“Dealing with?” I ask. “Eh, I’d say that’s not giving me enough credit. I’ve made you laugh, and we’ve talked about interesting things like my butler and your gelding finding love.”
“Oh, I forgot we called her that.”
I tap the side of my head. “I didn’t. I remember everything we do together, and everything we say.”
“Uh-huh, besides the no-flirting rule we both agreed on.”
“I wouldn’t say I really agreed with it. I just signed the contract to spend more time with you.”
“Flattery won’t get you far with me.”
“Eh, I beg to differ.” I wink and then bring my glass of wine to my lips, catching the smirk on her face before she turns away.
“Shit, this is good,” I say, before sliding my knife and fork over the short rib that melts on my plate like butter. Christ. Guess I know where I’ll be eating often.
“I know.” She sighs, dipping her short rib in her mashed potatoes. “I dream about eating here all the time, but it’s such a luxury to do so. Everything in this town is expensive. There wastalk of giving the locals a discount card or something that would slash 20 percent off their final bill, but nothing came from that.”
“Why not?”
“Not sure, but Aunt Kitty seems to think that behind closed doors the businesses put up a stink about it.”
“Jesus, this town really isn’t the small town I’m used to. Whatever happened to community and helping each other out?”
“We are one expensive shoe store from extinguishing any sense of community here. It’s one of the reasons Tilly moved here, because she knew she’d be able to sell her art in Cape Meril for a ridiculous price. Not saying that her art is not worth it, but there’s a certain air about this town that says…wealthy.”
“Yeah, I could sense that.”
“Maybe it’s why you fit right in.”
“You think I fit in?”
She eyes me. “Need I bring up the tassel again?”
“No, that would be beating a dead horse at this point, for lack of a better term.” I stare out at the ocean, considering her words. “Can’t deny that I probably fit into the vibe of this town. It resembles the luxury and refinement I grew up in, but that doesn’t mean that I want to be considered within the same mold, if that makes sense.”
“Why not? I think a lot of people in your shoes would enjoy being classified as wealthy.”
“You’re probably right, and I get that, I truly do. This is going to sound like a wealthy man complaining, so apologies in advance. I just…” I sigh. “I haven’t been given the opportunity to develop who I want to be and what I want to do. I’ve never been afforded the chance. Expectations have been ingrained in me since day one of who I’m to live up to, and that has been without any thought or concern for what I want.”
“What do you want then?” she asks, turning toward me.
“Honestly, the shitty part is, I have no idea. I haven’t been given the chance to explore and find out. I’ve spent most of my life going to mind-numbing social engagements where I shook hands and smiled because that’s what I’d been told to do, and when I wasn’t doing that, I was fucking around with Rupert, just for an escape.”Still am.
“Are you good at anything?”
“Being a prat.”
She chuckles. “Yes, you’re right about that, but anything else you might excel at?”
“Well, you know…” I wiggle my eyebrows, causing her to roll her eyes.
“Oh my God, Theo.”
“Yes, that’s usually what they say.”
Her expression falls flat. “Are you really going to be that guy?”
“It’s the only way I know how to be. You can attempt to fix me though. I can be very moldable.”
