“Where are you going?”
Will’s voice came from behind her, deep and gravelly. She hated how she recognized it, how it hit some hidden part in her chest that she wasn’t even aware of before him.
For a long moment, she didn’t move. Maybe if she stalled long enough, he would go away. Or, better yet, maybe she’d just imagined his voice so when she turned around she would find only an empty doorway.
But when she did look over her shoulder, there he was. His gaze was expectant, like the statement required a complicated answer.
Unfortunately for him, she didn’t have one. “Home.”
“The valet can get your car.”
The valet. It rolled off his tongue so easily, like he discussed valets as often as Lizzy did muffins.
She shook her head. Why was she even here? This was a different world, and she didn’t belong in it.
“Don’t worry about it. My sisters will grab it later. I can walk,” she said.
“You’re not walking home.”
“Really? Because I’m pretty sure I am.”
She didn’t wait for a reply, just turned and started forward. Yes, it was rude, but no more than he usually was. Besides, she knew he would inevitably turn around and disappear inside whethershe was polite or not, leaving the appropriate level of disapproval in his wake.
Except she didn’t hear any movement from behind her. Then his voice rumbled to life again.
“I’ll give you a ride.”
She stopped. She must be imagining things, because she could have sworn Will Darcy just offered to drive her home. But when she turned, she found him still glaring at her from a few feet away.
“Why?” she asked.
The grimace deepened into a frown. “Why what?”
“Why are you offering me a ride?”
“Why aren’t you taking it?”
“Because I walk home all the time. It’s no big deal.”
“It’s after dark in a town that barely has working streetlights.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Did Charlie force you to come out here and do this?”
His expression changed again. It was slight—to anyone else it would just look like he was still frowning at her—but she could see a softening of the edges into something like confusion. Or maybe it was offense.
“You think Charlie made me come out here?”
“Why else would you?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw as he stared at her. It almost looked like he had something to say but was forcing himself to hold it back. Like the words tasted sour on his tongue.
She sighed. “Listen, I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want a ride. I want to go home.” She was too tired for this, and her exhaustion made her voice waver.
Another shift in his expression. She hated how she was already an expert in his looks, on how the subtle movements of his brow and jaw and mouth could convey a whole series of emotions. Rightnow it was the line between his eyebrows. It had deepened, like he was concerned. There was a hint of anger there, too, ready to be called up if needed.
“What happened?” His voice somehow sounded even gruffer than before.
She blinked. “Nothing happened. I’m fine.”
