The Charm Offensive(24)
Across the field, Charlie smiles warmly as Daphne Reynolds shows him a frog. “I’ll sleep when Charlie Winshaw is engaged.”
* * *
“Isn’t it strange that they spend all this time preparing decadent food,” Daphne asks, “but we’re not allowed to eat any of it?”
Charlie stares down at his plate of risotto. “It does seem criminally wasteful,” he agrees, and they both shoot overt glances toward the cameras. “And I am a little hungry after that hot-air balloon ride.”
Daphne defiantly picks up her fork. “I say we just do it.”
Charlie picks up his fork, too, and they clink their utensils before they dig into the risotto. Dev waits for someone to yell in his earpiece. There are reasons the talent isn’t supposed to eat on these Courting Dates. No one—not even Charlie Winshaw—looks cute while chewing, and the mics often pick up the sound. Not to mention, the entire purpose of these one-on-one dates is to talk, which they can’t do while masticating.
Still, Skylar never screams cut, because it’s actually a cute scene between Daphne and Charlie, the two of them eating, their heads conspiratorially bowed together. It was no surprise Daphne Reynolds “won” the week-two Courting Date; Maureen has already decided she’s a front-runner. Plus, Daphne’s fear of heights made her the perfect candidate for the hot-air balloon ride. She freaked out and Charlie had to comfort her. Sympathetic is a good look on him.
Now, though, Dev needs Charlie to take his relationship with Daphne to the next level. “It’s week two,” Dev told Charlie before the dinner, “which is typically the time for emotionally vulnerable conversations about past relationships. Ask Daphne about her dating history.”
“Do I have to?”
He does “have to” as if they’re going to sell this love story.
Charlie looks up from his plate to find Dev in the corner of the room, and Dev makes an impatient gesture with his hands. Charlie clears his throat. “I… uh… have you… I mean, I was wondering, in the past, before the show, if you, uh—”
“Are you trying to ask me about my last relationship?” Daphne supplies. “My handler prepped me on what to discuss, too.”
They both laugh, and there’s an inarguable chemistry between them, two shy, awkward people stumbling in circles around each other. Dev sucks in his cheeks and watches it unfold.
“I haven’t dated much in the last few years,” Daphne continues, “at least not seriously. I can’t seem to find what I’m looking for. How about you?”
Charlie nods. “Yes, um. Same.”
“What are you looking for?”
Charlie chokes on his food. “Hmm?”
“What are you looking for in a partner?”
“Oh. Well. I…” Charlie stammers, then stops, like he thinks he can just get out of this conversation by simply tapering off. Dev scrubs his face and waits for Charlie to pick the sentence back up. “I am, well, I’m into puzzing,” he finally says.
On Dev’s left, Jules snorts. In front of the cameras, Daphne looks offended. “Is that a sex thing?”
“No!” Charlie nearly drops his wineglass. “No, I meant puzzling. I enjoy puzzles.”
“That’s what you’re looking for in a woman?” Daphne asks slowly. “A puzzle?”
“No.” Charlie sweats. He dabs his forehead with his napkin. “That would be nonsensical.”
“So what are you looking for in the women on this show?”
Charlie is clearly three seconds away from regurgitating his risotto all over Daphne’s dress. He pushes back from the table and his chair tips over, thudding against the marble floor. “Will you… ah… excuse me for a moment?”
Charlie bolts for the nearest exit, but Dev is already after him, following him outside the estate to a small garden bench. Charlie drops his head between his knees.
“Sorry. I’m so sorry.” Charlie apologizes to the floor while he struggles to breathe. “That was bad. That was really bad.”
Dev sits down on the bench next to him. “Yeah,” Dev agrees. He puts a hand on Charlie’s back and rubs comforting circles through the layers of his suit.
Charlie sits up abruptly. “Yeah? Aren’t you supposed to say something to make me feel better?”
“I’m not sure there’s any way to spin what just happened. I can’t believe you said puzzing.”
“So you admit this entire thing was your fault, then? For the bastardization of the word puzzle?”
“I admit to no such thing.”
Charlie releases a puff of air that almost sounds like a laugh. Dev keeps rubbing his back. “Do you think Daphne hates me now?” he asks, like he cares about the answer. Like he cares about Daphne. Dev’s chest tightens with hope.
“I think Daphne is a kindhearted person who just wants you to open up to her,” Dev says, “to be yourself with her. Why didn’t you tell her the stuff you told me while we were puzzing?”
“I don’t know. It’s easier with you.” Charlie nudges his shoulder against Dev’s and leaves it there. It’s knees under the Junipers table; it’s shaking hands on night one. For someone who hates touching, Charlie Winshaw is always leaning in and not leaning away. He smells like risotto and the organic oatmeal body wash Dev sees in the shower, and Dev doesn’t really want to lean away either.