Rich. British. Hot as hell. Elizabeth Bennett has never appreciated any of these traits in a man. So when Mr. Darcy, billionaire British playboy and GQ's Bachelor of the Year, meets her at a function, she's surprised at how attracted she is to him. That is until he puts his foot in his big, arrogant mouth. The slap that she gave him got her thrown out of the biggest fundraiser of the year, but the mark she left on Mr. Darcy won't leave his mind. The second time that they meet "on accident", he turns up the arrogance even more. The third time, he tries flowers. By the fourth time, he's wearing a cup to protect himself. Mr. Darcy is the last man in the world that Elizabeth could ever be with. However, love makes fools of us all, and the one man that she can't stand is the one man she can't resist. Can Mr. Darcy's kiss win over the heart of Elizabeth Bennett? Join New York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes in this modern retelling of Jane Austen's beloved "Pride and Prejudice".
View More“Will you hurry up? We're going to be late,” Lydia complained. She leaned against the bathroom door and watched as I finished putting the last touches on my mascara.
“And what?” I asked, turning to look at her. “We'll miss the waiters walking around with the little trays of fancy hot dogs you don't like? You'll live. Promise.”
My little sister rolled her eyes at me. For being twenty-one, she still had all the abilities of a teenager in the eye-roll department. She took a deep breath like I was trying all of her patience and checked her hair in the mirror one more time.
“I guess it's fashionable to be late,” she said, smoothing down her dark hair. “We'll look more important and more people will be able to see us arrive.”
I couldn't help but shake my head. We both had the same slim build, dark hair and dark eyes, but other than the physical similarities, it was hard to believe we were related. She was impulsive, naive, and fame-hungry, which drove me absolutely batty. She was sure she was the center of the universe.
I at least acknowledged that I was only the center of the solar system, not the entire universe.
“Have either of you seen my silver earrings?” Jane, our roommate asked, poking her head into the bathroom and looking around. “Oh, you're wearing them, Lydia.”
“They look so much better on me,” Lydia replied with a shrug. “You should wear the blue ones. They bring out your eyes.”
“Can you at least ask next time?” Jane asked, crossing her arms. She managed to look beautiful and statuesque even though she was angry. She always managed to look beautiful and statuesque.
“Fine,” Lydia replied with another classic eye roll. “But you know I'm right.”
It was Jane's turn to roll her eyes.
“ Lizzie, you're sure this is a fancy, exclusive event, right?” Lydia asked, pushing up her cleavage in her skintight black dress. “Famous people will be there?”
I sighed. "Yes, Lydia. It's the main fund-raising event for the two major hospitals in New York City. It's super fancy, and it's super lucky I even won these tickets. We couldn't afford to go otherwise."
“Good,” she replied. She frowned as she watched me put my mascara away. “Elizabeth Bennet, you need to put more mascara on. I can barely see your eyes.”
“Are you serious?” I asked her. I felt like I was already wearing ten pounds of makeup. I felt like I'd been getting ready and putting makeup on all day.
“Yes,” Lydia replied, reaching into my makeup bag and handing me back my mascara. “You need to look like you belong at this party.”
“Why can't I just be me?” I asked her, not putting any more mascara on yet.
"Because you aren't fancy," Lydia replied. "You're smart, and you're sweet, but I swear, you'd go in a ponytail and your work scrubs if I let you."
"No, I'd at least wear this dress. I like the fancy dress," I informed her. The floor-length gown hugged my curves as it made its silky dark blue way to my feet. It had just enough of a hint of sparkle in the fabric to make me feel like it had been blessed by a fairy godmother. The dress was awesome. I stuck my tongue out at Lydia, and she just pushed the mascara at me again.
“I'm glad you'd at least wear the dress,” Lydia replied. “It is designer. I still can't believe you found a Prada dress. You look amazing, but you have to finish it. More mascara.”
I sighed, but I put on another layer. I looked up in the mirror and shook my head at the stunning woman looking back at me. Lydia was right. I looked amazing, but I didn't look like me. I looked like a Barbie-doll version of me. I couldn't imagine how women did this every day. It was exhausting getting this done up.
“Oh, did you two hear?” Lydia asked watching me like a hawk. She motioned for another swipe of mascara. “The penthouse of our building is rented out for the rest of the year.”
"Really? I thought it was considered too expensive for the market." Jane looked surprised as she put in the blue earrings. They really did complement her cornflower blue eyes perfectly. They even brought out the soft gold in her hair. Not that we'd ever tell Lydia she was right.
“It is way overpriced,” Lydia confirmed. “But, supposedly, it's this business guy worth millions. The money means nothing to him. He just wants to be near Central Park while he opens some new business ventures, so he's renting the place. It's so exciting.”
I stepped back from the mirror. “Why are you so excited? He's not an actor. I thought you wanted to be a movie star.”
“I will be a movie star,” Lydia corrected me. “But he's rich. Rich buys access to fame. Famous people hang out with rich people.”
“I still don't get it,” I told her, shaking my head. “How is meeting this guy going to make you an actress?”
“If I can be arm candy for a night, or if he meets me in the elevator with his famous friends- I'm in,” she explained. “I'd be famous in a heartbeat. Once I'm famous, I'll have all the roles I can handle. It's an opportunity most people would give their right arm for.”
“Oh, I get it.” I nodded and put the mascara away. “New neighbor is definitely arm-chopping off potential.”
I motioned to my face, and Lydia nodded her approval before leaving the bathroom. I turned to Jane when she was gone. "I'm surprised we don't see more arm-less people walking around given the kinds of opportunities here."
Jane snorted and pushed me out of the bathroom.
Lydia was waiting impatiently by the front door of our apartment with our jackets. They looked shabby compared to our gowns, but there was nothing to do about it now. Lydia had found a company that rented high-end clothing, so we all dressed to the nines in clothes we could never afford. Other than our jackets, of course.
The three of us were going to the most significant hospital fund-raising gala in New York City. Every year, the two major hospitals joined forces to put on a black tie event. It was next to impossible to get tickets, but since I worked at one of the hospitals, I had managed to win some at a work raffle. Lydia was sure that someone rich and famous would notice her, and thus this gala was her ticket to fame and fortune.
"Are you two finally ready?" We nodded, and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You've got this, Lydia. It's your night to be a star." She peeked one eye open and glared at Jane and I. "Don't screw this up for me."
It was my turn to roll my eyes. I wasn't as good at it as Lydia, but I could roll with the best of them. Lydia ignored me and walked out into the hallway. I followed, doing my best not to trip on my dress.
“Hurry up,” she called as she pressed the button for the elevator. “Unless the new penthouse guy is in the elevator. Then you two can be as slow as you like so I can talk to him.”
Jane closed the apartment door behind us. “You and your dreams,” she said, shaking her head and smiling. “I hope they all come true.”
It wasn't crazy to think that a millionaire might be living in our building soon. Jane's parents had purchased the apartment back in the eighties as an investment property. It was just a hop and a skip away from Central Park, and what had once been considered a sketchy neighborhood was now prime real estate. The apartment was worth well over ten times what they paid for it.
Jane owned the apartment now. She shared it with Lydia and me for practically nothing since we were as good as sisters. Since Jane's parents died a few years ago, we were the closest thing she had left to family. It was the three of us against all of New York, and we had a fantastic apartment to work out of.
***
It was a short cab ride to the Ritz Carlton hotel for the fundraiser. Since it was black tie only and incredibly exclusive, all of New York wanted to come. The place was packed with expensive cars and flashing camera lights. We stepped out onto the red carpet leading up to the main entrance and felt like movies stars.
I could see why Lydia wanted this feeling all the time.
Inside, beautiful people wearing beautiful clothing walked around the hotel. We dropped our coats off at the coat check, and for the rest of the night, there would be no way to tell that we didn't belong with the rich and famous.
I smoothed the silk fabric on my dark blue gown, glad I had listened to Lydia's advice on renting the dress. My go-to little black dress would not have fit in with all the designer gowns walking around. I would have felt incredibly out of place.
“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!” Lydia bounced up and down and pointed. “It's Layla Falls! She's here!”
“Who?” Jane asked, looking around. “Who fell?”
“No, Layla Falls, the movie star,” Lydia explained, pointing Jane in the right direction. “She just released a new movie. She's so famous.”
Lydia looked like she might faint with joy.
"I doubt you'll get close to her," I told her, pointing to the three men in dark suits wearing earpieces that stood beside the movie star.
“Oh, I will,” Lydia assured me. “We're going to be best friends by the end of the night.”
“You say she's famous?” Jane asked. “I don't recognize her.”
“You don't recognize anyone if they aren't a French Post-Impressionist painter," Lydia replied. "She was in that action movie this summer. She's rumored to be making a medical drama next, so being here is probably research. Hospitals and all.”
“Oh, I think I remember her now,” Jane replied. She watched the actress for a moment and then shook her head, obviously still not recognizing her. “I'll go find us a table.”
“Lizzie, can you teach me some medical words?” Lydia asked, watching her hero smile for the cameras across the room. “Maybe I can be an adviser to the film or something.”
"I need a drink," I said, looking around the lobby for an escape from my sister. There was supposed to be an open bar, and if I was going to deal with my sister going after Layla all night, I was going to need some alcohol.
Lydia didn't even notice I had gone as I made my way to the bar. She just stared at her movie star dream with big eyes and hopeful sighs.
The bar was easy enough to find. It was where everyone was congregating. I looked around, taking in the sights. Everyone looked polished and rich. Lydia was right about me needing more mascara to fit in here. It felt like a very different world than the one of scrubs and stethoscopes I was comfortable with.
Jane waved to me from across the lobby as she and Lydia found a table. They were the only familiar faces in the crowd. I worked as a Cardiac ICU nurse, and the only reason I would ever interact with the people at this party was if they had a heart attack. I wasn't quite sure I would ever fit in with this level of wealth, or given the amount of makeup I was forced to wear to be here if I even wanted to.
“Two martinis and one long island ice tea, please,” I informed the bartender once it was my turn. He quickly went to making my drinks as I waited patiently by the bar. I stood there, minding my own space when someone bumped directly into me, nearly knocking me over.
He was tall, dark, and handsome with eyes the color of the sea after a storm. I would have fallen in love with him right there, except for the dirty look he was shooting me. He glared at me like it was my fault for being in his way when he wasn't looking where he was going.
It was typical entitled rich guy. He thought he owned the world. There was no way I was apologizing for his mistake, though, so I just smiled sweetly up at him. “Can I help you?”
He made an annoyed sound and continued on his way. It was a shame he was a jerk. The man was good looking, and if he was at this party, probably rich. Unfortunately, he was obviously way too full of himself to apologize. He walked away with more swagger than any man deserved. Especially after being the bumper, not the bumpee.
My drinks arrived, and I managed to carry all three of them over the table without spilling. Lydia took a big sip while Jane thanked me.
“What should we do next?” I asked, taking a sip of my drink. It was nice and strong. I was going to have a great night.
“Let's go look at the silent auction,” Jane suggested. “We can bid on the items while they're still in our price range and feel like we're helping to raise funds for the hospitals.”
I chuckled. The silent auction was going to be full of things we could never hope to afford, but it still sounded like fun to go and see what they had.
“You two can do that,” Lydia said, picking up her already half-empty drink and looking around the room. “I'm going to go mingle. I need to make friends with Layla.”
“Good luck,” I replied as she fluffed her hair. She put her chin up and walked away with a mission.
“Do you think she'll find someone to make her famous?” Jane asked.
“She'll probably have as much luck at it as we will winning something from the auction,” I replied with a shake of my head. I wasn't betting on either.
Two days later I woke before dawn. It was my day off, so I didn't need to be awake, yet I couldn't go back to sleep. I itched to get up and move. My brain was too full and my heart too tender to sit in bed and think.I put on my favorite black exercise pants and a soft sweatshirt. Outside, the dark air frosted with every breath and ice hung on the tree branches and buildings as I walked to Central Park. It was quiet in the early gray morning. There were only a few runners pounding the pavement, but they kept to themselves, huffing and puffing like dragons in the gray light.It was as close to being alone in the city as I could get.A layer of snow glistened and glimmered on the grass. No one had disturbed it yet, so it was still perfect and white. For a moment, I could imagine that there were no other people in the entire world. It was just me and the cold.I wished the cold could freeze my hope. I wished that it could freeze the ache inside of me every time I thought about him. I cou
A few days later, I sat behind the nurses' station filling out paperwork. Despite going to a paperless system years ago, I still somehow managed to have mountains of paperwork for my patients. I just wanted to finish and head home. I'd already reported to the night nurses, so once I finished putting in the last few sets of vitals and notes, I could leave.A shower and bed sounded like the best thing in the world.“Hey, Lizzie,” the charge nurse called to me. “There's someone here to see you.”Lydia and Jane rarely visited me at work, and if they did, it was always at lunchtime so I could buy them cafeteria food. I knew it wasn't them, and despite my dreams, I knew that Mr. Darcy would never show up here.I sighed, hit save, closed my screens, and went to see who wanted me. Maybe it was a former patient. Those always made my day.It was not a patient.I came to the entrance of the unit to find a woman in an expensive pantsuit and a mean look on her face waiting for me. She looked like
I stared up at the tall building just outside of Central Park that Mr. Darcy worked at. I'd verified that it was the right one on the walk over and I even knew which office was his. I hoped that I could see him and thank him for what he'd just done for my family. I just had to get past security and his secretaries.The lobby was full of windows and bright, modern architecture. There were two sets of elevators, but to get to them, I had to get past security. I squared my shoulders and walked up.“Hello, I'm here to see Mr. Darcy,” I announced. My voice squeaked a little.“Name?” The big guard asked.“Elizabeth Bennet,” I replied. “I just need to see him for a minute. I'm sure if you tell him I'm here he'll let me come up, and I just really need to see him.”The security guard waited until I stopped babbling. “Ma'am, you're already on the approved list. Take the second elevator to the top. Have a nice day.”“Oh.”I nodded and walked past him to the elevator and got on. Mr. Darcy had me
Thirty-some-odd hours later, I was no closer to finding my sister.“Any word on Lydia?” Jane asked, coming into the kitchen. I sat at the table, searching my phone.I shook my head. "I called the police, but she's an adult, and she isn't really missing," I told her. "And California is a big place."“I'm so sorry, Lizzie.” Jane put her hands on my shoulders and gave me a reassuring squeeze.“My uncle is driving down from Sacramento today, but I'm not sure how much help it's going to be,” I continued. “Mom and Dad are in the middle of the ocean on their cruise. They can't do anything.”I looked down at my cereal and realized I hadn't eaten a bite of it. It was now just soggy mush.“How are you doing?” Jane asked. I could tell she was worried about me."I didn't sleep the night of the party, and I didn't sleep much last night. I just kept looking up and calling hotels," I told her. I played with the soggy cereal with my spoon. I wasn't hungry anyway. "She's been in California for forty-e
He got out and ran around to open my car door. It made me smile and feel important to be treated like a lady. I was a self-sufficient and strong woman, but it was nice to be taken care of too.I babbled in the elevator about the weather on our way up. It wasn't because I thought the weather would interest him, but more because I was afraid I would want to kiss him if I didn't keep my mouth busy.Even in the pale neon glow of the elevator, he was the most handsome man I'd ever met in real life. Being in the elevator with him close enough to touch, I could smell his cologne. I remembered the way he made me feel. I could feel myself leaning toward him, wanting to feel that again.I needed to get a grip on myself and my hormones. I'd hurt him, and I needed to go slow if I wanted to regain any of his trust. I was still surprised that he had agreed to the drink. I didn't want to push my luck too much and kissing him in the elevator would definitely do that.Relief washed over me as the ele
Two drinks, some food, and the most amazing dinner rolls I'd ever eaten, and I was having a wonderful evening. It was the most surprising thing to me.Georgiana never stopped talking, it seemed. She always had something sweet and funny to say, and I was glad. It filled in the awkward silences whenever Mr. Darcy and I didn't know what to say. She kept the conversation smooth and flowing.He kept watching me, those blue eyes taking in my every movement. To be fair, I kept watching him from the corner of my eye. He looked so handsome sitting with us. His dark hair was combed back, and his suit displayed the strength of his shoulders and trim of his waist.It helped that I knew exactly what was under that suit, but I knew I would never have that again. Still, every time he glanced over at me, my heart did flipflops. I had slept with the man, so there was no reason to be nervous around him, yet there I was. I felt like a schoolgirl next to the captain of the football team.I laughed too h
“He won't be here, he won't be here, he won't be here,” I chanted softly as the taxi drove me to the hotel. If I said it enough times, then I knew it would have to come true.I looked out the window to see a beautiful old brick building come into sight. I could see why he'd picked this hotel.The annual holiday hospital party was being held at one of the fancy hotels on the other side of the park from me. It was close, but I would have to take a cab or walk across the park at night. That wasn't really a problem until I found out that Mr. Darcy was known for staying in the penthouse suite of this particular hotel. It was his preferred location when in New York. Because that was how my life worked.I considered not going to the party. I considered simply returning the gorgeous dress I'd rented and staying in my apartment eating chocolate ice cream and watching lame Christmas movie specials where everyone ended up happy and celebrating the magic of Christmas.But Jane told me no. And Ly
“Holy crap.” Jane stared at me with big eyes and an open mouth. “Wickham seemed so nice.”“I know,” I replied, setting down my breakfast bowl of ice cream on the counter to add a little more chocolate sauce. I needed chocolate after last night.Lydia was off at her photo-shoot this morning, so I'd told Jane about the letter. I only told her the part about Wickham, though. Telling her that she'd lost the love of her life because Mr. Darcy thought she was a gold-digger wasn't going to do her any good.Jane shook her head before going back to scrubbing the oven. Jane claimed she was over Charles, but the fact that our kitchen was the cleanest it had ever been since the 1970's said otherwise. He wasn't answering her calls or messages. She said it wasn't a big deal, but I didn't believe her. She'd even gotten a toothbrush out to clean the grout between the kitchen tiles. She'd already done it to the bathroom. Twice.Thus, I wasn't telling her. She was running out of things to clean.“I ch
“Are you okay, Liz?”I startled and looked up to see one of the CICU night nurses standing in front of me. Her hand rested on my shoulder, and she looked concerned.“What?” I shook myself, still lost in thought."You're only half dressed, and your shift ended twenty minutes ago," she said gently. "Are you okay?"I looked around the changing area. I was still in the CICU locker room after my shift. I'd managed to put on jeans, but I still wore my scrub top. I'd been sitting on a changing bench with my blue scrub pants in my hands staring into nothingness.“Oh.” I did my best to smile and shake my head like it was nothing. “Just a lot on my mind.”"Okay." My co-worker paused and took a careful breath. "I saw the video. If you need someone to talk to, just let me know. Men suck."I nodded. “Thanks.”“Okay. Have a good night,” she said, heading back out of the locker room. I stared at the closed door behind her, hating and loving the silence of the changing area. The video of Mr. Darcy a
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