Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #7)(11)

I have no delusions that we’ll be together forever, but I need to exercise more finesse from now on. The car ride yesterday proved that I want more than information from my beautiful fiancée, which Noah has continued to remind me is a very bad idea. But the cock wants what it wants, and mine wants Darcy.

I look up, and it’s as if my thoughts conjured her. Only it’s much better. She’s dressed the way I think she must look when my mother isn’t insisting on “future princess” outfits. The black leather pants look like they’re painted on her, but the baggy superhero t-shirt takes down the sex appeal. Or at least I think that’s what she was going for. It’s not working on me. I think she looks hotter than I’ve ever seen her.

I stand, straightening my jacket. I should’ve known she’d go casual, but I let my vanity get the best of me. A full designer suit with a skinny tie are what I chose for our date in a mall. No one ever said I was a rocket scientist, and they probably never will.

“You never let down your guard with me,” Darcy tells me when she gets to the table.

“You’ve got your armor on, too.”

“Touché.”

“You look beautiful.”

“Just sit down, and turn off the charm would ya. I’ve told you before that it won’t work on me.”

“I wasn’t saying that to be charming. I mean it, Cat. I like you in fancy clothes, but you shine in what you’re wearing right now,” I tell her honestly.

“Thank you. I’m much more comfortable dressing down.”

“You can wear them when we’re at the house—and the castle—if you want.”

She shakes her head. “Your mother said I need to look the part for the staff.”

“Make it part of your conditions for coming back.”

“Good idea,” she says with a smile.

“I have one every ten years or so.”

“You have to dress down then, too.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You want me in leather pants?”

“Is that what you wear when you want to be comfortable?”

“No. I’m actually most comfortable in a suit.”

“I’ve seen you in jeans.”

“Been looking at pictures of me, have you?”

“Obviously I had to investigate you before I started this mission.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I did,” she says, tossing her napkin at me.

“I’ll wear jeans for you. What else do I need to do?”

She looks down, but I see the vulnerability in her eyes before she does. I hate that I put it there, even while I know it was necessary. Is necessary. I can’t let her sway me, and I won’t let whatever security Reina Corrigan is putting in our castle stop me. I’m not going to threaten her again, but I need the info she has, and I’m going to get it.

“You threatened me, Brayden.”

“Yes.”

“I need to know that you won’t throw me in your dungeon once we get to your palace.”

“I won’t. Besides, won’t you have people there to protect you?”

She ignores my question, and continues on. “My life isn’t a joke to me.”

“I never said I’d take your life.”

“Let me rephrase, then. My body isn’t a joke.”

No. It’s not. “I’m well aware of that.”

“You’re an idiot,” she says, getting up to go before we’ve even ordered drinks. “I’m leaving. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Before I can even think about what I’m doing, I practically jump out of my seat. I pull a startled Darcy into my arms, and kiss her softly. “I am an idiot, but I’ll try to be less of one when I’m around you. Please stay and have dinner, a real date, with me.”

“You can’t just keep kissing me whenever you want.”

“I can’t?” I ask with a smile.

“Not unless I can do it back,” she says, leaning forward to take my lips.

This kiss isn’t soft, but it’s not like our time in the car, either. We’re both aware that we’re in a public restaurant so we keep it G-rated. I pull away after a couple of minutes, and hold her face in my hands.

“You can do that anytime you want. Any f*cking time.”

“I shouldn’t like kissing you so much, but I do. I probably shouldn’t admit it, either, but if we’re going to pretend to be engaged, I want to enjoy myself.”

“Speaking of our engagement,” I tell her as I drop my hands, “you need this.”

I pull the ring out of my pocket and reach for her hand. She hesitates, but then lets me take it. I slide the ring back on her finger, and then kiss her hand. The restaurant erupts in cheers. It takes a moment for me to register it, and then I can’t help but smile. They think I just asked her to marry me. I look at Darcy, and she shrugs.

“We should just go with it.”

I nod, before addressing our audience. “Thanks everyone.”

I give her one more hard kiss, and then we sit down. The meal is great, but the company is even better. We laugh and tease each other while sharing our pasta. This is without a doubt the best date I’ve ever had. I don’t want it to end, but I know it has to. I walk her to her little hotel, and kiss her outside.