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
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
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
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
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
“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 w
“Lizzie, it's a Gustave Loiseau,” Jane gasped, her hand to her mouth as she stared in wonder at lot number 327 of the auction. A lovely seascape hung on the wall. I could almost smell the warm sea air coming from the white sandy cliffs."It's very nice," I told her. I had no idea who the artist was, but Jane he impressed Jane. Art was her thing, not mine, but I could see the love in her eyes for the small painting. It was more than just something lovely to look at for her. It was an expression of life itself.“Are you sure I can't borrow twenty thousand dollars?” Jane asked, not taking her eyes from the painting. “This would look amazing in our living room.”"I have twenty dollars, and I'll buy you a print," I told her with a gentle smile. "Because you are right. It would look amazing in the living room."Jane sighed and kept staring at the painting. Paintings, specifically old French ones, were her passion. When she wasn't working at her painting restoration job at the museum, she v
I found Lydia at the bar having a great time with a man. She was flirting and giggling with him for everything she was worth. I wanted to warn her, but she waved me away before I could get close. I just hoped that she knew the man she was flirting with wasn't rich and famous. He was the other hospital winner of tickets to tonight's event. He worked on the floor below me as a transport technician. If she was hoping he was her ticket to fame and fortune, she was in for a surprise.I picked up a fresh drink while she glared daggers at me to leave her alone. She mouthed the words, “go away,” leaving no doubt that she didn't want my interference. I gave her a friendly wave and headed off to see the rest of the party.It was amazing. There was a live band, amazing food, free drinks, and beautiful people everywhere. For the night, I felt like I'd been transported to a different world. I rubbed elbows with the rich and famous. I found myself having a wonderful conversation with an older woman