Page 1 of The Mountain Man's Virgin
Chapter 1 – Lucy
I smoothed my hands over my black dress and noticed that they were shaking. Would I ever feel comfortable around these people? These people, that sounds bad, doesn’t it? By that, I mean rich people. When would I stop feeling like an actor? Like someone just playing the role of Lawrence’s girlfriend? I met the tired eyes of the bathroom attendant who smiled as she handed me a warm towel. I thanked her, took a deep breath, straightened my shoulders, and walked back into the restaurant.
“Everything okay, gorgeous?” Lawrence stood and took my hand as I got back to the table. The other male guest, Hunter, also stood. I hated to admit it, but a part of me liked the old school chivalry groomed into these private school guys. After spending a few months with these gentlemen, I found myself judging the boys who kept their baseball hats on at the table in the dining hall.
“I’m fine, Lawrence.” I smiled and let him pull out the heavy chair for me. I had the wealthy mannerisms down pat. After all, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out which of the many forks to use for a damn salad. I mean, technically, I’m going to be a biochemist, and even though ‘salad fork selection’ has yet to be added to the curriculum, I managed to sort it out.
It was the subtle things about rich folks that weren’t so easy to pick up - all the little inside jokes and name dropping went right over my head. Not unlike insider trading, their world seemed to have its own exclusive language and vocabulary that only they knew.
The waiter returned, cleared our dinner plates, and poured out the last of the nine-hundred-dollar bottle of Chateau Margaux, our third bottle. I smiled and thanked the waiter. I grew up drinking no name kool-aid and juice that had no actual fruit in it. When Lawrence and I first started dating six months ago, I couldn’t tell the difference between a ten-dollar bottle of wine and a two hundred dollar one. I’m still not an expert but have started to appreciate the subtle flavors of the expensive stuff.
We all passed on dessert, and I was feeling content and pleasantly full.
“What did you think of Professor Nordgren’s lecture yesterday?” Hunter asked as he set his linen napkin on the table.
“You mean how he totally glossed over the ethical issues involved with A.I.?” I said and took the last sip of my wine.
“What’s A.I.?” Hunter’s girlfriend, Tania asked. Tania was a freshman, and Lawrence told me that her parents had made a substantial contribution to the University to ensure her acceptance. If the University were to create a degree in Instagram, she would be on the Dean’s list, but outside of plumping her lips and working out, she didn’t seem to have much interest in school - or anything really. I put in a solid effort to include her in the conversation, but once I had gone through my limited pop culture gossip, no common ground remained between us.
“Artificial Intelligence, sweetheart,” Hunter responded without looking at his girlfriend.
“Oh, like pretending to be smart?” Tania asked, tossing her expensive extensions over her tanned shoulder.
“You got it, baby,” Hunter smirked at me and patted his girlfriend’s hand.
I raised my eyebrows at Hunter. I often wondered why he was with Tania, besides the obvious fact that she was beautiful. He clearly didn’t respect her, and I found his dismissive behavior pretty gross.
Tania smiled, proud of herself, the dig flying way over her empty head.
I cleared my throat and racked my brain to find a way to tactfully change the subject, to let the guys know that I didn’t approve of their behavior. It bothered me that Hunter and Lawrence took a certain pleasure in mocking Tania right to her face, and that should’ve been a warning sign for me, a big red flag.
Thankfully the sommelier returned with a bottle of champagne and presented it to Lawrence. Lawrence examined the label and nodded at the man who expertly popped the cork and then poured Lawrence a sample.
“Champagne?” I asked. I thought that dinner had been wrapping up. I was looking forward to getting home early, so I could study and get into bed at a decent time.
“Well, we have to celebrate.” Lawrence smiled slyly at me and downed the sample. He nodded to the sommelier who proceeded to fill the rest of our flutes. I noticed a glance between Lawrence and Hunter and wondered what inside joke they had going on now.
“Oooh, Chaimstem, my favorite champagne.” Tania shifted in her chair and raised her glass.
“It’s Ace of Spades,” Lawrence said, meeting Tania’s champagne flute with his own. “Chaimstem is for posers.”
Tania raised her eyebrows and leaned into the table, “I mean, I like Spades too, but Chaimstem is okay for mimosas, right?”
“If you’re in a pinch, it will do,” Hunter laughed.
I knew that Chaimstem was good champagne and only had to assume that this Ace of Spades was somehow better.
I raised my glass to meet Tania’s and waited for Lawrence and Hunter to join in the clinking of the expensive crystal glasses. I impatiently turned to Lawrence only to see him get up from the table and kneel down on one knee. I gasped as he opened the unmistakable blue Tiffany ring box. The ring was gorgeous. Its center stone was the size of a dime and it was flanked by two triangular baguettes. I guessed that the ring cost more than most people’s houses.
“Lucy McKennit, I’ve only known you for six months, but I know that you’re the woman for me. I’ve never met anyone like you before and I’d be a crazy man to let you go.”
I sat transfixed. I could feel all the eyes in the restaurant on me. This was the last thing that I expected to happen. Things had been going well with Lawrence. We had spent all the limited free time I had together. But marriage? I mean, we hadn’t even slept together.
He was smart, handsome, rich as hell; I would be crazy to say no to him. Then why was my mind screaming No?
“Lucy,” Lawrence’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Will you marry me?”
How could I say no in front of all these people? My mind flashed through different scenarios and they flickered through my consciousness like an old-school film reel. If we had a long engagement I could grow to love him. Couldn’t I?
