New Beginnings (100 page)

“Many have said a tyrant.” She sat on the cushioned bench beside me. “But he likes you. That is obvious. He is good to the people he likes, even better to those he respects.”

I heard a wistfulness in her voice that made me realize she wished her father respected her.

“It’s hard to convince your parents you’re not a little girl anymore, isn’t it?” I thought about my own situation. My father was loving but very judgmental. He believed it was his job to interpret and enforce the word of God, and he believed those who sinned would be punished. That was why he’d punished me so harshly when I was a child, because he’d had to “teach me a lesson.”

“You’re so right.” She sighed. “But it’s not just my parents. I am surrounded by domineering men who all feel they know what is best for me, but they don’t seem to care what I think is best for me.”

“And what do you think is best for you?”

Tiana seemed like a kindred spirit. Even though we’d grown up worlds apart, I hoped we could be friends.

“I love art,” she said as though she’d become accustomed to weighing her words carefully before speaking. “That’s why I chose to get a master’s degree in fine arts. I traveled the world to visit some amazing places as I learned about what inspired the masters.”

“That sounds exciting.” I wondered what it would be like to live her life. Tiana could obviously go anywhere or do anything she chose, as long as it met with her family’s approval. I wasn’t sure if, given the choice, I would have traded places with her. There was a sadness in her eyes, a restless disconnect that came from her inability to express herself.

“It was.” She looked out over the expansive grounds before settling her gaze on the circle of flourishing blooms around the stone patio. “My father is a renowned art collector. His collection contains some of the most sought-after pieces in the world.”

“He sparked your interest?” I asked, wondering if he’d forced her to share his interests.

“You could say that.” She licked her lips. “My father’s interests and investments are diverse. I know he always assumed I would oversee that part of his business.”

“Is that what you want?” I wanted her to feel comfortable enough to confide in me without thinking I was nosy.

She nodded. “I always believed it was. It still is, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to explore my other interests as well.”

“That seems reasonable,” I said. “What do you like to do for fun?”

She smiled, a captivating smile that lit up her beautiful face. While all three of the Starkis offspring shared the same dark coloring, Tiana had something almost ethereal. Perhaps it was the sweetness and innocence her brothers lacked that made her less intimidating. In spite of her extreme wealth, she seemed down-to-earth and approachable—qualities I was certain made her extremely popular with the opposite sex.

“I love to dance,” she said as her eyes glazed over.

She’d traveled somewhere else, perhaps into her memories of being in the studio. She had a dancer’s body. She was very slim and petite, but like me, she had been cursed, or blessed, with large breasts she couldn’t hide behind her stylish-yet-conservative clothes.

“I’ve been dancing since I was a little girl. Jazz, tap, ballet—just about any type of dance.”

“Do you still dance?”

“When I can.” She sat back, clasping her hands over her crossed legs. “I am very busy with my father’s business and charitable work. There is not much time for fun.”

“What else do you enjoy doing?” I wondered if we truly had enough in common to bond as friends. One day she might be my sister-in-law, and I would love to be friends first.

“I love going to concerts.” She giggled. “Rock concerts—the louder, the better. It’s one of the rare times I get to let my hair down.”

“We’ll have to go to a concert together sometime,” I said, smiling.

“I’d like that.”

“Can I ask you a question?” I was prying, but the curiosity was killing me. “You and Blake…?”

She looked momentarily stunned but quickly recovered, shaking her head. “There is nothing between us.” She smoothed a hand over her long jade dress. “We are too different to be compatible.”

“Sometimes opposites attract. Look at me and Deacon.”

“You don’t understand.” A slight smile curved her full lips. “My family does not approve of Blake. They think he is pompous and arrogant.”

“Sounds like someone else I know,” I said, grinning. Of course that description applied to both of her brothers and her father.

“You’re right, of course. But Blake and I are from very different worlds. He doesn’t understand mine, and I don’t understand his.”

“But the chemistry between the two of you is undeniable.” I’d come this far, so I might as well say exactly what was on my mind. I felt a twinge of guilt over what Deacon had said about Blake’s sexual appetite, but I believed Tiana was a lot stronger than her brother gave her credit for. If Blake proposed something she wasn’t interested in, she would simply tell him to look elsewhere.

Her eyes danced with excitement. “He is a very sexy man. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t imagined what it would be like to be with him, but it can never be.”

“Why not?” I felt frustrated on her behalf. I knew what it was like to live to please your parents, but deciding I wouldn’t try to live up to their unrealistic expectations anymore had given me a sense of freedom I’d never had, and I wanted the same for Tiana. “You’re both young and single. If you’re attracted to each other, you should go for it.”

She patted my hand as if she were a wise old aunt. “You don’t understand. My parents have already found someone they think would be perfect for me. I spent time with him when I was in Greece last month. He is… a nice man. We are quite compatible.”

I gave an exaggerated yawn, tapping my hand against my mouth. “Borrriiiinngg.”

She wrinkled her pert little nose, trying to keep a straight face. “You don’t understand.”

“I understand that you’re a gorgeous, sexy young woman. You should be having fun and living life, not thinking about finding a life partner who’s suitable for your parents. Think about what you want.” I was overstepping, and Deacon would not have been pleased if he knew I was encouraging her to act on her attraction to his best friend, but I didn’t care. I was going to say my piece whether my sexy psycho liked it or not.

“There are certain… expectations,” Tiana said, twisting her hands. “My parents expect me to marry a certain type of man.”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-six.”

“Give it five years. Then think about finding the man of your dreams. In the meantime, just have fun.”

Her lips twisted in amusement. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-three.”

“Hmmm, does my brother know he will have to wait eight years to make you his wife? I have to warn you Deacon is not a patient man.”

I raised my hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, I get the point.” I reached for her hand and locked eyes with her. “I like you, Tiana. I don’t want to see you make a decision that makes you unhappy. That’s all. Feel free to tell me to mind my own business any time.”

“Thank you.” She leaned in to give me an impulsive hug. “Thank you for the advice and your concern. I promise I’ll think about what you said.”

“Anytime you need to talk, call me, okay?” I sensed that while Tiana may have a large social circle, her friends were probably trying to live up to the same unrealistic expectations she was, making it difficult for them to understand her need to shed the shackles of propriety, so to speak.

“I’ll do that.”

***

Eleni and I were at work the next day, preparing for a fitting, when she asked, “So Deacon’s brother is persistent, huh?”

Uh oh.
I didn’t like the sound of that. “What do you mean?”

“He’s called, like, three or four times since the party.”

I looked at her in the mirror as Barbara pinned the hem of my black dress. “Have you talked to him?”

“No.” Eleni shook her head as she admired her manicure. She’d just come from a half-day at the spa and was rubbing it in because I’d had to go to the gym to work off last night’s dinner instead of joining her as planned. “I thought about what you said and figured you were right. I have enough hassles in my life. I don’t need to add a clingy man to the mix.”

Imagining Damon being clingy was difficult, but so many calls in just a few days begged the question: what was he after? Aside from the obvious.

“I’m glad you took my advice for once. Getting mixed up with Deacon’s brother would be a bad idea.”

Damon had tried to corner me after dinner to ask about my best friend, but I’d politely told him he was wasting his time. I’d explained that from what I knew about him, he and Eleni were cut from the same cloth and it would never work. Instead of being put off, as I’d hoped, he only seemed more intrigued.

“I’m afraid I may have made a mistake,” I admitted, hoping she was in a forgiving mood. “Don’t hate me—”

Eleni sat up straighter. “God, it’s annoying when you say that. You know I could never hate you. Just tell me what you did so I can bitch and moan and we can get it over with.”

“I kind of told Damon you’re a player, like him. I wanted him to know you two were way too much alike for it to ever work.”

Barbara smiled at that. Like our favorite hairstylist, Barbara knew all of the girls’ secrets. Fortunately, discretion was her strong suit.

“What did he say to that?” Eleni asked, seeming too interested for a woman who had already decided to write him off.

“Well…” I tried to remember the specific details about our conversation. “He asked if you were dating anyone right now. I told him you went out almost every night with a different guy.” I laughed as I recalled his scowl when he’d heard that. “I told him you were one of those women who was comfortable with her sexuality and just attracted men like a magnet.”

Eleni seemed to consider that. “I hope you didn’t give him the impression I was sleeping with all these guys.”

“Why do you care what he thinks of you?” I narrowed my eyes at her reflection.

“He’s your boyfriend’s brother. Like you said, I’ll probably have to see him again. Just ‘cause I don’t intend to sleep with him doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”

I laughed out loud, making Barbara frown. She expected me to remain still, but it wasn’t easy when I was craning my neck to see if Eleni was serious. “You and Damon? Friends? Come on. We both know you could never be ‘just friends’ with a guy like him. He’s way too sexy and…” I could think of a lot of words to describe him, but one seemed to fit better than all the others. “Irresistible.”

Eleni smirked. “There’s just something about those Starkis men, isn’t there?”

“You said it.” I stepped down when Barbara tapped my leg and stood to stretch her back, letting me know it was Eleni’s turn. “But I’ve already passed the point of no return with mine. As your friend, I’m telling you to get out before it’s too late.”

Eleni rolled her eyes as she held her arms out for Barbara to pin her tight red dress. “Aren’t you being a tad dramatic?”

“You might think so, but trust me, I’m not.” I thought of the pressure Deacon was putting on me to take our relationship to the next level, and I wondered whether Damon would try to do the same with Eleni. No way would she stand for that. Unlike me, she had no interest in marriage or children. Ever. “They’re used to getting what they want and won’t take no for an answer.”

“Yeah, well, Damon won’t have a choice because my answer is a very definitive no!”

“I’m heartbroken,” Damon said, standing in the doorway, clutching his chest. “You haven’t even given me the chance to ask you to lunch, and you’re already turning me down?”

Oh my.
He looked delicious in a black designer suit and black dress shirt open at the collar. His dark hair was damp and slicked back, almost as though he’d had a shower and couldn’t wait for it to dry. Eleni wasn’t known for having a lot of willpower to resist a handsome man’s advances, and I didn’t think she’d ever tried to resist one that hot. But I had to give Eleni credit for not smiling. Even when he flashed those dimples, she kept a straight face.
Bravo, girl. You show him who’s boss.

“I already have a lunch date.” She lowered her eyes to watch Barbara pin her hem as though it were the most fascinating thing she’d ever seen.

I didn’t know if Eleni was telling the truth or not. It was possible. She had so many suitors she often had to squeeze in lunch dates because her evenings were all spoken for. I could think of only one word to describe the look on Damon’s face: crushed. Okay, maybe two. Crushed and… jealous? Yup, the way his hands curled into fists as his amber eyes darkened gave him away. He was jealous! Maybe I had underestimated his interest in Eleni. Perhaps he was looking for more than a one-night stand.

“Who beat me to it?” he asked, the muscle in his jaw clenching.

“Just a lawyer I met at the deli last week.” She glanced at me in the mirror. “Remember, Mia? I told you about Derek, didn’t I?”

She had told me about him, but she’d said she wasn’t sure if she would go out with him. Apparently, he was handsome, but she didn’t get butterflies. In spite of her full date card, she rarely wasted time on men who didn’t turn her on. Good old-fashioned butterflies was her criteria for deciding whether they were worth her time. I was willing to bet a million bucks I didn’t have that Damon had set loose a whole cluster of butterflies in her belly.

As if on cue, a handsome man in a gray three-piece suit appeared beside Damon. The two men sized each other up before Derek said, “I hope you don’t mind me stopping by, Eleni. I know we were going to meet at the restaurant, but my meeting finished early, and I felt like taking a walk.”

“Then my all means,” Damon said, pointing at the outer door of the building, “take a walk.”

I pinched my lips together, trying not to laugh. Damon, like his brother, definitely had a way of putting people in their place. I was certain I was about to witness a world-class pissing contest.

“I don’t believe we’ve met.” Derek raised an eyebrow at Damon. He didn’t offer his hand.