Page 79 of All For You

“You would have your own bedroom, of course, and nothing expected,” he answered quickly, as though he could see the question on my face. “In fact, I think that’s a good idea. We could work and hang out in a low-stress, everyday kind of setting.”

I suppressed a smile. Pemberley wasn’t an everyday setting.

“Maybe I could show I’m not an absolute wanker.” He grimaced and laughed. “Iwillshow you I’m not an absolute wanker. You can do your writing anywhere in the house. Upstairs in my apartments or maybe downstairs in the small library? I need to work in my downstairs office, so everyone feelsthey can interrupt me. Then maybe late afternoon, we can do a long walk? I can show you a different part of the grounds every day? Then dinner on the terrace in the evenings, if it’s fine.”

Working downstairs in his library, walking in the afternoon, dinner on the terrace. That all sounded wonderful. I could feel this connection between us might be something too, and he was right. In order to give ourselves a chance, wedidneed to spend more time together.

“That would be lovely, but I feel guilty Tabitha will be staying by herself,” I said.

“She’s more than welcome to stay here too.”

“I’ll ask her. But yes”—my heart picked up in pace—“including the work part. I’ll have deadlines in the day.”

He nodded and searched my face, maybe waiting for me to say something more emotional. He’d been vulnerable with me, and I wanted to let him know this was about more than hitting deadlines. I was already addicted to the way he looked at me.

“I want to spend time with you,” I said, touching his hand gently. “I want to get to know you better. This doesn’t mean we’re a done deal, but I can’t deny my attraction to you, and I’m realizing how much I’ve misjudged you.”

He smiled gently. “I understand. I’ll prove to you I am who I say I am.”

“I best check with Tabitha and make sure she’s okay with that,” I said.

Still buzzing with nerves, I searched the rooms and found Tabs checking her phone in the library.

I perched on the arm of her chair. “Darcy has asked if I can stay the week with him here. Do you want to stay? He invited you too.”

She gave me a slow smile. “You know, I think it’s going to be better if I stay at Rosey Crown’s. Tim wants to come up tomorrow night—I know, a ridiculous distance. And I shouldspend the other evenings making calls to the crew on my show and editing my scripts.” She poked at my shoulder teasingly. “Do you like Darcy now? Are you okay with this?” She grasped my elbows excitedly. “Lizzy, I think you two are a good match. He’sveryinterested in you. That much was clear at dinner, the way he looks at you like you’re the only thing in the room, the way he asks all those questions about your work.”

“We had a rocky start. I misjudged him at the inn. He’s not the person I thought he was. Coming here, it’s changed everything for me.”

“Because he has an enormous house?” She gave a cheeky smile.

I laughed. “No. You know I’m not one for stuff and position.”

“I’m teasing.”

“He’s shown a different side of himself.” I could hear my voice go soft and wistful. “We still need to spend more time together to get to know each other, but he’s apologized. He wants to make amends. He has been so open with me, and I-I really like him.”

“Good.” She raised her eyebrows. “How are you feeling about spending the week with him in his home?”

“I’m kind of nervous now. Very nervous.”

“Really? Too nervous?”

I pictured how caring and attentive Darcy had been since we’d reconnected. How things might work out with him or they might not, but not trying seemed scarier to me. “A good kind of nervous. Excited. And we have separate bedrooms, so no pressure.”

She gave a knowing smile.

After droppingTabitha at the B&B, packing and returning with my bags, Darcy led me up to his apartments on the third floor. “Let me show you your room. You must be tired. It’s been quite the day.”

“It has.”

He guided me inside up the carpeted stairs. At the end of the hallway, he opened the door to a large, airy room in neutral silk and linens with views over the fountain. “You should have everything you need, but ask if you don’t. If you want laundry done, leave it in the hamper in the bathroom.”

I took a step into the room as he parked my overnight bag inside the doorway. This beautiful bedroom and laundry too? “Gosh, you should have led with the laundry thing. Forget pecs and abs—complimentary wash and fold make a man irresistible.”

He laughed. “Good. I need every advantage I can get.”

He stayed in the doorway as I took another step into the room. I turned around, and he dipped his head quite shyly and shoved his hands into his pockets.