Here’s chapter 2! Find chapter one here.

2

“Lizzy!” She looked up when she heard her name called. Charles Bingley was making his way across the room toward her.

“Hey, Charlie!” They kissed each other’s cheeks and he placed a hand on her elbow and guided her to the corner.

“How long do you want to stay?” He looked around at the ballroom filled with lawyers drinking from the open bar and cringed a little.

“I’m ready to go now. I just need to pop up to my room and change. I can meet you in the lobby in half an hour.”

“Perfect. See you then.” He grinned and jogged off, taking the stairs to his room on the sixth floor. He always had excess energy that needed to be channeled somewhere.

Probably why he has such a nice body, she thought, admiring his lean form as he walked away.

She was on the tenth floor and wearing heels, so she waited patiently for the elevator.

Half an hour later, Elizabeth was walking into the lobby clad in a blood red wrap dress. The sleeves went just past her elbows and the skirt fell to the top of her knees, but the color was daring, and it plunged fairly low in the front. And of course her leg always peeped out when she walked. She felt it was understated sexy, her favorite kind, and looked forward to an evening out.

Charles was waiting for her, looking very debonair in black slacks and jacket, a crisp blue shirt with the top button undone and no tie. He lit up when he saw her and managed a quiet wolf whistle when she got closer.

“You should definitely wear that to court. The judge would always rule in your favor.”

She laughed. “Come on, I’m hungry.”

They got to the restaurant a little early, so they waited in the bar for a few minutes. Charles was getting them drinks while Elizabeth people watched. She saw a tall, dark-haired man walk in, well-groomed but not overdone, with a great jaw and what looked like thick, soft hair. She’d always had a thing for tall guys.

Charles came back and she let her gaze rake up his six-foot-two body for a moment. He caught her look and gave a little chuckle.

“Examining the merchandise, Ms. Bennet?” he teased.

“Just enjoying the view.”

He blushed lightly, but the hostess told them their table was ready before she could tease him for it.

To Elizabeth’s surprise, the man at the table they were led to was the tall one she had noticed at the door.

“Where’s your date?” asked Charles.

“She’s gone to wash her hands.”

“This is Elizabeth. She’s also in town for the conference and is a killer negotiator.” She laughed and nudged him with her elbow. Charles smiled at her and placed his hand on her back. “This is Will Darcy. We’ve been friends since we were in prep school together.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Will,” she said with a warm smile. He nodded and reciprocated. “I think I’ll wash my hands, too. If you’ll excuse me.”

She made her way to the ladies room at the back of the restaurant while the men sat down.

“Very pretty. Well done for a last-minute date,” said Will.

“Thanks. She’s something else. Smartest woman I’ve ever dated, that’s for sure.” Charles leaned back in his chair.

“So you’re seeing her regularly?” asked Will.

“We’ve been on a few dates. Nothing serious yet, but I like her.” He shrugged. “We’ll see.”

Will looked at his friend skeptically. Charles had a familiar gleam in his eye. He used to have that same look at track meets just before he won every race. Will didn’t doubt it—Charles wouldn’t be sleeping alone tonight. And from the looks of her, not for many nights to come.

Elizabeth entered the bathroom and saw a blonde woman at the sink, fixing her hair in the dim light. She stepped farther in and gasped.

“Jane?”

“Lizzy? What are you doing here?”

The women hugged and laughed and talked over each other.

“I came with Charlie, the guy I told you I’ve been seeing. We’re meeting up with his old friend.”

“I’m here with Will and meeting his old friend and his date.”

“Will—tall, dark hair, jaw that could cut glass?”

Jane nodded and smiled proudly. “That’s the one. Isn’t he gorgeous?”

“Yes, well done, sis. So, do we tell the boys we’re sisters, or do we have a little fun first?” Lizzy asked mischievously.

“Oooh, let’s have fun! What did you have in mind?”

~

Soon all four were introduced to each other and after doing a quick double take at the first sight of his friend’s date, Charles was his usual charming self, telling jokes and making everyone laugh. When he wasn’t performing that office, Elizabeth was.

“So Jane, what do you do?” asked Charles.

“I’m a physical therapist, mainly sports injuries.”

“Oh, are you into sports?” he asked, interested.

“Or just into athletes!” Elizabeth teased.

Jane shot her a look. “I like certain sports, yes. What about you?”

“I love sports.”

“That’s an understatement,” added Will. “He played on every team possible all through prep school and rowed on the college team.”

“You’re one to talk. How do you think we met?” retorted Charles.

“True, but the difference between you and me is that you like all aspects of virtually every sport. You play it, watch it, everything. I just like to play one or two and watch the occasional game. It’s not a lifestyle.”

Charles laughed. “You’ve got me there.”

“I know what you mean,” said Elizabeth. “I enjoy playing some sports, but I’ve never really been that into watching them.”

The food arrived and everyone was quiet for a moment.

“What do you do, Charles?” Jane asked.

“I’m a lawyer. So’s Elizabeth.”

“Oh, what kind of law do you practice?” she put her chin on her hand and leaned in, interested.

“Mostly property law, a little contract law here and there.”

She nodded. “And where are you from? Will said you’re in from out of town.”

“Originally, I’m from the D.C. area, but I live in Seattle now.”

“Oh, I’ve been there! It’s such a pretty city. I’ve thought about relocating because I have a close friend there. Too bad it’s so rainy,” said Jane.

“Everyone always says that about Seattle! You know, there are more important things than weather,” interjected Elizabeth hotly.

Charles and Will looked a little surprised at her vehemence, but the women ignored them.

“Oh? Like what?” asked Jane in a sweet voice that was clearly anything but.

“Like culture and music and museums.”

“Music and museums are part of culture,” said Jane as if she were talking to someone mentally deficient.

“And community involvement and green spaces.” Jane rolled her eyes and Elizabeth fumed. “Where are you from, Jane?”

“Nashville. In Tennessee,” she said simply.

Elizabeth scoffed. “And you’re dogging Seattle’s weather? You melt into a puddle in the summer and if it snows half an inch, the entire city shuts down.”

Jane threw her napkin on the table and leaned forward angrily. “You know, people are always talking smack about the south and I am so sick of it. At least we aren’t water-logged hippies who wear nothing but flannel.”

“No, just rednecks in tube tops who drive their trucks half a block to avoid walking. Don’t even get me started on the accents.”

“Oh, because sounding like a stoned surfer is so preferable,” retorted Jane.

By this point, Charles and Will were watching the women like a tennis match, their heads swiveling back and forth between them and occasionally shooting each other confused looks.

Elizabeth threw her napkin on the table and stood up, making Charles reach for her arm and Will look around to see if their corner table had drawn any unwanted attention. Thankfully, the table next to theirs had just vacated and the further ones likely couldn’t hear them over the music and their own conversation.

“That’s it, blondie! I’ve had enough,” Elizabeth spat. She stood with her hands on her hips glaring angrily at Jane.

Jane stood slowly and moved in front of her.

“Ladies, please,” said Charles quietly.

Will was trying to pull Jane back into her seat, but she wouldn’t budge. He hated to admit it, but he was oddly fascinated. He’d never seen two women fighting like this before and he had to admit to a little curiosity.

“What are you gonna do, Yankee?” taunted Jane.

Elizabeth shook her head and the two stared each other down, the men watching anxiously and nobody saying anything for nearly a minute.

Slowly, just when the guys thought they might have to physically restrain them, a slow smile started to work its way onto their faces.

“I can’t believe you called me a Yankee,” said Elizabeth with a grin as she relaxed her posture. “You know I’ve always hated that.”

Jane shrugged and smiled back. “What can I say? Tit for tat. You shouldn’t have called me blondie.”

“Sorry about that,” said Elizabeth insincerely.

Jane rolled her eyes. “You suck at fake apologizing! How many times have I told you to quit trying altogether?”

“I know, I know.”

Charles looked at Will, then at the two women who now seemed like old friends, then back to Will. His friend did the same.

Jane opened her arms and said, “Truce?”

Elizabeth laughed and hugged her. “Always.”

Will’s confusion had reached unprecedented levels and he was beginning to think one or both of them was seriously unhinged when they turned to face the table, arms around each other’s waists, and smiled.

“Charles,” said Elizabeth, “I’d like you to meet Jane Bennet.” His eyes began to widen at the name. “My sister.”

Jane and Elizabeth dissolved into a fit of laughter and finally sat back down.

“What? How…” Will was looking at Jane like he’d never seen her before.

“We saw each other in the bathroom and decided to play a little trick on you guys. Sorry,” Elizabeth said. The apology was obviously insincere. Jane was right—she sucked at fake apologies. “Don’t be mad at Jane. It was my idea.”

Jane reached across the table and took her sister’s hand. “Don’t be silly. We thought of it together. And Will isn’t petty enough to be mad about a harmless little prank, are you Will?” she looked at him as she said the last.

“Of course not,” he said automatically.

“See?” said Jane proudly.

“I can’t believe you two were taking us for a ride this whole time!” exclaimed Charles.

“Disappointed?” teased Elizabeth.

“A little. I thought I might get to see a little girl fighting in action.”

The whole table laughed.

“We haven’t had nearly enough to drink for that,” said Jane.

The men laughed again, Charles wholeheartedly and Will a little awkwardly, and looked at Jane in surprise.

The group settled down and began talking in earnest, two old friends with two sisters, and conversation flowed easily. Jane and Elizabeth finished each other’s sentences and both Charles and Will were having a hard time keeping up, but they enjoyed the effort tremendously.

Chapter 3