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It was clear he was hoping for a nonchalant expression now, but his insecurity shined through in the constant shifting of his eyes, bouncing around. It was another interesting thing about Aaron Astor that I hadn’t been expecting. Though I hadn’t had high hopes for his looks, I still expected a man with more confidence, used to getting what he wanted. Why else assume I’d be yapping at his heels the second he showed up, even though he hadn’t ever bothered speaking to me directly? But the man before me definitely didn’t possess the sort of confidence I’d been expecting, thoughhe tried to prove otherwise.
The waitress came over then and delivered us menus and waters, fluttering off to give us a moment. “You drank that maple whisky at the clothier,” I said to Aaron, crossing my legs underneath the table. “Do you drink often?”
“Not too often,” he replied leisurely, mimicking my posture and reclining further into his seat. When he did it, though, he couldn’t quite abandon all of his stiffness. “Mostly whisky here and there, and the occasional wine. Red, of course. The correct answer is always red.”
I disagreed, and normally would’ve voiced my opinion, but I kept it to myself. Pulling my punches to start might’ve been the correct way to play this. “I prefer water over wine,”
I said, picking up the sweating glass to punctuate this.
Aaron picked up his own glass. “Cheers, then.”
The server came back over then, asking if we were ready to order. Aaron went first, ordering the braised salmon for himself, and when the server turned to me, he cut back in. “She’ll have the chicken giardiniera,” he said, eyes on the menu. “With the mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. Do the potatoes come with garlic butter?”
The server nodded.
“None on them, then, please. For hers and for mine.” To me, Aaron gave a breathy laugh. “Can’t have garlic breath, can we?”
It was strange, listening to him order for me. Normally, someone did it out of a show of dominance—that was how my parents were—but with Aaron, his voice lacked the authoritative tone that I expected in this sort ofsituation. It was almost hesitant, as if he’d been waiting for me to cut him off.
When the waitstaff departed to put in our orders, Aaron swirled his water in his glass as if it were wine, voice delicate as he said, “I’ve heard you’re a straightforward person, Margot Massey. I like to think I am as well. Shall we jump straight into the thick of things?”
“By all means.”
“I’ve heard you’re not too interested in pursuing anything with me.”
If I’d been taking a sip of water, I would’ve choked on it. It’d quite possibly been the last thing I’d expected to come from his mouth, but he’d said it with no hesitation. My parents had gone to great lengths to keep my personal feelings of it under wraps. Who would’ve known? More specifically, who would’ve known that had contact with the Astors? Yvette? “Where did you hear that?”
Aaron fluttered his hand by his ear. “A little bird, is all. I’d like to hear those concerns of yours, if you’re willing to open yourself to me.”
I made a face, both at the horrendous phrasing and the fact that he unknowingly echoed what my parents had done the week prior. Brought me to Pierre’s, sat me down, and asked me to “voice my concerns.” Now, though, it was much more awkward since the person I was voicing my concerns to coexisted with the root of the problem.
“I think you and I are in a very unique position,” he went on when I took too long to answer. “Both of us are going into this with no preconceived notions. I, Margot,am not looking for love, and I’ve got a feeling you aren’t either.”
A frown formed on my brow. “I was under the impression that you were,” I replied. “That you saw me at the Christmas party in New York and fell in love.”
“Ididsee you there, and was immediately intrigued.”
“Intrigued, but not enough to come over and talk to me.”
“I’m a bit of an introvert,” he said with a chuckle. “And you do have an intimidating air to you, darling, you must admit. But when I heard your story, and—well. It intrigued me further. Only child of two self-made parents who were more dedicated to building their career than creating a warm environment for their daughter. Parents who, despite only having one heir, had no intention of leaving the business to their daughter.”
He spoke in such a matter-of-fact way, so nonchalantly, that I almost didn’t even realize what he was saying. My eyes narrowed. “What, did you have a background check run on me?”
“Oh, no, no, I’d never do such a thing. The people around here do enjoy their gossip, you know. My best friend is marrying the daughter of someone who’s on the board of directors for Alderton-Du Ponte’s Country Club. I’ve heard a lot of things. Besides, I’m from this world, too. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to read between the lines.”
It was funny—I couldn’t care less about Aaron knowing about the tumultuous relationship between my parents and me, but I had practically crumpledfrom the embarrassment when Sumner found out. Interesting. “And my sad upbringing wasintriguingto you?”
“Your isolation intrigued me.”
I couldn’t help but think how lonely you looked.So it hadn’t just been Sumner who had noticed. How was it that complete strangers could see but no one else? “That sounds vaguely offensive.”
“I, too, have lived much of my life feeling on the outskirts of things. No one bothers to talk about business holdings with the bottom of the pyramid, you know? I’ve always felt like an outcast, too.” Aaron leaned forward across the table and laid his elbow on the surface. “My parents think I’m in this because I fell head over heels for you. My friends, too. The only one who knows the truth now, Margot, is you.”
“Why tell me? Why not attempt to woo me?”
“I’ve learned, in the very brief time that I’ve known you, you aren’t one easily wooed.” He gave a little smile. “And since arriving here, I’ve discovered it might be in more of my interest to appeal to your mind than your heart. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how positively this will impact both of our parents’ companies, merging our families and our business ventures. Massey Hotels with Astro Agencies is a beautiful marriage itself.”
The spiel he gave me sounded like my father, as if he were presenting a business proposal at a meeting. I was almost surprised he hadn’t broken out a PowerPoint. The evening, perhaps, was still young. “That’s why you were never interested in getting to know me. You just want to marry me because your family’s business will benefit.”