New Beginnings (99 page)

Demetrius rolled his eyes. “How is that different from your life, Tiana?”

Tiana frowned. “Mia does something she enjoys, something she’s proud of, and she’s rewarded for it, both financially and…”

I could tell my sister was choosing her words carefully, which meant I probably wouldn’t like them.

She stole a quick glance at me. “People admire her beauty and appreciate her… assets.”

Demetrius folded his arms over his broad chest after setting his glass down beside him. “If you’re implying you would like to objectify yourself by posing half-naked in your brother’s catalogue, you can forget it. That will never happen.”

It wasn’t the first time Tiana had proposed the idea of modeling for Alabaster’s. Had she been a stranger to me, I would have gladly put her on the cover wearing something provocative, but she was my sister. In this one instance, I agreed with my father. Accepting the images of my girlfriend in sultry poses wearing seductive clothes was difficult enough. No way would I condone my sister doing that.

“Unfortunately, I have to agree with Demi on this one, sis,” I said, eliciting a scowl from Tiana. “Stick to what you know best—art.”

“Modeling is a form of artistic expression,” Tiana said, pouting. “Tell them, Mia.”

Mia looked at me, appearing disturbed I had agreed with my father. “I had no idea you had so little regard for models, Deacon. We’re a big part of the reason for your success, in case you’ve forgotten.”

For the first time in as long as I could remember, my family fell silent. They were probably in shock that a woman had the gall to openly challenge me in front of them.

“Alabaster’s is a success because of our entire team,” I said, hedging. “Everyone from design to production. Of course, models are a part of that equation.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Without the right models, your clothes are lifeless. They have no appeal. Women want to see other women wearing the clothes, to see how great they can look in them.
We
sell your clothes. Make no mistake about that.”

I was about to respond when my father said, “You seem to have a distorted view of your own importance, young lady. Models are interchangeable. A successful business model will withstand the test of time.”

Mia closed her hand around her glass as she leaned forward, looking Demi in the eye. “With all due respect, sir, there’s a reason the public connects with certain models. There are millions of beautiful women in the world, but very few have what it takes to grace the pages of major magazines and sell the products people want to buy. It’s a cutthroat business, and to make it, you have to work hard and believe in yourself.”

His lips quirked as he regarded Mia carefully. I saw something in his eyes that was rare, especially when he looked at a woman:
respect.

“You may be right,” Demi said, inclining his head. “I understand it is a very competitive business, and you must have thick skin to survive. That is something we have in common, Mia. Determination. Tenacity.”

I shared a look with my brother. He was flattering her because he was hoping to get into her pants. Not a chance in hell.

“Do you apply that same determination to everything in your life, Mia?” my mother asked, throwing a not-so-subtle glance in my direction. “Is that how you and my son met? Your sheer will?”

Mia faked a smile. “Actually, Mrs. Starkis, your son reached out to me. He was pleased with the print work I’d done for the catalogue and emailed me to praise my efforts.”

“Smooth,” Damon said, coughing behind his hand.

“Is that so?” My mother raised an eyebrow at me. “I didn’t realize you worked so closely with the models, son.”

“Oh, yeah.” Damon grinned at me before he turned his attention to our mother. “He’s got his hand in just about every… thing that goes on there.”

I knew he’d let it hang on purpose to make me question whether he’d have the nerve to say
everyone
. If he’d been that crass, I would have had to kill him.

“Mia, I would love to show you the grounds before dinner.” Demi stood and crooked his arm, offering it to Mia. “Shall we?”

Seeming flattered by the attention, she said, “I’d love to, Mr. Starkis. Thank you.”

“Ah, but you must call me Demi,” he said, patting her hand. “All my friends do.”

I wanted to remind him that Mia would never be his friend. She would be his daughter-in-law, the mother of his grandchildren, a part of his family—but never his friend. I was tempted to tell Demi that I would show Mia the grounds, but that would have made me seem jealous of my own father. That would have been preposterous, if not for the fact I knew he would make a play for her. I was certain she would put him in his place as effortlessly as she had when he’d questioned her about her career though.

Once they left the room, my mother stood. “If you will excuse me, I am going to check on dinner.” She consulted her diamond watch. “I asked them to serve it promptly at seven o’clock. I’d like to make sure things are on schedule.”

Tiana waited until Mother left the room before she said, “I really like Mia, Deacon.” Her dark eyes glittered with amusement. “Did you see the way she stood up to Daddy?”

“Hmmm, he loved every minute of it,” Damon said. “If she had been a guy, instead of a gorgeous woman, challenging him that way, he would have cut her down to size.”

Damon was right. I hated to think we were both like Demetrius in that regard, but any bystander would have likely noted the similarities between the Starkis men.

“I’m not worried. Mia can handle herself with the old man.”

Tiana looked at me sternly. “Why do you always do that?”

“Do what?” I swirled the ice cubes around in the bottom of my tumbler. I knew what she was upset about. We’d had this discussion countless times, so I didn’t know why she believed I would suddenly change my position.

“Discount the possibility of me modeling for your company.”

“First of all, you’re not a model.” I finished my drink and set it on the low walnut table in the center of the formal living room. “Second of all, you’re my sister. No man wants to see his baby sister posing half-naked for—”

“Does Mia have a brother?”

“Excuse me?” I asked, knowing she wouldn’t let me evade that question.

“You heard me. Does she have a brother?”

“Yes.”

“How does he feel about her modeling for Alabaster’s?”

I thought about my brief conversation with Chad at the restaurant. “He’s not thrilled about it. I assured him I would personally oversee Mia’s wardrobe selection from now on.”

“You can’t do that!”

Tiana sounded as outraged as I knew Mia would be when I finally broke the news to her that her days of modeling lingerie were behind her.

“It’s her decision whether or not she’s comfortable modeling lingerie, not yours.”

“Actually, it is my decision,” I said smugly. “I own the company, which means I get to decide who models what. From now on, Mia will model clothes, fitness wear, and outerwear.”

“Does she know that?” Damon asked, looking amused.

“We’ve touched on the subject,” I said tentatively. “We’ve yet to work out the specifics of our new arrangement.”

“Good luck with that.” Damon chuckled. “She’s going to let you have it when you try to tell her what she can and can’t wear.”

I thought of our impending shopping trip. I’d forgotten to call my personal shopper and stylist to make the arrangements. I would have to take care of that right away. “We’ll compromise.”

“By that, do you mean you’ll let her have whatever she wants as long as it has your stamp of approval?” Tiana asked.

“Pretty much.” I shared a smile with my brother.

“You’re going to lose her,” Tiana said, wiping the smile right off my face.

“Pardon me?” My tone suggested she would be wise to recant her statement.

“A woman like her won’t allow you to run her life, Deacon. You saw the way she stood up to our father. Most people are shaking in their boots when they meet the great Demetrius Starkis—but not her. And she won’t bend to your will either. If you don’t treat her like an equal partner with a mind of her own, you will lose her.” She stood and crossed the room before pausing in the doorway to face me. “You have a chance with an amazing woman who obviously loves you. Don’t disrespect her by assuming you have the right to make her decisions for her. You don’t.”

I stared at the door my sister had walked through, stunned by her outburst. “What the hell was that?”

Damon raised a glass to Tiana’s exit. “I think she just put the almighty Deacon Starkis firmly in his place. It is clearly not a good night for the Starkis men.”

“Just wait, smartass,” I muttered. “Your turn is coming.”

Mia

I had to admit, in spite of my initial trepidation about meeting Demi, he was a gracious and entertaining host.

“If you ever tire of my son,” he said, grasping my leg, “you must call me.”

I smirked as I peeled his hand off my thigh. “That won’t happen any time soon.”

“Any time soon or at all?” he asked, crossing his arms.

“Let’s just say things are getting serious,” I said, trying to play it safe. I didn’t want to downplay our relationship, but I wasn’t sure what, if anything, Deacon had told them about us. “But none of us has a crystal ball, now do we?”

His dark eyes hardened, any trace of humor receding. “Just so you understand, divorce is not an option. No one in my family has ever divorced. Marriage is forever—there is no way out.”

I thought about what I had heard about him, both from his son and the media. He was a womanizer who had married a woman willing to look the other way. I wasn’t cut from the same cloth as Vaso Starkis. If Deacon ever cheated on me, he would be history, with or without the marriage license.

“I come from a religious family, Demi.” I still had trouble wrapping my mouth around that, though he had insisted we drop the formalities. “My father is a minister, and my parents have always instilled in me the importance of living up to my commitments.”

“I am surprised your father would approve of you living with a man out of wedlock.”

I didn’t know why I was surprised he knew about Drew. There was probably little the man didn’t know about those close to his family. “I wouldn’t say he approved of it, but I’m an adult. I can make my own decisions.” I looked him in the eye. “How did you know about Drew?”

He smiled. “I have my ways.”

“Hmm, I’m sure you do.” I tapped his forearm. “Just so you know, if there’s anything you want to know about me, all you have to do is ask. I have nothing to hide.”

“Okay, what are your intentions regarding my son?”

I laughed before shaking my head. “That sounds like a question my father would ask Deacon. I never expected it from you.”

“My son has always been very strong-willed, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

“Kind of hard to miss that.”

“Yes.” Demi shook his head. “He’s always been that way, from the time he was a small boy. My other children feared me, but not Deacon. He always challenged me. It aggravated me to no end at times, but I grew to respect him because of it. He is one of the few people unafraid to challenge me.”

“And one of the few people you respect.” I could tell from the way Demi had looked at his eldest son earlier, as though he was looking for Deacon’s input.

“You are correct.” He shot me a sidelong glance. “And very perceptive.”

“People are fascinating to watch, especially men like you and your son. I have to admit I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”

“I shall take that as a compliment.”

“It was intended as one.” I had no desire to butter him up—I sensed he got enough of that from everyone else in his life. I was merely being honest about how I saw things.

“You didn’t really answer my question about whether you are hoping to have a future with Deacon.”

I smiled. “I’m cautiously optimistic. I think beneath that threatening façade, there’s a softer, gentler side to him. He clearly loves his family, which leads me to believe he would be a good husband and father someday.”

“He cannot wait too long,” he said sternly. “I am not getting any younger. I want a grandson.”

“Or a granddaughter.” My lips twitched in amusement. I knew he’d said exactly what he meant. He was old school. He wanted a boy to carry on the family name.

“One or two of each would be nice,” Demi said, his white teeth flashing, a sharp contrast against his dark skin.

I had a feeling his smiles were rare and fleeting, so I appreciated it before it faded. I liked that I’d had made this stoic man smile, because I had a feeling he would make me smile a lot in the coming years. “You have three children, Demi. I’m sure you will see many grandchildren.”

“Do you like children?”

“Very much.”

“Good, good.” He patted my knee. “It is too bad you are not Greek. It seems that is your only fault.”

I laughed at his candor. “Ah, but that cannot be helped. You’ll have to take me as I am.”

“Indeed I will.” He clapped. “No worries, we will teach you our customs, our culture.” He put his arm around my shoulders and squeezed gently. “You will become one of us.”

The way he said that made me feel as though I was already one of them. I’d never expected to feel so close to Deacon’s family, especially not the imposing patriarch, but after only a few hours, I felt as if I had known him for years.

“Stop monopolizing her, Daddy,” Tiana chided as she walked up, shaking her finger at her father. “It’s my turn.”

“Very well,” he said, standing. Bowing slightly at the waist, he took my hand and kissed it, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “I have enjoyed our time together, Mia. Now I shall go and tell my son I intend to steal you away from him.”

I smiled, knowing he would say exactly that. Deacon would not be nearly as amused by the joke as I was. “Behave yourself, Demi. Don’t stir up any trouble.”

“I will not make promises I cannot keep,” he said, chuckling as he went inside.

I laughed as my eyes met Tiana’s. “Your father is quite a character.”