Page 48 of All For You

He thudded onto his bed and covered his face with his hands.

“Oh God, I’m a fool. I’ve done my usual bloody falling in love at first sight. When am I ever going to learn? Maybe I should tell her now.”

Shit. Now he was spiraling.

I put my hand on his shoulder. “You’re not a fool. You are a sweet man, and you’ll find your person. I want to be honest about my misgivings. All I’m saying is to slow down. I’m not convinced that Jane has ulterior motives. I’m only suggestingshemightbe using the show as an opportunity, and you should take more time.”

“No, it’s over. I can’t keep repeating history. As usual, I’ve completely misread her, and I somehow need to push her away. Maybe I won’t even have to. I mean, if she’s not into me, then surely she won’t even ask when we can meet again.”

I could tell from the rapid expression that torqued his face, this final thought comforted him. Then disturbed him. He was totally freaking out.

“Wills, sleep on it, okay?”

He sighed and stared up at the ceiling for a while, then picked up his e-reader.

I was anxious about his overreaction. But I was reminded that things had moved quickly with my feelings for Lizzy too. I shouldn’t get carried away either. I was excited to see her again and see where things went.

I opened my e-reader to stop worrying about him. I tapped into my newest download, Lizzy’s latest romance, and took off where I’d started before the dancing. I was intrigued to get back into it. This afternoon, I’d slipped straight into the story, turning pages at speed, and it had been hard to put my e-reader down before we’d had to head downstairs. I rarely read fiction, mostly only nonfiction, biographies, and books on economics and politics, and this was the first time I’d been swept into another world so thoroughly.

After a short while, Wills turned off his e-reader, as though he couldn’t concentrate, and placed it on his bedside table.

“Good night, Darcy.” He switched off his reading light and turned to the wall.

“Good night, Wills.” My heart broke a little, and I hoped he would look at this more clearly in the morning.

Eventually, he fell asleep, and though I was worried for him, I found myself drawn back into the novel. The aristocraticAshford was a hard-drinking, gambling rake, used to bedeviling the womenfolk. Clara was bookish and sheltered, but she was the one woman immune to his cynical charm.

How did Lizzy do it? I knew this couple was going to end up together, so why was I on edge, worried about whether this happy ending was going to happen?

Although, reading this novel next to my sleeping brother was a bit uncomfortable. Some of the scenes were quite hot, and I could tell the experienced Ashford was leading the curious Clara into a full awakening.

Ashford was annoyingly confident and always wore his ruffle shirt’s two top buttons unconventionally undone—what was that all about? And he was being a right wally about committing to Clara.

Do up the buttons, dude, and get a grip.I hoped the “intelligent, witty” Clara gave him his comeuppance. I shifted in my bed. But while Ashford came to his senses, the scenes of their encounters were sexy. Very sexy. Lizzy knew how to build tension. I couldn’t wait for Ashford and Clara to kiss. Couldn’t wait for them to start moving their hands over each other’s bodies. To hit the feather bed. Although, jeez, now it looked like they were going to do it in the open air. Up against a tree. How was that going to work with all those closings and pantaloons and shit? Oh, okay. That dude had strong thigh muscles. Clearly, you can make anything work if you have the desire. Wonder if I could do that? For sure. Hmm. Might have to boost leg day.

After what seemed like a few minutes, I checked my phone. Two a.m. I had better get to sleep, but I turned back to the screen.

One more page…

CHAPTER 23

Lizzy

“Morning, all,” Darcy said as he appeared at the kitchen door.

He looked rumpled and bleary-eyed as he trudged in. He stooped to pet Max, who’d been down here for a while.

The rest of us were having coffee around the kitchen island, and we’d been up for more than an hour, and I’d already taken Oodles for a walk.

“Lizzy Bennet,” Darcy growled as he joined us. “I need to talk to you.”

The way Darcy said my name wrecked me. And that look of his, from under his floppy fringe of hair? A definite smoky reminder of our time in the library last night that made my heart race. I quickly looked around to see if anyone else noticed my reaction. They must not have, because everyone slowly wandered off, though Emma glanced back.

“I need double the coffee this morning because of you.” Darcy reached for the pot.

“Why is that?” I was still confused, but he sounded bemused rather than mad.

“Why did I stay up all night reading your book, when I knew they were going to get together?”