Page 71 of All For You

“Oh, me too. Me too.”

Wait, was he having me on? I peered at him sideways, but he seemed serious. And it felt like he was going to launch into more bird talk that I couldn’t fake my way through.

I ran up the stone stairway and burst through the front doors to escape any more of this increasingly specific bird chat.

He kept pace with me, and once we were in the grand entrance, he turned to me. His clothing clung to all the ridges and bumps of his pecs and abs, the water from his hair still dripping down his face. The sight of him facing me in this stunning high-ceilinged room was quite dizzying.

“Wait here,” he said with a slight touch of my elbow. Then he bounded up the wide white marble staircase.

What? Wait here? Yes, this man was used to giving orders, but this time, it wasn’t with any arrogance. Still, he did expect me to wait. Not happening.

Once he’d disappeared, I raced back to the library, but the room was empty. I then ran around the other rooms. Eventually, I found Tabitha in the dining room with her color chips.

“He’s home,” I gasped out, puffing from the running. “Darcy’s home early, and I saw him swimming and I tried to hide and couldn’t and then I climbed a tree and then I fell on him, and God, I want to die!” I put my fists up to my face and screamed inside my mouth. “What must he think of me. I should get a taxi back to the B&B right now. How long will it take to come? Maybe I should sprint back to the village?”

“Oh, there you are.” A deep voice, friendly and familiar, made me jump.

Darcy strode into the room dressed in a pair of light, worn jeans hugging low on his lean hips, his shoulders wide and muscular in a cream knit sweater that seemed as soft as cashmere. He looked, if it was possible, even more relaxed and friendly than before.

Shit, had he heard me ranting to Tabitha? I searched his face. His expression remained pleasant and calm.

“Hello, Tabitha,” he said. “Did you hear I met Lizzy down by the lake? Pleasant surprise.”

“Hi, Darcy. I wasn’t expecting you. I hope you don’t mind I brought her here. I should have run it past you.”

“Not at all. We’re all friends. She’s, of course, very welcome.”

He and I weren’t friends, nothing like, but something about his answer was dignified and generous. He didn’t want to embarrass Tabitha or me.

I should have heaved a sigh of relief, but my heart was still pumping from running around and wondering if next came hisrealreaction.

“Why don’t I take her out for a tour around the grounds while you get some work done?” Darcy asked.

I turned the back of my head to him so he couldn’t see my expression, and I widened my eyes at her and mouthed,No.

“Thatdoessound like a good plan,” Tabitha said. Did her lips quirk a little?

I turned back to Darcy. “Ah, that would have been a brilliant plan, thank you, but I’ve had a tour from your housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds. I was about to head back to the B&B. I’ve got some writing and calls and all sorts of authory stuff to do.”

Authory stuff?Good lord, woman. Why couldn’t I think of credible things authors did that involved being ensconced in my B&B rooms?

“Where are you staying?” he asked mildly, not taking offense and not addressing my turning down his offer.

“At Mrs. Rosey Crown’s.”

He gave me a friendly smile. “That’s a very nice place, but you are both most welcome to stay here.”

What? No. Every nerve zinged through my body, putting me on high alert. No way was I staying here. I looked to Tabs, panicked she was going to accept.

Also, I was confused and needed to process his unsettling presence. He was being so nice, such a good host, and so kind, considering what we’d fought about last time. And I’d landed on him—literallylandedon top of him—without warning.

“I know, and you’ve offered before, which I appreciate,” Tabitha said. “But we’re all set up there now.”

He bit his lip, like he was trying to think of other options, and then he turned to me. “Lizzy, I know you’ve seen inside, but may I show you aroundoutsidewhile Tabitha works?” he asked.

Yes, but what about all the authory stuff I was supposed to be doing?

I was squealing and squirming inside, still embarrassed he’d found me at his home. Still frustrated with him for influencing his brother against my sister. But it would seem churlish now to refuse.