"Let's take a break, Lizzy," the older woman said as she took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. "The words of this deposition are beginning to run together."

"Sure," the Legal Assistant agreed and pushed herself away from the conference room table. "I'm going to run out for some fresh air; do you want something while I'm out?"

"No thank you. Besides you can get all the fresh air you need on the terrace."

"True, but I could use a jolt of something more than Pepsi."

"I worry about you on the streets this late at night."

"I'm just going to run up the street; I'll be careful."

"Okay," the woman conceded as she stood, stretched, and then planted herself on the leather sofa in the corner. "I'll just take a power nap while you're gone. Half-hour?"

"Sure."

****

"... and, if we proceed as planned, the first quarter projections have us turning the corner towards profitability. We've got to get this thing up and running before summer's end or the window will close."

"I know," came the tired reply. "I'm up to it."

"You don't look it, Will." Bingley tossed the folder onto the table. "You need to get out of this hotel room and have a little fun."

"Charles..."

Waggled eyebrows were the only response to Darcy's weary warning. "Are we done here?"

"Yes."

"Good!" he exclaimed as he examined his watch. "Then I have time to call Jane and see if she's up to having a late dinner."

"How is it that you manage to put in the same long hours as I've done and yet have the energy to party, chat up some young woman, get her phone number and see her every night for the past 2 weeks?"

"I'm attracted to the sun." He shrugged then stood up. "You, on the other hand, even sulk in the dark."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It would take too long to explain," he sighed. His best friend and business partner never looked at a woman except to find fault. "Come out with me? We could see if Jane's sister is available..."

"No thank you. I don't need to be fixed up." He didn't want any short-term dalliance.

"Suit yourself."

****

"Hey Lizzy, I got your message. Are you are on your way home?"

"No Jane, we're on a break," she sighed into her cellphone. "And I just popped out for an iced coffee, a scone, and to stretch my legs." The humidity had cooled off the still shining sun which was blocked by the umbrella gracing her table outside the establishment.

"How much longer are you going to be?"

"Another hour or 2, I suppose."

"An hour or 2? This is what, the 2^nd straight month? You're fretting your life away..."

"You sound like Mom."

"Well, it's the truth. You're too young to be locked behind closed doors when everyone else is out having a good time. What happened to the Lizzy that went to Happy Hour with bells on and partied 'till the break of dawn?"

"She has responsibilities and ambitions." Before Jane could expound more on the good old days, she changed the subject. "Are you going out with Charles tonight?"

"I don't know, he hasn't called."

"No doubt that he will." Her sister had met a nice young man at a club and they had been joined at the hip ever since. "Leave a light on for me, okay?"

"I might just stay home tonight."

"Yeah, right."

"Seriously. All this wining and dining... Oooh, there's the other line."

"Tell Charles I said 'hi'."

"Lizzy..."

"Bye, Sis." She clicked off the phone, shook her head, and rolled her eyes. Just as soon as she began to pack up the remnants of her snack, she groaned "Shit!"

A sudden thunderstorm and her large umbrella stashed in a corner of her office amidst several unpacked boxes.

****

Darcy stood there at the threshold of the hotel balcony; his mind replaying Bingley's phone conversation to his current 'sweetie' as he freshened up in the bathroom. "I'm not interested," he pouted aloud. It broke up his silent reverie. "I'm not hungry either..." The french doors had remained open; the cool breeze and the pouring rain soothed and reminded him of England. "I just... miss home." He grabbed the keys from the high table near the door.

****

"Well, I could either stand here and be gawked at..." She was wearing a short red sundress; now drenched and apparently transparent. "... or I could make a run for it." Under the green valance, Elizabeth shivered in her diaphanous drip and unbeknownst to her, her nipples hardened.

****

"You're soaked!" Jane exclaimed and pulled Bingley inside the rowhouse.

"I'm used to it." He shrugged off his jacket. "This is almost a daily occurrence in London."

"Is it?" she asked. "I'll just hang this up near the vents."

"Thank you." He noticed her distraction. "Is something troubling you?"

****

High-heeled sandals and slippery pavement made for a treacherous retreat. Two city blocks and a red light at every corner didn't help either but the rain had slackened a little. Still, she desperately needed to be inside, in a hurry and could barely tolerate the wait.

A white Jaguar slowed as it passed through the light and stopped right in front of her. The window descended. "Do you need a ride?"

"No thank you," she answered; a bit startled at the mellifluous accent and not daring to look down at the face that had leaned over in the seat.

"You're drenched," he insisted the obvious.

Almost certain that she was about to be propositioned, she steadfastly repeated. "No thank you."

"You could catch your death of cold out here. I'll take you wherever you want to go."

She finally looked down into deep brown bottomless eyes lined with concern on such a handsome face and took a few seconds to gaze admiringly before responding "I'm in the building right across the street and you're going to make me miss the light." She smiled when he smiled. "Thank you, anyway."

"Of course," he replied. "I mean, you're welcome."

"Have a lovely evening!" She waved then sprinted around the car, across the street and disappeared between smoked glass and cement.

****

"... too focused, really. She jumped from college right into this job and has been working nonstop ever since," Jane opined.

"Will is just like that," Bingley said and shook his head. "As long as there's work to be done, he feels he's the only one to do it. That makes him very successful but he's also very lonely."

"Is that why you were asking if Lizzy could join us? Are you trying to fix her up with your friend?"

"I suppose, subconsciously, I was but on the surface I just wanted to see him relaxed and having a bit of fun."

"But two Type-A personalities wouldn't get along for any length of time."

"As opposed to us Type-B personalities getting along rather well?"

She laughed shyly and poured him more wine.

"So you don't think we should introduce them?"

****

"What I wouldn't give to be on a quiet beach right now..." she grumbled as the hand dryer in the bathroom rumbled to life again. "With nothing but time on my hands and a Cabana Boy for my pleasure." She moved the hem of dress back and forth under the blower. "With that voice and that face and those eyes..."

"Lizzy!" a demanding voice called out then the door flew open. "Lizzy!"

"I-I'll be... only a moment more, Mrs. Long."

"Don't be ridiculous. You're soaking wet; I'll call my limo."

"But..." Before she could get another word out, the older woman had exited the bathroom with alacrity; the door closing slowly behind her.

****

Darcy paced furiously across the length and width of the hotel suite, wondering why he did what he did and whatever prompted him to do it in the first place. "You know why," he chided himself. "It was that damn flimsy dress plastered to that luscious body and those legs that could surely tempt God himself." He slammed a fist into an open palm. "Eyes that shown brighter than any stars and a face to complete the picture... Lord, you sound like a love-starved puppy!" Despite his abhorrence of quick fixes, he could only nod and lament "I need to get laid."

"... It's quite alright, Jane. Really," Bingley chuckled into his cellphone. "I'll see you in a bit." He clicked off.

"So, I'm not late then?" Darcy asked as he pulled out a chair at the table and sat down.

"Not at all. They should be here in a few minutes."

"A few minutes? Does she work around here?"

"Just a few blocks away. They could walk but since it might rain they'll drive."

"I could've picked them up."

"I didn't think you knew your way around this city."

"You'd be surprised," he muttered and stood. "Refill?"

"Not as yet but sit down, we've a waiter and a running tab."

****

"This isn't a set up, is it?"

"No," Jane smirked. "Will's not interested and yes, I know, neither are you."

"Good," Elizabeth sighed.

"Relax. Charles wanted me to meet his best friend and I wanted my sister to get to know my beau better."

"So, you really won't mind if I take off?"

"I said I wouldn't. Oh, here we are."

"Valet?"

"Charles said he would take care of it."

She shrugged. "Fine."

****

"... and I'm thinking that I might stay on over here for a while."

"What about... what was her name?" Darcy inquired. "That Sloaney girl?"

"Oh, Rebecca." Bingley shrugged. "Passing fancy."

"And this isn't?" He already knew the pat answer but had a sick sense of wanting to say 'I told you so' to his friend with dates and direct quotes when it ended.

"Not in the least."

"Right. So, what of her sister? 2 Angels from the same family?"

"She's a pistol - a real straight shooter as these Americans would say. Pretty too. And if I had met her first... Ah... Jane!" he smiled and stood. "Where's Lizzy?" He kissed her cheek.

"At the coat check." She kissed his cheek then turned. "Hi."

"Jane, this is Will. Will; Jane."

"Hello."

Darcy had stood when she approached the table. Lovely. "Pleased to make your acquaintance." He extended his hand and she shook it.

"Same here."

"Would you like a drink?"

"Yes thank you." A waiter appeared at her side as they all sat down. She ordered her favorite and smiled her pleasure.

The silence was a bit awkward. Darcy sipped his drink and Jane pretended she was unaffected by his scrutiny.

Bingley always willing to fill any void began with "So... the coat check?"

"She insisted on bringing an umbrella." Jane shrugged. "Lizzy!" She waved her sister over.

"Hi," she smiled as she approached then her face froze and a split second later she had to jump to her left.

"Oh my goodness!" Jane exclaimed over the loud coughing. "Are you alright?"

"Oh!" Elizabeth startled as she nearly collided with someone as soon as she exited the bathroom. "Oh..." She grabbed her chest. "Hi. Again."

"Sorry. Again," Darcy mumbled, looking down at his shoes. "I came to... Is it terribly ruined?"

"Um..." she murmured, also looking down at his shoes. "I'm sure it'll be alright."

"I'll pay..." He looked back up and captured her gaze. "Whatever you want."

She shook her head but smiled.

****

"Strange, eh?"

"What?" Jane asked.

"Those 2." Bingley pointed to the empty chairs at their table.

"What's strange?"

"Nothing I guess." He shrugged. "So, you think they'll go out with us?"

"Do you really want to go out?" she purred.

"What did you have in mind?" he asked with raised eyebrows.

"You, me and a rubber ducky..."

"Well, naughty girl, I say we... hey, there you are! Thought you got lost in the bog, Lizzy."

She looked at him queerly but sat down as Darcy pulled out her chair. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He sat down beside her.

"Are you drinking tonight?" Bingley asked.

"Not so much." A waiter appeared at her side and wiped up. She ordered and smiled in her unease. "I'm a bit tired."

"You're not up to partying tonight?"

"Not really."

"Will's not into partying either." He was just trying to make conversation. "But that's his story to tell."

Darcy gave a quick glare at his friend but otherwise never took his eyes off Elizabeth.

She squirmed in her chair.

"Do you mind if we cut out now?" Jane asked.

"But... I just ordered."

"Stay and have your drink." She stood up as did Bingley. "Take the car, Charles will see me home."

"But..." Elizabeth said to their quickly retreating backs. "Well!" She fiddled with her glass.

Darcy shrugged but continued to stare.

****

"Is your friend always so silent and broody?"

Bingley paused in nuzzling Jane's neck to answer "Yes."

"He's not... weird, is he?"

"What do you mean?" The elevator doors opened.

"He's not going to... kill her or anything, is he?"

He dragged her towards his room. "Babe... save that wild imagination for me..."

They had barely made it into the room upright. He was all hands and she was more legs than normal. The door (thank God!) was sturdy enough for their amorous display. Breaths mingled, tongues dueled, and hips ground against one another.

"Wait!" she cried when he tore at the back of her dress. "I won't have anything to wear home."

He growled but stepped back.

She attacked her own zipper while he tackled his. She stepped out her dress and pushed him to the floor; his pants pooled around his ankles. A high-heel caressed his crotch; he saw stars and Medusa.

"Here?"

"Now," she demanded and threw her panties and bra in his face.

He took a long whiff. "It's going to be a bit hard on your bum, isn't it?" He knew he would have a rug burn from the fall.

"No." She pounced on him. "I'll be on top."

"The hell you will!" He flipped her over on her back and pinned her to the floor. "At least not the first time..." he kissed her hungrily and moved in for the completion.

"Condoms," she managed to say against his lips.

"Bedroom."

"That's where we should be then."

"You insisted."

"A woman's prerogative."

****

"Better?"

"No."

"How about this?"

She gasped. "Ohhhh God!" Her cup runneth over.

"Relax."

"You think I'm a virgin?"

"Hush."

****

"The phone..."

"Ignore it."

"But... it could be... important."

He leaned up. "You don't think what I'm doing now is important?"

"Well..." She couldn't disagree with his logic. "It's stopped."

"I haven't." He dove back in and feasted.

"Sorry for the lack of bubbles."

"Do you need them?"

"Come here," he demanded.

She dropped the robe and stepped into the tub. He pulled her down to him.

"Where's the soap? I can't bathe like this."

"I had no intention of it." He laved a nipple with his tongue. "One centimeter clean as a whistle."

"At this rate, it'll take all day!" she giggled and squirmed in his lap.

"And all night..." he murmured.

"The water will get cold."

He slid himself home. "Who cares?"

"Indeed..." she whispered to the high tide.

****

"Again?"

"I'm famished; aren't you?"

"I suppose I am."

"High carbs and high calories restores strength and all that."

"No proteins?"

"Didn't you get enough?" he smirked.

"You might need to replenish..."

"Why don't we find out..."

****

She grabbed his wrist but could hardly read his watch. "What time is it?"

He looked up from his pillow at the clock. "7:30 pm."

"What day?"

"Sunday."

"OhmyGod!" She scrambled out of the bed.

"What's wrong?" He sat up. "What are you doing?"

"I have to get home."

"It's not so late."

"It's too late." She gathered her things. "Cinderella must leave the ball. She must dash."

He stood proud before her. "Does she want to?"

"Don't ask."