Page 45 of Denying Davis
The butler served us an appetizer of lamb pâté and another round of wine before the entrée course, which arrived with a flourish. Chef Stuart had arranged six scallops on the plate, along with a creamy sauce, a filleted tomato, some baby carrots, and asparagus. The whole thing looked as gorgeous as a fine painting.
“Well, what’s the verdict? Was I right?” Davis asked after we’d both eaten a few scallops. “You like it?”
I nodded. “I really do. This—you have meals like this all of the time, don’t you?”
He shrugged. “I suppose I’ve gotten used to it.”
“Seems like it would be very easy to do.”
Davis ate another scallop. “And you know what? You’re right. I take it for granted more times than I want to admit.” He looked around the room. “I forget the natural beauty we have because I’m so used to living in a world where the finer things are simply expected.”
“Well, don’t take that comment as a criticism.” I regarded my half-eaten dinner. “I mean, if you need someone around to help you appreciate things more, I’m your girl.”
He chuckled. “I bet you are.”
“Hey, someone has to do it, right?” I cut into another piece of seafood then dipped it into what remained of the sauce. “Very tough work, but I’m willing.”
“And that’s exactly what I’m hoping you’ll do.”
“I see how it is.” I ate my bite. “You’ve been scheming this whole time.”
“What if I have?”
I drank some wine, feeling the alcohol gain a small foothold in my blood. It felt good. Like I could relax for the first time in a long time. And God knew I needed that. “You’ve always been sneaky, Davis. One of your more consistent qualities.”
“I wouldn’t call it sneaky. I know how to get what I want, and I don’t stop until I get it. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“I guess there isn’t,” I replied, finding myself unwilling to have a meal like this end. There was always a first time for everything, and first times needed to be savored, drawn out, and enjoyed.
And all the little things about it needed to be catalogued and appreciated.
That night, there was only us, locked away in my grandfather’s house as night fell in Palm Beach. The world turned around us, but I hardly noticed it. I only noticed her.
Samantha Green was everything I didn’t realize I’d been searching for in my life. All the empty relationships, mindless hookups, and nights alone had led me to her. I’d had her once and lost her.
But I wouldn’t lose her again.
“Let’s go outside,” I said after we finished our chocolate mousse dessert. “We can have coffee by the pool if you’d like. It’s a clear night, and the view is spectacular.”
I was grasping at anything to keep her at the house longer. Anything to continue this evening. The four-course meal had taken an hour and a half to finish, but it was still early.
“Or we could go to the beach,” I suggested. “Should have a nice tide coming in.”
“Hmm.” She chewed on her bottom lip and regarded me over the candlelight of the dining table. “Pool versus beach. Tough decision.”
“Either one is a good idea on a night like this.”
I didn’t add that both would also get us alone, away from the prying eyes of our staff. No matter how much I trusted them, they were still employees, and loyal to my grandfather. I wanted her alone.
Now.
“I’ll go with the beach,” she said. “It’s been awhile since I’ve had the chance to enjoy it. Sometimes, I forget how close I live to it.”
I stared at her, realizing once again how privileged my life had been. Yes, I’d worked hard at Harvard, but I’d also partied hard at other times, and certainly I hadn’t had to work throughout college or law school to pay for fees or textbooks. The differences seemed a travesty. Not enjoying the beach when living so close was a travesty as well. And it was only because her current life hadn’t given her time to savor anything. I could change that.
And I vowed that I would. That night.
We left our plates on the dining table, but I grabbed the half-empty wine bottle and my wine glass before instructing her to bring hers. I was making it all up as I went, but it didn’t matter. I just wanted to get her alone.
