Will didn’t reply, just gave him a heavy pat on the shoulder.
He wouldn’t admit it to Charlie, but they both needed to get out of East Hampton. All the distractions were pulling at them like the ocean’s riptide. If Will wanted to remain in control, they needed space. Getting back to the city was the first step. Now he just had to find a reason to keep them there.
Will woke up early the next morning thankful the house was finally quiet. In the hours that followed his conversation with Charlie, his mind had been on overdrive. By the time he woke up, he hadformulated a plan. Will got out of bed and grabbed his phone, scrolling down until he found the contact he needed. After a few rings, he heard a familiar voice on the other end.
“It’s six a.m.,” George Knightley said in greeting.
“It’s Will.”
“Yeah, you don’t have to say that each time you call. Your name pops up. There’s even a lame picture.” There was the sound of shuffling, then George sighed. “You know, some people sleep in the day after a big holiday.”
“You’re up, though.”
“Now I am. Everything okay?”
“Fine. How’s the city?”
George laughed. “Too hot. But you and I both know you’re not calling for a weather report.”
Will released a deep breath. “I think we’re falling behind on the Wentworth deal. If we want this next stage to go through before Q4, we need to work out the logistics.”
“Are you worried about something?”
“No.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
Will frowned. “There are a lot of moving parts on this one. And considering we hammered out the deal that put Freddie on the board at Blaxton Agriculture in the first place, it’s in our best interest to make the first acquisition he recommends foolproof.”
George sighed. “All right. I’ll talk to Freddie about flying out from LA. Let’s plan for an in-person meeting midweek.”
“Great. Call me when you have something in the books.”
Will hung up and released a relieved sigh. Part one of the “get over Jane Bennet” plan was complete.
CHAPTER 14
Lizzy was on the roof outside her bedroom window, halfway through her new book,The Sword of Sin and Sorrow, when she heard the rest of her family get home from Charlie’s. She tried to ignore the drunken giggles and yelling coming from downstairs, but after restarting the same paragraph four times, she realized it was hopeless.
She dog-eared the page and rested the book on her stomach, listening to the muffled conversations and arguments happening beyond her bedroom. Closing the window might offer her a reprieve, but that would mean getting up and disturbing the rare peace she found out here. Besides, she knew she’d have a visitor soon who would do it for her anyway.
Sure enough, she heard the familiar knock a few moments later. Lizzy copied it against the windowsill, and then Jane appeared in her doorway.
“I didn’t know if you’d still be awake,” she said, making her way to the open window. She stepped through, then scooted over to her usual spot beside Lizzy.
They both stared up at the dark sky, ignoring the sounds ofLydia bounding upstairs, yelling down to Kitty about profile views. Once Lydia’s bedroom door slammed shut, Jane nodded to the book still resting on Lizzy’s stomach.
“What do you think?” she asked.
Lizzy sighed dramatically. “Well, they just made it to the inn where there’s only one room available and that room only has one bed, so we’ll have to wait and see.”
Jane laughed softly. The sound faded and was soon replaced by the chirping of crickets in the trees and muffled conversations still happening inside the house.
“How was the rest of the party?” Lizzy asked, staring up at the stars.
“Good.”
A lopsided grin pulled at her lips as she turned to look at Jane. “Couldn’t have been that good if you’re home right now.”
