EBB

by Stacykos

February 2004

Rated R- Mature audiences only. Login required.


Fitzwilliam Darcy looked around the private dining room at the Drake Hotel where the rehearsal dinner had taken place. Approximately 50 guests stood and mingled, as the wait staff cleared the tables. “Just as well,” Darcy thought, “I can slip in unnoticed.”

"Darcy’s flight from New York had landed at 8 p.m. and he caught a cab from O'Hare. After checking in, he stopped at his room only long enough to toss his roller case in the closet and click on Cnn Financial. Seeing that nothing earth shattering was happening in the overnight markets, he stood up to leave, running his fingers through his unruly curls.

"Darcy had met Paul, the groom, in graduate school a decade earlier. Darcy had been cautious in whom he befriended, wanting his classmates to know him for his own character and not the Wall Street investment firm and fortune he would soon manage. Paul, along with Charles Bingley and a handful of other students, made up Darcy’s tight-knit circle of friends during that time. Darcy pondered how many other MBA students had to face the gauntlet of both the Wall Street Journal and the National Enquirer following their every move, every grade and every project. No, being named heir apparent to the Darcy empire at age 23 following his father's death and only one year into grad school was not something he would wish upon anyone.

"Darcy scanned the room for the bride, wondering what type of woman would be enamored with Paul's personality. The man lived and breathed computers. His idea of relaxing was debugging Linux. A mousy brunette wearing cat glasses approached Paul, fluffed his hair and kissed him on the cheek. Well, Darcy thought, question asked and answered.

"“So, Darcy, you made it to Chicago,” Charles Bingley said. “Have you met the bride? She has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago.” Charles, being his naturally friendly self, managed to stay connected to their grad school group far better than Darcy.

""That's certainly impressive," Darcy admitted, "Is she an academic or in private industry?"

""Neither. I believe she works for the Federal Reserve. Her name is Mary Bennett and,” he said, grinning, “she has four sisters."

"Their conversation was cut short as an older gentleman approached the microphone at the front of the room. "Jane, Kitty, Lydia” please join me. "Lizzy, too, if you are here," Mr. Bennett added.

"A stunning leggy blonde and two attractive brunettes walked up to the front of the room and embraced their father and the couple.

""The blonde is an angel," Bingley sighed, elbowing Darcy in the ribs for emphasis. “She flew in from out of town too.”

""Keep your pants on man," Darcy said, knowing his friends' penchant to drool over the fair-haired.

"“Lizzy—Elizabeth—is the beauty of the family," Bingley said.

""Which one is she.... the one in the pant suit or the one with the, ahem, chest?"

""Neither. I've only met her once and she.... Anyway, Kitty is in the green pantsuit. She works in publishing. And Lydia is still in school.” Their mother died when they were in elementary school.”

"Darcy silently swirled the ice cubes in his glass and then tossed the last of the Scotch down his throat. Having downed two Scotch and waters with only a bag of airplane peanuts to coat his stomach, Darcy was hungry and buzzed. Just as he was about to suggest that Bingley join him for a late dinner, Charles turned to him and mumbled, “Later, Darce” and made a beeline toward the blonde sister. She smiled at Bingley, laughed and then was led to the dance floor.

"Darcy shook his head at the effortless introduction. He could never feel that comfortable around a woman, especially someone he didn't know. What the hell would Charles find to talk about?

"He glanced at this watch and realized it was already 10 p.m. The older guests had departed, leaving the wedding party behind. As the room thinned, the band switched from old standards to pop hits. He glanced up and saw Charles fast dancing with Jane as the thump of Madonna's “Celebrate.”

"The squeal of female voices was heard above the driving base beat and Darcy directed his gaze to the doorway. From his vantage point in the corner, he couldn’t see the guest at the center of the commotion. Curious, he moved a few feet to his left, giving himself a clear view. It was a woman. Darcy took in her curvy figure; it was almost disguised beneath baggy black and white check pants and white jacket. Her hair was messy; half of it was in a lop-sided bun and the other half was drooping around her neck. Her cheeks were flushed as though she had been running or in a warm room.

"Just then, her sparkling eyes looked up and locked onto Darcy’s face. She smiled at Darcy and he was lost in her gaze. His breath hitched and he felt dizzy. The sounds of the band stilled and Darcy felt his drink slipping from his grasp. He glanced up again and let his gaze take in her entire body. "Good God," he thought. "Get a grip man. It's been too long since you've had a date. It's been really too long since you've....You're ogling a kitchen worker."

"With a shock, he realized that Charles and Jane were pulling this woman toward him.

""Darcy, you must meet Lizzy. She just got off work and joined us. Lizzy works..."

"Before Bingley could complete his sentence the strains of “Love Shack” by the B-52’s kicked in. With a shriek, the five Bennett sisters ran to the center of the dance floor and began dancing with each other. They were soon joined by a petite woman with short spiky hair. To his horror, Darcy realized the spiky-haired woman had a pierced nose.

""Darcy. You should ask Lizzy to dance. I think you to would find you have a lot in common. She..."

""Charles, really. You are dancing with the only pretty sister and Paul has managed to find the only well-educated one. If you think I would be seen dancing with some minimum-wage kitchen employee who doesn't even have the common courtesy of requesting the night off for her sister’s rehearsal dinner, you are a sadly mistaken. And from what I just observed, she seems to be a lesbian. I saw her embracing the pierced woman.”

"Darcy had been speaking louder than usual due in part to his alcohol consumption and to make his deep voice heard over that of the band. His stomach clenched as he realized his pronouncement rang out just as the song ended. He looked up and saw that Lizzy, along with Jane and the petite woman were all staring at him.

"Lizzy spoke first. "I'd introduce myself but I see you have already drawn your own conclusions,” her eyes flashing as she carefully enunciated her words. “Sorry, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. I didn’t know that dancing to the B-52’s with one’s sisters and best friend affected one’s sexual orientation. For your information, I happen to prefer the company of men. It’s a pity--and your loss because, to use the vernacular of my little sister Lydia, you are quite the hottie. Too bad your personality sucks.”

"Lizzy spun around and addressed her friends and sister. “I’m exhausted.” Darcy watched as she grinned and said playfully: “I heard a rumor someone is getting married tomorrow. I checked in to my room. Anyone want to walk me to the elevator?”

* *
Darcy watched Lizzy left the room with Jane and Charlotte. “Great example of gentlemanly behavior,” he muttered. He wanted a shower and sleep. He tried to put the image of Lizzy out of his mind.

"He opened the door to his room with his keycard and tugged at his tie, throwing it on the king size bed. As he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off his shoes, his eyes glanced on the Chicago city magazine on the nightstand.

"“Dazzling looks and cutting-edge food,” read the headline. Beneath it was a photo of a female chef, her probing brown eyes smiling out from the magazine cover. Auburn curls spilled down over her shoulders, a stark contrast to the genderless chef jacket she posed in. The cut line printed below her photo read: “Elizabeth Bennett, one of Chicago’s hometown girls, has moved from being an award-winning pastry chef at Blu to opening her own restaurant, EBB. Can she compete in the male-dominated world of high-end cuisine?”

"Cursing as he recognized Elizabeth, Darcy threw the magazine on the floor, noting that her photo remained upright. The brown eyes continued to smile at him, oblivious to his distress.

"“You’re an ass, Fitzwilliam,” he muttered to himself as he walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. “Make that an enormous, gigantic, epic mistake.”

"Ten minutes later, Darcy emerged from the bathroom, shaking his damp curls. He padded to his suitcase and pulled out a pair of pajama pants, a grey NYFD T-shirt and his laptop. He grabbed a mineral water from the courtesy bar and propped the pillows on the bed. Despite reserving a suite, Darcy liked to lounge in bed; it made him feel as if he were at home and not in a hotel room.

"He plugged his laptop into the Internet jack and punched up Google. Biting his lower lip, he typed in “Elizabeth Bennett” and waited for the results of his search. Hundreds of links surfaced. “Damn,” he muttered. “Too common a name.” Next, he typed in “Elizabeth Bennet EBB” and waited. Success. Clicking on the link to a Chicago Tribune story, Darcy slowly started reading about Lizzy. Graduate of the University of Wisconsin, degree in finance and business management. She had given up a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade and walked away from a promising career to attend culinary school in Paris. Darcy squirmed, thinking, “That must have meant when Charles kept trying to tell me we has something in common. She worked as a trader.”

"He glanced down and picked up the city magazine from the floor. Flipping inside, he read: “Elizabeth Bennett, who reached goddess-like status among Chicago’s ‘foodies’ for her whimsical desserts at Blu, has left to open her own restaurant. Bennett is credited with starting the ‘s’mores’ craze at chi-chi restaurants here in Chicago, a trend that was quickly taken up in New York and San Francisco. Her new eatery, situated in the thriving River North neighborhood, will be called EBB. Nowadays, it seems that every new restaurant goes by a single consonant appellation. Is this the case of Bennett jumping on the one-word bandwagon? No, it’s not; the young restaurateur is quick to point out. ‘I’m creative with food but not with words. It’s simply my initials. Elizabeth Beatrix Bennett.’”

"Darcy went back to his laptop and clicked on the link to a year-old Wall Street Journal story. To his amazement, it wasn’t an article about Lizzy, it was an opinion piece written by her. Darcy scanned the story, making notes of its salient points. Lizzy was unhappy with the lack of financing options available to start up restaurants. “Wall Street will throw hundreds of millions at a dot com with no viable business plan, yet a restaurant has to piece together a loan package from a combination of bank loans, funds raised from relatives and possibly investors.” Lizzy next suggested changes to federal SBA funding to make it more accessible to restaurant owners. She concluded her opinion piece by remarking that banks unfairly analyze restaurants using standard industry credit/debt ratios and don’t take into account a restaurants immediate cash flow and low inventory relevant to sales volume.

"For the third time in an hour, Darcy realized the enormity of his rude outburst. He had always had a temper but managed to keep it under careful regulation. “How the hell do I apologize for such a mistake? Sorry, I thought you were a lesbian and a busboy,” wouldn’t cut it. “Hmm, how about, I think you’re beautiful, educated and funny and I want to get to know you better.” Sounds like you just want to get her in bed, Darce.” The thought of Elizabeth lying beneath him, her eyes shining up at him as he pleasured her, flashed through his brain quickly followed by a replay of his verbal scorching.

"Darcy closed his eyes and relaxed his breathing, his chest rhythmically rising and falling. He stood up and stretched his arms over head, trying to release the tension that always seemed present in his neck and shoulders. She would be at the wedding tomorrow as a bridesmaid. Inevitably, he would have to talk to her or appear ever ruder than he did tonight.

"Suddenly, an idea hit him. “I’ll show you how creative a boring Wall Street number cruncher can be, Miss Elizabeth Beatrix Bennett.” For the first time since his airplane landed in Chicago, Darcy smiled. He picked up the phone and dialed the concierge desk. “Hello, this is Fitzwilliam Darcy. I have to purchase two items tomorrow and I’ll need some assistance.”

* *
Once outside of Darcy’s presence, Lizzy let out a giggle. “Oh, Char…he thought you and I were…”

"“But Lizzy, didn’t it hurt to hear those words come out of his mouth? You’ve had a crush on him since you were an undergrad at Madison and he was at Northwestern. You saved People magazine when his picture was in it. You can’t tell me you don’t find him attractive.”

"“I wasn’t lying when I called him a hottie. When Mary told me he was invited, I thought I might be able to talk to him. He’s a rarity on Wall Street nowadays…a socially conscious investor, squeaky clean ethics.”

"Lizzy paused. “It would have been nice to dance with him though. Maybe he just had a bad day.”

"“Nah…the market closed up today,” Char said, “what could he have to complain about?”

* *
Darcy looked up from his seat at the wedding reception and stared at Elizabeth. Since reading about her last night, he had stopped calling her Lizzy in his mind. For some reason, Elizabeth seemed to better suit the image he now carried in his heart. Darcy felt the corners of his mouth curl up as he saw Elizabeth smile at one of her sisters. The 4 p.m. wedding and evening reception had given him time to make his purchases and have them delivered to Elizabeth’s room.

"Darcy’s thoughts were interrupted as dessert was placed in front of him. A flourless chocolate torte covered with chocolate ganache and drizzled with crème fraiche. Artfully arranged on top were red raspberries and two types of blackberries—olallieberries and loganberries. All of this was centered amid an intertwined M and P written in raspberry sauce.

"“We broke with tradition and didn’t have wedding cake but I don’t think you will be disappointed,” Paul told the crowd. Mary leaned over and spoke into the microphone. “Thank you, Lizzy. I know you have been swamped with the opening of your restaurant but your gift of dessert means so much to us. You are so generous.”

"Darcy raised his champagne flute in a toast to Elizabeth’s success and added his own private wish for his apology to be accepted as well. More toasts followed, with Mr. Bennett offering the final word before the dinner ended.

"“I know that I am so proud of all my daughters and my first son-in-law, Paul. Mary, you have set the bar high for the rest of your sisters,” he said, as laughter erupted. “Your husband is a wonderful man who adores you. I wish you a lifetime of happiness. And remember, your mother, Fanny, is just as proud. She would join me in telling you to cherish every day together.”

"Darcy watched as the bride and groom made their way to the dance floor. They seemed oblivious to the hundreds of eyes focuses on them. Maybe that is what being in love is like, he thought. You don’t care who is watching you or what you do because you are so insanely happy. As the formal wedding party dance ended, Darcy summoned his courage and stood up, striding briskly toward Elizabeth.

"“Miss Bennett, I was wondering if you would care to dance?” Darcy held his breath, waiting for her response.

"Elizabeth didn’t speak but reached for his hand and led him to the side of the dance floor. The band was playing a slow foxtrot. Darcy expertly glided Elizabeth around the floor. He cleared his throat and was about to tell Elizabeth how beautiful she looked in her bridesmaid dress but realized that most women wouldn’t consider that a compliment. “--Wasn’t Georgie always muttering how ugly those dresses were?”--Maybe he should apologize first.

"“I believe we should have a little conversation, Mr. Darcy. Perhaps you can’t talk and dance at the same time. Keep saying this to yourself, slow, slow, quick, quick, slow. Move your feet in a triangle.”

"“Oh, I can talk and dance at the same time, Elizabeth. I have many wonderful qualities that somehow were overlooked last night. For instance, I can even kiss and dance at the same time.” Darcy wondered what unlikely force possessed him to flirt so openly with this woman.

"“Really, I will have to take your word for that. There is a new man in my life and I think he would be quite jealous of your attentions.”

"Darcy stiffened, wondering if Elizabeth was teasing him or informing him that she was involved with someone. “Why isn’t he here tonight?”

"“I left him in my room asleep on my pillow. You must have determined that being saddled with Beatrix as a middle name makes me a softy for small brown rabbits.” Elizabeth looked up at Darcy as she spoke. “I accept your apology. It was the nicest, most personal act of contrition I have ever received. I adore the Beatrix Potter book and Peter Rabbit. And your letter was very sweet.”

"“Elizabeth, I am so sorry for the horrible way I treated you last night. I was quite rude and…”

"“You look just like Peter explaining to his mother how he ripped his jacket. Do women usually believe every word you say when you look at them with those incredible brown eyes?”

"“I beg to differ. I think you are in possession of the only incredible brown eyes in the room.”

"“On second thought, I don’t think Peter would mind at all,” Elizabeth said.

"Darcy’s heart raced as Elizabeth’s words filtered into his brain. “Only if you’re sure he is OK with it. I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot, err, paw, with the other man in your life.”

"“I’m sure he’s quite generous. He might even give up his pillow for you.”

"Darcy managed not to kiss Elizabeth when she dropped the first hint but this second volley overwhelmed his senses. His hand that had been positioned chastely on the small of her back slid down towards her hips. He pulled her close as he cradled her chin in his other hand. “Elizabeth, I lied. I am going to kiss you and I’m afraid I have to stop dancing to do so properly.”

"His lips grazed hers gently, testing her response. He was happily surprised to see how she met his kiss. Her arms slid up Darcy’s back to his neck, one hand ruffling his curls. Their tongues sought out each other’s mouths, tentatively at first and then with greater confidence. Couples danced around them as they continued to kiss.

"“Hey, Lizzy, get a room,” Jane hooted from the edge of the dance floor.

"Darcy relaxed his grip and released Elizabeth’s lips, flashing her a quick embarrassed smile. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Not bad advice from your big sister. You should maybe consider it.”

"“I always listen to Jane,” Elizabeth said in return.

* *
Darcy and Elizabeth were standing in Darcy’s hotel room. Despite his flirtatious manner earlier on the dance floor, he was nervous. He knew he had been given a second chance and didn’t want to blow it. He poured two glasses of wine from his mini bar and guided Elizabeth toward the sofa in the sitting room adjacent his bedroom.

"Elizabeth settled in comfortably next to him and rubbed her feet, her high heels on the floor.

" Darcy felt his body responding to Elizabeth’s closeness and the sight of her legs. Desperate to remain in control, he asked, “Why did you leave the Board of Trade?”

"“I realized I wasn’t happy at a very basic level. If I didn’t take the risk, I might have regretted it my entire life. I like to think I haven’t made that big of a leap. I used to buy and sell wheat futures. Now, I just buy flour and sell desserts.”

" Elizabeth smiled at Darcy as she finished her explanation, unknowingly adding to Darcy’s arousal.

"Darcy gulped and gathered Elizabeth in his arms as he spoke. “I’m 34. I’ve been dating half my life. What I’m trying to say is that I am more sure of you—of us—after 24 hours than of any other woman I’ve ever known. I don’t want to ruin this by saying or doing something stupid.”

"For the longest time, neither spoke. Lizzy broke the silence first.

"“Fitzwilliam, do you know what ganache is?”

"“Chocolate, right?”

"“Well, ganache is a simple mixture of equal parts chocolate and cream.” Elizabeth turned so she was again facing him and slowly undid his necktie as she continued. “Ganache is used in truffles, as a filling between cake layers or as a simple mousse.” She paused and kissed Fitzwilliam, her tongue probing his mouth. She tugged his shirt from the waistband of his trousers and ran her hands up his back. “Some consider ganache a fabulous combination where each of the ingredients is enhanced by the other’s presence.”

"With a groan, Darcy picked up Elizabeth and carried her to the bedroom. He unzipped her dress and let it slip from her shoulders as he unbuttoned his shirt. Darcy’s heart was pounding and he felt little jolts of energy when his fingers touched Elizabeth’s skin. Darcy’s trousers and boxers quickly joined his shirt on the floor. He leaned his tall body against Lizzy’s smaller frame and breathed against her ear. His mouth moved across her neck and down her shoulder blade; half kissing and half tasting her smooth skin. He reached behind and unhooked her strapless bra. Lizzy collapsed onto the bed and pulled Darcy down on top of her.

"Darcy kissed Elizabeth as if he was drowning and she was his only hope for rescue. His hands roamed her curves as he committed her body to memory. He paused and slowly pulled down Elizabeth’s panties. His eyes took in her entire body, spread out before him on the bed.

"“You are even more delicious than your dessert,” he whispered, before his actions took over.

Copyright held by Stacykos - 2004