Page 22 of Agent of the Heart (Hearts in Hawthorne #3)

Chapter

Fourteen

J ace had been excited to take Darby to Le Ciel ?toilié .

It was one of the top restaurants in the city and a special favorite of his.

Its chef had trained in France but had come home to draw on his Texas roots, and the creative dishes that came from Le Ciel ?toilié ’s kitchen were the talk of Dallas.

From the moment they had entered the restaurant, though, Darby had seemed uncomfortable.

He’d watched her face and seen the dismay as she looked at the menu.

Disappointment had filled him because he’d wanted to share a place he loved to eat with her.

Then she’d discreetly gotten on her phone, and the next thing he knew, she wanted to leave.

Confusion filled him. Also, a little jealousy. He wanted to know who had texted her or sent her an email which had upset her enough that they’d had to leave dinner before they had even ordered.

He looked intently at her now, seeing her tremble slightly. It caused him to soften. His question had come out a bit harsh, and he didn’t want to upset her even more or worse, have her frightened of him.

“If I told you, I doubt you’d understand,” she finally said, blinking several times.

He hated when women turned on the tears to get what they wanted.

He hadn’t thought Darby was that kind of woman, but then again, they’d only known each other for a short while.

He told himself all those crazy feelings of falling in love with her were just that.

Crazy. He didn’t love her because he didn’t know her well enough to do so.

He did like her. At least, until she’d pulled this stunt.

“Try me,” he said, pinning her gaze.

She wet her lips nervously, which was the wrong thing to do, because it caused desire to flare within him. He had hoped after dinner that he could take her home with him and make love to her. See if they were truly compatible.

“Focus,” he said under his breath, causing her to frown. Then more loudly, he said, “I really want to know. What’s got you so upset?”

Now, she bit her lip, causing a flood of desire to pour through him. He wanted to be the one who did that to her luscious, bottom lip. Jace told himself to focus. Ignore everything except her words.

“I didn’t fit in,” she said.

It was the last thing he would have expected to come out of her mouth.

“What?” he asked, confused.

She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. He saw determination fill her eyes, and he couldn’t help but be attracted to her because of it.

“I live a completely different kind of life from the one you do, Jace,” she began, seeming to choose her words carefully.

“I don’t want to insult you. In fact, I am very impressed by all that you have accomplished.

You own a thriving business. You have a gorgeous condo and drive a car worth more than I’ll make in a year.

You run with a crowd who drips money. To you, eating at a restaurant like the one we just left is simply ordinary, something you do when you’re hungry and go out to dinner.

You wear designer suits. For goodness’ sake, you get a massage every week!

I could only dream about a luxury such as that. ”

Braver now, she continued. “I like you, Jace. I really do. I’ve enjoyed spending time with you.

You’re bright. Quick-witted. Kind. Generous.

But when you compare our jobs and lifestyles, you are a world apart from me.

I was so out of place in that room just now.

It’s the kind of thing men miss, but I was being judged by the women present and found lacking.

My clothes. My hair. My jewelry, or lack of it.

They didn’t even list the price of the dishes, Jace!

I called up the menu on my phone and when I saw what a single appetizer costs, I was sick to my stomach. ”

Darby paused, tears brimming in her eyes. “I don’t belong in a place like that, much less in the company of a guy like you.” She swallowed. “Would you please take me back to the hotel now?”

Everything she said had knocked him for a loop. He took her hand, and she tried to tug away, but he held fast to it.

“You are a beautiful woman, Darby.”

“No, I’m not. I’m pretty. Not beautiful.”

“Then you need to take another look in your mirror, because you take my breath away.”

She sucked in a quick breath, staring at him.

“You know I’m blunt. Decisive. I wouldn’t flatter you.

I tell the truth, in business and beyond.

You are beautiful. You graduated from a top-tier university.

You’ve had a steady, successful career. You’re vivacious and charming and you look good in whatever you wear.

Hell, you look good not wearing anything. ”

His words caused her to blush.

“We’re not so different. I grew up middle class.

Well, upper middle class,” he amended. “I told you that my parents were university professors. I didn’t want for anything but at the same time, I didn’t get everything I did want.

Yes, I’ve made something of myself. I’m successful.

I negotiate multi-million dollar deals for the athletes I represent, and I get a healthy percentage of the contracts they sign.

Even with the salaries I pay and the business expenses I have, I’m doing better than good.

Do I celebrate that success with material things?

You bet. I’m in an industry where you are judged by the watch you wear and how expensive your shoes and haircut are.

I have to present a certain image in public because of the high-profile clients I represent.

“But do I need all that? Hell, no. I’m still me. Middle class Jace Tanner, just dressed up a bit to play the part of the sports agent I am. Don’t let that turn you off from me.”

He brought her hand to his lips, kissing it tenderly.

“I really like you, Darby. In the short time we’ve known one another, I’ve let you in more than anyone my entire thirty-two years.

Maybe that’s because of being adopted and feeling abandoned and lost and lonely.

I know I’ve kept people at arm’s length in the past, but I don’t want to do that with you.

I want to know more of you. I’m begging you.

Don’t judge me by the car I drive or what I wear.

Me in a t-shirt and shorts today is the real me. ”

She bit her lip again, and he leaned closer, brushing his lips softly against hers. Jace wanted more, but he couldn’t afford to push her away. She was already a scared rabbit, running for her life. He needed to lure her back into the fold. Calm her. Assure her that all was well.

“I don’t mean to judge you, Jace. I understand how a lot of this is a facade. Still, it’s your life. You do what you do, and you’re not going to change your lifestyle anytime soon. I would never ask you to do so. I’m just not comfortable being around all that. It’s foreign to me.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t ask you where you wanted to eat dinner tonight. I should’ve known after going to Adelina’s with you that it was the kind of place you enjoyed.”

He reached out, brushing the back of his fingers against her cheek. “Are you still hungry? I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

“I don’t really feel like going anywhere,” she said, her voice small.

“But you’re still hungry, right? Why don’t we get some takeout and head back to my place? Or even your hotel.”

He knew his eyes pleaded with her. Jace wasn’t ready for this day to be over.

Everything had gone so well. Until now. He knew Darby had to go back to Kansas City and wrap up her life there before she returned to Texas.

They wouldn’t see each other during that time, and already, he was dying inside, wondering how he could get through a day without her sunny smile.

“My hotel,” she decided. “And I need comfort food.”

“Like a cheeseburger?” he asked, drawing a smile from her.

“Cheeseburgers qualify. But only if you take off the lettuce.”

He grinned at her. “I thought you were a healthy girl. A salad-eating girl. The last time I checked, salads were chock-full of lettuce.”

She sniffed. “Lettuce is wasted on a burger. If you’re going to be bad and go the cheeseburger route, then it should have grilled onions and maybe mushrooms on it.”

“I can arrange that.”

She frowned slightly, and he knew that although she had enjoyed everything they had done today, all the arrangements Elena had made had been overwhelming to Darby.

“Let’s find a Sonic and drive through. I bet you wouldn’t turn down tots.”

Darby tried to keep from smiling and lost that battle. “Tots are good,” she told him. “With ketchup.”

“There’s no other way to eat them,” he agreed.

Jace searched for the nearest Sonic on his phone and found one two miles away. He pulled in and ordered for them, turning to ask her what she wanted to drink.

“A diet cherry limeade,” she said primly, causing him to laugh.

“You’re eating two thousand calories with a diet drink?” he teased.

Darby nodded. “You have to save calories when you can.”

As they waited for the carhop to bring their order, he took her hand.

She let him do so, and he held it, trying to memorize the feel of her skin against his, slowly rubbing his thumb in circles in the palm of her hand.

Jace closed his eyes, wondering what life was going to be like with Darby gone for a couple of weeks.

The food came, and Jace tipped the carhop a ten. He would have given her a twenty, but he didn’t want Darby to think he was showing off and distance her from him anymore than he already had. He placed the drinks in the cupholders and handed the bag to her.

“Keep it sealed,” he warned sternly. “No sneaking a tot.”

She giggled, and it was the sweetest sound Jace could remember hearing.

He drove a few blocks and pulled into a park.

“Why are we here?” she asked.