Page 77 of Fake Dating Daxton Hawk
Hi Delphine,
My name is Sofia Adams and I own The Feather Tease Burlesque Lounge in Manhattan. I’m emailing you because I saw Dark Artist shared a dance routine of yours on her social media. As you may know, Dark Artist, as with many famous burlesque dancers, started their career at The Feather Tease. I would like to extend an offer for you to dance with us. Let me know if you’re interested. I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Sofia Adams
My heart races as I read the email. My vision blurs with tears of excitement. What the heck is happening?
“Daxton!”
He rushes into the bathroom, alarmed until noticing my smile.
“I got an email from The Feather Tease. They want me to dance for them.” I jump on him and he laughs, stumbling backward into the bedroom.
“Amazing.” He grabs the backs of my thighs, holding them securely around his waist. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I honestly can’t believe it. I’m dreaming, aren’t I? I’m going to wake up and be back in my shitty apartment, having never met you and with a pile of dance rejections.”
“That’s not going to happen. Enjoy this moment. You’ve worked so hard for it. Have you emailed them back yet?”
“No. I literally just got the email. Plus, we’re running late for the rehearsal dinner.”
“The dinner can wait. Email them now.”
My feet land back on the ground and I grab my phone while Daxton takes a seat on the bed, watching me and waiting patiently. My thumbs type a response to Sofia Adams, telling her I would love the opportunity to dance at The Feather Tease. Once pressing the send button, I take a deep breath to calm my nerves, ready to carry on with the night.
“Okay, how do I look?” I spin around, giving Daxton a view of my outfit.
I’m wearing red heels and one of Verena’s designs—a short, tight black dress with full sleeves that hug my arms. The dress is backless, showing the right amount of skin to be both sexy and elegant.
Daxton stalks up to me, pulling my hips to him. “You look like I want to skip this rehearsal dinner and have you naked beneath me again.”
When I feel how hard he is and how quickly I turned him on, it dawns on me that he’s being serious about skipping the dinner. I peck Daxton on the lips and step back from him. “If you’re using sex as a tactic to avoid seeing your family, it won’t work.”
“Was worth a try.”
“Come on, the dinner won’t be bad. I’ll be with you the whole time, which means everyone will be polite and not stir up drama.” Whatever the drama is. I push away the sadness that comes with Daxton not sharing the issue. He won’t tell me, and despite wanting him to open up about it, I know he’s dealing with a lot right now. I fluff up my curls and take Daxton’s hand in mine. “Let’s go. Hey, by the way, is it true you were offered the role of The Bachelor?”
Daxton’s nose puckers. “My PA mentioned something about it to me in passing months ago. Obviously I had no interest in accepting the role. How come?”
I place my phone in front of him and play the video Mina sent me. By the end of it, Daxton rolls his eyes and laughs. “I try to stay out of what the public says about me, but I’ll admit, the wife part is hot.”
“Oh, really?” I laugh along with him as we walk out the front door of our cottage. I won’t get ahead of myself, but it’s a turn on thinking that one day Daxton and I might end up together.
“Yes, really.” He kisses my cheek and locks the door.
We walk hand in hand through the vineyard, the moon casting a soft glow on the many rows of vines. Although the circumstances of this weekend are not ideal, I can’t deny I’m enjoying myself. The plane ride was nice, getting to know Amabella and her daughter a little better. This is my first time on a vineyard, and despite not being a drinker, I can appreciate the beauty and culture of this land. The air is constantly filled with the sweet aroma of grapes. There’s a stillness to this place, away from the madness of the city. But most of all, I’m happy to be with Daxton.
As we near the restaurant, it seems the rehearsal dinner is well under way. There’s a jazz band playing, the scent of delicious food wafts through the air, and I can hear the voices of many people socializing. Fairy lights are strung across the trees, making the restaurant look magical.
Daxton comes to a stop, pinching the bridge of his nose. His entire body is tense.
“Hey, you all right?”
He swears under his breath, then stands tall, composing himself. “No. Let’s just get this night over with. In and out as quick as possible.”
Daxton brings my hand to his lips and continues forward. The music and voices grow louder as we step inside the restaurant. Waiters are weaving among the crowd, serving champagne to all the mingling guests. As with the rest of the vineyard, the restaurant follows a rustic theme with stone walls and wooden beams crisscrossing the ceiling. Oak barrels line the perimeter. All the tables are draped in white tablecloths and have floral centerpieces. The dim lighting creates a cozy and intimate atmosphere.
