Page 16 of The Love Audit
“You look good, too.” I feigned nonchalance. My heart fluttereddespite my best efforts. Derek’s outfit could only be described as effortlessly chic. Anyone who didn’t know better would think he’d thrown it together in five minutes, but I knew every piece had been meticulously chosen. His dressy-casual look—tailored slacks and a polo that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe—exuded understated luxury.
“Yeah, I just threw this on.” He shrugged, but the slight tilt of his lips told me he appreciated the compliment.
“So, you ready, wife?” He extended a hand.
“I am, husband,” I replied sarcastically, slipping past him toward the door. “Let’s do the damn thing.”
“Hey, can you do me a favor tonight?” he asked as he placed a large, warm hand on the small of my back to guide me through the front door. The touch was casual, but it sent a ripple of awareness through me.
“That depends on the favor.” I tried to sound unaffected.
“While we’re at dinner, please don’t tell anyone about me shitting my pants on the Scream Machine.”
I burst out laughing, the tension in my chest releasing all at once. “I can’t make any promises,” I teased, shooting him a grin as we stepped into the evening air.
CHAPTER SIX
Derek
When the cab pulled up to the address David had given me, I rushed out to open Jasmine’s door to help her out, just in case someone was watching and definitely not to hold her hand and get a closer whiff of whatever combination of perfumes and lotions had her smelling so good.
“Whoa,” she whispered under her breath as we surveyed the large house. I was thinking the same thing. By the look of the town itself, and, more specifically, The Mill, I’d expected something smaller. “Who are these people?”
I’d filled Jasmine in on my afternoon lunch with Tora at The Mill, so I assumed she’d been expecting a home befitting the image of an owner of a grist mill. So had I.
Jasmine was holding the bottle of wine she’d picked up on her walk earlier, so I rang the doorbell.
“Oh, how wonderful. You made it,” a female voice called out, “and you look so nice. I’ll be right there.” Jasmine and I bothinstinctively looked around for cameras. We caught each other’s eye, and I could’ve sworn I saw the corners of Jasmine’s mouth curl into a smile until she caught herself and quickly looked away.
The door swung open, and we were ushered inside by David’s wife, Eleanor, a beautiful woman with deep brown skin and shoulder-length corkscrew curls. She was dressed similarly to Jasmine except for the stilettos, but she didn’t need them since she was also tall with soft curves.
“Please come in,” she beckoned.
“Shoes off or on?” Jasmine asked. I’d almost forgotten how thoughtful she always was, or she had been when I’d known her.
“We’re usually a ‘shoes off’ family, but you can keep them on tonight.” She walked through the massive foyer toward a crowded dining room, and we followed her. “Where’s your dog?”
“Oh, he’s home,” I answered, before I caught my fake wife’s sideways glance. “I mean, he’s back at The Derry.”
“You should bring him next time you come over. Lord knows we have plenty of space for him to run.”
“Well, I’ll keep that in mind, but he’s fine on his own for a few hours, and he doesn’t always do well with strangers.”Except Jasmine, I thought. She caught my eye again at that moment and hit me with a smug smile.
“David,” Eleanor called to her husband. “Look who’s here.”
“Hey, Chief.” David reached out and clasped my hand in a hearty shake. “You clean up nice. Scared of you.” He chuckled.
“Hey, man, I’m just trying to keep up with you.” I nodded at his outfit. “Tom Ford.”
“Yeah, I’m not usually into all that kind of stuff, but the wifelikes it.” He slid an arm around Eleanor’s waist. “I gotta look good to keep the young bucks like you from swooping in and stealing her away.” Eleanor rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“You don’t have to worry about me.” I slid an arm around Jasmine’s waist and felt her tense up and relax under the weight of my palm. “I’m already spoken for.”
“That you are, young man.” He nodded in approval. “That you are. Hi, I’m David Pike, and this is my wife, Eleanor.” He extended his hand to shake.
“Pike?” Jasmine asked. “As in John William Pike, one of the three prominent businessmen who founded Miller’s Cove in 1924?” It seemed that Jasmine hadn’t wasted any time. I made a mental note to step up my Google game after dinner.
“The one and only.” David laughed. “I’m his great-grandson. You’ve really done your research.”
