Beauty and the Brit -Chapter 11 (Patreon)

WELCOME BACK EVERYONE TO BEAUTY AND THE BRIT! HOPE YOU'RE READY TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FOR PAIGE AND DERICK! <3

SHOUTOUT TO PATRONS ALIA, RA, STACI, ROBYN AND CARFLY!  YOU MADE THIS CHAPTER POSSIBLE

-BRITT XOXO

CHAPTER ELEVEN: BOLD AND BRAZEN BARBEQUE

Paige paced nervously over the floor of her store in anticipation of her and Rae’s guests later that evening.

She’d confronted Rae last night about the dinner that Paige had not known about and her friend had explained everything: how she and Nate had had a conversation earlier in the day and how they’d agreed to do a Friday night barbeque together the next day with his wife coming along, Rae offering Redford Manor up as the dinner location. Nate had offered to grill and bring over the ribs and Rae assured she and Paige would handle everything else. A quick call to Nate had reassured Paige that they could totally invite Derick and so Paige calmed down about Rae’s impromptu invitation to him when they’d driven Derick home.

But now the night was practically here and she was anxious. 

Mrs. Emily Eames was an anomaly; Paige didn’t quite know her well enough to know how the night would go and it was nerve wracking to have Derick there also with that variable in play, so to speak.

“Paige shouldn’t you be off?” Cornelia questioned her.

Paige looked up at the store owner, pulled from her thoughts. “Oh. Uh yeah sorry… Lost in thought!”

Cornelia laughed softly. “Well go on now; enjoy your Friday night! A young girl like you shouldn’t be hanging around your work on a night like this!”

Paige chuckled. “Yeah. Sorry, I’ll go to the back and grab my purse. Thanks Cornelia!”

As she came out again, the owner wondered if Paige had anything planned. “Eh yeah dinner with my housemate, our neighbours and a new friend from ‘The Gala’ last Saturday,” she spoke, smiling a little more at mentioning Derick.

“Ah wonderful! No bike; getting picked up?”

“Actually yeah,” she admitted, feeling her cheeks warm. Derick was coming by to get her tonight. Maybe that had also contributed to her nerves.

“That’s so wonderful! Have fun honey and we’ll see you again soon!”

“See you!” Paige replied with a grin before stepping out of the store and practically bumping into a tree-sized individual.

“Pay! Babe oh thank God!” Hugh’s booming voice proclaimed. If she was anxious before, Paige felt now like she might be sick.

“Oh I’m so glad I caught you gorgeous! Surprise! Your man Hugh is here to wine and dine you!”

“What?”

“I was thinking about what you’d said the other day,” he began, “and I saw what you wanted me to do! Just make the plans, take charge and sweep you literally off your feet! And damn but you deserve it babe so here I am to grab you from work to have our fun Friday night together! Ta-da! Didn’t think a hottie like me was romantic enough, did you?”

Paige was so mortified it was difficult to speak. “H-Hugh… Oh my God. Y—”

“Hun you don’t need to thank me or say anything. But I’ll accept our first kiss, sure,” he exclaimed, moving forward intending to take her into his arms.

She instinctively took a step back just as a voice called out her name. “Paige!” Derick called again as he approached, having gotten out of his driver’s vehicle.

Hugh looked over and surprise was evident upon his face at seeing another man calling for Paige.

“Hey,” Derick greeted her as he came up alongside her.

“Hi!” she responded, feeling absolute relief pouring over her.

The stark contrast between Derick and Hugh was now obvious: Hugh tall and muscular, Derick average height and lean muscle. Hugh’s voice deep and booming, Derick’s even and calm. Both with dark hair (Hugh’s was much darker though), both with blue eyes (Derick’s soft and kind, Hugh’s sharp and piercing) and both with attention for Paige that she was still coming to terms with on both ends. Seeing them here together at once created an uneven balance within Paige and she began to dislike Hugh even more now that she had a comparison to someone that she actually felt comfortable around (and interested in).

Hugh stared at them only momentarily before he barked out, “Ha! Who’s this?”

“My name is Derick,” he introduced himself, holding out his hand to shake.

Hugh scoffed at the manners displayed. “Derick what’re you her cousin? Excuse us but I was about to take my lady out on a date.”

“Your lady?” Paige exclaimed in exasperation.

“I’m terribly sorry but there must be some confusion,” Derick spoke, understanding immediately who this must be, “Paige already has plans.”

“With the likes of you, Harry Potter? Give me a break. She only said she’d go out with you to make me jealous. Well, don’t worry I forgive you both but now I’m here to take Paige out,” he spoke as he reached to grab her hand.

“Hey!” Paige complained as she tried to pull away but he had her hand already before she understood what was going on.

“Release her hand,” Derick spoke with a darkening expression, “Let her hand go right now.”

“Or what? Are you gunna put a spell on me? Paige honey this is actually kinda funny! Good one! Picking some guy with a silly accent. She doesn’t want a pussy she wants a real man!” Hugh boasted and with his attention on Derick Paige slipped her hand out of Hugh’s and stepped back, feeling absolutely furious.

“You don’t get to decide what Paige wants. It’s her choice. Paige, you can go with...Hugh is it or you can carry on with the plans you had before. It’s your choice,” Derick spoke calmly.

Paige appreciated his approach, hoping the situation wouldn't escalate. “I’m sticking with my plans,” she spoke firmly, feeling more confident to say her peace now that she had Derick as a witness and back up, “Hugh you can’t just surprise me with a date. I don’t want to go out with you and I am not playing games trying to get you to take me out somewhere. I’m not trying to make you jealous and I’m not waiting for you to make your move. I don’t want to go out with you tonight and I don’t want to go out any other night. I have to go now; the guests are waiting and I still have stuff to do. Goodnight.”

“But Paige! Baby!”

“I’m not your baby. I’m not your anything, Hugh!” she retorted plainly as he tried to entreat and plead with her as she left towards Derick’s waiting car, “Please, find some other girl to go out with who is actually interested. You and I have nothing in common—”

“You’re shitting me! This guy? Paige you’re gorgeous as fuck and you’re going to turn me down who is one of the hottest guys in town for some tea drinking twink!? Seriously?”

“It has nothing to do with Derick and watch your mouth,” she berated as she got into the car. Derick had followed and went to the opposite side to get in off of the street so that she could easily take the quicker route from the sidewalk.

“Who the fuck is this guy? You’re kidding me, right? Paige—!”

Derick encouraged the driver to go immediately so that Hugh couldn’t get any closer to the vehicle and they’d leave him complaining there on the sidewalk. Because Hugh was taking a few steps forward to try and keep speaking to Paige who was in the car and Derick didn’t want that.

“Oh my God,” Paige exhaled, stressed, as they were pulled away down the block and on their way. She had her head in her hands and took another deep sigh.

“Paige are you alright?” Derick asked with worry.

“I’m so sorry about that,” she replied with sadness and embarrassment as she flushing looked at Derick again.

“You have literally nothing to apologize for. That situation was not your fault. And you needn’t be embarrassed that I was there. Are you alright?” he asked again.

“Yeah… Yeah just… I just can’t believe he… well, everything you saw just there,” she exclaimed, cheeks still flushed with anger and embarrassment.

“I’m glad I was there,” Derick admitted, “I understand now why you and Rae brought him up. Doesn’t take no for an answer that’s… frustrating and dangerous. If he tries anything like that again you go and report him to the police for harassment and not just that but sexual harassment. That— Neither you nor anyone else should have to put up with behaviour like that. You deserve to be listened to and to be treated with respect. Someone who doesn’t listen and disrespects your boundaries should not be able to do so,” he exclaimed straightforwardly, “Sorry should not be allowed to continue to do so,” he amended.

She looked at Derick feeling grateful. “Thank you,” she expressed with a soft smile. “Thank you for your support back there and for your words just now. I truly appreciate it Derick.”

He smiled at her, his blue eyes shining a little. “Don’t mention it. I am happy and relieved I was there,” he repeated gently.

She smiled back, feeling her heart skip a beat knowing Derick was her ‘knight-in-shining-armour’ tonight and that she had an even bigger crush on him for his compassion…

The two changed the subject and spoke about the dinner that night. Paige admitted shyly her nerves surrounding Emily Eames. “Well I just… I don’t know her all that well and at one time Rae and I thought she might not like us,” she admitted when Derick asked why Paige was nervous for the woman to come tonight.

“Oh gee why’s that?”

“Um well… I think it was mostly a feeling of predatorial...something. She just seemed like she didn’t like that Nate was helping out a couple of young women. But she’s calmed that down in the last while. Initially she just seemed...cold,” Paige spoke softly, leaving out the actual conversation Rae had overheard.

“Well then I hope tonight goes well. Though, I’m sure Nate and Emily wouldn’t come if she had such a problem with you two. I think some people just come off cold at first but warm up. It’s no excuse of course for you feeling the way you feel of being… unwelcome or something but sadly it is a reason in some cases for that feeling.”

“Derick I’ve said it before I’ll say it again you’re so incredibly wise!” Paige gushed and he laughed anxiously.

“I just tell the world as I see it and since I’m around people a lot all my life well I guess I’ve picked up an observation or two. It’s not wisdom just fortunate experience,” he blushed as they pulled onto Paige’s street.

“Well then I’m glad you have that. You’ve...brightened my world,” she spoke then immediately felt shy at the confession.

Derick made a soft sound of shy acknowledgement and looked down at his feet as the driver brought the car to a stop.

Paige thanked the driver and got out, Derick doing the same and giving the man a tip which he refused. As the car drove off, Derick joined Paige on the sidewalk, holding a cloth bag which she hadn’t noticed in the vehicle.

She was about to ask but decided not to. She felt too shy and instead led him up the walk to Redford Manor where she unlocked the front door and let him inside. “Rae?”

“In the kitchen! Just going to set up the backyard!” her friend called back. “Hi Derick!” she called, knowing the plan had been for him to grab Paige and accompany her.

“Hey Rae!”

“If we’re eating in the back then just leave your shoes on,” Paige told her companion. Derick felt bashful but she reassured him and kept hers so he agreed and they walked to the back of the house together to greet Rae.

Within minutes they were all involved in the set up of the lawn chairs and a make-shift table with tablecloth in the backyard together. Derick insisted on being useful despite both ladies’ insistence that he was a guest and should settle himself down comfortably instead.

“Had I known about your neighbours bringing their own chairs I would have made sure to provide my own as well,” he spoke upon learning of the arrangement made.

“We’ve got two extras, don't even worry about it!” Rae dismissed, “You get one and there’s a spare just in case of emergency!” she laughed.

“Let’s hope there are no emergencies!” Paige laughed and Derick agreed.

“I was about to say the same!”

As they went back inside to start bringing out the food and drinks, Paige remarked at her gratefulness that the weather had improved from the day before.

“I couldn’t agree more!” Derick nodded, “I’ve spent the afternoon outside mostly, for tours of the hospital grounds and on our few breaks, and it’s been brilliant. I’m glad we didn’t all blow away yesterday!”

They all laughed, recalling their trek back to Rae’s car.

“It’s a great night for a get-together barbeque,” Derick professed. “Very grateful for the weather and the invitation here tonight.”

“Very glad to have you,” Rae responded as she passed him a salad bowl covered in cling film to take out.

As they all were placing their items down outside, Emily and Nate arrived holding hands and smiling. “Hey!”

“Hey!”

“Hi!”

“Hey!”

Nate immediately set down the large foil container of ribs and offered to help with set up. He was refused though; everything was pretty much ready to go; they just had to bring the last of the food and drink out.

To everyone’s surprise, Derick had brought two bottles of wine in exchange and thanks for the hospitality that was shown to him. ‘Such a gentleman’ Paige thought yet again to herself. She’d totally thought the bag he’d brought with him had work related items inside it…

With everything now set up, the group poured themselves drinks and settled down around the table together.

“So you’re from London?” Nate questioned Derick.

“Yeah. Family has ties here in America and to this town too but the majority of my life I’ve been in ‘Jolly Ol’ England’ as they say!” he laughed and the group laughed with him.

“So is it true it rains there all the time?” Emily Eames asked curiously.

“No not quite! We do get quite a bit but it’s not like people say,” he mused. “And no not everyone are tea drinkers but it’s quite common so that part is true!” he went on.

Everyone smiled, happy to know more from Derick.

“Is it like, so different here?”

“Yes and no. London in and of itself is a character of the world. But everywhere I’ve ever gone I see a common thread of people being people and working and playing and I dunno the structure of a city may be different but we all have commonalities of struggles and triumphs.”

Emily blushed slightly. His answer made her feel like the guy was highly educated and she wasn’t sure she could keep up in conversation with him. She worried she’d be embarrassing herself in front of him.

Nate felt a little bit the same but he knew that both Paige and Rae didn’t care for ‘stuck up’ or boastful people. So he wasn’t too worried that Derick would make any of them feel inferior, even if he was quote “smarter” than everyone here tonight. Or maybe he wasn’t and it was just his accent that made Nate feel like the guy was quite posh!

The group made a bit of small talk as they passed the food around the table before Nate asked if they could bow their heads for a moment. Respectfully, everyone did and he said a short prayer of thanks and blessing for the meal.

After that, the group dug into their meal together.

“You ever had barbeque like this before?” Nate asked Derick when everyone was well tucked into the meal and Paige went to fetch some napkins which she wet a little for people to wipe their hands. It was impossible to eat the ribs without grabbing them by hand and she felt a little embarrassed though over the rest of the meal everyone, especially Derick, would make her feel at ease about it.

“Not this particular sauce but I have had similar cookouts and picnics and barbecues in my experience yes!” Derick grinned, “Brilliant job on these. Amazing.” He politely bit a small piece after speaking as though to punctuate his sentence’s meaning.

Derick exchanged a little more small talk explaining what he was doing here in town and Nate and Emily politely spoke of their professions: Emily a professional retail buyer for the local jurisdiction of a national brand and Nate in carpentry and construction of course, before they invited Paige and Rae to do the same and explain a little more of what they did day-to-day especially because Rae was an artist and ‘Artist-in-Residence’ at that. It was utterly fascinating. Paige was essentially a business owner. How could Derick and Nate —and even Emily— not be impressed?

From there things carried on to talk of travel, childhood trips and school experiences all in relation to people’s mention of lifelong dreams and youthful pursuits of happiness as it pertained to their jobs and how they’d come into them.

Emily had always been into fashion, accessories and cosmetics but was also business minded and therefore the option to make decisions on what a company would retail appealed greatly to her. She’d been working as a buyer for about the last five years or so including her time as an associate buyer and often traveled out of town to participate in various meetings, trade shows and conferences. The twenty-eight year old seemed passionate and driven by her chosen career and her husband openly praised Emily for her work ethic and focus. “She’s great at what she does. Honestly though I’m just worried that soon she’ll get a promotion and we’ll have to move to a bigger city. Just sucks `coz I love our house.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Emily assured, “For now they like having me where I am. And I like being where I am.” She took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. Whether this display was territorial or not was up for debate but Nate seemed not to notice and he smiled at her.

Nate explained how he’d done a lot of hands-on things during high school and getting into a trade as such was a natural fit. But, the contractors he worked for at the moment couldn’t provide much work. And other places that were hiring weren’t looking for temporary hires. So, Nate was in limbo for the moment but luckily he and Emily had saved prior to this and her income now was enough to cover their bills so his volunteer work to help Redford Manor and the two young ladies who had moved into it was justified in his mind.

Paige gave a quick overview of her endeavours of trying to go into librarian work but loving the bookshop instead while Derick repeated all that he’d previously explained to Paige about how he got into his line of work. The others were fascinated and listened, captivated and would be slightly intimidated were it not for the kind way that Derick spoke. He was too humble to be intimidated by even if he was rather wealthy and sophisticated.

Rae spoke of her passion for art and her pursuit of it independently and through schooling. “I’ve worked my ass off but I’ve loved it and now I’ve been rewarded with this position and I couldn’t feel more blessed. Artist-In-Residence is a great honor and responsibility and it’s going to be so great personally and professionally. I love it already and so many little doors have opened because of it. Then when my gallery hopefully takes off I’ll be onto the next boat so to speak until one day I’m on a yacht!” she joked and the group laughed.

Despite everyone’s independent and unique circumstances and professions, through chatting it was quite easy to see that they all had commonalities most of all being a love for their ‘craft’ so to speak. This universality between them definitely brought the group closer.

Before they all knew it, the sun was starting to get low in the sky. “Oh damn mosquitoes!” Rae complained as she realized they were starting to swarm in the evening air. “I think we might have some citronella candles I can go get ‘em.”

“Oh that’s kind Miss Rae but we should all probably start to tidy up and call it a night. We’ve impeded on your hospitality. It’s been very fun though,” Nate spoke kindly.

Derick seemed to shake his head and come back to reality. “Goodness yes it’s rather late. I don’t want to be indecent. Let’s help you clean up,” he put forward in support of Nate’s thoughts.

“Oh you guys can get on going. We’ll be fine here. Nate and Emily you’ve got a long way to go you’d better get a move on,” Rae teased with a grin and the two laughed.

“In that case I ought to see you both to your home,” Derick piped up as he gestured at Paige and Rae, “You ladies shouldn’t go alone.”

“Oh don’t worry Rae’s not as helpless as she looks but I’ll take good care of her and get her home safe I promise!” Paige played along.

“Very kind offer of you Paige.” Derick’s eyes seemed to twinkle in the fading light.

Paige felt her heart flutter.

“Please, everyone: get yourselves home safely and we can always text when we make it,” Rae put in. “If no one texts in an hour’s time, assume they’re doomed and lost. And that’s that.”

They all laughed and smiled. “Quite so,” Derick mumbled.

“But are you sure we can’t assist in tidying up?” Derick pressed on.

It was Paige shaking her head that did it for him. “There’s not much clean up anyhow with the paper plates and everything so you’re off the hook for hospitality. But we really do appreciate it,” she assured both Derick and the Eameses.

“Well thank you for the great evening. I’m glad we did this,” Emily expressed, sounding like she truly meant it. Paige would ponder this sincerity later with Rae. “We’ll have to have at least one or two more cookouts before summer is through.”

“That’d be nice,” Rae agreed gently with a smile.

“Shame you can’t make it Derick,” Emily spoke, “You’ll probably have a fancy dinner in London if nothing else.”

“I’d happily skip one of those to sit here again,” Derick replied easily. “Truly. Just give me ten hours’ notice so that I can book the flight and come on over,” he grinned.

“Well then we’ll keep you in mind,” Nate agreed. 

“If you’re sure there’s nothing we can do around here then goodnight to all of you. Emily’s right: this was great and we should do it again.”

“Thanks for coming. Take care,” Paige smiled.

Nate shook Derick’s hand and gave a gentle wave to Paige and Rae before going off with Emily back to their own home next door.

Derick helped them bring a few things inside, refusing to just dash off without at least being somewhat useful. “I’ve got to go through the house to the other side anyhow unless I use the side of the house. Either way logically I have to pass the same number of steps more or less and go the direction of your kitchen. Just let me grab a jug or a stack of plates to toss or something!” The girls allowed him to ease his guilt as a result.

Then he hugged them both goodbye and promised to call the next day, which would be his last full day in town before going back to England. Paige felt her heart sink into her stomach at the recollection but her face remained smiling as she said goodbye to him and saw him to the door with Rae.

Once he was gone the two friends spent the next hour and a half unpacking all that had happened to them that day; what they’d been thinking and feeling and how wonderful the night had been.

Paige divulged her run-in with Hugh and how Derick had handled it so smoothly and with such grace and ease that it had really made her relax much faster than she would have had her British knight in shining armor not rescued her from the forceful, conceited giant.

“I’ve fallen for him and I don’t know what to do Rae,” Paige admitted, “It’s a crush maybe but something inside me pulls me to so much more. He’s just so wonderful and I can’t help myself or my feelings. And tomorrow he goes back to England for God knows how long. I know at this point he’ll keep in touch `coz he’s said so but I… It’s going to be weird and hard for me…”

“You’ll make it through Paige. I have a good feeling. And he’s not gone forever. At minimum he’ll be back for next year’s ‘Gala’!”

“Oh gosh I don’t know if I can wait that long!” she lamented.

Rae attempted to soothe her friend as they both lay on the pillow fort they’d created in Rae’s bedroom. “Paige?”

“Mm?”

“I don’t know if I’m over Nate… Like… at all…” Rae admitted in an almost whisper, afraid and ashamed.

“Really?”

“Mhm. I… Tonight everything I set aside just came rushing back and it brought friends. I feel even more for him now than I ever have before and… and I…”

Paige listened to the uncomfortable silence that followed.

“And we both agree that Emily is… She was really nice tonight; started out a bit cold but really sort of opened up. And that pisses me off. I wanted to keep trying to hate her but right now I just hate myself. I want her husband and I want her gone. You have to wait for Derick to come back to town to possibly...I don’t know. And I have to wait for Emily to just...not exist anymore. And I feel awful in thinking that.”

“Oh gosh Rae I’m so, so sorry,” Paige whispered as she rolled onto her side to look at her friend.

“Why can’t it be that I just date Hugh, you date Derick and everyone lives happily ever after?”

“Uh well because Hugh’s a misogynistic prick and Derick’s British and...and we haven’t met our fairy godmothers yet?” Paige posed, her voice inflecting at the end.

Rae sighed. “Well mine better goddamn hurry up or she’s getting a mouthful.”

Paige laughed softly, “Yeah.”

“Maybe you should kiss Derick tomorrow then.”

“What!?”

“Yeah. If the fairy godmother isn’t going to do shit then maybe we’ve just got to do it ourselves. You kiss Derick, he realizes he’s head over heels in love with you and stays forever!”

Paige laughed nervously, “I don’t think it’ll work like that. He’s got his foundations and all that and I...I don’t know that I’m brave enough.”

“Then I’ll kiss him for you!” Rae teased as she rolled onto her side too.

Paige laughed and smacked her friend. “No!”

“Well one of us has to. It’s the most action going on around here and if I can’t get any then you may as well get your first kiss with your Prince Charming…”

Paige could feel her cheeks blushing hot.

“C’mon what’s the worst thing that could happen Paige? He or you or both of you figure out you weren’t ready to kiss and then don’t see each other for a year or forever? It’s worth a shot.”

“I’ll… Mmm… I’ll think about it,” her friend hummed softly, feeling nervous as all heck but realizing that she really did want to kiss Derick before he left.

Maybe Rae was right, maybe Paige should take a chance. Question was: could she be brazen and as bold as Hugh and just go for it? Or was that sort of bravery reserved only for the characters she imagined herself as in books?

Tomorrow would tell...