Chapter 13
Viv snatched her phone off the side table and reread her recent exchange.
Viv: What should I wear tonight?
Duke: That’s a loaded question. Is this part of the interview?
Viv: Nope.
Duke: Fine. Semi causal. Think back to our second date.
She set the phone back in place, blew out a pursed breath, and eyed her reflection. After agonizing over her limited options, she’d opted for a black cotton sundress with pumps to match.
She was pleased with the overall look of the outfit. It was sleek, simple, and just right for an evening dinner with her billionaire ex. She hoped.
Duke had told her dinner would be at 6:30, which was just a few minutes away according to the small bedside clock. While talking to the boys and her parents just moments ago, Viv had kept the camera on the view from her patio, allowing them to watch the sun set in Costa Rica.
The sight was breathtaking. And hopefully, a big enough distraction that Mom wouldn’t notice that Viv was all done up for a night out. Well, in.
Of course, in the end Viv did turn the camera on herself to say her last goodbyes to the boys and blow them kisses. If her mom had noticed her freshly done makeup and hair, or the black sundress at her shoulders, she hadn’t mentioned it.
Viv wasn’t keeping it a secret, per se, but she wasn’t ready to discuss the potential between them with her parents just yet, especially with the twins in their presence. Better to just test things out, see where they went, and cross that bridge when and if they came to it.
6:27—the mere sight of that time caused an anxious flutter to stir in her tummy. One that summoned a thought that had run through her mind a hundred times at least. He kissed me.
The thought had her lifting a hand, tracing a finger over her lips, and sighing aloud like a schoolgirl. For a kiss so short lived, it sure had a lasting effect.
Of course, that’s how it had always been with Duke. He, more than anyone else, could set her skin ablaze with his mesmerizing gaze alone. But his touch—the way he’d gently cradled her neck, outlined the hollow of her throat…
A small tap sounded from the door, interrupting her musings in a blink. She darted a look at the clock. 6:30 sharp.
“Vivi?”
She straightened up at the sound of Duke’s voice.
He’d come to pick her up. Viv hurried over to the door.
“Be right there.” She stopped midway, took a detour over to the mirror, and gave her cheeks a quick pinch.
If she’d had flutters in her tummy moments ago, it was a full-on flurry now.
A renewed rush of nervous energy shifting through her in a relentless whirl.
Viv gripped the handle, prepping herself for what she’d see on the other side of the door. Yet even as she swung it open, the handsome sight of him caused her breath to hitch.
He stood there, poised to perfection. One shoulder leaning against the adjacent wall, arms folded over his broad chest.
He gave semi casual the look every man wanted to capture. His crisp white work shirt had been replaced with a bright white tee. His navy pants were caught between formal and casual, and accented the overcoat he’d rolled up to his forearms.
Hints of heat flared in her cheeks. Viv would be lying if she said she didn’t appreciate the way he dressed. She always had.
Duke performed a long, slow whistle and broke into a wide grin. “Hi.”
Viv bit her lip over a nervous laugh. “Hi.”
“You look gorgeous, Vivi.”
“Thank you.” She closed the door behind her and joined him in the hall. “You’re looking pretty good yourself.” Viv fought off a grimace; not only was her comment as trite as she could get, it was an absurd understatement.
Duke offered his elbow, answering once she tucked her hand into the nook.
“Thank you for joining me.” He walked her down the central staircase—a series of wide, shallow steps—until they came to the main floor.
Now that the sun had gone down, the view out the windows had changed. From one angle, the glass simply reflected the massive, high vaulted view from within. But at other angles, she caught glimpses of the outside world around them, cloaked in the mysterious darkness of nightfall.
It added to the ambiance of the night.
“So,” Duke said as he led her, not to the dining area but to a set of french doors instead, “I said to think back on our second date for a reason. Do you remember what we did that night?”
Viv stepped onto the deck as Duke opened the door, enjoying the soft breeze on her skin. She looped her hand around the nook of his arm once more. “I think so. We made dinner together, right?”
“Right.” He led her around an angular turn of the deck, revealing the dining patio outside the kitchen. It overlooked part of the pool, something that became evident as she noticed fire dancing off the water.
More flames reached, twisted, and cracked from several torches spaced around the outdoor table. Something about it—the colorful flames, bright and warm against the darkness— created a gorgeous atmosphere.
“It’s beautiful out here,” she said.
Duke pulled out a chair for her. “Glad you like it.”
She dropped her gaze to look over the table. A glass covered fondue pot filled with melted cheese stood at the center, surrounded by covered trays. Two metal skewers rested nearby.
Viv lowered herself into the chair and grinned. “Fondue.”
Duke circled the table. “Exactly.”
He was right—it had been their second date. They’d gone back to LA for the holidays, and the two decided to make dinner together at his place.
“This looks delicious.”
“And here’s our selection…” Duke lifted the starchy white cloths off the trays to reveal an array of bread cubes, sliced meat, and baby red potatoes.
“This looks perfect.” She propped herself to look into the cheese pot too. “It looks like we’ve got smoother cheese this time,” she said with a laugh.
Duke motioned for her to reach for her skewer. Once she did, he reached for his. “Much smoother. Irene’s got some mad skills, I’ll tell you that much.”
He looked up, waiting until Viv pierced a chunk of crusty bread before doing the same. “But I still think we did pretty good that night.”
Viv shrugged, dunked the skewed bread into the cheese, and twirled it until it stopped dripping. “Me too. I loved that date.”
“So did I,” Duke said. “It’s when we had our first kiss.”
Viv caught his gaze across the table, recalling the goodbye kiss he’d given her at the end of that night. “I remember.” A splash of heat pooled into her chest.
Duke lifted his skewer ceremoniously. “Bon appétit?”
She nodded in approval. “Buon appetito.” Viv took her first bite as Duke did, savoring the rich, smoky flavor of the cheese. “That’s amazing,” she said, eyeing one of the baby potatoes next.
“So what do you like most about your job?” Duke asked as he reached for the prosciutto.
“We’re doing the interview in reverse now?” she asked.
He grinned. “Tit for tat, dating style. Off the books.”
“Alright,” she agreed. “I’d have to say…
discovering what people are really like.
Which is mainly, in my experience, very good.
It’s kind of like digging for fossils sometimes.
There are the parts we see—the general public.
And then there are the parts that take a little more time to discover.
But without seeing it as a whole, we can’t really identify what it is we’re looking at. ”
“Huh,” Duke said. “I guess that’s what makes you so good at what you do. You really are interested in giving people a chance, aren’t you? Do you give everyone the benefit of the doubt in your life or just those you interview?”
Viv considered that. “I wish I could do the same with everyone. Unfortunately, I still have the same type of snap judgments most of us do. I hate that about myself.” She thought of the countless times she’d caught herself doing that very thing over the years.
“At least you notice. At least you care. That’s an admirable quality.”
She bit her lip. “It’d be more admirable if I could stop myself from doing it. But I will say, I’m quicker to challenge my reactions to people—to the things they do or say. It’s helped me gain perspective in places I might not have otherwise.”
When she glanced up at Duke, ready to ask a question of her own, she was caught off guard by the look in his eye.
“Why did I have to be such a moron back then?” he asked.
A dart of searing heat sank into her chest. “You were just young, Duke. And impressionable, maybe.” She shrugged, recalling the way half that school seemed to adore him. “You thought you were going to lose all your adoring friends, right?”
But Duke shook his head. “There was more to it than that, Viv.”
“I know.” She recalled the award he’d told her about, about the attachment Sylvia’s family had to the founders. The big theme they planned to litter the media with. Two destined lovers from big names and even bigger money.
“I made some pretty moronic choices of my own. One that somehow encompasses my biggest mistake and my greatest joy, all in one. Well, two.”
Duke smiled knowingly. “I still can’t believe you’re a mom. To twins, no less.”
Viv sighed, enjoying the candid conversation with Duke more than she’d have thought possible a week ago. But the truth was, she was getting to know a whole lot about his character, and the more she discovered, the more she liked.
“Some days I can’t believe it either,” she admitted.
“So, what’s your favorite part about being a mom?”
It occurred to her that Duke was the one asking most of the questions. Part of her couldn’t blame him; Viv had done a lot of digging, and she’d be doing a lot more in the next day or two.
But there was a part of Viv that felt leery in asking him too much while they were off the books, as he’d put it. She didn’t want to confuse the information she gathered from him. Accidentally share something he hadn’t shared with Verit?.