Improvise

by Melanie Rachel

  “Your great-grandparents were buying property in the ’30s?” Elizabeth asked, curious. “They didn’t lose a lot of money in the stock market crash?”

  Will shook his head. “No, they were smart and lucky. My grandfather always said my great-grandfather felt that because they had been spared, they should put money back out into the community whenever possible. The neighbors had lost everything and needed to sell. He could’ve bought the place for pennies on the dollar, but he paid the full asking price, enough to get them reestablished somewhere outside the city. Then he put some folks to work remodeling the space. When they finished, a friend of his needed to sell his apartment, so he bought that property and sent the men to work there. He just kept buying properties and putting the crew to work. After the war, he had a real estate empire and could have cashed out, but he carried most of his holdings for years and just rented them out. A few of the workers remained on the payroll until they retired in the ’50s.” He paused. “Managing and maintaining the properties was also a kind of therapy for my grandfather when he returned from the war. He waited a long time to get married, though my grandmother was much younger.”

  “Not Bogart and Hepburn difference, I hope?” Elizabeth asked jokingly.

  He shook his head and smiled. “Twenty years.”

  “Wow,” Elizabeth replied, enthralled. She loved stories like this. “Your family history is amazing.”

  Will nodded, his expression just a bit grim. “Big shoes to fill.”

  She fell silent for a moment, just watching Will’s face. “Family tradition, then,” she said after the quiet grew awkward. “FORGE, I mean.”

  His forehead furrowed. “You know,” he said, punching the button for the lift and turning to look at her, “I don’t think I’ve ever really thought about FORGE as a humanitarian enterprise before. I mean, we are in business to make profits.”

  “Your great-grandfather made profits too, eventually. And so do your clients.”

  Will grunted a little in assent. When the door opened, he tried not to wince at the horrible groaning noise. He turned to usher Elizabeth in, but her expression told him that she was far away.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Fine,” she responded, “I was just thinking about where I grew up.” She stepped into the lift which was barely big enough for the two of them. “Your grandmother must have been smaller than we are,” she said, pressing up against his arm.

  “She was,” he agreed. “This was top of the line when it was built, but I almost never use it except to be sure it’s working.”

  “Well, I’m glad to give you an excuse to run an equipment check.”

  He chuckled. “Yes, it’s very considerate of you.”

  The door opened with a loud creak, and this time Elizabeth held in a laugh. Will shook his head. “I’ll have to have that looked at.”

  They stepped out, and Will opened a door to the room across the hall. “So where did you grow up? I guess I just assumed it was in Montclair.”

  “Upstate New York, in Meryton. Jane moved in with Uncle Ed and Aunt Maddy when she started college, and the rest of us joined her after I graduated.”

  “Any particular reason?” Will opened Georgiana’s dresser.

  Elizabeth’s lips pressed into a thin line. “My mother died.”

  He straightened up to look at her. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “It’s all right,” she assured him. “It was a long time ago.”

  “Still, it’s hard to lose a parent, especially so young.”

  Elizabeth made a noncommittal noise and sat down on the bed.

  Finding a swimsuit wasn’t too difficult. Georgiana had left some of her clothes in her room so that she wouldn’t have to check luggage when she flew home. It took him no time at all to locate both a bikini and a one-piece, which he tossed on the bed after bringing Elizabeth to a guest room. He took a quick shower and then walked upstairs to put something in the oven. He poured over the contents of the refrigerator and decided that the lasagna Mrs. Summers had left him would be the best choice. He threw a salad together, and the preheat setting had just beeped when the lift door screeched and Elizabeth reappeared in the one-piece, damp hair hanging down her back. It curls more when it’s wet.

  He glanced at the suit, a little disappointed, and she clucked her tongue at him.

  “Now, now, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth scolded, “there’s no need to make that face.”

  Did I make a face? I could swear I didn’t.

  “I did try on the bikini, as it would be better for our purposes,” she told him teasingly, “but pictures last forever, and I think you sister might be a little less, um . . .” She paused to make a circle with her hand at chest level and finished lamely, “…than me.” She ducked her head, embarrassed. “As much as I want to harass Richard, I wouldn’t want anything out there I’d be ashamed for my family to see.”

  Will could not tear his eyes away from her. This glimpse of modesty and respect for her family was both sweet and enticing, and despite his initial reaction, he could not be sorry she’d chosen as she had. The suit was black with turquoise panels along the sides. It was meant for swimming, not just reclining on a lounge and tanning, and it fit both her personality and her figure well. The suit was cut high on the hip, making her legs appear even longer than they were. Her waist was trim, her abdomen flat, and although she wasn’t busty, she was indeed more fully endowed than he had thought. She’d looked sexy in her soccer shorts, but this . . . When his gaze reached her face, she was arching an eyebrow at him, but he took another second to evaluate her features.

  Her eyebrows were a bit uneven, and her eyes were perhaps a little larger than they ought to be for her face, but they were an arresting shade of green that darkened when she was irritated with him. They shone with intelligence and good humor and were framed by long, thick black lashes. Her nose was straight and perfectly proportioned, her smile wide and genuine. Her skin was clear and creamy. She and Jane have the same complexion, he thought, but Jane looks more like a runway model and Elizabeth the girl next door. While he’d dated many women who could have been models, and one who actually was, he had to admit a decided preference for the unadorned beauty of the woman who stood before him. Who knew?

  He turned to slide the lasagna into the oven, giving himself a moment to recover. He stood and set the timer before moving his gaze back to her face. “Looks like it fits,” he said curtly.

  She snorted, looked him over. “Now you,” she said.

  He moved his eyes back to her legs. “Now me what?”

  “Oh, for the love of . . . your suit, Mr. Darcy. And please tell me you don’t wear one of those bikini-bottom Speedos.” She gave him an appraising look, briefer than the one he’d given her. “Even you can’t pull that off.”

  “Oh. Right.” After pointing to the timer, Will made a hasty retreat to his room to put on his trunks.

  He returned upstairs ten minutes later in his suit and a robe only to find an empty kitchen. He checked on their meal and then went in search of Elizabeth. He noticed the door to the terrace was open and walked out. She had tossed a large sweatshirt on over the suit and was standing against the wrought iron fence gazing out on Central Park Lake. It was dark, but even with the city lights, the stars were bright and reflected on the water. She turned her head a little as he approached.

  “Will,” she said in a low voice, “this is incredible. If I had a terrace like this, I think I’d never go inside again.”

  “You wouldn’t say that when there’s a foot of snow out here,” he replied.

  “I’d live in an igloo,” came the quick reply.

  “You know,” he said, some regret in his voice, “I don’t think I’ve been out here all summer.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Elizabeth asked, incredulous. “You missed the whole summer? That may be an actual crime, Will. I mean, an on-the-books, going-to-prison, Bubba-for-your-cellmate crime.”

  He laughed lightly. “I just
get so busy that I’m hardly home. When Georgiana was finishing high school, I wanted to be here when she was out of school, so I worked from the apartment more often. Now that she’s in California, there’s no need.”

  “Poor Will,” Elizabeth murmured. “I feel so sorry for you, all alone in your palace.”

  Will cleared his throat. “Careful, or I’ll have to send pictures to Ed, too.”

  “Oooh, that’s a really bad idea,” Elizabeth replied, shaking her head. “I won’t be the only one in his crosshairs.”

  She’s right. Miscalculation. “You never said what he did in the Marines.”

  “He could tell you, but then he’d have to kill you.”

  Will was unconvinced. “Really?”

  “No,” she said with a laugh. “He was a gunnery sergeant, that’s all I really know.” She grew serious. “He doesn’t like to talk about it.”

  “Okay,” Elizabeth said, laying her fork down on an empty plate and placing them in the sink. “Jacuzzi time.”

  “Take the lead,” he said. “Let me know how you want to do this.” He checked the time. “It’s nearly six there now, he should be up.”

  She grinned. “We need to hurry then. I’m hoping for full-on coffee-spray.”

  Although she was making jokes, her movements were tentative. Her back was clearly troubling her. They walked back out onto the terrace where she cautiously sat on the edge of the hot tub, placed her hands behind her, and swung both legs over into the water at the same time. He turned the jets on as she lowered herself into the hot water and sighed.

  “This feels so good,” she told him. “Would you take a picture? Make sure to get enough detail in it so he knows where we are.”

  Will shook his head. “I’m not so sure about this now,” he said, but he took a few pictures with his phone.

  “Okay, now set the timer and get in here for another one.”

  “You are truly evil, you know that?”

  She grinned wickedly. “Oh, this is child’s play, Mr. Darcy. He set us both up. He deserves it.”

  Will piled the lounge cushions on top of one another until they were high enough to take the shot, set up the angle and the timer, then clambered into the hot tub next to Elizabeth. He tossed his arm around her shoulders but held his arm taut so as not to put any weight on her.

  “Very good, Mr. Darcy,” she said, eyes twinkling up at him, “you make a fine practical joker, but if you stick with me, I’ll take you to the World Cup.”

  Will had promised himself he wouldn’t try anything with Elizabeth tonight. She was hurt, and he’d essentially forced her to drive to the city with him. But she was here in his home, eating in his kitchen, relaxing in his Jacuzzi, wearing that swimsuit, snuggled up against him. His expression softened as he searched her face. She was smiling up at him, and he just couldn’t hold back any longer. His somber eyes caught her merry ones, and he leaned in for a kiss. Their lips touched just as the flash went off.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Will’s lips lingered on Elizabeth’s for a moment before pulling back. His heart was pounding even harder than before, and his lips were still tingling. That was the sweetest kiss I think I’ve ever tasted. He waited anxiously for her response. Did she feel it too?

  Elizabeth opened her eyes and looked up at Will. She appeared bewildered for a moment, but then broke their connection.

  “Will,” she said, feigning exasperation, “the idea is to make Richard wonder what’s going on. A kiss is too much information. We just want to send a picture of us together, so he’ll go nuts trying to figure it out.”

  Will frowned. He’s not the only one.

  Elizabeth started to get out of the water, but Will held out his hand.

  “No, you stay in. I’ll get it. Do you want to try again, or should we just send the ones we have?”

  “Again,” she said, and glanced away.

  Will levered himself out of the Jacuzzi and walked over to the phone, his trunks dripping water behind him. He sighed as he reset the camera. Nothing ventured, I guess. He started the timer and returned to the hot water. This time they took the photo without the kiss. He retrieved his phone and shared the pictures with Elizabeth, who typed a message.

  “Should I pretend I was sending to Jane?” she asked but answered herself. “No, he’ll see through that.”

  Will shrugged, his good mood broken. He’d been so sure she felt something for him the day of the move. Maybe I waited too long. He couldn’t deny he was disappointed. She didn’t seem to notice as she decided on a message thanking Richard for introducing them and sent it off. Then she made a dramatic show of turning off her phone.

  “There. I bet there will be a voicemail on my phone within an hour.”

  She glanced at Will surreptitiously and let out a shaky breath. “Okay, so I have to ask you a question.”

  Will smiled faintly. “What’s that?”

  She closed her eyes. “Nothing ventured,” she whispered. Will heard it, and his heart leapt.

  “You are a very handsome man,” she said, swallowing hard and refusing to look at him. “I thought that from the beginning, you know, before you opened your mouth and spoke.”

  Will winced a little, but his smile was growing more genuine. She’s attracted to me. I knew it. “That’s not a question,” he replied playfully.

  She frowned. “I knew you were well off, but tonight you bring me to this truly magnificent home. Obviously, you are far wealthier than I thought when you were bumming a hamburger off my Aunt Maddy.”

  Will started to laugh gently. “Maddy invited me.”

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Don’t get a swelled head. She invites everyone.”

  “You and Richard are a pair,” Will retorted. He gave her a smile. “He’s always telling me I’m too apt to believe my own press.”

  She sniffed. “I would guess you need that from time to time. Too many minions willing to do your bidding.”

  He just shook his head at her and fiddled with his phone.

  “In short, you are what my mother would have called a catch.”

  Will shuddered. “Makes me sound like a fish.”

  She grinned. “Well, I didn’t want to say anything, but after the game, you did have a sort of smell . . . “

  “Elizabeth,” he growled, “you had something to ask me.”

  She nodded and shoved both her hands under the warm water. “Okay. So, you are who you are, and I’m a Marine—an inactive, enlisted Marine—living in an 850-square-foot apartment in a blue-collar neighborhood in Bloomfield. I’m starting from near zero, and my business, while it’s likely to be lucrative”—she held her hand out to indicate the terrace—”well, it would take me generations . . .” Her voice trailed away, but after a moment, she shook her head and continued. “Not that I need to be rich like this, of course, it’s just . . . even when I lived at Longbourn and we had money, it wasn’t like this.”

  As always, Will was listening intently. They had money. What happened to it? He couldn’t think about it long, though, as she was about to ask the question he desperately wanted to hear.

  “So, I guess I was just wondering . . .” Her voice trailed off.

  Say it, Elizabeth. Ask me.

  Elizabeth took a deep breath and said in a rush, “Was that kiss for Richard or for me?”

  Will was elated, but he forcibly restrained himself. Don’t scare her off. “Elizabeth,” he said evenly, “I love my cousin, but I don’t want to kiss him. Ever.”

  She huffed, embarrassed. “You know what I mean, Will Darcy.”

  Will put his hand under her chin and very gently raised her face to meet his. Slowly, slowly, he lowered his lips to hers, and this time, he didn’t pull away. Elizabeth moaned, a small, soft sound that encouraged him to part her lips and take the kiss deeper. His hand moved to her cheek and one of hers made its way to the back of his head. When at last they came up for air, they stared at each other until Elizabeth spoke.

  “You’re right,”
she said softly, her eyes lingering on his lips. “I don’t think Richard would like that at all.”

  In Brussels, Major Richard Fitzwilliam was standing in his kitchen sipping his first cup of coffee when his phone buzzed. He picked it up, hoping it wasn’t the general. When he saw that it was Bennet’s number, he opened the text. There, in full color and sharp focus, was Bennet. And Will. In Will’s Jacuzzi.

  He coughed, dribbling coffee on the front of his uniform, and cursed. “Damn you, Bennet,” he sputtered, trying to get the stain out. No good, he thought. Now I’ll have to change, and I’ll probably be late. He gazed at the photo. You clean up nice, Bennet. Then he set both his phone and the mug down next to the sink and allowed himself to grin.

  Quick work, Will. I knew you had it in you.

  “In the spirit of the evening,” Elizabeth said, finally, “I’ll be blunt.”

  “Careful,” Will warned playfully. “Any more of your bluntness might just kill me.”

  She touched his arm. “Not that this isn’t incredible, because it is.”

  “But. . .” he said warily.

  “But being with someone . . . I’ve never . . . I’m not good at it. You’ll have to be patient with me.” She pursed her lips and tipped her head to one side. “I might say or do things wrong.”

  Will nodded. He’d noticed she was skittish and was relieved it was inexperience rather than an aversion to him. “I’m happy to go at whatever speed makes you comfortable, Elizabeth,” he said sincerely. He gave her a skeptical look. “Though I thought you Marines were all gung-ho, jumping out of airplanes and so on.”

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “That’s Special Forces, doofus. HALO and HAHO. I’m a Marine, but I’m not crazy.” She grinned. “Well, maybe a little crazy.”

  He laughed. “Doofus?”

  She grinned. “I stand by the insult.”

  “Richard told me about HALO and HAHO,” Will chuckled. “He didn’t want to do it either.”