Kissed

by Ms. Carla Krae

He pulled away before they got too hot, not wanting to give the driver a show. “I’m glad you came.”

  “Me, too.” She laced her right hand with his left. “Tonight, or…”

  “To England. Hopefully for more than a week.”

  “I’m meeting your friend, aren’t I?”

  “Yep!” The thought of having Beth here for a month put a wide grin on his face.

  She rolled her eyes, then leaned her head on his shoulder. “I’ll admit, I’m not ready to go home, yet. Don’t think I should leave until I see Stonehenge.”

  “Ohhh, so a circle of rocks is really what’s keepin’ you here?”

  “It’s a factor.”

  “Brat.”

  “Such an ego you have…”

  He couldn’t see much of her face from this angle, but he knew the expression that went with her teasing by heart. She’d always been expressive, for a shy girl. Well, formerly shy. “You handled yourself pretty well tonight.”

  She sat up to look at him. “You think so?”

  He nodded. “Very nice first impression and those people are big on those.”

  “I was taught a little social grace.”

  “Hey, I wasn’t implying anything. I meant you didn’t look nervous, love.”

  “Oh.” She pulled her bag onto her lap and took out a small bottle of water. “Want a sip?”

  “I’m fine.”

  She unscrewed the cap and took a swallow.

  “Can I ask you something and not get my head bitten off?”

  She eyed him warily. “What?”

  “Why do you get defensive with me?”

  She sighed and put the bottle back in her purse. “Not just you.”

  “Good to know. And?”

  “You might have noticed I wasn’t one of the popular people? From the time I hit school, I wasn’t comfortable around a single person except my parents. My brother left when I was eight, so I barely knew him. To other kids, I was born with giant ‘kick me’ signs front and back. It wasn’t fun.”

  “We’ve always gotten along.”

  “And I didn’t expect that to last.” Her gaze dropped to her shoes. “You keep surprising me.”

  He reached for her hand again. “I’d never hurt you on purpose, Beth. Hope you know that.”

  She lifted her head and met his eyes. “Yeah. I do.”

  “That’s somethin’”

  The car stopped. They glanced out the window and saw the house. He slid to the door and opened it, then held his hand out to her. The house was dark. He bid the driver goodnight and walked to the front door.

  A small lamp had been left on in the foyer.

  “Hungry? I know a few places open late,” Jacob asked.

  “Sure. I should probably change first.”

  “Need any help?” He added a wink, just in case she thought he was serious.

  She swatted his arm. “No. Perv.” Despite the protest, there might have been some added sway to her hips as she ascended the staircase.

  Seriously fine ass…

  He loosened his tie, took it off, and slipped it into his pocket. Hated anything snug on his neck.

  “Jacob?” She appeared at the top of the stairs, still in her dress.

  “Yeah?”

  “I really do need help. The zipper’s stuck.”

  He started up the stairs. “You’re kidding.”

  “I think a bit of fabric got caught in the teeth, so it doesn’t want to slide.” She walked back into her room where there was more light. Her back to him, she said, “Be careful.”

  “I won’t rip it.” He tried sliding the zipper. “Bend forward a little.”

  That was better—he could see detail in the light now. Yep, a bit of fabric was stuck between the teeth at the top.

  “Uhh, I’m not sure how to get this unstuck.”

  “Great.” She turned around. “It’s too snug to slide off.”

  “What about lifting it over your head?”

  She shrugged. “I’ll give it a shot.” She walked into the bathroom.

  He sat on the bed to wait, and heard a few muffled curses a minute later. “You okay?”

  The door opened a crack. “Not so much.”

  “Do you want help?”

  She hesitated long enough, he thought she wasn’t going to reply. Then, “Yeah…”

  No big deal, mate…just innocently help your girl out of a jam.

  She walked out. “I can’t lift it all the way off without tweaking my shoulders.” She turned her back to him. “Don’t look.”

  He took a breath, then bent to grab the hem and started lifting. Keeping his eyes on the floor didn’t stop him from seeing thigh-high stockings, so he directed them skyward, instead. She lifted her arms once he’d reached her shoulders. When the dress was past her head, she took it from him and tossed it on the bed.

  “Thanks.”

  He kept his eyes on her face. “You’re welcome.”

  “I-I’ll be right back.” She backed into the bathroom.

  “Yeah.”

  Just shut the damn door, Beth.

  Once she was out of sight, he rubbed his face with both hands and let out a long breath. If she stood there a moment longer, he’d have looked, and after looking, he’d have touched.

  He left her bedroom and jogged downstairs. Saw enough, though.

  Black bra with matching satin knickers, and those stockings…long, slender legs in sheer black…an image of those legs wrapped around his hips popped into his head and he headed for the kitchen and a drink. Couldn’t hop in a cold shower, but he could down some ice water.

  Get a grip, man.

  Chapter Eleven

  Beth leaned against the closed door, feeling flushed all over. Not even a week since she first kissed him and the man had seen her in her underwear. Logically, she didn’t have many options. Cut herself out of the dress—ah, no. Wake Vivian to help—rude when she wasn’t feeling well. That left him, and for a second, Beth almost succumbed to the tension between them and kissed him.

  Could she keep resisting the entire month he wanted her to stay?

  She dressed in jeans and a tee, put away her finery, and sat down to send Mom an e-mail about the party. Describing the house and dinner and the music helped calm her down, and she felt cool and normal by the time she carried the envelope of prints downstairs.

  “Jacob?”

  “In the kitchen, love.” He stood at the window to the backyard with a glass of something clear. Probably water.

  “Here are the photos I was going to show you.”

  He took the envelope. “Thanks. I should be going. It’s late. I’ll come get you for the meeting tomorrow.”

  He was leaving? “I thought we were going to grab a bite.” Great, Beth, you scared him off.

  He sighed. “Food isn’t really on my mind right now.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re a bloody siren, Beth. More alone time isn’t the best idea at the moment.”

  “It’s a restaurant, Jacob, not a cozy cabin for two.”

  He turned from the window and set the glass on the island. “And then?”

  “And then, what?”

  “Where do we go from there? My flat? Here?”

  She threw her hands up. “Fine. Leave. Run away.” She stomped out of the kitchen and opened the front door.

  He slowly followed, looking pained. He glanced at her face, set in a hard mask, shook his head, and walked out. She slammed the door, locked it, and ran upstairs to flop on her bed.

  Dammit. Why couldn’t we date without all this sexual tension?

  She hoped no one heard the door. It was stupid to slam it at this hour, but that was a Lawson trait. Doors got slammed when they were pissed off. Her mom’s version was slamming the cabinet doors in the kitchen while she cleaned. Always knew Dad was in trouble if she heard that.

  If she went to bed now, she could wake up early enough to call Mom. She washed her face, brushed her teeth, pulled the pins out of her
hair, and turned off the lights.

  She woke a little before seven. Since she’d washed her hair the afternoon before, she knotted it out of the way for a quick shower. No one else was up, yet, so she found the laundry machines and washed the clothes she’d worn so far.

  Vivian came downstairs at eight-thirty. “You’re up early for a Saturday.”

  “Got my eight hours. Tea? Kettle’s gonna whistle any minute.”

  “Certainly. Thank you.” Vivian opened a cupboard and took out a tin of loose-leaf and a small teapot. “Did you have fun last night?”

  Except at the end of it. “Yeah. Not my normal scene, but it was nice enough. I never went to a formal at school, so getting dressed up was neat.”

  The kettle sang. She poured hot water into the little teapot. “I’m sorry I had to leave early, but I need to take medication right away if I feel that kind of headache coming on.”

  “Migraine?”

  “Something like that, yes. The pill knocks me out within an hour. Most inconvenient.” While her tea brewed, she retrieved a mug. “So, do you have plans for today?”

  “Well, I’m meeting a photographer friend of Jacob’s to pick her brain. Other than that, nope.” Beth poured the leftover water in the kettle into a bowl of oatmeal.

  Vivian dropped one lump of sugar in the mug, then poured the tea. After stirring it three times, she sipped from the cup. “I thought Jacob had a concert tonight,” she said, green eyes looking over the rim.

  “He mentioned it.”

  “You’re not going?”

  Beth shrugged. “He didn’t invite me.”

  “Ah.” There was a lot of weight in that “ah”.

  “There’s no ah…only two facts: I know about the concert and I’m not going.”

  “Alright.”

  A tricksy woman, but Beth was not going to spill details. She shook her head and picked up her oatmeal to sit at the table.

  Failing at getting any dirt, Vivian picked up her teacup and a saucer. “Well, I think I’ll take my tea and get dressed.” She’d come down in her robe and pajamas. “Have fun today.”

  “Yep. I’m sure I’ll see you later.”

  Once she was gone, Beth checked the dryer to see if the first load was done. She folded the clean clothes and tossed the wet ones in the machine. Picking up the small stack, she carried it to her room and put it on the bed so no one would stumble upon her socks and undies. That made her think of home and Daddy going “uh…” because he found women’s stuff in the laundry room again. Mom always offered to do his stuff with hers, but he insisted on doing it his way. Even used a different soap just to avoid it “smelling girly”.

  Beth retrieved her breakfast and picked up the phone.

  “Lawson residence.” They picked up on the first ring.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  “Beth! I just read your e-mail. Sweetie, do you know what time it is?”

  Checking her watch, she did the math. “Crap, it’s just after one, huh?” She smacked her forehead. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

  “It’s okay. I was still up reading a novel, but you’re lucky I picked it up before your father heard it.”

  Thank God Dad slept like the dead. “Yeah. Again, sorry.”

  “Are you still having a good time, honey?” Dang sensitive Mom ears.

  “Just a little homesick. I was doing a little laundry and remembered how he gets all weird if he finds a whites load.”

  She laughed. “You should have seen him when we first got married. Sure, he had no problem stripping those things off in bed, but—”

  “Mom! Eww, stop! TMI!”

  That only made her laugh more. “How else do you think you came to be, Beth?”

  “Stork.”

  “Ah, you kids… Well, unless there’s something you need, can we talk later, honey? I need to get to bed.”

  “No, sure, later’s good. Sorry about the hour, again. Sweet dreams, Mom.”

  “Thank you, Beth. Have fun today. Be good. We love you.”

  “Love you, too.” She heard her hang up the phone. Note to self: eight hours earlier, NOT later.

  Still three hours left before Jacob arrived. She flopped back on the bed and sighed, hoping today would be normal. They could be, if this stupid attraction thing would stop getting in the way. Otherwise, a month of this was going to drive her insane.

  Maybe a few more days were all she should stay.

  ****

  Her door was open. Jacob found her on the bed, reading a book. He rapped twice on the door.

  “Hey.”

  “Hi,” he said. “Ready to go?”

  She put a bookmark in the book and set it on the nightstand. “Yeah.” She settled the strap of her bag across her torso and followed him out. “Where’s the meeting?”

  “Deli close to the gig.”

  “She’s shooting you tonight?”

  “Yeah, but we’re payin’ this time. We need a cover for the demo sleeve.”

  “Explains the haircut,” she said behind him.

  He reached the first floor. “Yeah.” He ran a hand over his locks. “Saw a barber this mornin’.” It was shorter on the sides with the top left long enough to slick back or spike. No more bleached tips.

  She wore the same jeans from last night and a plain blue tee, her hair pulled back into a French braid. No make-up, no earrings, no perfume—just Beth.

  Didn’t make him want her less.

  Pushing that thought aside, he opened the front door and walked to the bike, passing her the extra helmet. She climbed on behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle, gripping her arms instead of his waist.

  “You can hold on to me, love. That’s how this works.”

  “I’m fine.”

  He sighed and started the bike. At least after a few times now, she no longer felt terrified behind him, though having her wrapped tightly around him was nice. They needed to talk later. He hated when it got awkward between them.

  Kit was already at the deli. She was around thirty, with tousled ice-blonde hair that grazed her cheekbones. Standing to greet them when they walked in, she was taller than Beth.

  “Hey, Jake. Nice to see you’re only—” She checked her watch. “Five minutes late.”

  “Traffic.” He nudged Beth forward. “This is Beth Lawson.”

  “Hi.” She offered a handshake.

  “Kit Vokac. You’re interested in pro photography?” She took her seat and gestured they should do the same.

  “Yeah. I’m rarely without a camera these days, but I’ve been hooked since I was a kid,” Beth said.

  Kit nodded. “Well, I’ll say first you won’t get rich by it, unless you’re very, very lucky, so if fame and glory’s what you’re after, I’m not workin’ with ya.”

  “It’s not. My mother used to have local gallery showings, but she only made enough to buy new equipment here and there. I’m in it for love and I want to learn.”

  Kit shrugged. “Good enough, then. You can observe tonight and we’ll see how it goes.”

  “Beth won’t disappoint you,” he said.

  “Well, I gotta run, kids.” Kit stood. “See you later.”

  Beth kicked his shin when they were alone.

  “Ow. What was that for?”

  “I can speak for myself. You didn’t need to interject.”

  “Sorry.”

  She sighed. “What time are you meeting at the club?”

  “’Round six.”

  “Fine. I’ll see you later.” She stood and started for the door. He hopped up and caught her arm.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Exploring. I’m on vacation, remember?” Jerking out of his grip, she folded her arms under her breasts.

  “You don’t know where anything is, Beth.”

  “I have a map.”

  Bloody stubborn woman. “Are you really mad enough over one interruption to run away from me?”

  She rolled her eyes and turned for the door. “Get over
yourself.”

  He followed her out to the sidewalk. “Doesn’t take a genius to see you’re still mad about last night, love.”

  “Fine, yes, the whole week has been a lesson in frustration. Happy? I want things to go back to how they were.”

  “What things?”

  “This.” She gestured around them. “Us. I’m tired of fighting with you and being confused. It’s too much too fast, and I still have to go home.”

  “You want me to forget, Beth? I can’t do that.” She was already in his blood, his soul.

  “Be my friend, Jacob. Or I’m leaving tomorrow.”

  “That’s not fair.”

  She turned her gaze away to watch the cars passing by. “It’s what I’ve decided.”

  If that was how she wanted it. “Then I’ll miss you.”

  She looked up in surprise, then nodded. “Okay. I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Yeah.” He pivoted on his heel and walked to the bike before he did something embarrassing or stupid.

  He got halfway home before he thought what have I done? One week…god, one soddin’ week, and she’d turned his world and his heart upside-down. If she’d just stop bein’ so damn afraid…

  Beth wandered London for almost four hours before going back to the Lindsey house.

  Congratulations, Beth…couldn’t even date a guy for one week. Good job.

  “It’s his fault. He wants more than I can give.” She threw another large crumb of bread to the sparrows on the deck.

  “Elizabeth! Phone call, dear.”

  “Coming.” She left the half-eaten roll on the patio table and went inside. Maybe Jacob changed his mind?

  Vivian handed her the cordless. “It’s your father.”

  “Oh.” Daddy? What would he call me here for? “Hello?” She carried the phone to her room.

  “Elizabeth. I wanted to say something while your mother’s out of the house.”

  “Dad, I’m fine. Perfectly safe. Ten fingers and ten toes—”

  “It’s not about your trip. Look, your mother doesn’t want you to know until you come back, but she’s going in for a biopsy Monday.”

  “Biopsy? O-of what?” The color drained out of her skin.

  “She found a lump, honey. I think you should be here, but it’s your choice. As she keeps reminding me, you’re an adult now.” A door closed in the background.

  He hung up without letting her reply. Of all the things to guilt her with…