Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Sebastian
D arcy could’ve won an Oscar for her performance at dinner this evening; in fact, with those bullshitting skills, she should consider looking into a career as an actor. It would pay more than whatever she made with that crackerjack, Juniper. I was most impressed by how she’d managed to turn her mood around from the woman caged in misery on the car ride here to the woman who seemed to adore me while she sat beautifully at my side, sipping on her wine, and delicately eating each course that was served tonight.
“So, while the lovely ladies gossip about the love affair you and Darcy are enjoying,” Jim said as he slid his hands into his pockets, standing at the back of the car where we waited for the ladies to finish in the bathroom, “give me the facts.” He eyed me with the same look I’d give any other man I believed was lying.
“Facts are, I’m in way over my head with her, but I had no other option than to follow my heart.”
“You expect me to fall for that line of shit?” Jim said with a smirk.
If I gave myself away, Jim would eat me alive, so I held my own. This was the first candid dinner that Jim and I had shared, and as friends, I had to admit that I liked his integrity and had the utmost respect for him. I didn’t want to lie to the man, but I also didn’t want to offer up the truth because I knew Jim Mitchell well enough to know that he would never let me hear the end of it. That, and since Darcy did so fantastic tonight, I’d hate to be the one to slip and blow our cover because then we’d both look bad, and I just couldn’t do that to her.
“I know it’s sudden and, quite frankly, ridiculous,” I said after searching for the right way to get Jim off my ass about this, “but it couldn’t be helped. As someone who took a lot of shit for dating one of your employees, being questioned by everyone, you must understand.”
I’d known about Jim and Avery’s situation for a long time. After all, it wasn’t every day that a man with the reach and power Jim possessed got involved with an employee and ended up marrying her. It was one thing to have the passing, torrid affair, but to marry the help ? It made more than a few shock waves in the social stratosphere.
“Well, I’m not questioning her status. I was wondering how Sebastian Aster had fallen for William Burke’s daughter so quickly,” he chuckled, humor radiating from his expression.
“She wasn’t in true form tonight for you to see the woman I fell for,” I chuckled, “but trust me when I say that I tried to resist. Her charms just got the better of me.”
“I get it,” Jim became more serious. “And I know it’s not my place to say anything, but Darcy came through and helped me with that nutcase. Since then, she’s become quite close with Avery and our kids. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”
“You’re concerned about my parents’ arrival, and I understand that,” I said, knowing he didn’t want Darcy hurt. “Trust me when I tell you they will go through me to speak to her. It will not be like what John allowed with his wife. That whole situation?—”
“No, not that,” Jim interrupted me. “At first, I thought you both were bullshitting Avery and me. However, a couple of moments, like the concern she showed for you when you spoke briefly about your wife, made me think Darcy’s heart might be in danger if you didn’t share her feelings. As I said,” he stated as I stood in silence, shocked that Jim had caught something I didn’t, “it’s not my place to intervene in anyone’s relationship. I would just hate to see a vibrant and happy young woman like her get hurt.”
“I understand that,” I said, a bit concerned myself before remembering there was nothing to worry about. Little did Jim know, Darcy fucking hated my ass, and I was only standing here in this tiny parking lot pretending to love her because of her devious idea to punish me for being an asshole since the moment I set foot in her parents’ home. “And I promise you I would not have bothered entering a relationship with her, knowing I might hurt her.”
That was me being honest. Hell, maybe rule number one in all of this should’ve been no falling in love with each other at the risk of hearts being crushed. I knew I couldn’t handle a heartbreak situation, and I was sure Darcy wouldn’t either. Last I checked, even though we both had made enemies out of each other, we were still human.
“Have you already set the ground rules with your parents before they arrive?”
“My parents know better than to question me. However, I’m quite sure they’ll be on the investigative prowl with Darcy and her parents, and I’m prepared to deal with that once they’re here,” I answered, thinking about how Darcy had caused more trouble than this charade was worth by alerting my parents to our relationship before I could.
“Very good,” Jim said, nodding and acknowledging the women as they approached.
Jim reached out to shake my end, and as we all bid our farewells, I used the opportunity to study Darcy for a moment.
She was beautiful, and if I was honest, I enjoyed seeing this side of her—lively, friendly, and vivacious. It brought a smile to my face to see how attractive she was when she wasn’t acting like the battle-axe wife I wouldn’t marry in a million years.
“You did well role-playing tonight,” I said as we settled into the car, ready to leave.
I selfishly hoped she’d stay in her warm and friendly mood if I paid her a compliment.
“You did, too,” she answered, quickly transforming back into the Darcy I knew too well.
At least you don’t have to worry about hurting her. Jim may have seen something in her, but it was because she was a good actress. Not because she has feelings for you. Nothing could be farther from reality.
When Jim mentioned his concerns about Darcy getting hurt, it raised a flag with this idea of fake dating. Sure, I could be a ruthless man, but that was in business. Playing around with a woman’s heart, however, was unlike me.
As iron-clad as Darcy’s feelings might be, I was sure they were no match for Margot Aster. If Darcy was upset about the changes I wanted to make to her home, just wait until she met my mother and heard about all the changes she’d like to make for Darcy. My mom would tear her apart, from the shade of white on her teeth to the way she held a glass. It wouldn’t be nice, and I don’t think Darcy understood how ruthless Margot Aster could be when she wanted to, especially when it came to women who were viewed as threats to her sons.
“Well…” I struggled to think of something to say.
Odd, this is not like me at all.
“Well, what?” Darcy said with a small laugh, prompting me to smile at her. “Dear God, are you finally at a loss for words?”
“I believe I am,” I answered truthfully.
“Well, tell me what caused this so I can do it again,” she teased. “Perhaps it’ll help us never to argue with each other?”
“Nice try,” I eyed her. “If you must know, I enjoyed myself tonight. Being on a personal level with Jim and his wife was lovely.”
“I noticed that,” she said, her tone soft and warm and influencing my mind like a drug. “Perhaps you should spend more time with Jim. He seems to have a good effect on you.”
“Cute,” I said, knowing she couldn’t resist an opportunity to insult me. “Listen, I know you think I’m an asshole?—”
“It’s all I do know about you,” she interrupted me as she was known to do. “From the moment we first met, you have been nothing but an opinionated dick to me and my family.”
“True,” I sighed, “but you and your family are planted right in the middle of the business I was sent out here to make successful.”
“We’re not your business to change, though,” she said. “Anyway, I was certain that once we got in the car, you would compliment me on my polite table manners.”
“And I did,” I teased her with a quick smile before bringing my eyes back to the road. “I just figured your perfect etiquette and manners were part of the role you were playing?”
“Guess again, buddy,” she said with a laugh, and I was thankful that didn’t provoke the dark side of Darcy I’d only known until tonight. “I eat out with the wealthy all the time. I know how the game is played.”
“Like I said, role-playing,” I chuckled.
“Really?” she sighed, but she wasn’t annoyed; she was playful and allowed this to move into a fun conversation. “You’ve seen me eat dinner at home, and I sure as hell don’t talk with my mouth full of food or lick my fingers and put my feet on the table. So, there wasn’t a role for me to play at dinner tonight.”
“No,” I answered. “However, I don’t want to spoil our nice evening by pissing you off with my opinions. ”
“Oh, God,” I saw her roll her eyes in my peripheral vision. “What the hell do I do that’s improper at the dinner table?”
“You really want to know?” I questioned in a fun, mysterious way.
“Yeah. I do.”
“Okay, then,” I tried to think of something because Darcy had never done anything offensive whenever I’d dined with her.
“Ha, there’s nothing,” she said in a smart-ass way.
“No, there is. I don’t know how to say it without further insulting you.”
“Trust me, I’ve become bulletproof after all the insults you’ve managed to throw my family’s way.”
“The bites of food you take are too large,” I said, scrambling for something.
“Oh, get the fuck out of here. Too large? How in the hell did you come up with that conclusion?”
“Well,” I decided to keep it all playful and light, “it’s just rude and offensive.”
“How is taking a bite of food and eating it without smacking or choking considered rude and offensive ?”
“Simple. You’re a beautiful woman, and I would be lying when I say that I don’t appreciate looking at you from time to time,” I smiled over at her, staring at me and waiting for the punch line.
“I’m flattered. Glad I could appease your eyes,” she joked.
“And well, while you’re appeasing my eyes, you’re also teasing a man who hasn’t been laid in over a year by taking those large mouthfuls of food.”
I expected to have her cough out a laugh, but instead, she was her typical Darcy self and sighed in response.
“Well, shit,” she came immediately back. “If I’d known I was sexually torturing you by eating like Shrek at a barbecue, then I would’ve told Antonio to make hot dogs so I could really get you all worked up.”
I raised my eyebrows and shook my head. “I’d actually like to see that,” I answered. “You deepthroating a hot dog might put us in really hot water.”
“I wouldn’t deepthroat it,” she said. “I would cut the thing into small pieces to ensure I didn’t choke on it.”
“Another reminder of why there is no significant other in your life,” I chuckled, turning onto the winery’s driveway.
“Very funny, wise guy,” she answered as I parked the car and reached for her hand before she got out.
“I meant what I said. I had a good time tonight. I haven’t felt so light in a very long time,” I said earnestly, hoping she could sense that I’d enjoyed her company.
“Me too,” she kindly remarked. “Maybe this whole fake relationship thing might prove that you and I could be friends one day.”
“Why don’t you join me for a drink by the pool?” I honestly didn’t want this feeling to end.
She frowned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she answered.
“Nothing more than a drink. Trust me, I do not plan to take advantage of this situation. Jim already vocalized his concern about you getting hurt by me.”
“What?” she said, rightfully confused. “What made him say that?”
I smiled, “He’s protective of you and untrusting of me and my family, of course.”
“Well, the Asters are known for being assholes,” she smiled.
“This is true,” I confirmed. “However, I know I can’t hurt you because neither of us have feelings for each other that way.”
“We are from two separate worlds,” she confirmed that truth.
“Absolutely, and so long as we are both aware of that, I see nothing wrong with you and me continuing to have a decent evening as friends.”
She pursed her lips in concentration, “Friends?”
“Just friends.”
“That’s what makes it dangerous,” she arched an eyebrow at me. “We start as friends, then God only knows where it goes. I’ll join you only as your partner in crime because that’s the only reason we went out to dinner tonight and managed to somehow speak nicely to each other this entire ride home.”
I softly laughed in response, “Well, having drinks at the pool can help with more ideas for our role-playing.”
“Look at you. You really want company tonight.”
“I actually do,” I admitted. “I know I don’t talk about my late wife a lot, and I tend to shut down when memories or reminders of losing her come to me. However, I didn’t realize how lonely my life had become before tonight. Tonight brought out the side of me that feels alive again, and I guess I’m not quite ready to go back into the dark hole where I’ve been living.”
“All right. I’ll join you,” she smiled at me. “The last thing I want is for you to beg to sleep in bed with me because you notice all the demons that follow you around everywhere are coming out at night when you’re alone in your dark room.”
“Well, now that you brought it up, I might need to share your room like your father suggested.”
“Fucking hell. I forgot about that. Listen, maybe you can talk your parents into staying at a nice hotel?”
“I’ll think about it…over drinks tonight.”
She was right about one thing: I didn’t want to be alone with my demons or my thoughts. I loved this bright, much lighter feeling I was experiencing. It was like a breath of fresh air. And, since things between Darcy and me would amount to nothing more than a good friendship between two people from two very different classes in society, what was the harm?