“Creative writing.” She withstood his silent, impenetrable gaze, waiting for a follow-up question. None came.
Darcy stood transfixed by the dark sparkling dare in her green eyes, heedless of any ensuing conversation.
Bingley laughed. “Creative writing. Miss Modest here is writing a book, Darce.”
Lydia snorted. “Is it a bodice-ripping romance novel? Or aShades of Greyrip-off? I hear people write those on the Internet all the time.”
“I’m not writing it on the Internet, Lydia,” Elizabeth said flatly.
“But itisa love story, isn’t it, Liz?” Charles asked.
“A love story? Something like that.” She smiled enigmatically. “I think my cookies are ready. Merry Christmas, Darcy.” She turned away and headed toward the kitchen. The hulk followed.
Darcy shook his head.Love story? What?He stared after them until he realized Jane was smiling at him.Does she evernotsmile?
“Lizzy is making some of her amazing cherry-chip sugar cookies. Are you sure you can’t stay?”
He shook his head. “No, thank you, I should be going. I juststopped by to deliver these to Charles.” He raised the bag in his hand. “There was a shipping mix-up at the office.”
All eyes turned to the bulging bag, shiny foils and ribbon sticking out of the top.
“Sweet!” Suddenly Charles froze. “Dammit, I sent yours to Matlock. That was right, right? You’re heading there?”
“Every year. Though you never need to?—”
“Nor you, buddy. You sure you can’t stay?” At Darcy’s demurral, Charles offered to walk him to his car, asserting he wanted to see his favorite dog. He threw on his coat and followed Darcy outside.
“Queens? Seriously?”
“Hey, it’s on your way, right?” Charles ignored Darcy’s glare.
“I didn’t realize Jane was from Queens.”
“Why? No accent? She and Elizabeth didn’t grow up here. Their father moved them from New Jersey when he remarried. They were teenagers.”
“But the younger ones?”
“Stepsisters. They are Kowalskis. Queens born and bred.”
“Hmm…divorce?”
“Yes. Sylvia—Jane and Elizabeth’s mom—is a singer.”
“Professionally?”
“In a theme park in Missouri,” Charles replied reluctantly. “Jane says she’s quite good.”
Indeed. How bloody mortifying.Darcy shuddered. “Oh. Sorry I asked.”
They reached the still-running Range Rover. “I’m glad to see you, Darcy. It’s been awhile.”
Darcy tilted his head and gave Charles a wry look. “You’ve been busy, my friend.”
The other man broke into a huge grin. “Yeah. Jane is amazing, just wonderful. You have to get to know her better. She’s the real thing.”
“I do, hmm? All right.” Darcy nodded, but he couldn’t erase the image of a garishly costumed amusement park performer from his head.The real thing? So many absolutely stomach-turning possibilities.
“Great. Maybe the four of us could get together after Christmas?”
