Page 102 of A Searing Acquaintance
Jane drew up her knees and leaned closer. “Hon, there’s something else. Mom wants to stay with us when she’s in town for the wedding.”
“Who isus?” Elizabeth asked in a guarded voice. “You and Charles?”
“Me, just me. She says the groom can’t be there for two days before the wedding, and since we’re leaving for Bali the day after, she wants to stay on at our place and ‘keep an eye on things.’”
“Yournewplace?” Elizabeth took a deep breath and stood up. “Oh, because she’s all about the rules of marriage and weddings and family, right? The bride and groom can’t see each other the night before? So she’ll turn all maternal for twenty-four hours?”
She picked up her towel and shook out the sand. After spreading it back on the beach, Elizabeth stood and stared at the blue and white cotton weave until the design blurred and her anger shifted. “Shewants to kick Charles out of his home before the wedding and squat there by herself for two weeks?”
Jane groaned. “No, she’s bringing some man. She has a boyfriend.”
“Of course she does,” Elizabeth snapped. She sank back down onto the towel and reached for the sunblock. She didn’t open it, but started tapping on the cap. “So she wants to shack up with him in your newly decorated newlywed house and live the high life?”
“She means well. I hope. Maybe the wedding has made her think about us.”
“Oh sure. You’re marrying a rich man. A wonderfully sweet, rich man. You know what she’s thinking about.”
“I know,” Jane said in a tight voice. “I don’t want to have to worry about this right now. I’m doubled-down at work so I can take time off in October. I have to focus on that and the wedding.”
“And you should.” Elizabeth lifted her sister’s hand and inspected her manicure. “Charles will stay with Will the night before the wedding. I’ll stay with you. Sylvia and herwhatevercan stay at our place in New Jersey. They can have it until the end of the October when the lease runs out as far as I’m concerned.”
Jane raised her eyebrows and then nodded. “That would be perfect. But Lizzy? Where will you be then?”
Elizabeth shrugged and watched her man striding toward her, smiling and dripping wet. She sighed.Yum. He’s at the top of my “To Do” list.
“You’re bringing Rich to the book party tomorrow, aren’t you?”
Darcy smiled. “Of course. Neither of us would miss it.” Last week, he’d quietly re-scheduled a long-planned trip to London to be with her for this event. Nothing would give him greater pleasure than being with Elizabeth for her big night although their current activity—slowly undressing each other in what was becoming their favorite before-dinner ritual—had filled him with anticipation all afternoon. He decided he wouldn’t allow four o’clock meetings on his calendar any longer.
“Good. You two might see some old friends there, Hero Boy.” Elizabeth draped his necktie on the headboard and untucked his shirt. She twisted to allow him access to the zipper on her skirt.
“‘Hero Boy’? Seriously?” Darcy sucked in a breath as her coldfingers, busily working his buttons, tickled the hair on his chest. He paused in his endeavors to allow her to finish and pull off his shirt then tugged her skirt down over her hips and gently pushed her down onto the bed.
“Okay, my white knight.” She laughed and stretched out beneath him. “My Prince Charming. My man who knows his way around the Yankees’ bench.”
He grinned. He hadn’t seen the book yet, just a photo of the cover she’d snapped on her phone and texted to him. Every time the subject came up, she just smiled. She didn’t want to talk too much about it. “Remember, I played soccer. I’m a tad superstitious.”
Instead of getting her to open up about her hopes for the book, he’d elicited a long list of her pre-game superstitions, from having to wear a certain pair of socks on the days of her junior high school games to her college eating and grooming rituals. He envied her youthfully vivid imagination of all the variables that could have gone wrong and how she’d tried to ensure they did not; after all, he’d lived years mulling over how small decisions and casual choices could lead to tragic outcomes.
“Of course, half the time it was all for naught. I’d wear the fraying gray cardigan that I wouldn’t put in the washer and eat only the crust on my toast and we’d still lose.”
Right now, in his bed, she was his happy Elizabeth, giggling as she reached for his belt buckle. “We need to get you out of your utility belt, Prince Charming.”
He leaned down and gave her a deep, thorough kiss. “Stop mixing your metaphors, love.” He smiled and concentrated on a pesky button on her blouse. “Your book would be marvelous with or without anything I did. I can’t wait to see it.” Success attained, he slipped off her blouse and bra, tossed them on the pile with her skirt, and began kissing her neck.
She had the most beautiful body. He knew she didn’t think so; she said she had an athlete’s body.Right.He’d never seen, tasted, smelled, or touched anything so spectacular, so soft yet firm, as her skin.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered.
“Says the man who just brought a blush to my face and curled my toes,” she replied weakly, snuggling up into his side and tracing the ribs that were too obvious for her tastes. “You’re still too thin. We need to fatten you up.”
He ignored her and shook his head. “No, don’t change the subject.Youare beautiful. I’ve thought so for ages, but you brush it off whenever I tell you. Why don’t you believe me?”
She shrugged and looked uncomfortable. Looking past him, she saw a small furry creature gazing at her. It made her smile. One or the other of the cats always seemed to be watching them in bed. It would be creepy if it weren’t so funny.
“Elizabeth, you are beautiful, and you never let me say it. You turn away, physically or with words, and I need you to believe it.Youneed to believe it.”
“Why? Why do I need to believe it? I’m not vain, Fitzwilliam. I know I’m in good shape, and I know I’m smart. I like my eyes. I’m cute, despite these freckles you love. And I finally found the right conditioner, so my hair looks good.” She pulled out of his embrace and sat up.
