"Can I talk to you for a second in private?" The duke, Zhi he’d called himself, asked.
"You can try," Spin smirked. "But it's clear we don't speak the same language."
"That's what I want to talk to you about,” he said.
The cultured accent rolled into her ears. The abundance of T’s in his sentence hit a switch, urging her to record the sounds coming from his mouth and place them in the cloud with the rest of her treasures.
He rubbed at the back of his neck as he peered down at her. Spin’s gaze traveled to his rolled up sleeve to his tanned bicep. Her throat was suddenly dry. She couldn’t remember a man ever making her feel thirsty.
Zhi shrugged his shoulders, the muscles bunching and flexing beneath his shirt. “I know nothing of EMD."
"EDM,” she enunciated each letter in the correct order. “Electronic dance music."
He nodded, but his brow was still furrowed showing he clearly didn’t understand the topic he was speaking on. Spin bit her lip. She certainly didn’t find the expression adorable. Not one bit.
"I don't know much about it or the culture,” he said. “But I have an interest in Parker.”
Spin’s clear gaze darkened. She bit the inside of her lip harder to keep her mouth shut.
“I was hoping you could help me with understanding her?”
"I don't know her,” said Spin. “We only just met the other day at a party where she heard me play.”
"You two speak the same language. Turned and rages and candy.”
The way he spoke the slang, all proper with perfect diction, Spin was sure he spelled them correctly in his mind.
“You also appear to speak my language,” Zhi continued. “I’m hoping you can translate. Maybe teach me."
"Teach you what? To be a rave bunny?"
The hand that had been at his neck now rose to scratch at his temple. "I don't even know what that means?"
Spin glanced over to the side at Lark. Her friend was listening intently to the conversation. She was also eying the candy shaped man in front of them. Spin turned back to him as well. There was sugar in her voice as she spoke to clarify his distasteful suggestion.
"Okay. I'll put it in your language. You want me to be your Cyrano de Bergerac so that you can seduce Parker?"
His dark gaze lit with understanding. "Yes."
"No." Spin spat the word out in disgust.
He was taken aback. Literally. His shoulders straightened, and his chest puffed up. Spin had to look away from the display.
"Why not?" he asked.
“Because I don't help men trick women."
"It's not a trick. It's a translation.”
Spin still frowned her disgust up at him.
“I’ll pay you."
“Oh.” The word came out as a long sigh. She took a deep breath as her disgust turned to anger. “Well, in that case; definitely not. I'm not gonna pimp my skills and be your prose prostitute.”
“Sorry.” He held up his hands in a stop motion. “That’s not my intention at all.”
Sure it was. He was a duke, nobility. Men like him thought they could have any woman they wanted and then drop them. She knew exactly what his intentions were. She knew exactly the type of man he was. But she wasn't used to hearing a man like him say sorry for any reason.
"I'm used to people wanting money," Zhi said. "Or favors from me. I’m not used to asking for help or handouts. I’ve botched it, haven’t I?”
"Yeah. You did.”
But her words were cautious. She wasn’t sure of the trajectory of this conversation. He sounded like he was truly sorry. At the same time, he admitted to why she knew he was wrong. She was entirely confused.
“Why would you even want to be with someone like her?” Spin asked.
“It seems we have a lot in common—aside from our tastes in music.”
Spin didn’t see that they had anything in common. Except maybe their wealth. “Is it because she's rich like you?”
He grimaced. Spin knew it was the height of ill-breeding to discuss money out in the open. But what could she say? Her beginnings were low.
“You know, there’s probably an eHarmony for rich people to help them find each other."
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “There probably is. But I’ve already met her. I just wanted to see if she might be a match already here in real life.”
"You could probably get any girl you want as a duke."
"What if I weren't? Would a woman still be interested in me without my title or my money? If you strip away those things that I was born with and look at what’s left, what then?"
His words hit her. He stood there before her vulnerable and bare. It was only words; she knew it wasn’t reality. But she couldn’t take her eyes off him after he’d peeled back those outer layers and gave her a glimpse into his soul.
“Come on, Spin.” Lark finally broke her silence. “Help a duke out. You can teach him a couple of things over lunch.”
“Where are you staying?” he asked.
“We hadn’t figured that out yet.” Spin began as she looked to Lark who hadn’t agreed to the overnight trip.
“You can stay with me,” said Zhi. "I have a large estate. Plenty of room for you and your friend."
Chapter Eleven
"He's never brought anyone home." Lin’s voice came through loud and clear over the phone even though she wasn’t the one holding the device.
"I didn't know he was dating.” That voice was clearly Allana’s who sounded as though she were standing just behind her sister.
"Is she pretty?" That distant shout came from Mathis, though Zhi would’ve bet the teenager was attempting to whisper the question to those gathered around the phone. "I bet she's a model."
“He said she's not a date." That last voice was Oswald’s. His voice was crisp and clear as he was the one holding the phone to his ear.
Zhi pinched the bridge of his nose as he waited for the fever on the other end of the line to die down. He knew better than to try and talk over his staff when they were firing questions one after the other. They couldn't hear him since he was only in Oswald’s ear. The butler's attention was diverted to the three people around him, and he wouldn’t be listening to Zhi with the cacophony in his other ear.
“She's not a date," Zhi said patiently once he had Oswald’s attention once more. "She's going to be working for me."
"Begging your pardon, Your Grace," said Oswald. "But can we afford that?"
To someone else, it might have been an impertinent question. But to Zhi, it showed respect. He was the one in debt. Oswald, Lin, Allana, and Mathis could all leave that morning if they chose. Instead, they chose to stick by him and his family.
Well, maybe not his entire family. But the staff swore they’d never leave the duchess and young duke as long as they breathed. So, they were all a we. It wasn't just Zhi’s life and his livelihood. If he failed at this, they were all out of luck and out of a home.
After getting Spin’s agreement, Zhi had resolved himself to the course of action. He would find common ground with Parker Paley-Li. He would build a bridge to her heart, and he would treasure her for the rest of her days. With DJ Spin’s help, of course.
Looking up, Zhi saw that the object of his intentions was seeing her guests and employees off as they disembarked from the ship and onto Cordovian soil. Her rainbow hair swished and shimmered as she threw back her head and laughed. She reached out for hugs and turned here and there.
Zhi could definitely see himself with such a sunny and positive person. She was also clearly brilliant in light of the business she’d built. And everyone around her, especially her employees, all adored her. Just another thing they had in common.
Spin and her friend, Lark, were next in line to say their farewells. Zhi’s gaze rested on the young DJ. She was smiling up as her friend chattered on. There was something guarded in that smile. Like the door to her heart was open, but the windows were closed.
“She doesn�
��t require a cash payment,” Zhi said into the phone as he moved closer to the group of women at the edge of the ship. “Only food and lodging. So, we’ll need to make up a room on the second floor.”
There was a moment’s silence as that edict translated. They rarely, more like never, had visitors. Precisely because of what lurked on the third floor. Zhi would have to pray his father stayed lucid and quiet during Spin’s brief stay. He didn’t want his father to slip up and tell his guests the genesis of his interest in dating Parker.
“I’ll be home in about an hour or so."
"We'll take care of it, sir," said Oswald, his voice somber and heavy with the new responsibilities put on all of them.
By the time Zhi hung up, he’d reached Parker, Spin, and Lark. Lark was being enveloped in a tight hug by Parker.
“I’m so glad you two made it,” Parker was saying. “Next time I’m in Nice, I’m definitely stopping by your show.”
“Oh, please don’t,” Lark insisted. “You’ll be bored to tears.”
“More likely, she’ll laugh at the bumbling magician as he tries to pull a rabbit out of his hat,” said Spin.
The two friends giggled as though they’d shared a private joke. Spin turned to Parker. The two women executed a complicated handshake before embracing.
“Hey there, Your Grace,” said Parker after she released Spin.
Zhi knew his fair share of handshakes. He was sure he could repeat the two women’s maneuverings if he concentrated. He held out his fist, but Parker laughed and brushed it away. She reached open her arms for a hug.
"It was so awesome to meet you, Zhi,” Parker said as she squeezed tight.
She smelled of something sugary sweet and tartly herbal. It wrinkled Zhi’s nose, and he held his breath so he didn’t sneeze in her hair. She was mostly skin and bones, but there were a few womanly curves beneath her sparse layers of clothing.
"We should get together while you're in my lands," he said when they pulled apart. "I can show you around the nightlife if you’d like.”
"That would be awesome. I'd love to see your crib.”
Zhi held onto his tight smile while he slid his gaze over to DJ Spin. He worried for a second that she wouldn’t help him out. But she rolled her eyes and sighed out a bored response.
"Yeah," Spin said. "I'll bet his grace’s house is pretty awesome."
"My house?" parroted Zhi. Crib meant house? Was Parker asking to be invited over? "Yes, I'd love to have you over. There are parts that are currently under renovations, though. It’s an old house. Maybe we can do dinner instead?”
“That’d be dope,” Parker said. “Shoot me a DM on Insta or hit me up on Snap.”
Spin opened her mouth to translate, but Zhi wasn't that out of touch. He had both Instagram and Snapchat on his cell.
"I'll do that," he said. "Or I could just get your number."
Spin cringed. Lark chewed at her lower lip and turned away.
“My phone number?” Parker cocked her head to the side and frowned. "What for?"
“Well … I …” Zhi looked to Spin, but she was shaking her head. He knew she wanted him to shut his mouth, but he had no clue where he’d just gone wrong? Why use the texting features of social media when they could just talk directly over the phone?
As though she saw the trajectory of his thoughts, Spin looped her arm through his and steered him toward the gangway. “We should probably get going, Your Grace."
“Oh.” Parker’s brows rose with interest. “Are you two together?"
"No," Zhi said hastily. “I’m just giving Spin and Lark a ride into town."
"Oh, cool." Parker turned to Spin. "You're staying. We definitely need to hang out again, DJ Spin d’Elle.”
“Bet,” said Spin. “Be easy, Parker.”
“Be PLUR, Parker,” said Zhi. And then he felt a yank on his arm.
“Stop talking,” Spin growled under her breath.
“What did I say wrong? I read up on PLUR. Peace Love Unity and Respect. Did I use it wrong?”
"How old are you?" Spin said gazing up at in with incredulity. "It's like you're from another century."
Chapter Twelve
The duke’s manspread invaded Spin’s space inside the confines of the luxury car. Spin turned her body away from him and toward the window, gazing out at her first sights of Cordoba. From the opposite side of the luxury car, Lark and Omar, another nobleman of the country, filled the silence. It would appear that the Marquis of Navarre was also in the entertainment industry.
Beside her, the Duke of Mondego stared at his phone. Spin’s gaze fixed on how he caressed the slim device in the palm of his large hands. His thumb carefully slid back and forth over the face. A bump in the road loosed the phone from his grip, and it spilled into Spin’s lap.
She reached down and picked it up preparing to hand the phone back to him. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Parker's smiling photo grinning back at her. It was her Instagram profile.
Spin’s gaze cut to Zhi’s. “Were you about to DM her just now?"
“Yes.” His hand was outstretched, patiently waiting to take his property back. “What’s wrong with that?"
He made a motion for his phone. When she still gripped it tightly in her palm, he reached over and tried to take his phone back. Spin yanked it from him and toward the window so that he’d have to cross her body in order to retrieve it. Finally, he gave up and raised his brows at her with a questioning glance that told her he had no clue as to the colossal mistake he almost made.
"You just left her,” Spin accused.
His brows quirked, one up, one down in that adorable way he’d done earlier. “I thought girls liked guys being direct, going after what they wanted, and not taking days to do it.”
Spin wouldn’t know? She’d never had a guy show that kind of interest in her.
"As your translator," she said, "you're not going to message her five minutes after leaving her presence. That translates to desperate and creepy."
Zhi sighed, the sound impatient. His knees bumped hers as he turned to face her. "She's not here for long. I don't want to miss my opportunity. When can I contact her?"
"Give it at least twelve hours."
"So, dinner time?” He looked at his watch. He tapped a few dials.
Spin could see that he was setting a reminder. She shook her head and turned to his friend, the marquis. "Is he always like this?"
"I don't know?" Omar’s gaze was filled with amusement. “I’ve never actually seen him chase after a girl. They usually fall into his lap, sometimes while he’s still standing up.”
"I'm not chasing," Zhi protested.
The other three sets of eyes in the car looked at him as though they begged to differ.
"I find her interesting,” Zhi said.
"I think it's romantic," said Lark. “It could be love at first sight.”
Spin snorted. Parker was very attractive. And Zhi, well, he had his charms. He may have been staring at Parker, but she’d hardly given him a second glance. Was that the game? Was Zhi only interested in Parker because she didn’t fall immediately into his lap?
“What do you like about Parker?” Lark pressed.
Zhi thought for a minute. A full minute. And then for a couple of seconds more. “She's intelligent. A self-starter. She clearly has a great head for business."
"Sounds great," said Omar. "If you were interviewing her for a job."
Spin agreed. Something was off about this whole affair. But she couldn't put a finger on it.
Initially, after meeting Omar, she had wondered if it were a bet between these two noblemen. The whole can the hot guy seduce the nerdy girl plot. But Omar was just as perplexed about the attraction as she was.
"When I get to know her a little bit better, then I'll know more." Zhi shrugged. "Isn't that what dating is all about?"
No one answered. Spin got the inkling that it might have been because none of the others in the car had truly dated. She knew that she and Lark
had never had a serious relationship. Omar didn’t look the type to wine and dine a woman. He looked like the kind of man who would conquer a woman and then leave her begging for more as he moved on. Swarthy, that was the best word to describe the dark man.
When the marquis caught her staring at him, he winked. Spin narrowed her gaze. She could tell he meant nothing by it. It was probably a reflex when he saw someone of the female persuasion.
The car slowed as they crossed a bridge over sparkling blue waters. From the canopy of lush trees, the house rose. It was as though the car transformed into a carpet, and they were sailing toward an enchanted castle.
“Welcome to Mondego House,” said the duke. There was clear pride in his voice. A touch of awe as well as he surveyed his homestead.
House was a misnomer. A house was something at the end of a cul de sac. This was across a mote. There were at least three stories, maybe four. Just the spires alone were their own entity. The sun cast the face of the house in a golden hue, and the rays shimmered on each of the many windows.
The car came to a stop before stone steps. A tall man dressed in a dark suit stood at the end of the steps. He came forward and opened the door. He bowed, offering his hand to Spin.
Spin hesitated. Though she had a healthy distaste for the upper class, especially those of blue blood, her mother had raised her with manners. Spin placed her fingers lightly in the man’s hand and was met with calluses.
Though he may be a front of the house servant, he clearly got his hands dirty. She gripped him more tightly, allowing him to alight her from the car.
“Greetings, my lady,” he said.
Spin took her hand away. “I’m not a lady.”
He simply smiled. “My apologies, Miss …?”
Spin stepped to the side as Zhi came out behind her, followed by Lark. Omar gave a salute before shutting the door. The car pulled off and headed back over the bridge.
The Duke and the DJ: a Sweet Royal Romance (The Rebel Royals Series Book 3) Page 6
