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.”
Chapter Seventeen
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.”
“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 poin
t.” 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.”
Deacon (Starkis Family #1) Page 19
