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Laughter dissolved as awareness thickened around them. They’d seen one another half-naked before but this was different. This time, Bennet was aware how much they both liked what they saw. This time, Bennet knew Darcy wanted to touch him. Explore him. This time, Bennet was tempted.
Darcy swallowed. “You’re covered in goosebumps. You should, ah, warm yourself in the shower.”
A spell under cold water might have been more helpful; Bennet set the shower to lukewarm and made quick work of soaping himself, drying off with equal efficiency.
His hair dripped onto his shoulders as he stepped—once more wearing only his underwear—out of the bathroom.
Darcy approached, carrying a pile of clothes. He had slung on a dry T-shirt and dark shorts. It was so remarkably casual that Bennet stared at him as though he continued to wear nothing.
“Here. Something dry.”
Bennet blinked. The same jeans and blouse he’d borrowed last time. He fingered the material.
“You like bright colors,” Darcy said uncertainly. “Did I get it wrong?” He gestured to Bennet’s eyes. “I thought this one would look good. That you’d like it.”
It wasn’t exactly his style, but . . . He pictured Darcy rummaging through his children’s things, searching for something Bennet would like and feel comfortable in.
Right from the beginning, Darcy had tried.
He shook his head. “You got it right.” I’m sorry I didn’t appreciate your choice enough last time. “Thank you.”
Darcy nodded. “I, ah. Shower.”
The sound of paws trying to get through solid wood was followed by a bout of energetic barking. Bennet swung toward the door.
“Caesar!” Darcy strode down the hall.
Right there in the hallway, Bennet plunged his limbs into the borrowed clothes. Dampness made it difficult to yank on the socks. He’d hopped halfway to Darcy and the dog by the time he managed.
Darcy was on his knees receiving licks from Caesar, and the laughter that boomed out of him went straight to Bennet’s stomach. He leaned against the wall and grinned.
Darcy side-eyed him. “I’ve trained him to come over when Caroline’s housekeeper comes by so he doesn’t lose himself again.”
“How have you trained him so well?”
Darcy led them to the kitchen and pulled dog treats from the cupboard. Caesar yipped in excitement.
“Bribery,” Darcy admitted, feeding him.
“Might have to try that with Lyon.” Bennet sighed. “Speaking of, I should head back.”
Darcy looked up from Caesar again. After a pause, he nodded. “Of course.”
They said their awkward goodbyes on the porch, and Bennet rocked back and forth on his heels twice before lurching forward and hugging him briefly.
“Let’s do this again sometime.”
Darcy nodded.
Bennet headed down the path and spotted a surprised Caroline crossing the road.
Bennet called to her. “Glad I caught you. I’ve put down a fifty-dollar deposit to secure the town hall. It would help if your contribution paid the remainder? It’s due at the beginning of February.”
Caroline’s gaze darted over his shoulder to Darcy and lit up. She raised her voice so it would carry, and three guesses why. “Of course! Tell them I’ll be settling the bill and to contact me going forward.”
“Thank you.”
She sashayed past him. Bennet groan-chuckled to himself as he began the slippery descent down the hill.
He wasn’t halfway when he spotted a familiar silver-haired figure walking up the road. Will Wickham. He wore a heavy coat and his sturdy boots were mud-flecked, like he’d traipsed over sludgy paddocks. He was otherwise dry, though. He must not have been out long.
It wasn’t the most direct route to the shearing sheds, either.
Will smiled broadly. Once, that expression had charmed him. Now Bennet sensed a staginess about it. Warily, he approached. They said their hellos and Will made small talk about the weather being untrustworthy. Bennet agreed entirely. “Untrustworthiness is the worst.”
Will narrowed his eyes at that, and shifted his weight. He took Bennet in again, casting a long look in the direction Bennet had come.
“I was at Darcy’s.”
Will affected surprise, plastering on another smile. “Do you spend a lot of time with him?”
“A fair bit, since we last spoke.”
“Is that right? I thought you didn’t get on.”
“Not at first. But I didn’t give him much of a chance. His subsequent impressions have been good. Excellent, even.”
“Excellent?” Will did not look pleased, but he quickly masked his feelings. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. I did say he could be decent, sometimes charming. But when it counts . . .”
“Ah, that,” Bennet said. “When it counts, his true colors shine through.”
Will nodded solemnly. “They do.”
Every passing second they spoke, Bennet grew more keenly aware of Will’s fake composure. It made his stomach turn. To think he’d bought it, to think he’d liked it—
He shuddered. Time to wrap this up. “Spending time with Darcy has shown me sides of him I’d not allowed myself to see before. I look forward to getting to know him better.”
For a few moments, Will was silent. He flicked his thumb and forefinger together in agitation. When he spoke, his voice was cold, hard. “Word of advice, Bennet. Don’t get too attached.”
