Teaser Tuesday – Darcy (Boyfriend for Hire 1)

Today’s teaser comes from Darcy (Boyfriend for Hire 1)
Available now – http://rjscott.co.uk/Read-Darcy

****

“This is not how to do it, sis.” Adrian ignored Gideon and Darcy and stepped right up into Abby’s space.

Darcy tensed, ready to move between them if this brother of hers let his temper fly. He was a foot taller than his sister, with the build of a swimmer, but his hands were clenched, and there was a dangerous feel to him. Slowly, Darcy stood, waiting to see how this played out. He caught Gideon gesturing for him to retake his seat, but Darcy Bridges was not going to back down in the face of a situation where he could help.

“It’s the only way to do it,” Abby snapped.

Adrian raked a hand through his hair. “It doesn’t matter that you’ll be at the wedding on your own. Surely someone at work who knows what’s at stake could help. You could attend with a friend. If you insist on someone going with you, then there has to be another option. What about Michael? He likes you. You could ask him.”

“Michael is a work friend and doesn’t know I’m even alive,” Abby insisted. “Read what she sent me.” She thrust her phone at Adrian. 

He seized it from her, and Darcy took a step forward, not liking the way the tension had ramped up in this enclosed space.

Adrian scrolled down the tiny screen, and then, as if a switch had been pressed, every ounce of anger left him in an instant. Instead, compassion flooded his expression, and he instantly pulled Abby into an embrace. For a second, she resisted before wrapping her arms around Adrian and holding tight. For a few moments, the two of them stood in that hug before she stepped back.

“Graham can’t do this to you. He can’t restrict funding, not now, not when you’re this close. We can find the funding—”

“Don’t you think I tried? Please don’t fight me on this.”

Adrian cradled Abby’s face and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “What about Mom and Dad?”

“You want me to go to them? Make some kind of bargain where I sell my soul? You know they would have to sell assets, and I can’t do that—”

“Okay, sis,” Adrian interrupted. “I wouldn’t do that either. But a fake boyfriend, how stupid is that?” He looked at Darcy. “No offense, but we don’t need you.”

“None taken,” Darcy said.

Abby gripped Adrian’s jacket. “I do need him. I have to go, but I need to look stable and the opposite of everything Charlotte thinks I am.”

“I don’t like it.” Adrian rested his hands over hers. “Abby, just because you don’t have a partner doesn’t mean that you—”

“I know that.” Abby sighed. “I want to look normal, professional, all the things they say I’m not.”

“Why don’t you go directly to Graham?”

“His P.A. says he’s busy, he’s never there and he doesn’t return my calls. But I know it’s just that he won’t see me. Everything is done through managers. He can’t be seen to be spending time with me. You know why.”

“Abby, that was one stupid mistake, one stupid date. You didn’t even properly kiss him, and hell, he chose Charlotte anyway.”

Abby tilted her chin, and the tension in the room shifted again. No longer was she the one defending her position. Now she exuded determination and confidence. “You can’t change my mind.”

Darcy was curious about what was in the text, but it didn’t appear anyone was sharing it. There were people called Graham and Charlotte, some kind of date and a kiss, and a mention of funding. It all sounded messy.

Adrian turned to Darcy with narrowed eyes. “This is him, then? That soldier you chose from the profiles?”

Darcy was used to being sized up, and he met Adrian’s inquisitive gaze head on, watching the verbal interplay. 

“I know people will wonder what he sees in me,” she bit her lip, “but he’s exactly what the family need to see, and when I analyzed all the possible scenarios and players, it was Darcy who fit what I thought would work.”

“And if they find out?”

She shrugged. “If they do, then he won’t have been doing his job right.” She looked pointedly at Darcy. 

---