Chapter 19
I jolted awake and looked around. It was still dark, but I usually woke before daybreak to make it down to the bakery before everyone else. My phone alarm was set as a backup, but I rarely needed it.
I snaked an arm from the warm cocoon of the covers to grab my phone. Three-thirty. I groaned and tried to slip from under Will’s embrace, but he tightened his grip, murmuring and nuzzling my neck. And woah, was that his morning wood pressing into my butt?
After the second go-around last night, we’d spooned and fallen asleep. Will had been utterly ridiculous and insisted on holding onto my breast, which he was still doing. The man was definitely into boobs! I hadn’t thought mine were that spectacular, but by the starstruck way he gawked at them, they seemed to be his ideal.
“Will?” I patted and rubbed his arm, but he didn’t stir. “Will?”
With a groan, he tightened his hold on me. “What time is it?”
“Probably five minutes later than I needed to get up.”
He squeezed and began to caress my breast. “That doesn’t answer my question.”
“About three-thirty-five.”
“That’s insane. Can’t we sleep another hour and a half?”
I rolled to face him. “You can if you like, but I need to take a shower before I go into the bakery. I don’t want to reek of sex. Char would never let me live it down.”
His expression perked. “Shower?”
With a shake of my head, I started laughing. His hopeful expression gave away exactly what was in his mind. “Oh, no. I’ll never get to work.” Before he could pull me back into his arms, I darted from the bed and into the bathroom. I kept a nightlight in there so I didn’t have to turn on the lights. My opinion was that there was nothing worse than bright lights first thing in the morning.
I turned on the water to warm up, relieved myself, and by the time I stepped into the spacious shower and let the hot water wash over me, Will had come in, his tall silhouette moving around the room. A moment later, the shower door opened, and I turned.
“What are you doing?”
“I need a shower too.” That curve to his lips gave him a mischievous look that made my body come alive. Stand down, girl!
My arms went out in front of me. “You have to behave.” I’d always thought Will Darcy was stiff and entirely too serious, yet he was relaxed and even silly last night when we’d talked or as we’d made love.
He stepped up and tugged me into his arms. “Where’s the soap?”
“That bar is body wash and those are shampoo and conditioner.”
I picked up the conditioner bar, but he took it from me and began rubbing it through my hair.
“How do I do this?” He turned me around and continued.
“After I rub enough into my hair, I’ll comb my fingers through it to remove the tangles. A brush does nothing but make my hair frizz.” I closed my eyes as he worked the conditioner through my curls and removed the knots.
“Why do you use bars?”
“Since I discovered most plastic labeled recyclable isn’t recycled, I began trying alternatives. I feel guilty throwing away plastic. It’s unavoidable on many things, but if I can find a workable alternative, then I replace it. I prefer the shampoo and conditioner bars to my old products.”
“I did notice you use stoneware cups in the café for people eating in—as well as dishes.”
“We do. The local farms that I use to supply any fruit or vegetables we need also take back their packaging to reuse. We have storage behind the kitchen where they’re kept.”
Before I could pick up the soap, he had it in his palm and was lathering my back. His strong hands stroking along my sides and shoulders weren’t helping my resolve to get to work. When he ran the bar over my breasts, I leaned back against him.
“This isn’t fair.”
“I’m not sorry. I love these.” He held them in his palms. “They’re not too big or too small, the shape is perfect, and the blush pink of your nipple is now my favorite shade.”
“You’re ridiculous—and obviously a boob man.”
“I like your ass too. If it’s feeling neglected, I can massage it as well.”
I laughed and turned in his arms. “You’re ridiculous! I have to get to work. Can you talk to him?” I pointed between us where his erection was prodding at my thigh. “And tell him he’s going to need to wait.”
Will kissed under my ear. “Ignore him. He’ll go away.”
“I think he’s too persistent for that.”
I rose on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to Will’s as I pushed him to lean against the wall. When I dropped to my knees, his eyes flared. I’d never done this before, but hopefully, he wouldn’t notice!
Char was turning off the mixer when I walked into the kitchen. She looked up with a crooked smile. “Since when do you oversleep?”
“I’m sorry.” I usually told Char everything, but it didn’t feel right this time. For some reason, I wanted to keep those stolen moments with Will to myself—hoard them for now.
She removed the metal bowl from the stand mixer and began pouring batter into the muffin tins. “Well, I started these for you. The first batches of blueberry, pumpkin, and banana muffins are in the ovens. These are gingerbread. If you can take over, I need to get going on those quiches I’d planned for this morning. Thank heavens I prepped the crusts yesterday.”
Before she could move, Char’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you wearing a turtleneck?”
“Because it’s cold today. You know it’s supposed to snow this morning.” I resisted every urge to bite my lip. Char knew all my tells, and that’d give me away in a heartbeat.
She stared at me for a moment while I tried not to fidget. “I’m not buying it.” She stepped closer. “Is your hair wet? You showered before work and not last night?” Char glanced around then peered around me.
“What are you doing?”
After a lightning quick step to my side, she reached up and yanked the side of my turtleneck down. She’d moved so fast, that I couldn’t duck away. She released the fabric with a gasp. “You had sex!” Her finger pointed right at that spot under my ear. “It doesn’t cover it completely; you know. The foundation has also rubbed off on the black cotton. You should’ve worn a peach or a beige.”
I rolled my eyes as I strode to the sink and washed my hands. My best friend was enjoying this far too much. Thankfully, everyone else was working in the back of the kitchen, so no one was close by to witness what was sure to be an inquisition. Char, meanwhile, wore a huge grin and stood with her arms crossed over her chest while she watched me.
“You’re staring.”
“And you’re not sharing.”
“Nope, I’m not.”
I threw on an apron and picked up the bowl to finish scooping the batter into the muffin tins. “Don’t you have quiches to make?”
The oven beeped, and Mia walked in, took the tin out and brought it to the back to put on the cooling racks. As soon as she wasn’t within an easy hearing distance, Char shifted up to my shoulder.
“At least tell me who. This isn’t fair. We always tell each other everything.”
I lifted my eyebrow. “Like you told me about Annie?”
“I told you her name.”
“The rest was too personal.” That’d been similar to what Char had said. I paused for a moment while that sank in. My insides flipped, and I had to take in a deep breath.
“Don’t freak out,” said Char.
When Char and Annie started seeing each other, Char didn’t tell me all that much. “It was different,” she would say. Now they were moving in together. Char had even mentioned marriage in their future now that Annie was out to the world.
“Shit! Lizzy, sit.”
A stool hit me in the thighs, and I dropped onto it.
“Lizzy, look at me.”
My gaze met Char’s. Was I having a freaking panic attack? “How did this sneak up on me? How did he sneak up on me?”
She watched me for a second, then inhaled sharply. “It was William Darcy, wasn’t it? I told you he liked you, but you were so adamant that you couldn’t stand him. I should’ve known you were in denial.” She started to laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
An annoying shrug was her first response. “Oh, maybe that the saying ‘there’s a fine line between love and hate’ isn’t so off. I did think your response to him odd. Every little thing—him staring as well as his insult at the gala—they all grated at you. I was certain he had a crush on you. I think I also said you wouldn’t have been so worked up if you didn’t find him attractive.”
“No one likes a know-it-all, Char.”
She tittered like an old woman. “Lizzy and Darcy sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g—”
“You might want to stop, unless you want to lose a tongue.”
“Please tell me that he gave you at least one orgasm.” At least she asked in a hushed tone!
One side of my lip tugged upwards while my cheeks burned. Char cackled in glee.
“Way to go William! By that expression, I’d say he rocked your orgasm virgin world.”
“Someone’s going to hear you.” I stage-whispered.
“Don’t mind me,” said Mia. “But congratulations on the orgasm—or orgasms.”
I buried my face in my arms. “Oh, my God.”
“Come on,” said Char. “You need to finish those muffins and get started on the scones. We’ve got cranberry and traditional on the menu for today.” When I dropped my arms, she pushed the mixing bowl into my hands.
Once Char started cracking eggs into a bowl, she ceased her inquisition except for the smug glances she’d give me from time to time while I worked. After about ten minutes, I put in my earbuds and tuned everything out while I was baking. After the muffins were the scones, then I made more muffins, apple cinnamon turnovers, and more. We each had a system of how to mix one while another was baking or having something rise while we worked on another pastry. Char and I had this down to a science of sorts. I was putting my first cakes of the day in the oven when the opening front-end staff trickled in.
Char, being the amazing friend that she was, made me my own little quiche for breakfast. Other than the time I took to eat between taking the first cakes out to cool and putting the next batch in the oven, I’d had no breaks. During the Christmas season, it wasn’t unusual. June was always busy due to weddings, but Christmas had become so much more.
When the music stopped, I took my earbuds out and put them in the case to charge. As I was washing my hands, the kitchen door opened and whooshed closed.
“Well, if it isn’t the hickey-maker,” said Char with a shit-eating grin.
If my hands hadn’t been full of soap, I would’ve covered my face. How many times had my cheeks burned today? I’d lost count when Char started in on the hickey this morning.
After I dried my hands, I straightened and returned to the front of the kitchen. The clock over the door said two-thirty. “I wasn’t expecting you so early.”
“I wasn’t sure when you were off,” he said.
I glanced at my watch. “I’ve got a couple of hours yet. If you want, I can get you some coffee.” Without looking at my best friend, I rushed out to the café.
Liz’s cheeks had been adorably pink before she ran out to the storefront. When I turned back to Char, she stared at me with her arms folded over her chest.
“I told her a while back that you were interested. She didn’t want to. Believe me. Now that she’s opened herself up to the possibility of a relationship with you, I want to make something perfectly clear.”
I laughed. “Is this where you threaten my life if I hurt her.”
Char laughed low in the back of her throat. “I’ll take something more valuable to you than your life. Without your bollocks, you’ll only wish you were dead.” The last she said with the creepiest smile I’d ever seen.
“Has Annie seen this side of you?”
Char snorted. “Of course, she has. Every time her mother is mentioned.”
I nodded. Annie needed someone who’d defend her against the fire-breathing dragon that was Cruella DeBourgh. I was inordinately proud of my cousin for standing up to her mother when she came out, but it wasn’t within Annie’s usual capabilities. Char’s protectiveness of my cousin helped reassure me of Annie’s choice.
“Your threat is noted, but you won’t need to remove my bollocks. I’ve no intentions of hurting Liz.”
“Liz? No one calls her Liz.”
I shrugged. “That’s how she introduced herself to me when we first met.”
Char leaned one hip against the work surface. “And you introduced yourself as Will.”
“I did.” Liz must’ve mentioned it at some point.
“It’s kind of cute that you have nicknames for each other that no one else uses.”
The girl from the front, Mia, came through the door and into the enormous refrigerator to one side of the room. When she came out, she held a container of something in her hands. She paused in front of me. “I heard a rumor you own Pemberley Books.”
I nodded. “I do.”
“And you’re interested in our Lizzy?” Her eyes held a challenge I wasn’t going to back down from.
“I am, but I’m not pursuing Novel Books anymore. Acquiring it became less attractive after I met Liz.”
Her chin hitched back a little. “I’m not saying Lizzy isn’t amazing, but you’re willing to give up a major expansion into Manhattan for her?”
One of my shoulders lifted. “Pretty much.”
Mia watched me for a moment. “Okay, but if you hurt her—”
“Char already threatened to remove my balls.”
She turned to Char with her eyebrows lifted. “You did?”
“His bollocks, and yes.”
“Nice,” said Mia. “Anyway, I know a guy.” She pointed at me when she said it.
I frowned. “You know a guy who’ll do what?”
With a glance over her shoulder at Char, she grinned. “It’d be fun to see if they find the body.” After a steady glare, she returned to the front of the store. What the—?
Char laughed. “Don’t mind Mia. She’s Italian and plays up like she has family in the mafia. Her father has come into the store when he visits. He’s the sweetest old man who loves cannoli and our espresso. He let it slip the last time he was here that he’s a dairy farmer in Pennsylvania. Completely obliterated Mia’s street cred.”
The door opened and Liz entered with a French press of pale coffee that I didn’t doubt was peaberry. She set it next to me with a cup. “What’s going on?”
“Mia threatened to sic her mob family on William,” said Char.
Liz rolled her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I’ll talk to her.”
“No, don’t do that. She doesn’t want to see you hurt. I can respect that.” I could. I’d feel the same way about anyone wanting to date Gigi.
While Liz poured the coffee into the cup, Char went into the back and returned a moment later.
“Since you’re here, you can be my guinea pig.”
I looked at Liz. “Should I be scared?”
She smiled and shook her head. “No, Char’s only given someone food poisoning once or twice.”
I leveled a hard look at her, making her laugh.
“I’m teasing you. We have specials we make for each month. I take care of the cakes, cupcakes, and doughnuts, and Char manages the puff pastries and savory bits for the café.”
When Char returned, she placed two plates in front of me, each with its own fork. “I’m making a filled croissant for January. This one is Italian sausage and mozzarella, and this one is ham and Gruyère.”
I tasted the Italian sausage croissant. “This one’s good, but a bit like a calzone without the sauce to dip it in.” The second melted in my mouth, the flavors melding perfectly. “This one is the clear winner. I think the choice of filling works with the pastry better too.”
“I told you,” said Liz.
“Well, I figured a second opinion couldn’t hurt.”
She moved to take the plates away, but I held onto the ham and Gruyère pastry. “I’m finishing this.”
Char held her hands up, palms out to me. “Don’t worry. I’ll let you keep it.”
My heart skipped a beat at Liz’s laugh as she washed her hands and pulled cake layers from the refrigerator. “I need to finish this, then prep for tomorrow morning. If you don’t want to wait, you don’t have to. I can call you when I’m done.”
I ate my pastry and drank my coffee while she spread jam on one layer then added the other cake to the top. She appeared completely focused while she spread the frosting. After, she used a piping bag to add some decoration to the top and finished it with some blackberries.
“What kind of cake is that?”
“A Prosecco cake. It’s a special cake for New Years, but I usually start making them this week. This will go in the display and people can buy slices of it. It helps drum up orders for New Years. Although I did give your cousin an early preview. He taste tested it for me.”
For the rest of her workday, I sipped coffee while she worked, but I was never bored. The detail and care she put into everything she made fascinated me. Elizabeth Bennet had a creative flair with a business acumen that helped her be successful. It didn’t hurt that she was beautiful and had a body I now craved with every part of me.
She was the whole package. I couldn’t have resisted if I’d tried.