Jenna nodded. "She's actually fun to be around when she's not pawing at William."
Beth choked on her laughter. Jenna had the grace to look slightly ashamed of herself. "Who was her date?"
"Someone from a class of hers," Jenna answered, then paused. "So…….are you going to fill me in about last night?"
Beth opened and closed her mouth several times, then finally just plunged in. "I don't really know what happened. Jaxon didn't show. Next thing I know I'm crying in the snow and William's declaring himself."
Jenna raised her eyebrows. "Declaring himself?"
Beth felt a rush of shame. "I think I might have, maybe misjudged him at first. Possibly," she admitted in a small voice.
"You don't say."
Beth grimaced, not sure if she liked the effect romance was having on her friend. She had become downright snarky lately. "I just didn't see it, Jenna."
"You're the only one. It was obvious to everyone else. Why do you think Kara is so raunchy all the time?"
Beth's face broke into a grin. Maybe the new and improved Jenna wasn't a complete negative.
"So, did you do any declaring yourself?"
"Not verbally," Beth hedged.
Jenna clapped her hands in glee, squeezing Beth again before pulling back. "Wait. Did you kiss him?"
"He kissed me first," Beth defended.
Jenna's skin was positively aglow now. She shrieked in delight, and a groggy moan issued from the dining room.
"D'you guys have to be so freaking chipper?" Lindy slurred from the hide-a-bed sofa.
Beth grinned at Jenna, then extricated herself from the hug with a fair degree of difficulty.
"I'm going to shower so we can celebrate!" Jenna declared, dancing toward her own room.
Beth, feeling fantastically light and floaty, approached Lindy.
"A deal's a deal, Lind. The Lucases are expecting you by noon," she informed her, nicking the pillow off her head and folding up her blankets.
"I'm GOING," Lindy answered.
Before pulling herself out of bed and heading for Beth's room, Lindy gave her sister a withering look. Beth thought she heard her mumble the words "tyrant" and "unfair."
"Make sure and text me when you get there," Beth sang at her sister's back. "If I don't hear from you, I'll assume you've gone AWOL." Lindy slammed Beth's door, and Beth smiled to herself.
~:~
Two hours later, Beth and Jenna sat at the kitchen table, trying not to choke on chow mien and lemon chicken as they snorted with laughter between bites.
Pride and Prejudice played on the small TV/DVD combo that had been set up on the counter, the long A&E version starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. Given recent events, both girls felt incredibly lighthearted, and were taking turns voicing over the movie lines. Beth loved Jane Austen and her knack for displaying human nature at its most ridiculous; nevertheless, she was positive Miss Austen would be rolling in her grave if she could hear Beth and Jenna's spin on her characters' dialogue.
Colin Firth emerged from the Pemberly pond in his soaked shirt and faced Elizabeth.
"Miss Bennet!" Beth began, "I must confess myself quite put out that you missed the wet t-shirt contest down at the lake……"
Beth actually had to pound Jenna on the back and get her a drink after that one. As she sputtered over the kitchen sink and tried to catch her breath, there was a knock on the door. "That's probably Les!" she managed after a few breaths.
Jenna bounced to the door and opened it, pulling Les inside and throwing her arms around his neck like she hadn't seen him for a year. When no one else followed, Beth smiled at the floor, trying not to feel disappointed. She plopped back onto the table top and shoved more noodles into her mouth. What had she expected? William had said he'd see her 'tomorrow' but hadn't been specific. At least if Les took Jenna away she could mope around and feel sorry for herself in private.
Beth almost choked on her own mouthful when she heard William's voice, low in her ear.
"Chinese and sappy British romance, huh? Great combination." His lips brushed her ear and, just like last night, raised gooseflesh. Her breath hitched and she choked on her chow mien. He was definitely going to have to stop doing that - especially when her mouth was full of food.
"Have a drink." William picked up Beth's drink and held the straw to her lips.
"Hold - on……can't - breathe!"
It took a couple minutes for Beth's airway to clear. Jenna and Les mumbled something about going out for the night, but Beth didn't hear them. All she saw was William, sitting below her in a chair at the table, his hands clasped behind his head, his legs stretched out casually. A door closed in the distance.
"Hungry?" she offered meekly, handing William some chop sticks.
"Guys are always hungry."
They ate in silence for a few minutes, Beth silently obsessing about whether she had anything green stuck in her teeth. "So, what did you do today?"
"Just took care of some stuff back home." Even though his words were casual, his eyes were strained. "What about you?"
"Sent Lindy home, then spent the rest of the day celebrating." No need to add that the celebration hadn't been all for Lindy.
"Not very sisterly of you," he observed, grinning flirtatiously up at her. "Girls just wanna have fun, Beth."
Beth punched him on the arm. He had on a white t-shirt that hugged his torso and brought out the light olive tone of his skin. Drawing back in pretend fear, he threw his muscled arms up to thwart the onslaught.
"You just earned yourself some hard labor," Beth informed him frostily.
He lifted his eyebrows suggestively, and she smacked him again.
"We're going to make cookies."
William suppressed a shudder. "Thanks, but I've had my share of cookies recently….."
"No, I didn't say jawbreakers, I said cookies. You know, chewy, fudgy, soft?"
William still looked doubtful.
Beth hopped off the table, pulling him out of his chair. "Just trust me. The trick is in the baking time. You have to take them out of the oven when they're still doughy for them to turn out soft."
William smiled tolerantly.
Beth began pulling ingredients from cupboards. She unwrapped two squares of chocolate and put them into a glass bowl in the microwave. William looked at the bag of chocolate chips on the counter and scowled.
"These aren't just chocolate chip cookies," Beth explained. "These are chocolate-chocolate chip cookies. You put melted chocolate in, and chocolate chips."
William watched her. "You're not depressed, are you? Chocolate overdose and BBC…."
Beth walked over to William and handed him two eggs. "Just put the eggs in, okay? And, no shells."
William saluted and cracked the eggs into the bowl. "Yes, ma'am."
"Oh, one more thing," Beth added, retrieving her apron from a drawer. "You get to be the 1950s homemaker today."
William looked at Beth in disbelief as she tried to put the apron over his head. He caught her arms in the air and steered it over her head instead.
"No comments from me, I promise." Then he reached around her to tie the apron in the back. "Okay, I lied." William announced, stepping back and holding Beth's arms out to get a good look at her. "All I'm going to say is……Desperate Housewives has nothing on you."
Beth rolled her eyes but couldn't conceal an embarrassed smile. Busying herself with creaming the butter, sugar, and eggs, she assigned William the task of measuring out the dry ingredients. After a few additions the dough became too difficult to stir, and William stepped up behind her, confiscating the spoon and taking over. Watching him, she was foiled to see that his chiseled arms didn't even look strained. She dumped in the rest of the dry ingredients vindictively.
They took turns dropping the dough on the cookie sheet in neat rows of four by three, and Beth put the first sheet in the oven, setting the time for seven minutes. They filled up three more cookie sheets and there was just enough dough left
for them to each eat a spoonful.
"I always thought cookie dough was better than cookies," Beth mumbled through a mouthful.
"I wouldn't want to eat a whole bowl, but I think you're onto something," William agreed pensively. "Hey, weren't we supposed to put that chocolate in?"
Beth stopped licking her spoon and stared at the bowl of melted chocolate. "Oh, crap. Now we'll just have to eat it." She dipped her finger in and licked it off, wincing slightly.
William followed suit, laughing. "What was that face?"
"I like milk chocolate and this is semisweet."
"No way, dark chocolate is the best."
"Somehow I'm not surprised you feel that way," Beth mused.
"I always think of myself as dark chocolate."
"Let me guess. You have a 'deep, dark chocolate layer?' Exactly how many times have you seen One Fine Day?" Beth teased.
William colored a little. "I have a sister, okay? Of course I've seen it!"
"Well, okay, then. What kind of chocolate am I?" She raised her eyebrows and smiled, overjoyed to see William squirm for a change.
He looked seriously into her face, taking a step toward her and gingerly picking up one of her braids. "You're a hazelnut truffle."
Beth took a deep breath, which turned out to be more difficult than it should have been. They stood close, their faces only inches apart. She tried to smile, but felt too nervous, though she couldn't say why. They'd spent at least as much time kissing as talking last night. Maybe things were different in the light; maybe she wanted to save the best for last. Surreptitiously, she reached behind herself to dip her finger in the chocolate bowl.
"William," she began seriously, "you have chocolate on your face."
He looked distracted as he brushed his face with his hands. "Gone?"
"No," Beth countered. "It's still there."
"Where?"
"Right…..there." She swiped her chocolate-covered finger down his cheek, then tried to get away before he could retaliate.
"I can't believe you just did that," William said, his tone incredulous. He grabbed her around the waist, turning her around to face him and pulling her against his chest, her arms clasped securely behind her back. "You are a brat."
Beth smiled impishly.
William leaned in close to her face, his dark eyes resting on her mouth. "Why are you so mean to me?" he pleaded softly.
Beth had almost begun feeling sorry for him (an unfortunate side effect of his touching her) when he rubbed his chocolate-smeared cheek across hers. She wrenched her arms free, grabbed a handful of flour, and threw it at him.
Half an hour later William and Beth had reached a standstill. They stood a few feet apart from each other, poised for battle, each holding a handful of powdery ammunition. William had flour caked in his spiky hair and there were two generous-sized chocolate smudges on his shirt.
"Truce?" Beth offered.
William eyed her warily. "You promise? No more tricks?"
"I will if you will."
"Okay, deal."
They laughed as they went to the sink to wash off. Beth noted with pleasure that William was much more caked in flour and chocolate than she was. She deflated slightly at the chocolate stains on his white shirt. He should have worn the apron.
"Shoot. I got your shirt pretty bad. I'm sorry! Let me get the chocolate out."
"You're a genius in the kitchen and a laundry guru?"
"Not quite. I have a few tricks though," Beth smiled, seizing the sponge at the sink and wetting it, then tentatively dabbing at the chocolate. The shirt couldn't find purchase against his skin, and Beth had to clamp her hand down to hold it still. She was forcibly reminded of the night in the tent, when he had pressed her hand to his chest to keep it warm. Having a shirt between her hand and his skin did not lessen the effect, and she colored. Scrubbing a little harder at the stain, she studiously avoided William's steady gaze. Stooping to open the cupboard under the sink, she armed herself with a Clorox Bleach Pen. Any relief she felt at escaping William's proximity for a split second dissolved when she realized she was going to have to put her hand inside his shirt to scrub the stain out. She was quite sure any romantic notions would disappear with the stain if she burned a hole in his chest.
"Um….sorry. I don't want the bleach to burn you, so I have to lift your shirt away from your skin."
"If you want me to take it off, just say so," he teased, hooking his index fingers in her belt loops and pulling her closer.
He was clearly relishing her discomfort, so she rolled her eyes and plunged her hand up through the bottom of his shirt, lifting the fabric away from his chest. She began dotting the bleach on the stain and then started scrubbing, a little harder than was probably necessary.
She felt his eyes burning into her face again, but instead of avoiding his gaze, she glanced up. William watched her with dark, unreadable eyes, a muscle tensing in his jaw.
Beth bit her lip, resumed her scrubbing, and didn't look up again.
"That should do it," she declared, pulling her hand back to safety and laying the bleach pen aside.
Before she could step away, he tugged on her belt loops and clasped his hands together behind her. "Where do you think you're going?" he murmured, and Beth's stomach lurched with delight as William drew her against him and folded her into his arms. To her surprise (and disappointment), he didn't kiss her. He just held her for a long time, and the familiar homey sensation enveloped Beth again. She closed her eyes, thinking she could sleep right there in his arms were it not for her racing heart.
"William?" Beth mumbled a few minutes later.
"Hm?"
"No offense…..but your shirt is burning my nose."
William laughed as he released her.
"Trying to get my clothes off again?"
Beth shook her head, embarrassed. "Um, I'm going to take a quick shower, okay?"
William looked startled. "I'll stay here," he said quickly. "Do you mind if I use the sink to rinse this guck out of my hair?"
"Nope. Let me grab you a towel."
She went to the linen closet just outside the bathroom and returned with the towel. The sight of William, bent over the sink washing his hair, the muscles in his arms and shoulders flexing with his movements, froze her in place for a moment. When she came to her senses, she set the towel silently on the table and focused on not running into any walls or furniture en route to the bathroom.
After showering and slipping on jeans and a loose t-shirt, Beth stepped into the hall and toweled off her tresses. She was surprised to see that the mess had vanished from the kitchen. William knelt on the linoleum, wiping the last bit of flour off the floor.
He looked up when Beth came into the kitchen and did a double take. Then he stood up and nervously dumped the flour into the sink. He turned to face her. "Your hair is wet."
"Yeah….it usually gets that way when I stand under running water for any length of time." She reached up and tousled his. "Yours is too."
William smiled. "It just reminds me of camping."
"Oh." From the expression on his face she thought maybe the memory was torturing him. She cleared her throat, gesturing toward the bathroom. "Should I go dry it?"
"No," he smiled, pulling her into his arms and then running a hand through her damp tresses. "I like it."
Beth suddenly felt nervous. "Do you want a cookie?"
He laughed. "Well, I don't know. They're not double chocolate anymore. I mean, here I thought you were this domestic diva, and instead it all ends in a food fight with you putting your hand up my shirt and then skipping off to the shower while I clean the floor -"
He was cut off when Beth shoved a cookie in his mouth.
SLUMBER PARTY
"…..it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night."
~Mrs. Bennet, Pride & Prejudice
The door to room 204 opened, ushering in Jenna and Les. William and Beth were sitting at the table eating cookies and drinking milk.<
br />
"Hey, guys!" Les boomed.
Was he ever in a bad mood?
"We thought we'd stop by and see if you wanted to come back to the house and watch this movie with us," Les said, brandishing latest action flick in the air.
Jenna quietly observed William and Beth. If it had been anyone else Beth wouldn't have been worried, but she knew Jenna missed nothing. Drinking milk and eating cookies at the table was innocent enough, right? Platonic? Maybe it was Beth's wet hair and William's ruined shirt that caught her attention.
"Only if we get to bring these cookies," William managed through a mouthful.
"Cookies?" Les looked alarmed.
"No, dude. These are good cookies. I even helped make them," William added proudly. Then he added, to Beth's dismay, "They would have been double chocolate, but someone thought she'd get cute with the melted chocolate."
Jenna suppressed a smile, and Beth blushed. William grabbed the plate of cookies, and the four rode to Les's house in his truck.
Beth let out a low whistle as she stepped into chez Bradford, trying not to resemble someone suffering from tennis neck. The kitchen was quite spacious, with marble counter tops, a stainless steel triple sink, and knotty alder cabinets. The hard wood floor extended into a large, open room that doubled as the family/living room. There were spacious rugs covering the wood floor and three cushy micro fiber couches that had been arranged into a U-shape. The middle couch was flanked by end tables at each junction. Two plush bean bags were nestled up against the couches on the floor. The focal point of the room was a ginormous widescreen TV, which was built into the wall facing the couches. Behind the TV, stairs led up to what Beth could only assume were bedrooms.
"So, is the Bradford-Darcy lair fully operational yet?"
"We just finished the upstairs," Les said, shoving a whole cookie in his mouth. "Now we're adding on a deck and maybe another room."
"Let me guess, Jenna's wing?"
Jenna blushed slightly at Beth's assumption.
Les perked up like it was the best idea ever. He smiled at Beth and then started flipping switches and turning on equipment while Jenna put the DVD in the player. Then they plopped into one of the bean bags. Beth had started making her way in to join them, when William caught her hand and pulled her back.
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