Chapter 24
Lexie
Well, who knew slamming the door in someone’s face could be so satisfying? Not me, that’s for sure. The nerve of that man.Am I menstruating?No gentleman asks a woman that. If anyone needs etiquette training, it’s him. Now I hope I run into that etiquette lady so I can add that to my list of grievances I’ve got accumulating on Gabriel.
I plop down on my couch and hit play. Watching a little Jane Austen movie starring Colin Firth is just what the doctor ordered. I turn off the lamp next to the sofa and snuggle in for a relaxing night. But, it’s not as relaxing as I’d hoped it would be. I’m not sure what it is, but I keep comparing Gabriel to Mr. Darcy. No, Gabriel is no Mr. Darcy (and definitely no Colin Firth because, seriously, who is?) but there are qualities about Gabriel that match up.
For one, Gabriel and Mr. D. are both handsome, wealthy and arrogant. For another, they’re both a little isolated. Mr. Darcy has Bingley, but who is Gabriel’s Bingley? I’ve never seen him with any male friends, at least not anyone who has visited him at the office. Yeah, I know. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who’d ‘hang with the dudes and catch a game.’ Because, like Mr. Darcy, Gabriel attends fancy-schmancy parties and events and he’s into eating weird food made from fish eggs and baby animals. I shiver remembering. Don’t get me started on the baby animals.
But there’s a kind of loneliness about Fitzwilliam Darcy that I can see in Gabriel. At the office, he’s alone unless he’s with a client. When he goes out, he’s got some sexy woman on his arm, but they’re just fixtures. It doesn’t appear that any of them are anything other than ornamental or like me, someone used to fulfill a purpose.
One more thing of note is that both men seem to be clueless about the women in their lives. Mr. Darcy says offensive and callous things to Elizabeth Bennett because he just can’t help himself. Gabriel seems to do the same. I mean, etiquette training? Am Imenstruating? The man needs some help in the dating department.
I know Gabriel Parker is every woman’s fantasy. He’s wealthy, talented, creative, smart, and gorgeous and before we started playing this charade, I could have lived with that fantasy version of Gabriel. But, if I were being honest, I’d say it’s his flaws that make him interesting to me now, endearing. Those flaws make him more human and therefore worthy of a second chance.
I think I’ll cut Mr. Parker some slack and help him understand what a real woman expects from her partner. Maybe then he’ll be able to settle down someday with someone who is more friend than fashion model. Besides, I’m not sure I’m ready to stop kissing Gabriel Parker because Gabriel Parker kisses like it’s his damn job. It makes me curious what else he’s good at. (Wink)
