Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Darcy
I took Sebastian up on his offer, mainly because we were getting along. If I were ever going to write an article about him, I would have to ease into wanting to be around him.
If I hated the guy and his presence, my article would suck no matter what inside info he gave me out of this deal we found ourselves stuck in. Since I didn’t want to lose out on the exposé of the century, I’d eventually need to spend time with him anyway. So, it might as well be after a lovely evening while he was still in an agreeable mood. A few glasses of tequila wouldn’t hurt, either.
“So, tell me why you got into writing,” he said after we found a comfortable area by the pool and took a few sips of his fancy tequila in silence.
I smiled at him, still enjoying the warmer side of the cold man I’d come to know, “Simple, I love writing, and I love studying people.”
“Studying people?” he chuckled, taking another sip and reclining back on the patio sofa across from me where he sat. “That’s a very interesting way of looking at it.”
“Well, it’s true,” I smiled at him. “I find the wealthy lifestyle very intriguing. It seems all of you, even though you are human, act like you’re demigods forced to live amongst the rest of us.”
He rolled his eyes and propped an ankle over his knee, “I guess I can see how someone like you would believe that.”
“Someone like me ?” I arched an eyebrow at him, thankful for my tequila buzz. If it weren’t for that, I’m confident I would’ve shot right back at him for that remark. “You see, that’s what I’m talking about. It’s like you people look down at us. Your comment proves that.”
“No,” he simply stated, “you’ve already put yourself in a position beneath me by categorizing me as someone who believes they’re a god because I have been raised with money, and I know how to utilize the power it gives me.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, “Exactly, you utilize that power to give yourselves a god-like complex. However, not all of you are like that. Some are powerful and savvy businessmen, but they don’t carry themselves on that high of a pedestal.”
“I imagine you’re referring to your friend, Jim Mitchell?”
“That’s exactly who I’m referring to, and some others in that circle.” I studied him briefly but was loosened up on tequila, so I didn’t overthink what I wanted to say, “You and Jim seemed to hit it off rather well tonight.”
“Jim is a good guy,” he said. “I admire him, and I always have. Though we have never been close friends, we are very similar in business. I respect that.”
“That’s not what I was talking about. I was just surprised by how—I don’t know,” I said.
“Are you referring to me not being an asshole to him like I have been with you at the mention of my wife?” he asked, practically pulling the question out of my head.
“Yes, actually, I was. I don’t want to overstep or anything, but if you haven’t been able to talk about all of that, your tragic loss, maybe it’s something you should do.”
“And you think that would help me be a nicer person to you?” he teased, and I knew he was only reacting so casually because of the booze.
“Not just me, but everyone around you. And no, you don’t have to talk to me about it. That’s not what I meant. I just saw that it almost seemed like a relief for you to have that moment. Maybe Jim’s concern about your unfortunate situation was a catalyst to relieve some of your burden.”
“You live in your head too much,” he chuckled, “and by that, I mean you fabricate things that aren’t exactly true. Perhaps that is why you have made me out to be El Diablo, the horrible man who stalks around this place, looking to insult you at every turn.”
“That isn’t in my head, though,” I said. “That’s exactly what you’ve done since you arrived here. And how would you know that I refer to you as El Diablo?”
“I’ve overheard you call me that to anyone who will listen—Antonio, your parents, and Ines.”
“Well, that’s not creepy at all,” I said, eyes wide and wondering if the man had hidden cameras around this place because I know he wasn’t around when I talked about him like that.
“Your voice carries when you’re pissed off,” he answered my thoughts again for me. “And you’re quite adorable then, too. I think that may be half the reason I provoke you.”
“I’m glad that keeping me pissed off can entertain you,” I laughed in disbelief.
“It’s not that it entertains me,” he grew more serious, “or perhaps it does. I have no idea. However,” his eyes held mine as I watched him search for words to explain what was on his mind, “I will be honest when I say that I haven’t felt this alive since my wife died last year. You’ve kept me on my toes, Darcel,” he said.
“Ah, for fuck’s sake. Just when I almost thought you were handsome,” I rolled my eyes. “Hey, we got fake relationship rules, pal? And one of those rules is never to speak that name.”
“We’re not in a fake relationship right now, so I can call you whatever I want,” he said with a cute smile.
It was the same bashful smile I saw at dinner tonight when I grabbed his knee in a ticklish spot. His expression lightened as his nose wrinkled somewhat in humor, and his lips twisted together in a way that showed he was trying not to laugh. It was a good look for him.
“Well, if you don’t want to continue to drink out here alone, I would suggest you cease calling me that name.”
“Very well, but can I ask if there’s a story behind it? The name? Is it a grandmother’s name of yours or something?”
“You have met my parents, right?”
“Yes, and they are definitely what I would refer to as modern-day hippies,” he said with a laugh. “I mean no offense by that either. They are just very easy-breezy and do not take life seriously at all.”
“They are not ruled by the craziness of the world. My dad only hangs onto the winery because he loves doing it. It makes him and my mom very happy. They aren’t in it for the money, which is why you saw he was pretty much giving away the farm for free. He loves being a giver.”
“Well, that giving spirit was about to have everything taken from him,” he answered, still lighthearted and not with his usual dick tone. “I can tell he’s very passionate about making wine and loves to watch others enjoy it. However, the business must run for him to continue to produce the wine he wishes to share. Once everything here is set and in order, I believe he will be happier than ever as he watches more clients taste and enjoy his wine. He’s really an exceptional winemaker.”
“I like this side of you,” I said bluntly. “You should go out with Jim more often and constantly drink tequila.”
“I like feeling like this,” he answered. “I haven’t felt this loosened up in quite some time. I don’t think it was really dinner or the booze,” he said, staring at his glass. “Maybe you and your parents are just affecting me.”
“Ah,” I chuckled. “So, our hippie ways have helped you soften up some?”
“I might even name my next child Darcel,” he laughed. “Seriously, where did the name come from?”
“Since you and I are getting along, and you seem a bit genuine about being nice for the first time since I’ve met you, I’ll answer.”
“Go on,” he said, smiling as if I had some unique reason my mom had named me after a monkey she’d adopted in Asia.
“Well, the reason for the name is far more embarrassing than the name itself.”
He licked his lips in humor, and I shouldn’t have felt anything when he did, but I found the gesture highly attractive.
“My mom was living in Thailand after pretty much running away from home,” I said, eyeing him and making sure he wasn’t going to smart off. “So, after meeting my folks, you can understand why both were considered black sheep in their families?”
“Right, I wasn’t going to ask about their families, but more so how your mother came up with the name?”
“Why do you care so much?” I asked, wanting off this topic.
“Because you hate it so very much, and frankly, I don’t think I’ve ever met or heard of anyone with the name. Darcy, yes, quite common. But Darcel? No. Usually, people’s personalities match their names, but you seem quite the opposite of your name.”
“Because I don’t see it as my name,” I answered.
“What made your mother choose it?”
I inhaled deeply, knowing I would regret this, but unable to resist because of the handsome, lighter expression of the man sitting across from me. Everything was attractive about him right now—his humor, his intrigue with my stupid name, all of it. It was not a side of him I’d seen or believed could exist.
I tipped back the last of the tequila, sighed, and stared at him. Our eyes locked, and his were filled with humor. “Allow me to pour you another glass because part of me believes this story will never be told unless you are half-drunk.”
“That’s the damn truth,” I answered, holding my glass for him to pour more booze into it and more for him.
“Take a shot, and then just let it fly,” he laughed.
I did, feeling it go straight to my head, giving me the liquid courage to spit it out.
“If I tell you this, and you laugh?”
“Oh, I’m quite confident I’m going to laugh because I’m already finding it humorous to watch these cute expressions play out on your face in fear of telling me.”
I strummed my fingers on the rim of my glass and tightened my lips in concentration, “Fine. My mom named me after a monkey. She adopted it in Thailand and couldn’t bring it back to the States when she had to move back home.”
Sebastian’s reaction was not what I expected from a man known for being stiff and rigid. He’d spit his drink back into his glass and was wiping the moisture from his chin with the back of his hand, lost in the most joyous laugh I’d ever heard.
I sat in silence, holding back a smile as Sebastian tried not to howl with laughter. But the harder he tried to contain himself, the harder he laughed. Tears streamed from the corner of his eyes as he tried to catch his breath, and I was shocked the man was so lost in humor.
“It’s not that funny,” I said, laughing at his reaction.
“No,” he said, shaking his head and making a solid effort to silence his humor, “it’s not.” He wiped the tears from his eyes and tried to compose himself. “Oh, my God. Wow. You’re named after a fucking monkey?”
“If you ever use this against me? Ever…” I paused, watching him laugh more and starting to regret telling him, “I will cut your dick off.”
He gathered himself well enough to arch a sexy eyebrow at me. “Oh, is that the excuse you need to finally do what you’ve wanted since you met me?”
“Perhaps. I think you know me well enough by now to know that I’m always a step ahead of you to ensure you don’t fuck with me.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” he said, and though he didn’t laugh, I could see the effort not to was written all over his face. “A monkey? Was your mom high or something?”
I stared at him with what I knew was a blank expression, “That’s what I assume. Then again, she had just delivered me, so I hope that she wasn’t smoking anything while going into labor.”
“Well,” he smiled in a way that made my heart flutter, leaving me nervous that I’d just had that reaction to him, “I’ve heard some women?—”
“Let’s just leave the name where I want it,” I said, stopping him from taking this conversation any further than it should’ve gone in the first place.
“Where’s that?”
“With the unwritten rule that’s been upheld for my whole life, which is that no one calls me that name.”
“Fine,” he held both his hands up. I could tell the booze had him nice and loosened up, too. “We leave the name in Thailand with the monkey you were named after.”
“Cute,” I said, feeling a bit more sober. “It’s bad enough I have the name, and it’s even worse hearing you say it like that.”
“That you are the namesake of an orphaned monkey?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, let’s change the subject,” I said, taking control of the conversation. “Let’s talk about you. We’ve only discussed the most embarrassing details of me. It’s your turn.”
“Okay, my turn,” he said, and I could almost see the wheels spinning behind his eyes. “Well, I’m not much of an open person, so there’s that. And also,” he held up a finger to stop me from responding to his chicken shit way out of this, “I’m not going to give you all my little secrets before our agreement is handled and that auction is over.”
“Fine. So, we talked about my name. Where’d you get your name?” I asked, trying to come up with something to ask but feeling foggy because of the tequila.
“Well, it’s not as entertaining as your origin story,” he said, “but I think it speaks for itself since I was named after my father, who was named after his father, who was named after his father. You know how it works.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course, I know that,” I said. “God, what must you think of me? You show up here and are completely put off by how my parents and I are, and I seal the deal on all of it by telling you I’m named after a monkey.”
“Well, if it helps, monkeys are cute, and I find you adorable, even when you’re infuriated with me,” he grinned in a way that made me smile bashfully in response.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I answered. “And you mentioned your daughter earlier—wait,” I stopped. “Don’t answer that. I’m sorry I brought her up. I understand that’s very personal, and you don’t need to talk about things like that by the girl named after a monkey.”
Unexpectedly, he stood up and walked over to where I sat. I rose, too, not knowing what to think about the gesture.
“It’s perfectly fine to ask about her, but I’m not in a place where I feel comfortable talking about her at this time.” His eyes seemed to stare intently into my soul, “Perhaps if you and I could do without the drinks and become friends, I could be more open about those personal things. I think it’s best to leave it at silly nonsense such as who or what we were named after for now.”
I sucked in a breath, feeling the power radiating from the man being projected onto me. Sebastian and I had never been close without me wanting to throat-punch him, but this time, I felt a delicious energy wash through me as I absorbed how beautiful the man was when he wasn’t acting like a dick.
I didn’t bother to shove any feelings away because he would wake up tomorrow morning, the friendly spell he was under would be gone, and he’d be right back to irritate me.
Instead of being captivated by him through this sensation I was experiencing, I chose to appreciate the moment. It was nice to put our weapons down and see this youthful and vibrant side of the man.
“I’m heading to bed,” I said, smiling and breaking the trance I’d temporarily fallen under. “Hopefully, your mood will be as nice tomorrow as it was tonight.”
“I hope so, too,” he answered.
I glanced back at the man I’d left standing by the pool and staring after me as I walked away. He also seemed concerned that the kinder, lighter side of him would disappear with the final glances we stole from each other.
It’s too bad, too, because from what I could sense, he seemed to have quite a charming side. Maybe it was for the best. I couldn’t imagine what would happen to my sanity if I actually fell for this man. God forbid. No way, I was smarter than that.
I had a good, very happy life, and the last thing I needed was for it to be destroyed by a man who came from another world. His world was a place I didn’t belong. He knew it, and I knew it, and that made Sebastian Aster the most dangerous man on the planet to me if I was foolish enough to fall for his charms.
So, I took my wish back of wanting him happy and friendly tomorrow. I would rather him be such a bastard that his good looks were utterly unattractive to me…just like things had been since the day we met.
Status quo.