Chapter Nine
Jacob stayed away Monday. When he called the house on Tuesday, he discovered they were already gone and would be out the whole day. Now, it was Wednesday, and Beth hadn’t called, either. He knew—he made sure his voicemail worked.
Maybe he’d scared her into avoiding him. Be easier, perhaps, if they could put the weekend behind them and be best friends again. Easier…but lacking, maybe. He didn’t know what it was that made the two of them a combustible entity when in the same room alone, but he’d never felt something so powerful. So amazingly sexy.
If they could just…
Well, there he went, thinking with his dick again. Beth, because she was Bethie, deserved better.
She deserved a guy in a time zone less than eight hours ahead, frankly. Someone who could take her to movies and dinner and that sci-fi convention she secretly wanted to attend. A guy who would carry her books to class and rub her neck when she got stiff from studying for finals. Someone that remembered the chocolate sprinkles on her hot chocolate. A bloke who was friggin’ there.
And that wouldn’t be him for years, if ever.
Could he tell her that? Could he be selfless enough to let her go?
Question of the bloody year, mate.
****
Thursday morning, and Beth hadn’t seen or heard from Jacob since Sunday night. Guess that was it, then…no sex, no interest. Of course, he could be busy with the band or whatever, but still…couldn’t a girl get one phone call?
Ooo, maybe his mother got to him! That could be it. It was a nicer thought than him only wanting her for her body, so yeah…sticking with that one for now. She’d blame Vivian!
Then again, that might be unfair to her good friend and he really was an asshole when it came to women. See how my brain works? Help me! She groaned and dropped her head on the table.
“Miss Elizabeth?” One of the servants.
“I’m fine. Sorry for the noise.”
She smiled. She was young, maybe only a couple years older. “I find a nice walk or bicycle ride helps when my mind is overburdened.”
“Probably a good idea. Thank you.”
She nodded and left Beth to finish breakfast.
She’d slept in today, so Mrs. Lindsey was already out of the house. After leaving a note on the refrigerator saying she’d be back by dark, she set out alone. A dusty bike from the garage was her getaway. Didn’t know how far she’d go, but the scenery of manicured gardens and stately mansions was worth wandering. The scent of roses carried on the warm breeze.
She rode for a half hour or so when a familiar motorcycle passed going the opposite direction. Hoping he hadn’t spotted her, she kept going. Got about five minutes further, and the red bike pulled up next to her.
“Whatcha doin’, love?” Jacob asked.
“What does it look like?”
“Okay…serves me right for askin’ an obvious question. Where are you going?”
“Nowhere. Anywhere. What’s it to you?” Couldn’t I get one afternoon of peace to myself?
He accelerated the bike to cut off her path. “Why are you biting my head off?” He removed his helmet.
“I’m not.”
“Uh, beg to differ, love.”
She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Fine, think what you like. Can I continue now?”
“Can I get a clue why you’re mad at me?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Haven’t heard from you in four days. It’s a bit rude.”
“You didn’t call me, either.”
“Been busy. Try leaving a message.”
“I called on Tuesday.”
He did? “I didn’t hear about it.”
“Not my fault.”
“Fine.”
He shut the bike off. “I missed you.”
“Huh.” Don’t give in, don’t give in…
He dismounted and walked the few steps to her. “I see you, and I don’t want to let you go.”
Gulp. “You didn’t feel for me at all before Saturday.”
“So you say.” He placed his hand on hers. “You know how I am—once I decide to do something, I jump head first.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that I’m going back to L.A. and you aren’t.”
“Don’t have to be back until September.”
She pulled her hand away. “I can’t stay that long. My parents would never allow it.”
“You’re an adult, Beth. What can they do?”
Grasping for straws, she said, “My Dad could threaten to pull the plug on my tuition.”
He shook his head. “He wouldn’t do that.”
“You don’t know. My dad can hold a grudge a long time. My brother left when I was eight, Jacob. He hasn’t been back because Dad didn’t approve of what he wanted to do with his life. Mom couldn’t bear losing both of her kids. I won’t do that to her, not even for you.”
“Does that mean you’d never leave L.A.?”
“I…” She glanced away. “I don’t know. I don’t know what’s beyond college.”
He touched her cheek. “With your grades, you could go anywhere, you know.”
“What are you asking?”
“I’m not…I’m only saying you shouldn’t be afraid to explore your options. You’d survive your father’s disapproval, Beth.”
“Maybe.” A headache blossomed in the center of her forehead. “God, you really can complicate things, Jacob.”
His kissed her head and hugged her, rubbing her back. “I don’t mean to.”
She chuckled, because it was better than crying. “I know.”
Thankfully, this wasn’t a busy street in the middle of a work day. They would have been an odd sight hugging on a bicycle.
His shirt was damp under the jacket, the July weather too hot for leather if he wasn’t at speed. She sat there resting her chin on his shoulder until her butt started to go to sleep on the seat. He released her when she loosened her arms.
“Where would you like to go?” he asked, tucking her hair behind her left ear.
She shrugged. “I could use a laugh.”
He nodded his head to the motorcycle. “Hop on. We’ll find a theater.”
“What about this?” she asked, patting the handlebar.
“Stow it behind a bush. It’ll be fine.”
“That’s not right. I’m not ditching someone else’s property.”
“Love, do you really want to ride all the way back to the house first?”
“It’s your mom’s bike.”
He held his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay… I’ll go get the car so I can pick you up.”
She nodded. “That’s fair.”
People and things were treated like Beth wanted to be treated, which tended to be better than how most people she met acted in return. Had a cousin she wouldn’t let touch her Barbies after she saw what she did to hers. The memory still made her shudder, seeing all those poor dolls with missing heads or their hair in tangles. Mom thought she had a problem with sharing, but that wasn’t it—she had a problem with chaos, which any bit of childish destruction was to her. She was the only kid she knew that didn’t need to be told to clean her room, because it was never messy.
He was a clutter slob—never filthy, but stuff was just tossed anywhere. Hence the suggestion for the bicycle.
Beth pedaled faster this time, but he was still there and back to her in around ten minutes. Boy had a lead foot. They put the bicycle in the trunk, dropped it off at the house, and parked the Jag.
“Do we have to take the bike?” she asked.
“What’s wrong with it?”
“The car has air-conditioning and leather seats that don’t hurt my butt.”
“Easier to find a parkin’ space with the bike.”
She pouted. “So?”
“Fine,” he sighed. He rolled the motorcycle into the garage. “But if we have to pay for a spot, it’s out of your pocket.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
She kn
ew he secretly didn’t mind much. He only rode the bike here for the cheap mileage and ability to get through traffic.
“Whatever happened to your car when you moved, anyway?”
“Sold it. Mum only let me live at the house until I had stable work that summer.”
“Lucky for you it was only two years old.”
He pulled out of the driveway. “Yeah. What do you drive?”
“Dad’s car when he’s away.”
“You’re going to university without a car?”
“Yup. Living in the dorms was cheaper than buying one. We aren’t made of money like some people.”
“Mum has the dosh, not me. Don’t even get my trust fund ‘til I graduate.”
“You have a trust fund?” She shifted on the seat to face him. “What else don’t I know?
He threw her a look. “It’s not a big deal, alright? Just somethin’ my grandparents set up.”
“Wow. What were they like?”
“Very traditional and very kind. They’ve been gone a while.”
She laid her hand on his knee. “I’m sorry.”
“It was ten years ago, love. Didn’t know them very well. As people.”
Understandable. She only knew certain things about her grandparents from stories. “What about your dad’s side?”
His smile faded. “Never met anybody.”
“Oh.” How sad. They’d missed out, wherever they were. “So, when’s your next gig?”
“Saturday. And another on Sunday.”
“Same place?”
“Nope.”
“Oh. Break a leg.”
He grinned, keeping his eyes on the road. “Thanks.”
She faced forward again and watched the scenery go by. It was so weird to be on the left side of the car and not driving. They soon got into the metro part of London, heading in the same direction as his apartment.
“Do you always drive toward home?” she teased.
“I know the neighborhood.”
“I’m sure there’s a theater closer to your mother’s place.”
He smiled. “Probably is.”
She shook her head. “And you called me a creature of habit.”
“Bethie, someone could set a clock by you in high school.”
“Hello, it’s a regimented schedule everybody was on.”
“But you stuck to it with supreme efficiency.” He parked the car. “Bet you couldn’t go one day without checking the time.”
“Just point me to my movie.”
They bickered over who would pay for the tickets, then the snacks, then what row to sit in. Beth liked the middle of the theater. He wanted the front or the very back.
“You can sit there. I’m not gonna.”
“Maybe I will,” Jacob said, and sauntered down to the second row. That lasted until the end of the previews when he got lonely.
She grinned in triumph and gave him her “told you so” look. He stuck his tongue out at her and stole the popcorn. “Hey, give that back! You said you didn’t want any.”
He popped a kernel in his mouth. “Changed my mind.”
She grabbed the box. “Then get your own!”
“But the movie’s starting.” He stole a handful this time.
She moved it to the empty seat next to her. “Not my problem.”
“Brat.”
“Mooch.”
“SHHHH!” someone said behind them.
She turned around and mouthed “sorry.” Jacob sat there smiling about getting her in trouble. She smacked his knee and whispered “behave” at him. The second after she spoke the word, she remembered it usually acted like the red flag waved in front of the proverbial bull. From anyone except his mother, he took the order as a dare. She hoped he’d be more interested in the movie this time. He let her enjoy the film, the only small reminder things were different presenting in his arm being stretched across the back of her chair. It was a fun cartoon. She started to relax, and laugh, and felt on familiar territory for the first time since flying over.
When it was time to leave, he took her hand in the hallway. The gesture carried a lot of weight for her—one, he’d never casually done it before in public; two, he’d only taken her hand, not done something else more overt or possessive; and three, holding hands was so normal. He opened her door for her when they reached the car, kissed the hand he held, and walked around to his side. She swooned at the sheer sweetness of it.
“Just in time for supper at Mum’s,” he said, pulling the car into traffic.
“You’re hungry after all that candy?”
“Well, yeah. Growin’ boy, love.” He winked.
“Pig.”
“Oink, oink.”
Vivian didn’t look surprised at all to see them walk through the door together. “I didn’t realize you two had plans today,” she said.
“We didn’t. Jacob caught up with me when I was out by myself.”
“And gave you a ride home? How sweet of you, dear.”
“We saw a movie, Mum.” He started for the kitchen. “What’s for dinner?”
She turned to Beth. “I took the liberty of picking something up for you today, Elizabeth. It’s on your bed.”
A present? “Wow, okay. What is it?”
“Go take a look. There’s time.”
“Um, thank you.” The kitchen door was closed, so he couldn’t hear her. “Did you talk to Jacob about…?”
She shook her head. “Why? Did he say something?”
“No. He was just…nice today. Less intense.”
She smiled. “I haven’t said a word.”
Huh. “Oh. Okay, then.”
Beth excused herself to her room. A large, flat box sat on the bed. The note on top said for tomorrow night. That was odd—she didn’t have plans for tomorrow. She lifted the top off to reveal folded-over tissue paper.
Wrapped in the tissue paper was a dress. Lifting it out of the box, the length of the dress fell to the floor. It was semi-formal, a simple sheath design in navy blue. She held it up to her body in front of the full-length mirror. The hem skimmed her ankles. Not bad. Right in between drawing attention to her body and embarrassing her. She might have chosen it in a store if she could afford it.
“Try it on,” Vivian said behind her.
“Was I taking too long?”
She waved off the question. “No, I wanted to see how you like it. Try it on tonight in case any alterations need to be done.”
“It’s lovely, but…why?”
She shrugged. “Why not? Besides, what would a visit to London be without attending a society party? I’d love to have your company. It’s a good cause, but you have no idea how much of a bore some of those people are.”
“Not seeing the incentive here,” Beth teased.
“Did I not mention the five course meal? Silly me.”
Thinking about it, she asked, “What’s for dessert?”
“Something with far too many calories, of course.”
“If it’s chocolate, you’ve got yourself a deal.”
Vivian laughed, green eyes twinkling. “I’ll try to find out.” She shooed Beth toward the bathroom. “Try on the dress!”
“Okay, okay.”
She shed clothes, unzipped the back of the dress, and carefully stepped into it. It was sleeveless, so she got the straps situated on her shoulders and reached her right arm behind her to pull the zipper up. The fabric started to magically hug her meager curves. A small slit in back made it easier to walk. Glancing in the bathroom mirror, she almost didn’t recognize her body.
“Whoa.”
“Does it fit? Come out and let me see.”
She smoothed the dress into place and walked out to the bedroom.
“Oh, Elizabeth…” Vivian started to walk around her. “I had a hunch this would be perfect.” She guided her to the full-length mirror, then gathered her hair in her hands and twisted it up off her neck. “Look at you. So grown-up.”
“I…I don’t know what to say
.” The girl in the mirror looked like a different person. She had possibilities.
“You like it, yes?”
“It’s amazing…” Beth tried to be an adult, though she didn’t feel like one, yet, but Mirror-Beth was one.
Vivian smiled at her in the mirror. “Then ‘thank you’ is all I need. Change for dinner, now.”
“Okay.” Beth walked back into the bathroom and heard his mother leave.
She wanted to call Mom. “Crap, it’s Thursday.” She checked her watch. “She’s at ceramics class.” Oh, well. She’d tell her all about the party tomorrow.
After dinner, Vivian convinced Jacob to play something on the piano. To Beth’s surprise, he took a random book out of the bench seat, opened it to a page, and started playing like he’d done it a hundred times. She watched his long fingers dance over the keys and wondered what instrument he was really better at—guitar or piano. They clapped when he finished the song.
“It’s been too long since I heard you play,” his mother said fondly.
“That’s what you get for stayin’ in California,” he teased.
“Perhaps it is time for a change,” she said
“I didn’t know you’d taken lessons.”
“Started before the guitar, actually,” he said. “And I’ve had to pick it up again at school.”
“You play very well.” Professional quality, to her inexperienced ears.
He shrugged. “A little rusty, but it wasn’t too bad.”
“Play Elizabeth some of the Gershwin.”
“Mother, I haven’t touched that piece in almost four years.”
“Well, whose fault is that?” She added to Beth, “He stole the recital with it, don’t believe any different.”
“I barely remember any of it. Request somethin’ from this decade.”
She sighed. “And on that note, I’m going to bed. Be good, kids, and turn out the lights tonight.”
“Yes, Mum.”
“Goodnight, Vivian.”
Left alone, Beth moved closer to the piano bench. He swung one leg over to straddle it and face her. “How much longer are you staying?” He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting them on her hips.
She sighed. “I don’t know…maybe make it an even two weeks.”
“Any way I can convince you to stay longer?”
“Oh, that’d go over well. ‘Hi, Dad, I’m not coming home yet ‘cause Jacob and I wanna hang out.’”
Kissed Page 9
