream.
Yum. “She got me an interview with the agency she works for and put in a good word for me, but I actually met the McDaniels at a party my parents hosted. Beverly had just turned two, and they were looking for someone to take over for the night nanny, with an eye toward hiring someone full-time. The minute I met Beverly, I fell in love with her, and I moved into the McDaniels’ home a few days later.
” She shrugged. “In some ways, it’s like I got a second chance to have a family that wanted me the way I am instead of the way they thought I should be. ”
Darwin’s mouth curved. “I’m glad. Not only because you’re obviously happy, but because if you weren’t Beverly’s nanny, we probably never would have met. Unless Lennox and Talia have their wedding here instead of at Legoland, like Maria wants them to.”
Katrina laughed. Maria had their wedding all planned out, right down to Emmet walking Talia down the aisle, even though the couple hadn’t even set a date.
“By then, Mom and Dad probably would have married me off to someone like Upton,” she said. “Now that I think about it, it almost certainly would have been him.”
Ugh. She didn’t even want to think about that. Upton was a nice guy, but so not her type. Plus, they’d known each other from the time they were finger painting in kindergarten. It definitely would have been all kinds of weird.
Darwin made a face. “Wow. Okay. That sucks. Is that why Khloe is marrying Asher?”
“No way.” Katrina frowned. “At least I don’t think so. I mean, I know they’re in love, but Asher is also exactly the kind of man our parents want her to marry and bring into the family business.”
“Asher’s going to help run the resort and winery?”
She eyed the other chocolate truffles on the plate, wondering if she should have another, then decided she’d better not indulge. “Not that part of the family business. The other part that makes the real money.”
Darwin eyed her warily, glass of wine halfway to his mouth. “Are you saying your family is in the mob?”
“Why does everyone ask that?” Katrina said with a laugh. Sheesh. “No! My family isn’t part of the mob. Or any other organized crime syndicate. My dad runs an investment consortium.”
“Isn’t that the same thing with bigger words?” Darwin asked with a smile that showed off the most delightful dimples.
“Not really,” she assured him. “Organized crime syndicates break the law to make a profit. An investment consortium works within the parameters of the law to make a profit. Well, unless there’s an area outside the law that looks especially lucrative.
In which case, they buy off politicians to change the laws so they can make their outrageous profits legally. ”
He snorted and shook his head. “You realize you’re too young to be so cynical, right?”
“Maybe,” Katrina admitted with a laugh. “But given how I was raised, some people would say I have every right to be a little cynical.”
“Probably,” Darwin agreed. “So, tell me more about this investment consortium.”
She set her wine glass down on the table.
“Remember how I said Asher’s family made their fortune in venture capitalism and that they provide money to people looking for investors to fund their tech startup companies?
Well, my father is the CEO of a group of very rich, very powerful people who do the same thing, only on a much bigger scale.
They use their money along with a network of manufacturers, engineers, marketing firms, and politicians to bring new products and businesses to the market.
Most of the people downstairs are here this week, hoping a crumb or two might fall their way if they play their cards right.
My father is simply using Khloe and Asher’s wedding to make it easier for those people to approach him. ”
Darwin seemed to ponder that––and looking much too sexy in his shorts and T-shirt while he did––but didn’t say anything.
They talked some more about her family, focusing more on her grandparents and how much fun she and Khloe had spending summers at the vineyard with them. It was a subject that always made her smile.
It was well past midnight by the time they finished the wine, hors d’oeuvres, and mini desserts, then left the plates and glasses outside in the hallway for the housekeeping staff.
Katrina was following Darwin over to the door between their adjoining rooms when he suddenly turned around. She barely stopped in time to avoid smacking into that wide expanse of chest.
“I just wanted to tell you that I had a great time tonight,” he said softly. “And that I’m looking forward to spending the rest of the week with you.”
This close to him, Katrina had to tip her head back to look up at him. But it was worth it if it meant being near enough to catch his scent. He smelled nice, all masculine and warm.
“Me, too.” She smiled. “And there’s no one else I’d rather spend the week with, either. Which is a good thing, since I’ve already told everyone you’re my boyfriend.”
She started to laugh about that, but the sound drifted off as Darwin lowered his head and covered her mouth with his.
As his strong arms came around her, she parted her lips, teasing his tongue out to play and moaning at how delicious he tasted.
Like wine and chocolate, and well, him. Burying her fingers in his hair, she tugged him down, eager for more contact.
She got her wish when the hand on her lower back pulled her in even tighter, pressing his body to hers at the same time his other hand found its way into her hair.
In this position, she could feel everything from his firm pecs and his ripped abs to the growing bulge in his shorts.
If there was any doubt that Darwin was enjoying this kiss as much as she was, it immediately disappeared.