Faux Vows, True Desires

"Bro, that portrait you painted, the mysterious lady, doesn't she remind you a bit of Darlene? Darlene might look like a delicate flower, prone to wilt at the slightest breeze, but no, she's graceful and enchanting, not some fragile beauty. Bro, why do you sound so dismissive when you bring up Darlene? She's gorgeous, you should be smitten after one glance!"

Keith shrugged, "Women are all the same to me. I'm not interested in them, doesn't matter how they look."

"But Darlene is a knockout, a real head-turner, and you're still not into her. Are you planning on being a bachelor forever? If you paid more attention, you'd see there's a sharp wit behind those eyes of hers. I be she's the type to play her cards close to her vest."

Keith chuckled, "Lucy, who doesn't have a change of expression now and then? A static face, that's a sign of dullness. Wait, are you trying to play matchmaker between me and Darlene? I don't think she's got any interest in me either."

Keith had never been so openly nudged towards marriage before.

His dad acted like he couldn't care less, even though he was strict behind closed doors. But he never meddled in Keith's love life, probably because he was still young, just twenty-four, not thirty-four.

His mother had been a bit loopy in the past, sometimes mistaking Keith for her husband, so she was hardly in a position to push him towards marriage. And when she did come to her senses, Keith always managed to slip away from the conversation.

Turned out, it was his sister Lucinda who kept tabs on him.

Darlene's gaze was calm when she looked at him, not at all like other women who went googly-eyed. Keith was sure there was no spark between them.

Lucinda, grinning, confessed, "Mom told me to keep an eye out for you, to introduce you to a nice girl. My big brother already has a girlfriend, so it's my turn to fuss over your affairs. Darlene's great, I really like her, and she's Ms. Bishop's sister. Imagine, both of my brothers marrying the Bishop sisters. That'd be something, huh? Trust my instinct, bro, Darlene is definitely more than she seems. If you don't believe me do a little sleuthing, observe her, and you'll see."

By suggesting Darlene might be the mysterious lady, Lucinda hoped to spark Keith's curiosity, to get him to seek out Darlene himself.

Given enough time, sparks might fly.

Keith snorted, "Lucy, you can't outsmart me. You think by saying that, I'll cozy up to Darlene? That kind of damsel in distress? I'm not interested in playing the protector. Don't worry, when I do decide to get married, I'll make sure she gets along with you first. I wouldn't dream of causing any sister-in-law drama for you."

Lucinda was speechless.

She had forgotten; her brother was the scion of the Blue family. Growing up in that environment, he was no stranger to playing mind games. There's no way she could easily fool her own brother.

"If you don't trust my intuition, fine. Stefan's got a whole line of younger brothers. The second eldest is getting married soon, and then it's the third one's turn. I could pair up Eric Anderson with Darlene. If it turns out she is the mysterious lady, bro, you'll regret missing out."

Lucinda knew her brother had a thing for the enigmatic woman, not just because she had helped him, but also because of her agile moves. Keith probably had a soft spot for the kick-ass heroine type. Keith sighed, "Lucy, is this all you called to talk about? Don't you miss your dear brother?"

"Not really, I barely have time to miss Stefan, let alone you. Maybe if you found me a sister-in-law, I might spare you a thought."

Keith wasn't offended, but instead replied affectionately, "Yeah right, once I find you a sister-in-law, she'll be all you think about, and I'll be forgotten."

"Is mom back yet?"

"Not yet, she's due back next Thursday. Liam and Tiffany's wedding is that Saturday."

They'd chosen a Saturday for the wedding, considerate for the guests who might overindulge and struggle with a Monday morning hangover. This way, they could recover on Sunday without worrying about work.

"That Porter, always jet-setting around. Keep an eye on her."

Lucinda hummed in agreement. "She's after mom, wants her to divorce dad and step aside for her. Never seen someone so shameless. She should be bothering our dear Ashley instead. Hey, any juicy drama at home lately?"

"Always, the drama never stops."

"But don't get too caught up in it. Listening to their nonsense could pollute your ears. Stefan's back, I hear the door. Let's cut this short before he gets jealous. You know how possessive he can be." Keith knew all too well Stefan's domineering ways.

Possessive and protective to a fault.

Keith ended the call without waiting for a reply.

After hanging up, he couldn't help but smile to himself, "Trying to pique my interest in Darlene? Lucy, you're still a little green to outplay your big brother."

Despite his words, he dialed a number, instructing the person on the other end, "Keep an eye on Darlene Bishop from Pinehurst."

A man of contradictions!

Keith was intrigued by the mysterious lady and eager to discover her true identity.

This was the first time he felt such interest in a woman, and he wasn't trying to predict or control where it might lead.

If Darlene was indeed the mysterious woman, and his sister managed to pair her off with Eric, he knew he'd have regrets.

To avoid any potential remorse, he decided it was best to have someone keep tabs on Darlene.

If she really was playing a deeper game, she'd slip up eventually.

It was just a matter of watching and waiting.

Lucinda put down her phone, shifted in her seat, and watched her man step out of the bathroom.

"Talking to your brother?"

"Yeah."

"What about?"

Lucinda admired Stefan's chiseled physique with a twinkle in her eye - he was a total hunk. With a playful smile, she said, "Didn't say much, just shared our suspicions with my brother and asked him to check up on Darlene."

Stefan sauntered over. "You think he'll believe it?"

Lucinda's eyes glimmered with mischievous light as she pulled Stefan down to sit beside her, then leaned back into his arms, gazing up at him with a sly grin. "Oh, he'll definitely look into Darlene." Her brother might act skeptical on the surface.

But she wagered as soon as they hung up the phone, he was arranging for someone to tail Darlene.

Stefan's large hand tenderly caressed her face, his voice filled with indulgence, "You should really open a matchmaking agency to help those high-society singles find their match."

"I do believe I have a knack for playing Cupid. Once all this settles, I might just open the most renowned matchmaking agency in the country, ha!"

With affection sparkling in his eyes, Stefan leaned in to silence Lucinda with a kiss that swallowed her bubbly chuckles.