her and the band. I had to start over from scratch.”
“Really? They didn’t give you your share of the money?”
“No,” he said uncomfortably.
“I can’t believe they would do that. You were like family to them. Did you go to de Bourgh?”
“Oh yeah, I did.” His face took on an expression of disgust. “She told me it was ‘band business’ and she wasn’t going to be involved.” He shrugged. “I could have sued, but that would have just brought the whole sad business out in the open, and I couldn’t do that to Georgie. So I took my licks and started anew.” He lifted his eyebrows at her. “And look at me now; I certainly can’t complain about my current position.” His mouth curled into a wicked leer and kissed Elizabeth deeply.
Elizabeth responded to his kisses, wrapping her arms about his waist. She felt her desire rising while in his arms; he was strong and handsome and wanted her. It was easy to be with him. She kissed him deeply until a wave of water splashed over them.
They broke apart, coughing and sputtering, to the sound of Jane and Charlotte’s laughter. “Oh, did we disturb something, Lizzy?” Charlotte called out.
Elizabeth blushed as she realized her band mates and Alex were in the pool and she had never even heard them enter. She moved away from George and quickly found herself teamed with the other women in a volleyball game.
The group played and laughed for an hour, the women beating the men four games to two. Finally, Alex told them it was late and they had to get some rest. “We are back on the road tomorrow.”
George climbed out of the pool with them but made no attempt to join Elizabeth. As they returned to their rooms, he said, “I want to thank you, Elizabeth. It’s not very often I get to meet such a special person as you.”
Elizabeth smiled in response. She wished the others would leave, but they seemed oblivious. “I hope I get to see you again.”
“Oh, you will. I’m contracted to do the next video with you.” Elizabeth beamed at this. “Lizzy? Can I call you?”
“I’d like that,” she said, flushing slightly before wishing him good night and entering her room. Charlotte and Jane exchanged looks with Alex and said good-bye to George as well.
Richard’s hand trailed over the flesh beside him. She was warm and so soft. He buried his face in her flat stomach, rubbing against her pliancy. He was almost there. He closed his eyes and the pain he felt was almost gone. He reached out his tongue to taste her, but stopped. The taste was wrong, and it was ruining the calm he was trying to find.
Gentle hands stroked his head, soothing him. “Who is she, Richard?” a soft voice asked. “Who is this Charlotte? Did she break your heart?”
He reared up, his eyes finding hers, stricken. “How?” he demanded.
Ellen smiled kindly. “I could take being called her name once, but after the fourth time, even I start to wonder, darling.” She wasn’t trying to hurt him, she knew he was already in so much pain, but she wondered what had happened. What memory was so horrible that he was trying so hard to forget it?
He leaned over her, his eyes wild. “Don’t! Don’t say that name again. She’s not—Just don’t!” He rolled away. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he lit a cigarette and took a deep drag until the shaking stopped.
“Richard, you know I love you, but this is no good. I’ve never seen you like this.”
Richard slumped. She was right, but he couldn’t face it. It was unacceptable. “I’m okay. I just need to get over this.”
Ellen sat up, her blue eyes filled with concern for him. “Should I leave?”
He shook his head. “No, not yet.” He lay back in the bed and drew her to him. “Stay with me till morning?” She nodded and rested her head against him. “I’m sorry, Ellen. I’m not myself.”
She smiled bitterly. “This is supposed to be news?”
He chuckled and kissed her forehead. She settled down comfortably, her limbs easily tangling with his. “She must be very special.”
He nodded. “She is.”
“I never thought I would see you get caught, Richard. Did she dump you?”
“No,” he whispered, “I left her.”
Ellen pushed herself up on her elbow and studied his face. Her expression turned poignant. “Oh God, Richard,” she said, her voice filled with sad wonder. “You really are screwed.”
“I know,” his voice was rough, “I know.”
Ellen pulled him close, holding his head against her chest and let him pour out his agony into her.
Elizabeth smiled as again she held Jane’s hand for the takeoff. “I never thought I would see you excited to be getting on a plane.”
“If it means getting back to Charles, I’d brave a dozen planes,” Jane said resolutely.
Elizabeth wished she could share Jane’s sentiment. Right now she was dreading her return. Thank God she had met George and he had set her straight. She frowned at the thought of being trapped in a relationship with Darcy. And she knew that was exactly what would have happened. She would have been trapped.
She could see it all now. Her initial impressions of Darcy had been correct. He was arrogant, selfish, and controlling. Sure, there were two sides to every argument, and she knew that Darcy saw the breakup with George differently, but that didn’t change the basic facts. Darcy had destroyed the happiness of George and Georgiana for money, for prestige, and for
Deep inside of her, she mourned a lost opportunity. Darcy had come to mean so much to her. He was an artist like her, and his guidance had come to mean so much. While she’d never completely understood him, a part of her was excited at the possibility of a relationship with him. She knew now that was impossible.
Darcy had his good points. She couldn’t deny that, but she could not let herself get wrapped up with a man who would try to control her like he would.
That thought opened up memories she closed off long ago. She looked at Alex sitting in the seat in front of her. She could see the top of his head, the hair she once ran her fingers through as he kissed her breathless. Alex had tried to control her too. Everything that had made him a great manager had made him an awful boyfriend, and when Elizabeth realized she had to end the relationship, it had not been pretty.
Darcy would be a thousand times worse. A man who did not shy away from hurting his oldest friend and sister would have had no qualms at all about devastating her, using her for as long as he wanted, then dumping her. Oh, she knew he might want her for a long time, but in the end it would be the same.
For the first time, Elizabeth was sincerely glad that they hadn’t progressed any further in their relationship. She knew, from so many times before, that sleeping with a man put her on the fast road to heartbreak, and with Darcy, it might have been the end of her music career as well.
Fitzwilliam Darcy was simply too hot to handle. He had an intense flame that blazed within him that would burn her, consume her, and leave nothing behind. There was no more choice for Elizabeth. She had the certainty she was searching for. She and Darcy would simply not happen. They couldn’t.
Chapter 12
Darcy was pleased that Richard had come to rehearsal. He finally emerged from his room that morning, joining them for breakfast. Darcy was beginning to hope he had been correct when he told Caroline that Richard just needed to get over Charlotte. In fact, he hadn’t believed it when he said it; he was just stalling for time. But now, it looked like time just might have done the trick.
Although Richard seemed back to his usual self, Charles was now a mess, distracted and barely able to focus on their songs. Not that he needed to. The rehearsal was part of their routine, a ritual they did each performance day while on tour, but not strictly necessary.
If Darcy were completely honest, he would have to admit that he was off today as well. He wouldn’t
