“I know you don’t have an appointment, so I’m afraid not.”
“He’ll see me. I promise. Just tell him that Darcy’s here.”
“He’s very busy.”
Seriously? This chick may not be a threat to me, but I’m about to be one to her. I take a deep breath and pull out my phone. He picks up on the first ring.
“Hi, Cat.”
“Hey, Crown. Listen, I’m here to see you, but your secretary won’t let me in.”
“Shit. She’s a little possessive.”
“You think?”
“Be right there. Don’t kill her, please. Matt says she’s one of the best from the secretarial pool.”
“Fine. Steal my fun.”
The door to his office opens, and the desire to punch Nate comes back full force. Brayden’s got a black eye and a split lip. I’ll deal with that in a minute. Ms. Secretary of the Year needs to be put in her place right now.
“I’m sorry for the confusion, Muska. Darcy is allowed in whenever she wants to see me. I don’t care what I’m doing or who I’m with, you always put her calls through and let her into my office.”
“Oh, okay. I just didn’t think she looked like your type.”
I may be in leather pants and a slouchy shirt, but seriously? “He gave up his kingdom for me, so I’d say I’m definitely his type.”
“What? Kingdom?” she asks, her eyes wide.
“Google it,” I tell her as I walk into his office and close the door behind us.
“It looks worse than it feels,” he says immediately.
“Does the other guy look worse?”
“Umm, I could lie here, but no. Not at all.”
“What could possibly make you think a bar fight was a good idea?”
“It’s a guy thing. Nate and Aiden said every American man should get in a bar fight at least once in their lifetime. The other guys agreed.”
“I can’t really argue with that.”
“I’m fine. Just a little banged up.”
“Just try not to have any more visible injuries. All I need is for the Cyndryann press to think I’ve been beating you.”
“Oh God. They might actually think that.”
“I know,” I tell him with a wink as I walk out.
“He really did give up his kingdom for you,” Muska says when she sees me.
“Yes, he really did.”
She looks impressed, but our friendship ship has sailed. I surround myself with people who like me for me, thorns and all, not ones who are impressed with the King and I.
* * *
3. Make Darcy a meal
Darcy
“Um, Darce, you better turn on the news,” Faith tells me, grimacing as she walks into my office.
“Is it bad?”
“Oh yeah. I need to head out there, but I thought I should be the one to tell you. Since, well, you’ll see.”
I turn on the news and see fire trucks surrounding Gavin’s cooking school for inner city kids. What the hell? He’s super careful, and what’s a fire there have to do with me? And then I see it—or I should say, him. I pick up my cell phone and dial.
“He’s a menace, Darcy. A fucking menace.”
“I’m sorry, Gavin.”
“He was cooking pasta. Pasta. Who the fuck sets a building on fire when they’re cooking pasta.”
“Is that Darcy?” I hear Brayden ask in the background, as I watch him walk to Gavin on live TV.
“Yes. Call her on your own phone if you want to talk to her. Mine just might explode or some shit like that if you touch it.”
The line goes dead, and then my phone rings a few seconds later. “I don’t know how I did it. I swear. I was just boiling the pasta, and then there was fire. I think maybe it was the olive oil or the butter or…I don’t know.”
“Calm down, Bray. No one was hurt, right?”
“No.”
“And you can pay to fix whatever the insurance won’t, right?”
“The insurance guy said they’re paying nothing. He said he’s never seen anything like this in his 20 years on the job. But yes, of course I can pay.”
I burst out laughing, thinking about him setting a fire while cooking pasta. “I thought…I thought I told you to be careful.”
“I’m glad you find this funny.”
“Oh, I do. I really do.”
“Here comes the fire inspector to interview me. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Don’t incriminate yourself.”
“I don’t think fire by pasta will be considered arson.”
“Sir, are you making light of this incident,” I hear in the background. Oh shit.
“No. I would never do that. I take any kind of fire very seriously. I promise.”
The line goes dead, and I dissolve into another fit of laughter. My poor, sweet king.
* * *
3. Bake a cake for Darcy
Brayden
I’m not actually baking the cake for Darcy. I can’t. Doreen Drago saw the news, and forbade me from even touching her oven. Then again, the whole world saw the news. Even my mother called me, and she hates to use her cell phone. All press is good press, right? I mean, I could’ve told the press about my huge donation to the Firemen’s Fund, but that would’ve been bad form.
Maggie Griffin got me set up here at Drago Sisters, and I really want to do my part in this whole process, but no one really thinks that’s a good idea. I did try to mix the batter for my cake, but yeah, that didn’t really work out. So here I sit, covered in flour and cake batter, while Eliza tries to show me how to make a flower out of fondant. I dreamed of doing something more exciting, but by now, we all know that’s not going to happen. The other workers are staying as far away from me in this small space as possible.
I try a flower, and it comes out looking like a lump of color with a few ridges. “Dude. I mean, I know you’re trying, but seriously, what the fuck? It’s a simple flower.”
“I’m a lost cause.”
“I want to argue, but yeah.”
Even frosting the cake turns out to be problematic. I have too much on one side, and I end up tearing off half the top layer when I try and fix it. Everyone just leaves me alone in my little corner. I’d like to think that they’re just letting me independently express my creativity, but I know better. Just another failure to check off. At this rate, I won’t successfully complete anything.
“I’m here for my cake,” I hear Darcy say to Eliza as she walks into the bakery.
I look down at the monstrosity I’ve created, and cringe. “Here, you can give her this one,” Doreen says, brining over a perfectly decorated masterpiece.
“No. I can’t pretend. I’m doing this to prove to her that I can live like a normal person. I’m just failing badly.”
“You came in here and tried Brayden; that has to count for something. I honestly would prefer if you just place an order in the future, but I applaud you for giving it a go.”
“Thanks.”
I walk out with my cake and watch as Darcy’s eyes widen in horror. She quickly recovers and smiles brightly. “Wow, Bray. Just, umm, wow.”
“It’s hideous. I know.”
“I wouldn’t call it that. Maybe interesting is a good word.”
“The cake should taste great since I didn’t make it. Doreen didn’t want me to burn the place down.”
“It looks like you tried to make it,” she says motioning to my clothes and apron, trying to hold back a smile.
“Yeah. I tried.”
“Then it’s the best cake I’ve ever gotten. Thanks for making it for me.”
I smile at my girl. “You’re welcome.”
Maybe I didn’t exactly pass the test I set for myself, but I still won.
Chapter 23
4. Get a job
5. Serenade her publicly.
Darcy
I can only imagine what Brayden’s going to come up with next. And wonder if it’s going to mean a trip to the hospital for him�
�or someone else. The cake wasn’t horrible—okay, maybe it was a little bit horrible—but at least nothing burned down. He hasn’t given me any kind of hint about what’s next to come, and I’m a little nervous.
My friends convinced me that we needed a night out at Karaoke Q, and so here I am, eating Korean food and getting buzzed on sake. Nate and Jade arrive, and he tries to sit next to me, but I put my hand on the chair. “Your week’s not up.”
“You’re a cold-hearted bitch, Darce.”
“That’s why you love me.”
“True.”
The music stops and we all turn to see who’s up next. A man—it’s very clearly a man, even though his back is turned—dressed as Cyndi Lauper from the 80s, wig included, is getting ready to perform. The opening music for True Colors begins, and he turns. Oh my fucking God. It’s Brayden. He starts to lip synch instead of sing, but just wow. My mouth drops open as my friends start to holler.
“This. This right here is why he’s the shit,” Owen Griffin says. “You go man. Let your freak flag fly.”
“He’s won. The man has won it all. Everything,” Audrey responds.
“Stella,” I say.
“Yes, Darcy?”
“That is so you up there on the stage.”
“I may have had something to do with the hair, makeup, and clothing choices. Now shut up and let him serenade you.”
It hits me then that that’s exactly what’s happening. He’s serenading me. Oh God. It’s both hilarious and romantic at the same time. He starts walking towards me, and I can’t help but smile at him. As he sits down on my lap—yes, people, he really does that—and caresses my face while singing, I blush and sing along. It’s pretty freaking epic.
* * *
7. Master an American sport
Darcy
Miles has apparently been working with Brayden, teaching him how to play baseball like a pro. Well, I’ve heard he’s far from pro status, but they’re going to let him throw out the first pitch at the local baseball game tonight. It works out perfectly since Storyside is singing the National Anthem. Everyone is here for the show, even the mentors.
Brayden is practicing his pitch on the side of the dugout. He’s away from where the real pitchers are, but I think he may be a little too close to the guys warming up their arms by swinging their bats. I’m worried that he’ll get hit, but what happens next is…well, I have no sufficient words for what it is.
Right as Brayden throws, the player closest to him swings his bat around. They connect and the ball flies at full speed towards Storyside as they walk out onto the field. It takes everyone a moment to notice and then they yell, but it’s too late. That ball hits Wayne square on his forehead and he goes down hard.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. That boy went right down,” says the lady sitting next to me in the private box. A close-up of Wayne pops up on the screen and her tone changes. “Oh. He’s hot. Do you think he needs mouth to mouth?”
I fall out of my chair laughing. I can’t help it. It was funny enough seeing Wayne just tip over, but this cougar next to me just sent me over the edge of sanity. Oh dear God. My boyfriend is seriously going to be the end of us all, and here I am laughing. I can’t help it, though. Mallory is looking down at me like I’m a crazy person, and maybe I am, but that was funny as hell.
* * *
Brayden
Oh fuck, I think I just killed Wayne. I mean, it wasn’t me. I wasn’t the batter. Who the hell am I kidding? It’s me. I’m the menace. The cursed one.
I run over to him, and get there just as he is struggling to sit up. I thought he was knocked out, but I think he was maybe just resting. I’d rest, too, if a ball hit me at around a hundred miles an hour. I step back as his eyes meet mine.
“You? You did this? What the ever loving fuck, man? Did your cousin put you up to this? Or was it just another of your hare-brained schemes gone wrong?”
“Jen had nothing to do with this, I swear. It was an accident.”
“You seem to have a lot of those,” Gary Griffin tells me. “More than any human being should be allowed to have. Maybe you need a companion. Like a sober companion, but for you it would be an accident companion.”
“I don’t need a companion. I just need to be able to do something right.”
I look around, and my eyes land on Ryan Griffin. I smile, and he looks horrified and starts backing up. “No. Uh-uh. Fuck to the no. All I need is for you to bring one of my buildings crashing to the ground.”
“Isn’t that a little harsh, Ry?” his brother, Luke, asks him.
“In regards to him? No. I think I’m being nice.”
“I’ve got a replacement task for you. It’s one you’ll enjoy, and no one else will be injured by it. At least they shouldn’t be,” Miles tells me. His smile is a little too calculated, but beggars can’t be choosers.
* * *
8. Miles’ addition to the list
Darcy
“Knock, knock,” Ellie says, walking into my office.
“Hey, El, what’s up?”
“I thought you should know that Brayden’s in the cafeteria, holding court with a bunch of the women who work here.”
“Foundation here, or C&C here?”
“C&C. He’s, well, he’s flirting pretty hard.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? He refuses to touch me, and he’s off flirting with some chicks?”
“Yeah, but I think it may be one of his test thingies.”
“How would flirting be a test to win me over?”
“I don’t know, but Miles looked like he was enjoying the show. Nate, Jake, and Aiden were laughing, too.”
“Idiots. They’re all a bunch of immature morons,” I say, practically running to the elevator.
Well, as fast as I can run in heels. I’ve been trying to look a little more ladylike, even though I know Brayden fell in love with me for who I am. Today I have on a fitted t-shirt over a black leather skirt that has layers of fringe. I turn into the cafeteria and it’s just like Ellie said.
Brayden’s in full on playboy mode, cocky smile and all. He’s not the one I’m here for, though. He may have been stupid enough to fall for whatever line he was fed, but I’m after the ringleader. Who just happens to be making it a little too easy for me.
Miles is laughing and leaning back in his chair when I tip it all the way back. He crashes to the floor and starts to say something. Until he’s sees that it’s me standing over him. The other guys quickly shut up, too. In fact, you can hear a pin drop in the cafeteria.
“It was a joke, DC. I mean, come on, you saw what he did on the baseball field. That’s my sacred place. I just wanted a little payback and he made it too easy.”
“Go take care of you man, Darcy. I’ll take care of my husband, or rather, I won’t be taking care of him,” Alex says, coming up beside me.
“What? Baby, come on. It was a harmless joke.”
“Shut up, Miles.”
I walk over to the table, noting that Brayden is looking a little green. “What did he say to you?”
“That American women like it when their man flirts with other girls because they like to know that he’s desirable.”
“And you believed him?”
“I-I…yes?”
“Have I ever given you the impression that I’d like to see you flirt with other women?”
“No?”
“No.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be so uptight, and then he wouldn’t have to flirt with us.”
I start to turn towards the voice, but then stop myself. Instead, I take a deep breath and do something I’ve been wanting to do all week. Something that’s much better than punching a silly girl. I grab Brayden by his lapels, pull him to his feet, and then kiss the fuck out of him. He tries not to react, but when I move my hands to his hair, he’s done fighting. He grabs my waist, and pulls me up against him, kissing me back like I knew he would. I kiss him for a good minute before pushing back just a little to whisper in his ear.
“Hurry up and finish these damn tests. My vibrator’s just not cutting it.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah, that’s what I need, so please make it happen soon.”
“Just two more things,” he says, nodding. “It should be more since I keep failing, but my hand’s not cutting it either.”
I give him one more kiss, and then I walk out, making sure to give the guys a double one fingered salute on my way out. I love my boys, but they’re not doing me any favors lately. My girls—oh yeah, they’re rocking it, but the guys? Not so much.
* * *
9. Learn how to be a cowboy
Brayden
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared of this next test. I know how to ride a horse, I mean I play polo for God’s sake. But cowboy style, while trying to rope a steer? Yeah, no. Where did Caleb even get a steer? He said he borrowed it, but isn’t that weird? I guess it’s just an American thing.
Tegan said if I was going to play cowboy, I had to look the part. I have on jeans, a checkered shirt, chaps, boots, spurs, and a cowboy hat. I thought it was a bit much, but she insisted, and there’s no arguing with any of these women when they set their mind to something. Caleb hands me my gloves as I climb onto the horse. I almost forgot those, which would have been very bad—rope burn is not fun. I know, because I’ve been practicing throwing the rope all week. Today is just the main event. Caleb thinks I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Which is probably not at all. Here goes nothing.
Caleb releases the steer, and then we’re off. Everything seems to be going well, and I swing the rope over my head at the same time he does. I even manage to get it over the head like I’m supposed to. That’s when everything goes to hell. While Caleb easily jumps off his horse and starts tying the steer’s legs, I somehow get my leg caught in my reins as I climb off and then I’m down. I roll away from my horse hooves, and almost get kicked by the steer. He realizes I’m no longer in control, and starts bucking.
“Hot damn,” Caleb says, jumping back and running for his horse. He easily jumps on and then turns back towards me to see what happens.
I just stand there, unable to move, as the steer struggles to his feet. “Run, Brayden, Run.”
I hear Darcy yelling, but I still can’t move. Where’s the rodeo clown when I need him? Oh yeah, this isn’t even my first rodeo. It’s just the corral outside of a high tech secret spy lair. Just when I think it’s all over for me, Caleb comes riding back and reaches out his hand. I take it and throw myself onto his horse behind him. We make it into the gate with seconds to spare, as the steer crashes into it right behind us.
Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 7) Page 18