Elizabeth was furious at Lydia, how could she do that to her. She had to get to work and it was too late to make arrangements for David. "Damn." Elizabeth swore under her breath.
In a flash, Elizabeth remembered something; Bill Darcy used a babysitter for Anne Marie everyday and she quickly dialed his number.
"Bill Darcy." The gruff voice answered.
"Mr. Darcy," She said, "It's Elizabeth Bennet and I have to ask you a favor."
"Go ahead, Miss Bennet." He said dryly. His stomach did a flip when he heard her voice. How could a woman he didn't even know affect him in such a way?
"Mr. Darcy, my sister didn't pick up David last night and called this morning to say that she didn't know when she would be home." Elizabeth's voice held desperation as she told him, "The point is that I don't have a babysitter and no time to arrange for one." Elizabeth took a shallow breath, "I was hoping that with your approval that I could leave him with Anne Marie's sitter."
"I'll call her and let her to know to expect you and David." He gave her his home address.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said softly.
"You're very welcome." He loved the melodic sound of her voice.
"I've got to go." Elizabeth said in a rush, "I'll see you later."
Elizabeth drove over to Darcy's house and when the door was opened she was greeted by Anne Marie throwing herself around her feet. "Elizabeth, you're back." Anne Marie said as Elizabeth leaned down to pick her up. She gave her a quick hug before putting her down and bringing in David.
The babysitter, Barbara was happy to take David for the day and Elizabeth hugged both children goodbye and left for work.
It was mid morning when she got a call from Charles Bingley, "Don't tell me that there's something else wrong with the furniture." Elizabeth said with a sigh.
"Nothing could be farther from the truth." Bingley told her, "Everything is fantastic, in fact, the sales for that home has increased since the furniture went in and I've given your card to every buyer we've sold to."
"Then how can I help you, Mr. Bingley?" Elizabeth asked.
"Darcy wants to furnish one of the other units." Bingley told her, "But I've been so busy that I was hoping you could come to the site and measure and make some suggestions as to what should go into that space."
"I'd be happy to come to the site but I've got to clear this through my supervisor." Elizabeth explained, "I'll give you a call after I've made arrangements to let you know when I can come."
"It'll be my pleasure when I hear from you again."
Elizabeth made the arrangements and called Mr. Bingley back to let him know what time she would be there.
Charles Bingley saw Bill Darcy walking in his direction and he loudly said into the phone, "Thanks Miss Bennet, I'll see you when you get here."
"Charles, what were you talking to Miss Bennet about?" Darcy asked as he caught up with his friend.
"She's going to come here to measure and plan the furniture for the other model unit." Bingley said with a smirk.
"I told you that I was going to take care of getting the furniture." Darcy said angrily.
"But you've been so busy that you haven't had the time to take care of it yet." Charles said his eyes dancing with humor, "When I called Miss Bennet, she didn't know anything about the new unit being furnished." Bingley walked away and said over his shoulder, "She'll be here at 4:00 if that interests you."
Bill clenched his fists and stormed away in the other direction as he heard Bingley's laughter. "Damn, him."
Elizabeth pulled up to the job site, parked her car and went to find Charles Bingley. She saw him from a distance and he waved her over. "Miss Bennet," He said with a low voice, "It's a pleasure to see you again." He gave her a hug and he saw Darcy striding toward them, Bingley just smiled as he saw the glowering look that Darcy was giving him.
Before Bill could reach them, Charles put his hand on Elizabeth's back and directed her to the model unit. He could practically feel the anger radiating off of Darcy's body and he turned to him and said, "Bill, I can take care of this, there's no need for you to join us." He deliberately ran his hand along Elizabeth's back just to provoke the man.
For the next hour Charles Bingley charmed Elizabeth Bennet. He told her stories of life on the job and she talked about some of the customer's she had met. Darcy silently watched the two of them with barely restrained anger and jealousy.
When they had finished, the two men walked Elizabeth to her car. Bingley walked beside Elizabeth with his arm around her shoulder just in front of Darcy.
"Elizabeth, I've enjoyed the time we've spent together. Would you go out with me on Friday?" Charles asked as he briefly glanced over his shoulder at Darcy who had stopped with shock.
Darcy listened with disbelief as Elizabeth answered, "That sounds like fun, I'd love to, thank you."
When he heard her answer, he felt like he'd been hit in the stomach with a sledgehammer. He was frozen in place as he watched Bingley embrace Elizabeth while he moved a stray lock of hair out of her face and kissed her cheek.
"Bingley I need to go over some plans with you." Darcy said with a growl, "Now." He ordered while Bingley left Elizabeth getting in her car and sauntered over to him.
"She's such a beautiful woman," Bingley said with a smile, "Who could resist her?"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Bill barked, "Asking Elizabeth out when you know I…"
"Well, you're surely not going to ask her out," Charles' voice rang out in laughter, "So I sure as hell was going to."
Darcy's anger overflowed and he shouted, "Get back to work and from now on I'll deal with Elizabeth Bennet."
"Whatever you want, Boss." Charles Bingley gave the man a mock salute and ambled off toward the men.
Bill Darcy went to the office and sat down at his desk to work but his thoughts were in turmoil. He couldn't get rid of the images of Bingley and Elizabeth. How am I going to deal with this? It kills me just thinking of her with another man, damn Bingley.
He wanted to be the one who touched and kissed Elizabeth. He wanted to wake up with her next to him in bed. He wanted to be able to run his hands through that silky hair as they made love.
He pounded his hand on the desk in exasperation and went to check on the men. He was frustrated and he took it out on the men and by the end of the day most of them were grumbling complaints to Charles Bingley.
"I've got this all under control." Bingley assured them, "I'm just giving the man a little push in the right direction. Just give me time."
Bill Darcy couldn't wait to get home to Anne Marie because on a day like today she was the only one who could lift his spirits.
As he opened the front door he heard Elizabeth's sweet laughter. He also heard Anne Marie as she played with David.
For just a minute, Bill stood there listening to the sounds and imagined that Elizabeth was his wife and would come to the front door and greet him with a kiss and while they were locked together in an embrace that Anne Marie and David would throw themselves on their feet. They would pick up the kids and laughter would ring throughout the room.
"Daddy," Anne Marie cried as she saw him and ran to him. He scooped her up into his arms and hugged her tightly to him.
"I love you, baby." His voice cracked with emotion as he held his daughter.
"Daddy," Anne Marie pointed, "Elizabeth is here."
"Yes, I see that." He smiled and walked toward Elizabeth and Barbara the babysitter.
"Mr. Darcy." Barbara said with a smile, "Elizabeth was just telling me about some of the horrible blind dates she has been on it's very funny stuff."
"Oh, has she now." Bill caught Elizabeth's eye and smiled, "Why don't you tell me, I like to laugh."
"I was just telling Barbara about the horrendous preacher that my mother set me up with." Elizabeth shook her head, "Breath like a dragon, delusional about his own self-importance and a slimy little worm." Elizabeth warmed up to her subject, "He just wouldn't take no for an answer, he wanted to come in after our date and I finally had to use the old washing my hair excuse." Elizabeth made a sound to indicate her disgust, "The creep actually offered to do it for me. Yuck." She shivered with horror, "William Collins was the last man I let my mother set me up with because obviously she has absolutely no taste at all."
Barbara laughed and Bill even smiled. Barbara looked at her watch and said, "I've got to be going. I'll see you in the morning Mr. Darcy." She glanced over at Elizabeth, "Nice meeting you Elizabeth and of course David was a dream. Anne Marie is great with him and treats him as a little brother."
Once Barbara was gone, Bill asked Elizabeth, "Have you heard from your sister?"
"Yes, I finally got in touch with her and she has been shacked up with a boyfriend in San Diego." Elizabeth saw a puzzled look in Bill's eyes and explained, "My sister, Lydia likes any guy in uniform."
"So did she say when she's supposed to be back?" Darcy asked as he picked up David.
"Later this week but she didn't give me a day." Elizabeth said, "I don't know how any mother could run off and leave her child, it doesn't make any sense to me."
Elizabeth looked up and saw a cloud flash across Darcy's face. She wondered about his reaction.
Darcy said to the children, "How would you like going to dinner at Chuck E. Cheese tonight?"
"Yes." Anne Marie said with glee and to David she said, "You're going to love it there, there are shows, games and rides. It's the greatest place on earth."
"I guess I have no choice." Elizabeth laughed.
Bill's heart soared with hope as he thought of going out with her tonight even if it was with the children.
Elizabeth got David's car seat and changed it to Darcy's car. Anne Marie was excited as she clung to Elizabeth's hand while they were walking to the car. Bill was carrying David and he couldn't help but think about them being a family.
During the evening Anne Marie was determined to leave her daddy and Elizabeth alone as much as possible so that they could fall in love. She made sure that she kept David entertained.
As Bill and Elizabeth watched the kids play and talked amiably, Bill threw his arm over Elizabeth's shoulders casually.
Elizabeth looked up into Bill Darcy's eyes as she felt his gaze lingering on her but she couldn't read the expression that she saw there. When their pizza was ready, Bill dropped his hand to the small of Elizabeth's back and as they rounded up the children he guided her back to their table.
Anne Marie spoke excitedly about all of the characters in the show and sang along to the songs. When the characters made their way onto the floor, Anne Marie took David by the hand and went to meet them.
Anne Marie looked back at the two grown-ups and smiled when she saw her daddy move a lock of hair out of Elizabeth's eyes and run his fingers along her face so she said to David, "If Elizabeth and my daddy fall in love, she will be my mommy." She told the little boy with the worldly confidence of an older sister. "Maybe you could live with us too, I wouldn't mind that."
After leaving the restaurant, Bill drove back to his house and he moved the car seat to Elizabeth's car for her.
Bill Darcy felt so comfortable and relaxed while talking to Elizabeth that he stood next to her car and made conversation. David was in his car seat and Anne Marie was standing next to her father while smiling up at him.
Elizabeth was leaned against her car and her lips looked so inviting that Bill was tempted to take her in his arms and kiss her until they couldn't think at all. It took every bit of will power that he could muster not to lean over and kiss those beautiful lips.
As they said their goodbyes, Elizabeth leaned over to give Anne Marie a hug but when the girl shifted position unexpectedly Elizabeth stumbled and Bill had to catch her before she could fall. He held her tight against his body and felt every inch of her womanly curves. He held her longer than necessary and reluctantly let her go as she said, "Bill, I have to get David home now."
As she got in her seat he said, "I'll see you tomorrow when you drop off David."
"That's not necessary." Elizabeth protested, "I'm going to make calls and find a babysitter for him tonight."
"Elizabeth," His voice was calm and reasonable, "I think it would best for you to bring him here for Barbara to watch because he knows her and Anne Marie." He came to the point, "It would be much more traumatic for him to go to a stranger when it is not necessary."
"You're right." Elizabeth agreed, "I'll see you in the morning."
Bill picked up Anne Marie as they stood and watched Elizabeth's car disappear. Bill hadn't told Elizabeth the real reason that he wanted her to bring David here. He wanted to see her again and would do anything to keep her in his life.
As Anne Marie was just about to fall asleep that night she said quietly, "I want Elizabeth to be my mommy."
I want her to be your mommy too. Bill's thoughts took him by surprise as he got ready for bed. With a start he suddenly remembered that Elizabeth was going on a date with Bingley. I'll kill him if he touches my Elizabeth. His heart sank into his stomach as he thought of Bingley with Elizabeth.
Sleep eluded Bill Darcy that night and he was in a mood to take it out on Bingley the next day.