Dating Mr. Darcy - Kate O'Keeffe Page 0,33
right?”
“And don’t forget the lesbians.”
I let out a surprised laugh. It ends in an embarrassing snort, and he looks at me with a dash of smug amusement in his eyes.
“Endearing laughter aside, without the ability to promote your designs on the show, you want me to send you home. Is that correct?”
I give an emphatic nod. “Yes.”
He stands up and smooths down his pants. “All right.”
Hope rises inside. “Is that ‘all right’ as in you’ll do it?”
He gives a short, sharp nod. “I’ll do it.”
I’m so ecstatic, I leap out of my seat and throw myself at him, gushing, “Thank you, thank you!” As I press up against him I do my best not to notice how big, firm, and muscular he feels. Which I do an absolutely terrible job of, truth be told.
Smooched up together, he looks down at me and our eyes lock. My heart rate kicks up and those darn tingles make a reappearance, only this time they’ve brought backup, so they’re more like a jolt.
The thing is, despite the long list of things I dislike about this guy—and it is a very, very long list, believe me—there’s something alluring about Sebastian.
Something I most definitely do not want to explore.
I pull away from him and instead stick my hand out. “It’s a deal.”
He takes my hand in his and we shake. “It can’t be tonight, though, I’m afraid. I’ve already made my decision to send the blood vial contestant home.”
My heart drops a fraction. Jessie, a girl with intense, starey eyes I’ve managed to mostly avoid so far. I can understand why he’d want her to leave. She’s pretty intense. “Oh.”
“Next elimination?”
“Sure.”
“With that agreed, we’d best get back to the others.”
“Of course. You’ve got love to find, and that’s not going to happen for you tucked away here with me.”
“My sentiments exactly.”
We walk to the door.
“Have you got any clue who you’re going to choose? Because I’ve got someone in mind for you.”
“You do?”
“Kennedy. She’s gorgeous and fun and really nice. Oh, and her last name is Bennet. Wouldn’t it be cute if Mr. Darcy ended up with Miss Bennet? The viewers would die for it.”
“Perhaps, if my surname really were Darcy.”
“What is your last name?”
“Huntington-Ross.”
Oh, yeah. That so fits.
“Of course it is.”
He arches an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
“It means your name is perfectly suited to you, that’s all.”
“What’s your surname?”
“Brady. As in Bunch.”
“The Brady Bunch? That show about the blended family from the sixties?” He arches an eyebrow. “How old are you, exactly?”
“Don’t you need to get back to your adoring women?”
“I do.”
I pull the door open and turn around to face him. “Thanks, Seb. I’ll look forward to being dumped by you at the next card ceremony.”
“You’re welcome, Brady Bunch,” he replies with a smile.
Brady Bunch? That definitely sounded a little flirty.
“And it’s Sebastian.”
I pat him on his lapel. “Whatever you say, Mr. Darcy.”
Chapter 12
As if being stuck for another round in this place isn’t torture enough, the production crew have crafted a new and wonderful way in which to humiliate the contestants on national television. It’s a singing competition.
Yup, you heard it right, people. We all get to sing for Mr. Darcy.
How perfectly terrific.
Jessie, the contestant who tried to give Sebastian a vial of her blood, was sent home last night, just as Sebastian had told me she would be. I can’t say I blame him. She was definitely a little unhinged, even if she did take my spot.
So, now our numbers have dwindled to ten, and I’m forced to endure at least another few days here until Sebastian delivers on his promise.
But before the singing contest, we all have to be interviewed once more. Unlike some of the other girls, I do not relish my time on camera. I’ve got to watch what I say and walk the line between coming across as though I’m into Sebastian, but not delusional. I don’t want to seem like I’m totally into him for him to then dump me at the next card ceremony.
“Tell us about you and Sebastian,” Cindy asks once I’m settled in the usual spot in my Regency finery (bloomers included, but don’t get me started on that again).
“Oh, we’re good. We had a chat about things and he’s been very nice to me.”
“Do you mean the conversation you had when you handed him a note telling him that you loved him and invited him to your room?”
Dang it! Of course they had to bring that up.
“It wasn’t like that.”
“Oh? How was