Be Mine This Christmas: A Lovers in London Book

by Mary Lynn Cooper

  Darcey almost cringed. She had nits growing up and those little blood suckers where horrible. The thought of a nit feasting on her mane was making her feel revolted. The muesli she had for breakfast was ready to go back up.

  She shook her head, wanting to change the topic of conversation. "So, how does that look?" she asked Carmen.

  The child smiled approvingly, delighted with the French braid. "Gregory will really fall in love with me now.” One could almost see hearts darting out of those sapphire eyes.

  "Gregory, huh? Your boyfriend?" Darcey teased.

  "Well, not really. We haven't kissed and he hasn't asked me to be his girlfriend. Right now, we're just best friends."

  "Oh! So, what makes Gregory your best friend?"

  "He always pushes me on the swing and he shares his Legos with me.” Carmen paused and looked as if she was about to tell the world’s best kept secret. “He's the only boy in class who lets me pinch him. Other boys can be mean but Gregory is nice so we’re best friends. You’ll like him, too.” The little girl shrugged, looking five years older for a moment.

  Later that the afternoon, Darcey stood outside Carmen's school. Other nannies were chatting with each other like old friends. There were a few mums as well. Carmen’s brother, Max, was at a meeting with a football club. The driver was picking him up. Walking down the steps carefully was Carmen, a big smile on her face. She carried a school bag and a lunch box in her hands. A boy walked next to her. He was a bit shorter and had glasses on. His sandy blonde hair shone under the afternoon sun.

  That must be Gregory, Darcey thought. Aww. Young, innocent sweet love.

  Carmen waved goodbye at the little boy. "See you tomorrow!" she shouted before meeting Darcey on the steps.

  Darcey took her charge’s bag and lunch box. "How was school, kiddo?"

  "Great! I got a star for being able to spell." She proudly showed off a star stamped on her pale wrist. "Remember your promise?”

  Note to self: do not make promises, especially to kids. The will remember to really take you up on your offer!

  "Ok, sweetheart.”

  Carmen offered her tiny fingers and they walked hand in hand. Luckily, Nick's cafe was a mere ten-minute walk from school. When they got there the place wasn’t so busy, a few tables were occupied. Rosa the waitress greeted them at the door.

  "Hey, Darcey." Rosa looked at Carmen and added, "Oh, you brought a little friend today. What's your name?"

  Carmen was busy looking around the cafe. The little angel stopped and looked at Rosa and with a shy smile replied like a little lady, "Carmen Rosamund Elizabeth Leighton. But you can call me Carmen." Spoken like royalty.

  "Well, nice to meet you, Carmen," a male voice replied. Darcey smiled at his arrival. "I'm Nicholas Christopher Philippe Berkeley but you can call me Nick or Nicky.” He had walked out of the kitchen door wearing his chef outfit.

  A customer motioned for Rosa. The pretty waitress smiled at Darcey and Carmen before making her way to the customer.

  “What can I get for you, cutie?" Nick winked at Carmen and she smiled back.

  "Darcey tells me you make the best hot chocolate in all of London. I’ll order that with extra marshmallows. I'd also like to have a gluten-free brownie please."

  Nick laughed and ushered them to a table by the corner. He gave Carmen some crayons and a piece of drawing book. Nick’s prided his café for being child-friendly, parents loved how he would give the children toys and activities.

  "Darcey, Nick forgot to ask you what you want.” Carmen looked very serious.

  "That's because he already knows," Darcey replied.

  Carmen’s face lit up and she attempted to whisper but her words came out a bit too loud for Darcey’s comfort. "Is he your boyfriend?"

  Darcey chuckled at the rather cute assumption. "Well, no, he's my best friend--just like who Gregory is to you."

  "But don't you want to be his girlfriend?” the little one challenged.

  “Why, do you want Gregory to be your boyfriend?” Darcey replied with another challenge.

  “I do,” was the assured reply.

  Darcey fiddled with the paper napkin in her hand, trying to collect her thoughts and explain to the little girl why she only wanted to be Nicholas's friend.

  “Have I ever considered Nick to be more than a friend? Several times, to be honest.” She couldn’t believe she was explaining the mechanics of her friendship to Nick to a five year old, yet she continued, “Did I like him? Yes, I liked him from the beginning. But it’s over now. We became such good friends. Nick and I don’t like each other that way. He prefers beautiful girls and I prefer men who aren’t like him."

  Carmen eyed her, doubt written on her small face. Darcey was failing miserably in explaining why she couldn’t be with Nick. How does one explain romance to a kindergarten?

  "Do you understand me?"

  Carmen shook her head.

  "Nick is not interested and--" Before she could finish her statement Nick came back with Carmen's hot chocolate and brownie.

  "I'm not interested in what? Who? You’re talking about me."

  He grinned and looked at Darcey. She didn’t say a word so he shifted his gaze to the little girl who was ready to devour that generous piece of brownie.

  "Carmen, what were you two talking about?”

  Darcey gave Carmen the look that told her to be quiet but the child simply grinned back and looked innocently at Nick. "Well, Darcey told me you're not interested in her. And you only like beautiful girls."

  The little girl’s face then had a confused look before adding, “Are you saying Darcey isn't beautiful? Because you need to go see an eye doctor.” Her response made both Darcey and Nick chuckle.

  “Darcey is lovely, she just needs to know it,” Carmen continued to say, confidence thick in her voice. The two adults couldn't stop giggling at the little girl’s words.

  Carmen was reminding Darcey just how much she loved kids. They were so honest. Everyone simply knew where they stood with them. Kids didn’t give diplomatic answers. At that moment she felt like hugging Carmen.

  She noticed, however, that Nick looked uncomfortable. He seemed to be struggling to form a reply. Darcey stared at him and teased, “You asked for it, buddy.”

  Nick looked at her, her gaze met his in return. She gave him her most wicked smile.

  "Well, the thing is, Carmen, I do think Darcey is beyond lovely. She’s beautiful," Nick said, his gaze never leaving Darcey’s face.

  Darcey didn’t expect that. Her face started heating up while his eyes remained on her. Carmen’s face lit up.

  "Will you help me convince her?" Nick added, giving Carmen a conspiratorial wink.

  “Oh great. Add acting to your list of skills, Nick.” Darcey almost believed him. She thought about why they could never be. He just didn’t feel a special way about her and they were friends, nothing else. She sipped her coffee and pretended to check messages on her phone.

  Nick politely informed them he had work left to do in the kitchen and left. Carmen’s face was filled with joy, her grin ear to ear. "Darcey, I think Nick likes you!” She announced it like it was a huge discovery.

  Slim chance kiddo. No, make that zero chance, kiddo. Nick liking her?

  Darcey forced herself to smile. "What makes you think so?"

  "Well, he brought you coffee without you asking. Gregory brings me gluten-free cookies, too, and he’s not even allergic to gluten. And just the way Nick looks at you. I’m five now, I know these things."

  Darcey couldn’t help but smile. Something, a feeling, made her look up. She saw Nick staring at her from the kitchen window. When he saw her looking back, he raised both arms as a sign of surrender.

  She shrugged and turned her attention back to Carmen who was now devouring her brownie and gulping the hot chocolate.

  Darcey leaned back, trying to enjoy her cup. But thoughts lingered inside her head. She and Nick had been friends for years. She was immune to his charms yet there were
moments, moments like that afternoon, when she wondered what it would be like to date Nick, to hold his hands and stare into his eyes knowing a kiss was coming up.

  Chapter 7

  Later that evening, Darcey gave Carmen a bath to get the little girl ready for bed. Darcey was about to leave her boss’ mansion. She thought about cooking for dinner. Or perhaps a strong drink for her sanity would do. Mrs. Leighton caught up with her by the doorstep.

  "Darcey darling, hold on. There’s one more thing I'd like to ask you to do for me.” Dressed up to the nines, Mrs. Leighton was heading out to meet her friends. She looked every inch a real housewife of Belgravia, decked in expensive brands. “Will you be a darling and run to Saville Row and go to this tailor’s place?”

  She handed Darcey a card with the address printed on it. Mrs. Leighton checked her well made-up face in the mirror by the door. “I forgot to ask you to pick up the suit I ordered. You can bring them with you tomorrow morning. I need them by noon. Now run for the hills." She shooed Darcey away with elegant fingers.

  Has she forgotten I’m her assistant and not her slave? She gave me more work to do without mentioning a salary increase!

  Darcey tried to hide her annoyance. Beggars couldn’t be choosers, as the saying went. Mrs. Leighton was her lifeline but she promised herself that when she got the interview with Mr. Carlisle she was to hand in her notice.

  A frown formed on Darcey’s knackered face. Carmen was such a doll. Saying goodbye would be difficult.

  She nodded politely at Mrs. Leighton and headed to the door. Saville Row wasn’t very far from where the Leightons lived so she decided to walk. Some shops were getting ready for Halloween. Decorations were popping up. The designs were entertaining, some were outright spooky, at least for children. Darcey liked the thought of Halloween coming up because that meant Christmas was just around the corner. The bigger shops had Christmas decorations lighting up their display windows as early as October. Christmas lights were turned on and they sparkled like stars, shimmering promises of happy holidays.

  Darcey simply loved Christmas. It was definitely the best time of the year, the only time when strangers cared and kindness was contagious, regardless of religion or tradition. People were collectively just nicer, although there were a few Uncle Scrooge’s, of course.

  As she strolled along one of the trendiest streets of London, she couldn’t help but smile at couples holding hands, expensive shopping bags on the other hand. Men in suits stepped out of their offices, tourists and fashionable women walked the streets looking like models do on catwalks. The air was beginning to get cold and the folks out in the streets of London were covered in puffy jackets or tailored coats.

  Darcey finally got to the shop in front of Kimmel and Sons. While everyone else in the world was a fan of prêt a porter, Saville Row boasted of the best tailors in London, if not in the world. It was a world of tradition, a league of its own.

  It was interesting, Darcey thought, that she was picking up the suit for her boss. Shouldn't Mr. Leighton come and do a final fitting? These places normally required at least six fittings, up until the customer was wearing the perfect well-cut suit.

  She rang the bell. A neatly dressed gentleman with salt and pepper hair and a friendly smile greeted her.

  "Hello, I’m here to pick up a suit for Mr. Leighton."

  "Ah, yes, please come in.” He ushered her into a room oozing with masculine scents, a mixture of cigar and whisky. “Would you like some tea, coffee, or perhaps champagne, while I go and fetch the suit from the stockroom?"

  "I'd love a glass of water, if you please. I’m rather parched." She sat on the plush leather sofa by the waiting area. There were a couple of customers. One was an elderly gentleman with his wife. They were both elegantly dressed. The other couple was a young lad with his elegant mother fussing over the size of his shoulders.

  Well, if only I had a boyfriend, I can go to these places and tie his bowtie for him, or fix the lapel of his suits and graze my hand on the classic cloth to dust off any lint. Darcey smiled, bemused by her own thoughts.

  As she was living vicariously through the elderly couple, someone opened the dressing door in front of her. His back was all she could see and he was facing a huge mirror. Darcey’s eyes stared at his expensive polished shoes, then she grazed her view on his trousers and up to a cute bum.

  She silently scolded herself while continuing to scope his elegant suit and cravat. She observed him tying a bowtie with such ease and precision and slowly her eyes got a glimpse of his face.

  The man finally noticed her staring and their eyes met in the mirror. They both held identical shock expressions on their faces. Realizing that she caught checking him out, Darcey’s face turned hot and red.

  Amused by her reaction, he smiled. She awkwardly smiled back. Nathan looked dashing, a debonair from a men’s luxury magazine. No, maybe a CEO on the cover of Forbes Magazine. Yet he seemed so natural, like he was born to wear this piece.

  Nathan turned and grinned at her. "What are you doing here?” Pleasant surprise was written all over his face. “Here I am thinking she will never call and I won't be seeing her again. But, here you are."

  "Nah, I'm the doppelganger," she joked. "I'm here to pick up my boss's suit. You look…” she began to compliment him. An eyebrow rose on his face. He was waiting.

  “…smart,” she added, finding herself breathing normally again after she found an appropriate word to describe him without sounding like a silly schoolgirl with a massive crush.

  "Thank you,” he replied. There was the deafening silence again. Nathan cleared his throat. “It is rather late for coffee, or we could go for dinner? Are you free?” His face actually looked hopeful.

  "Yes, but I'm not really dressed for anything fancy,” she apologized.

  “You break my heart,” he replied, feigning a heart attack. She laughed and he looked at her with sincerity before saying, “It’s just dinner, Miss Vaughn. I was going to grab something to eat but it would be better to at least have someone to share a meal with, don’t you think?”

  Darcey shook her head. “Well, I’m not really sure. Today was a rather long day. I’m really sorry.” Her stomach protested and Nathan placed his hands on her shoulders.

  He gently shook her. “Breathe. I won’t bite.” He looked at her with such gentleness, it was as if he was afraid to break her. “I promise to not make you cry this time.”

  As if that settled the matter.

  The shop clerk came back. "I'm so sorry, miss, but Mr. Leighton picked up his suit a couple of weeks ago, according to our records. Perhaps Mrs. Leighton forgot. I’m sorry for the wait but I’ll call her and let her know what’s going on."

  Right.

  Darcey didn’t realize her face was expressing the disappointment she was feeling when Nathan interrupted her thoughts. “Looks like you will also need a nice glass of wine with your dinner.” He turned his attention to the gentleman. “The suit is perfect, Henry. Kindly send it to my flat tomorrow afternoon. Thank you."

  “But, of course, Mr. Crowell,” the elderly clerk replied. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  "No, that would be all.” With that Nathan went back inside the changing room.

  The stroll to the restaurant was great for working up an appetite. It also calmed Darcey’s nerves. They arrived in front of Sketch, one of London’s famous restaurants, known for its world-class food and artsy ambiance.

  “We’re dinning here?” She gave him a look of disbelief. “We didn’t book a reservation.”

  He smiled at her and led her up the steps. A doorman acknowledged him. The hostess smiled at Nathan, almost in a flirting way.

  “I wonder,” the hostess with the bright red lips said, “would you prefer the bar or dinner, Mr. Cromwell?“

  “Dinner for two please,” Nathan replied. The hostess looked at Darcey with less warmth and nodded. Turning back to Nathan, she gave him a seductive smile before leading them inside.

&n
bsp; Nathan and Darcey gave their coats to a lady in the cloakroom. In return they got a card. The host led them to a nature-themed room. It reminded Darcey of Alice in Wonderland, or perhaps an enchanted kingdom where fairies lived. The hostess then showed them a contemporary dining area. Each table setting was different from the next.

  Nathan pulled out a chair for Darcey. He sat next to her on the round table where they faced each other. The hostess handed them each a menu which they studied in silence.

  Darcey stole a look at Nathan. A gentleman to the core, he was wearing bespoke tailoring and was incredibly good-looking. If she hadn’t met Dimitri she probably would be crushing on Nathan instead.