Surprise Delivery(70)

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing,” I say, laughing harder. “I enjoy it. I just didn’t think you’d be the type who would.”

“Little known fact about me – I absolutely love Star Wars,” he confides. “I can geek out on Star Wars with the best of them.”

We both laugh, but my image of him is being blown away. I always imagined him to be the suave, debonair, billionaire playboy type. The way he wore the tuxedo the night of the gala, not to mention his demeanor, did nothing to dispel that notion. But, knowing that in reality, he’s kind of a homebody who enjoys nerding out on Star Wars is completely image shattering to me.

“That’s – adorable,” I giggle.

“Adorable?” he chuckles.

“It’s just not what I pictured, that’s all,” I say.

“Oh, I still enjoy some of the more refined things in life, Alexis. But man cannot live on museums, art galleries, and opera alone,” he says. “Sometimes, we need a little more variety in our cultural diets. And the Star Wars films – except for the prequels – are cinematic masterpieces.”

The conviction with which he speaks cracks me up to no end. In the ten minutes we’ve been sitting here, I think I’ve learned more about Duncan than I did the entire time we were together at the gala. And if I’m being honest, I find this different facet to his personality entirely appealing. Knowing that he can get dressed up to go uptown for an upscale night out or throw on a pair of sweats and relax on the couch watching campy sci-fi movies is an entirely attractive quality in my book. The nuances to his personality make him that much sexier to me.

“Please tell me you don’t really enjoy the opera?” I say.

He shrugs. “There are some good ones out there,” he replies. “But I tend to gravitate more toward the modern ones, rather than the so-called classics, to be honest.”

“I’ve actually never been to one, I just know that I’m not into watching some big dude in a Viking hat bellowing for two hours straight,” I admit.

He laughs. “So harshly judgmental,” he teases. “So, I take it you’ve never seen Phantom of the Opera?”

I shake my head. Honestly, the little money I normally have left over to have a social life is a pittance and I’d rather spend it on a meal or drinks with friends, rather than a stuffy opera. Though, I will admit to being slightly curious about that whole lifestyle the rich seem to enjoy. There’s a little piece of me that’s always wanted to be part of the set who can get dressed up and have a swanky night out for no other reason than it’s a Wednesday and because we can.

But that’s always been nothing more than a pipe dream. And a silly one at that.

“Well, maybe we’ll have to do something about that,” he says. “Just as man can’t live on opera alone, woman can’t live on trashy reality TV alone.”

“Hey,” I say and laugh. “I don’t watch trashy reality TV.”

He scoffs. “I saw what was on your DVR list.”

I slap his leg playfully, knowing I’m busted. “Okay fine, a little trashy reality TV,” I admit. “It’s my guilty pleasure. So sue me.”

He shrugs. “We all have our guilty pleasures,” he replies. “Speaking of which.”

Duncan starts the movie and we start dishing up the food. I actually haven’t had Golden Palace in quite a while – it’s an expense I haven’t been able to afford – and it’s every bit as amazing as I remember it. I eat like I haven’t had a decent meal in ages as we watch the movie. I smile as I watch how into it Duncan is, finding it utterly adorable.

When the movie ends, we clean up all the dishes and he loads the plates into the dishwasher for me. With everything cleaned up, he sits back down on the sofa and looks at me. I can see the wheels in his mind spinning and I want to know what he’s thinking. But he remains silent, just looking at me with an inscrutable expression on his face.

“So, when are you going back to work?” he asks.

And just like that, the bubble of bliss I’ve been rolling around in pops. I sigh and feel my stomach churning at the mere thought of it.

“You okay?” he asks.

“I’m not sure I’ll have a job to go back to, once my maternity leave is up,” I answer honestly.

He cocks his head. “Why would you say that?”

I don’t mean to spill my entire sob story to him, but once I get talking, it’s like I can’t find the brakes on my mouth and everything just comes tumbling out – and I mean everything. Through it all, Duncan sits there listening to me, no trace of judgment on his face. In his eyes, I see nothing but sympathy and compassion. When I’m finished, I sink back against the couch and pull a pillow into my lap, covering my stomach protectively.

“I’m pretty sure none of that is legal,” he says, a wry chuckle following the words out of his mouth.

“Yeah, but what can I do?” I ask. “I’m a nobody. I don’t have much and there’s no way I can hire a top-flight lawyer to fight them if they decide to get rid of me.”

“The better question here is, why would you want to go back?”

I purse my lips, feeling a sudden flash of irritation flow through me. He doesn’t get it. He grew up so privileged, he doesn’t seem to understand that not everybody has the choices he has. It’s not like I have a rich family I can fall back on if things get tight. I can’t afford to be out of a job – even one as shitty as that law firm.