Pemberley Ranch - Jack Caldwell [43]
“Miss Beth, don’t be afraid, it’s just me.”
“What are you doing here!? Go away!”
“Shush, quiet. I don’t want to raise any ruckus.”
“But I’m not decent!”
Darcy smiled. “Well, neither am I. I figure that makes us even.”
Darcy swore she hid a smile at that. “How did you know about this place? Have you been spying on me?”
Darcy had the grace to look embarrassed. “No, really. The first time—the only other time—was an accident. Really.”
Rather than looking offended, the girl just treaded water, her hair fanning out behind her. “But you came back.”
“I couldn’t help myself.”
She frowned. “You wanted to see an undressed girl.”
“No! I wanted to see an undressed you. You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”
“You’re just saying that.”
“No, it’s true, I swear. Can I come closer? I don’t want my voice to carry.”
She seemed to think about that. “All right, but not too close.” Darcy swam across the river until he was a couple of feet away. “That’s close enough,” Beth decided.
Indeed, it was close enough. Darcy could make out her pale form under the surface of the water. He looked up to see with a shock that Beth was carefully looking back at his body.
“Do you swim a lot?” she asked.
“Yes, but not in the river. We’ve got a big lake on Pemberley. I’ve been swimming there since I was a boy.”
“Is it warmer than the river?”
“Yeah. Are you chilled?”
She nodded.
“It is cold. Maybe if I got closer, we could keep each other warm.”
She seemed undecided, and a crease formed between her eyebrows. “That sounds indecent.”
Darcy flushed. “Sorry.”
Beth smiled slightly. “I didn’t say no. I said it sounded indecent. Can I trust you?”
“Yeah.”
She nodded and turned her back. Darcy slowly swam to within a foot of her, resolutely keeping his eyes fixed on the back of her head.
“Is that better?” he asked. The water was shallow enough for him to touch bottom—in fact, he had to squat to keep his torso underwater.
“A little.” Beth looked over her shoulder and bit her lip. “I’ve seen that look before. You stare at me all the time. The society meetings and at Jane’s. You do it a lot.”
Darcy licked his lips. “I can’t help it.”
She turned away. “You like looking at me?”
“Yeah.” Darcy’s voice cracked.
“So do I,” Beth said softly.
Darcy couldn’t believe his ears. “What?”
She turned slowly to him, her arms crossed to shield her breasts underwater. “I like that you look at me. I like the way you look at me. Nobody’s ever looked at me like that before.”
“That’s because no one else loves you the way I do,” Darcy blurted out.
Beth’s eyes grew wide. “You love me?”
Darcy couldn’t say anything; he just nodded.
Beth stared at him, eyes boring into him, looking for the truth.
Darcy glanced away from her scrutiny. “I’m sorry—I just thought there shouldn’t be any secrets between us, given, well,” he shrugged, “our present situation.”
Beth giggled a bit and then sobered. “Look at me,” she commanded. “Look into my eyes. I can see people’s feelings in their eyes.”
Darcy could do nothing but obey. For long moments he allowed himself to get lost in her gaze. Finally, Beth gasped.
“You do love me,” she declared.
Without thinking, he reached for her under the water. His fingers gently caressed the soft skin of her upper arms and shoulders. Instead of recoiling, she sighed and fell into his embrace, her hands the only thing between them. Slowly, with the utmost care, Darcy lowered his lips to her slightly open mouth. The kiss began gently, like the wings of a butterfly, until Beth moaned and returned the kiss. Before Darcy knew it, their arms were about each other, her soft, warm body firmly against his. A fire was ignited—hands and lips were everywhere—promises and declarations were demanded and made. When Darcy felt Beth’s leg curl around his, he reacted instinctively. He reached down, carried her in his arms, and strode to the soft riverbank.
As he laid her down, Beth looked up in fear. “Oh, please, don’t dishonor me!”
Darcy’s