Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Sebastian
“ I still think it is kind of rude to leave Spencer and Natalia behind,” I said to Darcy, sitting in the backseat of the car she’d requested to bring us somewhere away from the security of the resort.
“They’ll be fine, and we’re in love , remember?”
“I understand, but how are they to know we’re in love if we hide from them?”
“Here, smile, lover,” she said, turning her phone to take a photo of us.
I did, and she laughed. Her mood was surprisingly peppy after being kept awake most of the night.
“You look like you’re holding in a fart,” she chuckled. “Try again. Now, smile. ”
“I am smiling, ” I said, mimicking her tone.
She pulled her phone down and turned to face me, “ That is not a smile. Your lips are barely open, and your teeth are clamped together like you’re trying to keep the dentist from drilling a cavity.”
I laughed.
“Try again,” she turned, positioned the camera, and, again, I smiled. “Oh, my gosh,” she said in annoyance. “That’s not a smile. That’s a painful expression.”
“That is me smiling,” I said truthfully.
“Didn’t your mother teach you how to smile?” she asked, dropping the phone.
“Since you have been fortunate enough never to have met my mother, you wouldn’t know that Margot Aster didn’t raise her boys to smile on command.”
“If you can’t figure out how to smile on command,” she mocked my tone in some low voice, “then how do you plan on ever finding another wife in the future?”
“ If I wanted another wife, I wouldn’t need to worry about my smile. My money will bring the women, not my smile,” I teased with an arch of my eyebrow.
“With a smile like that, I guess it’s a good thing you’ve got money, then,” she teased, raising her eyebrows smugly. “But since we’re living in my world today, you’ll have to learn how to smile whether you’re happy or not. Today, you will learn how to derive joy from the simple things in life.”
“I do not need a lesson in joy or happiness,” I said. “I’m pleasantly content with my life the way it is. As a matter of fact, I fear that life might get cut short by going to a shopping street outside of the safety of the resort without any bodyguards.”
“Bodyguards?” she said with wide eyes.
“Indeed. It’s quite the norm where I come from, and I’m shocked that’s news to you, given the people you write about.”
“I understand, but I haven’t seen any bodyguards in your family’s usual entourage since you came to California.”
“That was at my request. I didn’t need the additional bullshit of a personal security detail watching my every damn move. I just wanted to handle the business and get home.”
“I bet your parents hate themselves for not sending a spy along now that they probably know you’re engaged.”
“Not hearing a word from them since that video was uploaded allows me to know I’m all but kicked out of my family by this point,” I chuckled.
“Well, you’ll be fine. I used to run around this little place all the time. I used to surf here when I was a teenager, and my parents lived in Mexico.”
“Wild child,” I said, finding it intriguing that Darcy lived such a carefree life and seemed virtually fearless in everything.
“Nothing wild about it. This was my home, but just like any other place, there are dangers if you go to the wrong places. I know the places to avoid so you don’t get your sweet little ass kidnapped.”
“We are truly from two separate worlds,” I said, cocking my head to the side to study her. She’d had an excited expression since I agreed to go along on this outing.
“You don’t say,” she sighed with wide, humored eyes.
“I do say. I find it amusing that having a security detail with us while we’re in the streets today would make me comfortable but make you un comfortable.”
“That’s one thousand percent true,” she confirmed. “Now, smile for the picture, champ. Think of something funny so your smile looks genuine and not like a reaction to sitting on razor wire.”
“Why are we taking the picture? Social media again?”
“Will that help you smile, knowing it would be uploaded to social media to keep you off the block?”
“Cute way of saying auction block,” I said.
“Smile, dammit,” she said. “I’m sending this to Nat and Spence so they know we’re in love without having to be in their presence to prove it.”
“God, the chore,” I said.
“It wasn’t a chore on the plane when you were quoting Pride and Prejudice, talking about how I was bewitching you, body and soul ,” she laughed.
“It’s because I was in control and planning the whole thing,” I answered.
“Well, you will do this for me, even though I know you don’t want to,” she said with a flirty grin that made my desire to kiss her like I did on the plane come flooding back.
“Turn around and pull the camera up,” I said, needing her and her attractive expressions to leave my lustful eyes. “I’ll think of my parents finding out about my engagement and the horror show that must’ve been for them.”
“Holy shit, that’s a sexy smile,” she said, instantly snapping the picture before catching the eyeroll I offered when she made the comment.
“So, where are we going?”
“Sayulita Market,” she said, looking at her phone and composing a message for Natalia. “It’s a popular surf town about thirty miles from the resort. They have an amazing market with delicious street food, locally made items, and unique art pieces in case you want to buy a painting for your mom?”
“To watch her burn it because it has something to do with my relationship with you?”
“That’s a bit harsh,” she said, “taking someone’s artwork and burning it because she hates the person her son was with when it was purchased?”
“You’d have to meet my mother to understand why she wouldn’t give two fucks about insulting anyone’s artwork,” I assured her with a smile.
“Seems like a real standup woman. She didn’t teach her boys to smile and would destroy a gift they’ve given her?”
“You are correct,” I chuckled. “Mommy Dearest.”
“No wonder you’re the way you are, all diabolical and shit.”
“Let’s not trade insults since we are having a decent time,” I teased. “Speaking of having a wonderful time, I wanted to thank you for dealing with my neuroses last night.”
“No need to thank me. Coming along on this shopping trip to enjoy Mexico my way is good enough for me.”
“Knowing I’ll be stressed the entire time seems to appease you?”
“Meh, kind of,” she chuckled. “Hey, by the end of this outing, you’ll be thanking me not only for babysitting your insomniac ass but also for showing you some fun ways to live outside the rich and famous box.”
“Unless I drink the water?”
“If you’re that senseless, you deserve to get the shits,” she teased.
Twenty minutes later, we arrived at the local street market, which she was seemingly beyond excited to venture to. The atmosphere was euphoric, and the air was filled with the mouth-watering fragrance of homemade Mexican food, which made me crave a fresh tortilla. Don’t ask me why, but it sounded delicious.
“Damn,” I said, snatching Darcy’s hand to keep her close to me whether she agreed or not.
She tensed and went to pull away. “Seriously?” she said in utter annoyance.
“Very seriously,” I answered. “Listen, I’m not trying to be some controlling freak, but I’ll feel much safer holding your hand.”
“So long as you admit to yourself that you’re only holding my hand because you’re a chicken shit who thinks he’s gonna get kidnapped,” she said. I could see her eyes fill with reproach even though she wore dark sunglasses to shield them from me and the sun.
“Okay, I’m the chicken shit,” I smiled. “Now, take me to where they have homemade tortillas. That sounds delicious.”
“Already missing Ines, eh?” she questioned with a laugh.
“You’re not wrong,” I said, not realizing that’s probably what made me crave them. Ines made the most delicious tortillas I’d ever eaten; they practically melted in your mouth.
“Well, we’re not getting homemade tortillas because we can eat that at home any time that we want,” she said. “It’s the tlacoyos that you want to pig out on while you’re in Mexico. They’re my absolute fav. Antonio rarely makes them, which is fine because it gives me something to look forward to when I visit.”
“What are they?” I asked as we walked through the vendors.
“They’re these oval-shaped masa cakes,” she pulled her hand from mine to make an oval shape, using that as an excuse to stop holding my hand. “They’re stuffed with beans, cheese, or even pork rinds. Then they’re topped with cactus, salsa, and more cheese.”
I smiled warmly, finding her so damn cute, and then snatched her hand back into mine. “Nice try, gorgeous,” I said. “But you forget that I’m?—”
“Scared, I know,” she cut me off, answering me dryly.
“Are they that good? I’ve never had cactus before, but the idea of eating one might be more terrifying than getting kidnapped.”
“Don’t worry, they take the needles out of the cactus first,” she teased.
After a while, I began to chill out about not having security with us, and it made it much easier to enjoy this enjoyable date we’d found ourselves on. My favorite part was seeing a new side of Darcy. Her eyes and expression seemed to brighten to match the bold colors of all the handcrafted items each booth had for sale.
Darcy seemed as at home in Mexico as she was in California. She was comfortable, happy, and more fun than I expected her to be. I didn’t think I’d ever seen anyone so happy. It brought to mind the day I surprised Melissa with her brand-new yacht. I thought no woman could’ve ever been happier than my wife that day until I saw Darcy’s reaction to being at a street market .
Darcy smiled from ear to ear, bouncing joyfully around and examining each vendor’s wares. She smelled all the candles, sampled creams and lotions, tried on jewelry, and examined various leather goods, all while talking and laughing with the people in the booths. Her effortless, casual way of being warm, open, and friendly was intoxicating. She was like a happy butterfly, flitting weightlessly around, and I’d never seen anyone seem so…joyful.
I was fascinated that something as simple as her environment had made Darcy come alive so vibrantly, and it made me want to know so much more about her.