Ugh. The agitation pounded through her, making her grind her teeth. But Juliet was smart, wasn’t she? Because if she argued back, she would be proving her point.
And, more than that, Darcy couldn’t argue with it.
Wasn’t that the whole reason she hadn’t slept with someone in almost a year? Because she couldn’t actually know who she could trust in this new world order? Thankfully she had Blythe and Emerson in her corner, or she would be completely alone in every way.
Juliet leaned back in her chair, looking entirely too satisfied. Like she knew very well how she’d made her point. She took a sip from the glass of wine she had on the table, affixing a smile back onto her face. “Now, you better prove that you can put ona show. Because the paparazzi are watching, and our waiter is approaching.”
Darcy did her damndest to mirror Juliet’s expression, even if only to prove to Juliet that she could. With that challenging, demanding tone in her voice, Darcy felt herself needing to rise to the occasion and match Juliet bit for bit.
Once they’d given the waiter their orders, Darcy turned back to Juliet. “Okay, let’s steer away from anything personal. Why don’t we discuss the plan for tomorrow?”
“The plan is that we’re singing ‘Porchlight,’” Juliet returned, leaning back in her chair. Her postureseemedrelaxed, but there was absolutely nothing about Juliet that ever came across asactuallyrelaxed.
A dry laugh broke from her lips. “Uh, yeah, obviously. But we can at least talk about our approach.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll show you how it’s done when we’re in the studio.”
Darcy found it incredibly difficult to maintain the grin she’d forced into place, speaking through gritted teeth, “I don’t need you to show me how it’s done. Thanks for the offer, though.”
If nothing else, there wouldn’t be any paparazzi watching them in the studio tomorrow, Darcy mused.
Thankfully.
Because if this was howlunchwas going, she could only imagine what awaited them when they tried to work together.
Dead Air — Possible Ceasefire?
October 2
Is the Kincaid-Jacobs war embarking on a truce?
That’s what it seems like, after the two were spotted having lunch together at Côte & Crumb in Nashville. They appeared very friendly, chatting for over an hour, even imparting an embrace.
Perhaps we’re turning a corner on what to expect from these two…
Chapter Eight
Juliet didn’t knowif she felt more vindicated or irritated that Darcy-in-person matched perfectly with the image and persona she’d exuded in this last year.
So damn naïve about how the industryactuallyworked; she’d believed they’d had lunch yesterday to genuinely become friends?! That it went deeper than their public image?
The outfit she’d worn to Côte & Crumb? Her ripped jeans – definitely not designer, but that would have maybe been alittlebetter – and crop top, that rode up enough at several points in time that Juliet was staring at her midriff? Côte & Crumb wasn’t necessarily formal, but it wasn’t super casual, either. No one could simply walk in off the street and dine there. But of course, Darcy Kincaid didn’t care about that! She was simply too “real.”
No one was thatreal. Right? No one made it to this level they were at by being that way, even Darcy. So, maybe that was one of the other things that was driving her crazy.
So, it wasn’t surprising that her frustration with Darcy spilled over into the studio today.
Her list of grievances for today alone was a mile long:
Darcy had beat her here. Fine, yes, Juliet would have been livid if Darcy had been late, she could admit this wasn’t entirelythe most logical. But Juliet always arrived promptly fifteen minutes before her recording time. She liked to have some time to settle in and talk with the producers and engineers she’d be working with before they got started. She hadn’t expected Darcy to have shown uptwenty minutes early. And then, of course, when they’d locked eyes, Darcy had given her that little fucking smile. Barely there, but enough for Juliet to see it.
Darcy was so chatty with Dustin, their recording engineer, that Juliet had to pointedly clear her throat to interrupt them and get started. Juliet had worked with Dustin before, and he was great. But, Jesus, the way hestaredat Darcy when she spoke… she’d have thought he’d never met a celebrity before in his life. Like he didn’t record with world-class musicians all of the time. It wasn’t like Darcy was that hot.
… All right, maybe she was. But, whatever. Juliet could add that to her list of grievances, too. Darcy was hot as hell and she clearly knew it, given her clothing choices.
The biggest issue with Darcy, though, was how she’d opened a literal notebook – like, with actual handwritten notes in it – and approached Juliet just before they’d entered their adjoining booths. Darcy had pushed for them to sing in the same one, but Juliet had given a very firm rejection to that. No freaking way was she going to be able to get into her element, tap into her most emotional, vulnerable place inside when she sang, while standing so close to Darcy.
Darcy, who’d tried to start a conversation around how she wanted tore-work“Porchlight.”
