“They don’t look fresh,” I bite out and then immediately regret it when Georgia covers her mouth with her hand and turns away. “You should, uh, put them in water before they die.”
Shut the fuck up, I think to myself, but I can’t. I just stare at Volkov and pull myself up to my full height while he arches an eyebrow at me. I’m being a dick, but I don’t care.
Darcy gives me a strange look. “I think they look great.” She takes the flowers from him and he follows her into the kitchen.
When she can’t reach the vase on the top shelf, I instinctively step forward, but fuckingVolkovis there, helping her pull it down.
“What,” Georgia murmurs, grinning, “no flowers for me?”
I give her an apologetic, embarrassed look. I’ve been so focused on Darcy going out with Volkov that I forgot I was also going on a date tonight. “Sorry.”
She waves me off, smiling. “It’s okay. We’re friends, Owens. I’m just here for the entertainment.” She smirks. “And you’re buying dinner.”
Darcy sets the flowers on the kitchen table, admiring them. “So pretty. I love getting flowers.”
I’m buying her flowers every day for the rest of eternity.
“I saw them and thought of you,” Volkov says to her. “They match your hair.”
“They do. Good eye.” Darcy leans over to smell the pale-purple flower closest to her.
“Look at you.” I glare at him, my shoulder muscles tightening. “A real Casanova.”
Georgia snorts, and Darcy gives me a teasing smile. “Maybe Alexei should give me dating lessons instead.”
Volkov makes an amused noise in his throat and sharp jealousy stabs me in the gut.
“They look like funeral flowers,” I bite out, hating myself.
I sound like an asshole. I’mbeingan asshole, but I can’t stop. This is all turning into a fucking mess.
We leave the apartment, and I lock up as Darcy leads Volkov and Georgia to the elevator.
Nice, Georgia mouths behind their backs, giving me a sarcastic double thumbs-up.Very smooth.
My nostrils flare, and I haul a deepbreath in just as the elevator door opens and Volkov puts a hand to Darcy’s lower back.
Another slice of jealous fury jolts through me.
This is going to be a long fucking night.
CHAPTER 46
DARCY
“You should wear red more,”Alexei says halfway through dinner, and beside me, Hayden tenses.
Tonight was a huge mistake. I should have checked with him before agreeing to go out with Alexei. He clearly doesn’t want me dating another one of his friends in case it gets messy like it did with Kit.
But also, this is my date, and he’s the one who wanted to come along.
“Thanks.” I tilt my chin at Georgia. “Georgia knows all the good places to shop. And it’s fun to wear something outside my comfort zone.”
“The doctor is a pro at spending money.” Alexei leans back, staring pointedly at her shoes.
She rolls her eyes, then turns back to me. “We’ll have to go again. I need a dress for Streicher and Pippa’s wedding.”
Right. It’s in a month, during the week between the season ending and the first round of playoffs.