Page 78 of Between Desire and Denial
I took her around to mingle, always staying at her side, and she talked to every single person she could about how anything HEAT-related was a great addition to Paradise Grove.
I wasn’t trying as hard. Or at all. “Relax,” I said as we walked away from Esme and her dad. “You’ve made an impression on at least fifty families tonight.”
She looked around. “You think?”
“I know. And you approach at the right angle every time.”
“My article will be perfect too. You’ll see.”
“I have no doubt. You’re quite good at just about anything you put your mind to.” She’d been a jack-of-all-trades for Kee, for her mother it seemed, for her family, and for me now.
Laughing, she shrugged. “I told you, my family raised me to know a little bit about everything.” She took two flutes of champagne again and smiled at me when I lifted a brow. “Oh, don’t comment on my alcohol consumption. I’m at what feels like a high school reunion, okay? Plus, I need to go to the bathroom. Which means I guess I have to go into Melly’s house, huh?”
“Want me to go with you?” I’d escort her just about anywhere while she wore that suit. I’d walk into the bathroom with her, help her take it off, and maybe have a few minutes of fun too.
“No. Stay and mingle.” She smacked my arm. “Stop avoiding what we came here to do. You haven’t been trying all night. Just go be nice to someone. Tell them what they want to hear.”
I didn’t care to do that at all anymore. “We’ll see.”
“Dimitri, it’s the only way for us to make this work.” She popped out a hip, and I stared at her with those curls blowing in the wind and that smile on her face like she might be relaxed enough with me to let loose now. Except she was still working angles on this deal we had while I was purely enjoying her instead.
“Make what work, exactly?” My mind was only thinking about making things work with her.
“To get your condo rentals and office spaces approved,” she whispered and wide-eyed me. Then she downed her champagne and set the flute on a standing table. “When this is over later, you’ll thank me. Now, let’s hope I don’t get lost in Melly’s ridiculous house.”
She spun and set off to make her way inside. The woman was on too much of a mission tonight. I didn’t like it. Not when I realized my mission had shifted. I was less and less concerned about this community and more and more concerned about her.
And I didn’t like it. I was feeling like my ego was being knocked down about ten fucking notches as the thoughts raced through my head. I knew she’d messaged Mr. Perfect again on her app tonight too.
I shouldn’t have known that, but my obsession with her was borderline unhinged.
No, completely unhinged.
I wouldn’t apologize for it either. She might have been reminding me that this was only a transaction between us, but I was about to remind her that we were so much more than that.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
OLIVE
Why didMelly’s house have ten hallways and a hundred rooms before I found the bathroom? And why did the bathroom have to look perfect?
Her house was decorated in soft neutral tones and beautiful arches in the doorways and gemstones that popped with just the right colors on the counter of the bathroom as I peed. Plus, she had a pool. And her life together.
She’d told everyone tonight she’d just landed another great client for her advertising business. And I could only admit in the quiet of this bathroom that I was utterly jealous of all of it. Of every single person I’d mingled with. I’d pasted on a smile and told everyone how amazing they were doing. Yet, I felt the burden of my own future crushing my soul. The thesis and the leatherbound book had me wondering where exactly I belonged.
I took a deep breath and straightened my outfit before flushing the toilet, washing my hands, and splashing some cool water on my cheeks. Stop moping, I told myself. I was here, I was working, and I was forging my own path of life. Just because the road was a bit rocky didn’t mean it was lesser than someone else’s.
And then I heard whispers outside the door. “Esme! How are you? I saw you by Knox.” She responded with something noncommittal and then the woman said, “Right. Right. He’ll come to his senses. He always does. Can’t say the same about his sister though. My God, right?”
“What about her?” Esme replied, her tone off.
“Well, Knox told me that their father isn’t happy about that relationship. So, I’m sure Dimitri and her won’t last. I mean, come on. How could it? The girl’s a mess.”
“Why would you say that?”
“She’s still getting her master’s. I also heard she slept with her professor. There’s no way DimitriHardystays with that. I’m just hoping my girl Melly can sway him tonight. They would be the cutest couple.”
That’s when I chose to swing the door open and try my best to stand tall as I walked out and away from them. Esme called my name, but I didn’t want to hear what she had to say right then. I just wanted to get out of there.
