Page 49 of Arranged To Be Mine

She picked up her fork and speared a scallop. “What about you? Do you memorize case law for fun?”

“God, no. That’s what paralegals are for.” I grinned. “I prefer to memorize more important things. Like the lyrics to every Bon Jovi song ever written.”

Her face took on a pink flush that made her look so pretty. She shot me a warning look. “We agreed never to speak of that.”

“Did we? I don’t remember agreeing to anything. I haven’t been able to stop singing that song about roses.”

“Stop, you know what the song was.”

I grinned and pretended to think about it.

She rolled her eyes, but there was no heat in it. A week ago, I would have said Darcy Corwin was the last person I’d want to spend an evening with. Now I was actively looking forward to her next comeback.

The main courses arrived, an elaborate parade of wagyu beef and lobster tails. I cut into my steak, savoring the first bite.

“This is incredible,” I said.

“It should be, for what they charge,” Darcy muttered under her breath.

“You don’t seem impressed.”

Darcy shrugged, pushing a piece of lobster around her plate. “After a while, it all starts to taste the same.”

Tom leaned forward, drawing our attention back to the table. “So, Beau, Lou tells us you’re quite the lawyer. Entertainment law, is that right?”

“Started there, yeah. But I’ve branched out over the years. Wherever my clients need me, that’s where I go.”

“Darcy, why don’t you tell them about the expansion plans for the Asian market?” Lou said. I caught the slight edge in his voice. A redirect. She’d been leaning toward me again, and he’d noticed.

Darcy pivoted smoothly. The investors nodded along, engaged. But I saw Lou watching her the way a coach watches a player who’s not quite in the game.

I understood this was her audition, but in my opinion, she’d proven herself. Let the girl eat a fucking meal.

The meal wound down with dessert and coffee, the conversation shifting to lighter topics with the business out of the way. We talked about travel plans, holiday traditions, the latest California gossip. Darcy relaxed with the business portion of the evening concluded, her shoulders dropping from their rigid position.

“I have to say you two make quite the pair,” Richard said. “The chemistry is obvious.”

“Absolutely,” Tom agreed. “I don’t know what those internet people are thinking, calling you an ice queen. Anyone can see you’re head over heels for each other.”

Darcy’s hand found mine under the table, squeezing gently like she was afraid I might blow the story. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

“The online world is full of people who don’t know what they’re talking about,” Lou added. “I’m glad you can see the real Darcy.”

We stood to leave, the investors shaking hands with everyone and promising to be in touch about the next funding round. Lou walked them toward the valet, leaving Darcy and me standing near the entrance.

She turned to face me. The candlelight from the restaurant caught her features, softening them, making her look almost ethereal.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “For tonight. You were perfect.”

“Just doing my job.”

“No.” She shook her head. “This was more than that. You made it enjoyable. I didn’t want to stab my fork into my eye.”

“High praise. I’m glad no eyeballs were injured tonight.”

She smiled and shook her head. “Are you always like this?”

“Charming? Dashing? Amazing?”