AN: Hi Reader! Thank you for coming back to the story and that you've enjoyed it so far! A big thanks to my beta reader HeynaBlackstar!

Recap: Lizzie and Darcy have just completed the first day of a writer's conference. Darcy left Lizzie alone at the party after asking to schedule a doggy play date between Winston and Luna.

Happy Reading! ~KMarinelli2023

Bark and Bite: A Tale of Two Authors

Chapter 3

My heavy eyelids opened as my mind recognized the faint tangy scent of citrus and sandalwood. I stretched out my hand and felt the remnants of body heat next to me.

Panic set in.

Bolting up, the room looked different than my hotel room. I caught my reflection in the frameless mirror across the king bed. Frightened wide eyes stared back at me. My tank top was skewed, and I felt the pillowy bedsheets on my warm cream skin.

The distant sound of running water alerted me that someone else was in the room. I needed to figure out whose bed I slept in. My mind blanked at what had happened last night. All I could remember was a strong smell of alcohol and talking with Mr. Darcy at some point.

I got up, grabbed my wrinkled shirt off the floor, scanning the room for any indication as to who was in the shower. I wanted to grab my stuff and get out. I was supposed to be focusing on my writing. I spotted a badge on the dresser, scrambling to it, struggling to put on my blouse, I didn't have to pick it up to read the name. In bold script read Fitzwilliam Darcy.

No, no, no. I had to get out.

Frantically, my hands fumbled with the buttons of my shirt and threw on my pants. I grabbed my bag and shoes off the plush carpeted floor; shoving my phone in the back pocket of my pants. Quietly passing by the bathroom door, where I could hear the water shut off; I slipped through the door out into the empty hallway. My feet sank with each step into the hallway carpet sprinting to the elevators.

Alone, I tried to figure out what had happened. I remembered I had texted Mr. Darcy. Unlocking my phone, I saw I got a text from Jane this morning with a photo of Winston. I'd respond to her later; I had to focus. His message was next under Jane's. I scrolled to the top of the chat.

Lizzie: You're an arrogant jerk.

Lizzie: I can't believe I had a crush on you.

Darcy: Who's this?

Lizzie: Wow you can't even remember.

Lizzie: I bet you give your number out to everyone :P

Darcy: Ms. Bennet are you drunk?

Darcy: Where are you right now?

I drunk-texted Mr. Darcy. Mr. Multi-Million Dollar Successful Author. Unlocking my hotel door, I slammed it close, but it was not enough to shut out the images rushing through my mind. The crumpled-up bedsheets, my half-clad body, and my clothes on the floor. I had to have slept with him.

Sliding down to the floor, the heat of my body radiating off the cold door, I cupped my head. I had to regain my composure. Fast. I had just a few hours till I had to be on stage for the writers' panel discussion. I was going to be on stage with him. If I stayed in my room I could avoid him till then. The panel discussion was to last a couple of hours. How bad could it be?

—

Bad. Whatever divine spirit was out there, must have something out for me.

I don't know how, but I ended up sitting next to him on stage. Seriously, who on earth did I anger in a past life? Darcy sat next to me. Recently, I was in the same room while he showered. I had seen plenty of naked bodies, yet I anticipated he would be the most chiseled. Wait, why had I thought that? I didn't want to see or imagine that. Heat rose through my chest to my cheeks.

His athletic arms rested on the armchair, but his pale knuckles as his hand firmly grabbed the edge hinted that he might not be so relaxed. He was answering another question from the moderator that was centered and lower than us. Next to me were five other accomplished writers. All more accomplished than me. Seriously, how did I end up next to him?

His hair had a little curve at the base of his neck; the angular jawline and defined cheekbones had subtle signs of stubble. The bridge of his nose was perfectly straight. His smooth plump lips moved with grace as he confidently spoke. He always had a clean-shaven look in any of his photos. I did eventually look up his photos after talking with Charlotte.

He turned his head slowly, our eyes focusing on each other. The room was now eerily quiet.

"Ms. Bennet, did you have anything you would like to add to what Mr. Darcy just said," the moderator said, pulling me out of my train of thought.

"I'd have to agree with what he said." Quickly turning my head to the moderator.

"Would you care to elaborate on that? Earlier, you had mentioned that genre writing was equal to literary writing. Mr. Darcy just shared his opposing view on the subject," the moderator said, clearly interested in stirring up some debate, or maybe he knew I wasn't paying attention.

"Yes, I believe that genre writing is just as valid as literary writing. Both have their merits and have a place in the literary world." Finishing with a deep breath, having successfully gathered my thoughts back onto my mission.

"I'm not sure I agree, Ms. Bennet. Genre writing may have its place, but it'll never hold the same level of respect as literary writing." His condescending tone fueled my budding anger.

"Respect is subjective, Mr. Darcy. Genre writing can also tackle important issues, explore themes, and be written artfully. It just does it differently.

"Such as?" he challenged, crossing his arm.

"Romance novels can explore the complexities of human relationships," I said, pulling from my background. "Themes of hope and emotional maturity can be developed. It's unfair to dismiss an entire genre of writing just because it doesn't fit within your definition of what constitutes as 'literary'."

His eyes narrowed at me, I'd become accustomed to that from him by now. "I'm not dismissing anything, Ms. Bennet. I'm simply stating my high preferences for a certain type of writing." I don't think he was only talking about writing just then.

"I'm surprised then that any book meets your criteria. It's important to acknowledge that there is value in all types of writing," I said, smiling.

The tension between us was thick, thankfully the moderator cut in moving to another writer on stage. But between Mr. Darcy and I, I felt the lingering remnants of the charged atmosphere.

With my only mandatory appearance at the conference wrapping up; I was glad I could spend the rest of the time listening to others and maybe even spend some time on my manuscript. The rest of the conference continued in peace. I decided to avoid the closing mixer party; I didn't want to risk ending up in a stranger's bed. I didn't want to risk any more wrath from the higher power.

—

Once I had finished the writer's conference, Charlotte and I scheduled a playdate for our dogs at her house. We were lounging in her backyard as the dogs played; the two were more energetic with each other than usual.

"How's that manuscript going?"

"It feels hopeless, Char," I said, hiding my face in my hands as my hair cascaded over.

"Wait, what's wrong?"

"Well I got an email from my agent, and she indicated that she would love to read another romance manuscript."

"What's wrong with that? She sounds excited."

"I'm not writing a romance novel right now. I was hoping to break free and switch over to literary fiction." Thinking back to Mr. Darcy's first interview, maybe I wasn't successful. Maybe I couldn't balance all the expectations of me as a writer. Maybe my writing would never have merit.

"I'm not a novelist like you, but I think you should write what you want. Stand up for your ideas. Don't let others tell you what to do." I looked off towards the dogs. How easy their life was. Sometimes, I wish I could be a dog. Just live for naps and pets. Simplistic.

Charlotte was right, but that didn't make it any easier to swallow. Just like Mr. Darcy said too, I'd have to toughen up and stand up for myself. Just why was it easy to stand up to him?

"You're right, but tell me more about the new guy your dating?"

—

The following week was uneventful, a nice change of pace after the conference. Between meeting with Charlotte and Bailey, working, and taking care of Winston, I didn't have much time for anything else. However, I managed to make considerable progress on my writing and decided to share the draft with my agent. After spending days inside, I took Winston out for a walk on the local trail.

The smell of pine needles and wildflowers filled the air as we walked on the loose gravel. I let Winston off-leash, he was about twenty paces ahead of me now. As we continued on like this, my mind wandered; I missed these long walks and the change of pace. But I kept wondering, how did I end up in bed with Mr. Darcy? I couldn't remember anything.

Winston knew the direction we usually took on this trail. First, we would visit the river bed and then continue through the forest canopy, and he would stay within the twenty paces around me. But then I saw him racing off.

"Come here, Winston!" He didn't respond. Concerned I raced after him.

"Winston, come here!" I tried again, desperately hoping that whoever he was running to wouldn't be afraid of him.

"It's okay!" a familiar husky voice yelled at me. I slowed down, catching my breath. Then it dawned on me as to who the voice was. Quickly, I turned around, trying to regain my composure as I felt heat spread to my cheeks.

"Do you mind if Luna and I join you on your walk?" he asked. Stunned, I nodded while turning around. "Did you ever think you would want to travel?" Catching me off guard, everything about this man was confusing. One second he would look annoyed and the next he could offer a pleasing smile.

"I guess I'd want to travel, but Winston doesn't like to be alone. So I'd be limited to his need."

"What if you had the money to bring him along?"

"Money can't solve everything, but it would make it easier," I said. "Do you travel with Luna?"

"Yes, she goes on the road with me. I have commitments between here and my family's home. Plus, with work, there are seasons when I'm constantly on the road."

"Well, that sounds awfully tiring and exciting."

"It can be, and sometimes lonely. Actually, part of the reason why I got Luna."

"Oh really?" Talking about Luna caused his dimples to appear; adding to his charming looks.

"I got Luna after my sister Georgie was very upset that I was alone." His cheeks turned a pale rose shade at the intimate confession.

"But, you do have some two-legged companion."

"What?" He quickly focused his gaze on me, bewilderment on his face.

"At the dog park, I saw you with a woman. So you aren't entirely alone."

"That's Caroline. I'm staying at her brother's house and she likes to tag along whenever she can. She is not my companion." His pleasant expression turned sour for a moment. But the intensity of his gaze increased, making me uncomfortable. Heat returned to my cheeks.

We walked in peace for a bit. The dogs playing around us. Darting back and forth between playing with each other and exploring the trails.

"Would you–"

"I'm sorry if—" We said in unison. He gestured for me to continue.

"So are you going to do a book tour for your latest book?" He looked surprised by my question. I wondered if he was going to breach the topic of the hotel room.

"I have to leave tomorrow for it," he said. "By the way, I read your book." Mr. Arogancce read my book. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear his thoughts on it. "I enjoyed it." I was waiting for the eventual disapproval. But none came. His handsome face focused on the dogs ahead instead of sharing his almighty opinion. The opinion that had to have existed.

"That's it?"

"What do you mean?" he asked, not looking at me. His gaze was off like he was thinking of something else.

"You have no opinion on it?"

"I mean I enjoyed it for it being a genre piece." My eyes flared with emotion at his implication that my work was second-class since it was genre art. His gaze was still focused elsewhere.

"Lizzie, marry me," he said, finally locking eyes with me.

AN: I'd like to take some time to thank some of my commenters: Caraea90 I appreciate your constructive critique on the last chapter, Reisova I'm glad you enjoyed and shared your opinion, and mariantoinette1 I like your theory on Darcy's reason behind the play date. As for our cute couple, will Lizzie really fall for Darcy's marriage proposal? How do you think she will respond?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts :)