Bennet, Pride Before the Fall (Love Austen 3)

Was Darcy there now? Did he glance to this hill as he waited for Bennet to pick up?

“Hey.”

“Bennet, perfect timing. My Georgie is about to head to work—when did you think you could head out there?”

“We’ll have to check out the bus schedule first. Probably late afternoon? Will you be . . . joining us?”

“I can’t. I’m spending the day with Henry. Just the two of us.”

“Sounds like a good chance to bond.”

“I hope as much.”

Pause. Not from a lack, but a deliberation of what. Bennet wanted to pry, but this was far beyond his business.

Bennet gripped his phone harder as he paced the balcony. “It was . . . nice of you to suggest this.”

Very nice. Confusing, even. There were so many different sides to Darcy. Was he a ruthless man trying to be a better one, or a noble man who’d made some unfortunate mistakes?

“Well,” Darcy murmured, “I have a connection. It seemed a logical thing to do.”

Logical.

The word made Bennet laugh. Frustrated him. “Of course.”

“I, uh, hope you enjoy yourselves.”

Darcy’s hesitancy silenced Bennet’s laughter.

Who was this man? The mere sound of his voice unsettled him. Plucked at something low in his gut. Physical attraction, undeniably. But it was something other than that too. Something that urged Bennet to ask follow-up questions. To keep him talking.

Maybe it was the . . . mystery. He’d frequently glimpsed emotion stirring in his eyes. Maybe Bennet wanted to know what Darcy kept trapped behind his decorum and confidence.

Or trapped behind the fear of what Bennet elicited in him?

Bennet tipped his head toward the dramatically cloudy sky and shook himself free of the thought.

He smiled, as if Darcy might hear it. “If you and Henry both decide to come out, we’d gladly welcome the company.”

Darcy let out a long breath and laughed. “Come out. You don’t give up, do you?”

“Only telling how it is.”

“Enjoy the birds.”

Bennet tried to enjoy the birds, but despite the beauty of the ragged cliffs, the crashing shores, and numerous squawking penguins, all he could see was this amazing woman who guided the tour from a wheelchair. That Georgie could be Darcy’s daughter!

So funny and sweet, with only kind words to say about everyone—including her dad. Not that they’d mentioned him much. She’d only said that her dad wanted Bennet and Lyon to have a good time, and that he’d helped establish this tourist attraction for her.

They headed back up the zigzagging ramps, the coast stretching for miles below grey skies.

Lyon pointed a finger. “A double rainbow.”

So perfect it was, one end lurching out from the sea, the other plunging into Port Ratapu’s town belt. Possibly right onto Darcy’s neo-gothic mansion.

Bennet handed over his phone and Georgie took a picture of them grinning under it.

“Thanks,” Bennet said. “I think this is the most beautiful view I’ve seen. Your dad chose this place well.”

“He did. He loves coming out here to visit me, too. Not as much recently.” Her face shadowed. “We’ve had a bit of a family spat. But he’s been working through it, and seeing him try so hard made it impossible to stay mad at him. Can I send this photo to Dad, too? So he can see you’re having fun?”

Bennet’s chest jumped and he scanned the photo again. It was fine. He looked fine. It was just a picture. Darcy would probably glance at it and never look at it again, anyway. “Uh, sure. Number? Or should I send on your behalf?”

“Oh, yeah, sure. That’s even easier!”

Bennet stared at the send button long and hard before he shook his head and quickly swiped it.

“Benny? You’re not sick again are you?”

“No, why?”

“You look really flushed.”

“Oh that’s . . . nothing. Steep cliffs to climb!” He laughed nervously and Lyon gave him a funny look.

They explored for another hour before giving Georgie their thanks. Bennet huddled into his jacket as they braced against wild winds and headed toward the bus stop. Lyon moaned that they still had fifteen minutes to wait, and that was if the bus came on time.

A car drove past them, slowed, and reversed. Bennet blinked at the sight of Darcy behind the wheel, beckoning them inside.

Clearly relieved, Lyon dived into the backseat. Bennet opened the passenger side door and ducked his head in. Darcy’s large hands held the wheel loosely, that sharp, shrewd gaze riveted to him.

Bennet smirked. “You came out then?”

Darcy shook his head, amused. His dark curls shifted, reframing and softening his face. “Henry had move-related things to do with Cameron. He needed the van so he dropped Georgie off this morning.”

“And you came out here to pick her up?”

Darcy looked out onto the road. “Some of the bus drivers are reckless around these curves. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to anyone I cared about.”

Bennet closed the passenger door and slipped next to Lyon in the back. “Let’s go and get Georgie then.”