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Checking the clock again, I have roughly a half hour before I need to leave for the airport. She doesn’t know I’m picking her up. She insisted Hannah not trouble herself and that she would take a taxi, but I’m too anxious to tell her the good news.
I just hope she is happy to see me. Perhaps she wants time to herself to process whatever it was that took place with the mysterious man from her past who she has such a long history with. I remain in the dark about what occurred between them last year before she decided to move.
What if he realized the enormous mistake he made and wanted to reconnect? If that was the case, I trust Lucy would be honest with me.Although she could be waiting to tell me to my face.No, I can’t let that negative possibility consume my thoughts.
I need to dress in something that covers most of my prominent features. I’ll take Finn’s car rather than a driver, that would attract attention. The final thing I grab is the small sign I made to hold and stand next to the other drivers waiting for their passengers. Smiling at it, I’m confident it will catch her attention.
Choosing to leave my snow cap and jacket on while I wait at the bottom of the escalators, dressed in all black, I almost blend in with the other drivers, but I’m not dressed in a suit like they are. Her flight landed about twenty minutes ago, and she sent a message to the group chat to let everyone know she is safely back on UK soil. I chose not to respond and let her think I was preoccupied at the moment.
Lucy’s bright scarf and matching hat catch my attention before she turns to face forward. My breath catches at the sight before me. Her long dark brown hair sticks out beneath her hat, curling at the end where it rests on her bent arms carrying her bags. She doesn’t look directly at me, but curiosity has gotten the best of her as she scans the names on the signs held up by each of the drivers standing beside me. Then she stops at mine, andher eyes look up to see the man holding the sign that says, “Miss Elizabeth Bennett.”
Our eyes meet, and my chest tightens to the point of pain until it feels as if something inside me bursts. During our time apart and only in the dark hours of the night would I allow myself to admit just how greatly I have missed her, but even in those moments, I didn’t anticipate this rush of emotions I’d feel at the sight of her. Her smile can be witnessed by everyone in this airport, but it is not for them.
It’s mine.
“Mr. Darcy.” She approaches, “I just wanted to give you my best wishes for finding your Miss Bennett.”
I move to take her bags for her and lean in, “Oh, I’ve found her.”
A faint blush comes over her cheeks, and her lips curl up into a tiny smile. “Thank you, but I can carry them.”
I don’t bother to acknowledge her comment about her bags as I take them from her. “Let’s get out of here. I have Finn’s car to take you back to your apartment. Are you hungry?”
“Yes, but I can throw something together later.”
“No need, it’s taken care of,” I tease her.
“It is? How so?”
I’m not giving up on the surprise this soon. “You’ll see,” I say as we exit the large glass doors of the airport and make our way to the parking lot. Sounds echo through the floors of cars, forcing us to remain silent until we reach the car.
“All right. How was your week?” she asks.
“Nothing of note.” While opening the SUV’s backhatch, I keep my attention from her. I don’t want to give anything away.
“What’s with the grocery bags?” she asks. “Did you get your weekly shopping done before coming to get me?”
I just laugh and walk her to the passenger side to open her door for her.
“Thanks,” she says, her eyes focusing on me.
I walk slowly in front of the car, watching her through the windshield, never taking my eyes off her, even as I slip in behind the wheel and smile at her. Something about the two of us, contained in this low-lit small space, makes me hyper-aware of her body. How close she is, how easy it would be to place my hand in hers, to wrap my fingers around her thigh, to slip my arm around her and pull her into a kiss. No one would hear; the garage is filled with parked cars, and the windows would surely contain the sound.
But what if they started to fog?
Careful not to linger too long, afraid I will act on one of the impulses running through my mind, I pull the car into reverse and head in the direction of her apartment.
As we drive through the city, the interior of the car remains dark, which does little to stifle my awareness of her next to me. She hasn’t stopped fidgeting in her seat, rubbing her hands up and down her thighs.
“Are you cold?” I ask as I turn the dial to increase the heat.
“No, I’m fine,” she answers quickly.
Does she know her unintentional fidgeting is pulling my attention to her legs?
Can she feel this electricity between us?
I place my hand on the middle console, but no closer. I’ve always found her attractive, even if I denied it when I thought Finn and Oliver were trying to set us up, but after a week without her, I can no longer suppress her lure.
