Kissed by Ms. Carla Krae Page A

be
settled.”
    Figured as much.   “ Hypothetically ,
is it okay to put off a relationship for a while, then? Can a person be asked
to wait?”
    “Elizabeth, is there
something you want to tell me?”   Her right
eyebrow arched just like Jacob’s did when he had a hunch.
    She
shook her head, maybe a little too hard.   “No, no. Only thinking...”
    Vivian
smirked.   “Hypothetically.”
    “Yeah.”   She felt the
blood rushing to her cheeks and tried to relax before she blushed like a beet.
    “Well…”   Vivian picked up her fork to resume eating
her salad.   “It’s merely my opinion, but
I think Jacob should court you properly, or not at all.”
    “J-Jacob? What— I mean, there’s…there’s no Jacob,” she
sputtered.
    “Mm-hm.”
    “I
didn’t say anything about—”
    “Elizabeth. I’m not blind.
Only the incredibly oblivious would miss the flirtation between you two since
we arrived.”
    This
time, she did blush.   “Oh.”   What
all had she seen?   “What do you
think?”
    Vivian
reached across the table and took Beth’s hand.   “I’m quite fond of you, I hope you know that. I’d be happy to welcome
you as a daughter…when you’re ready. However, I promised your parents a
wholesome and educational trip, and I’m pretty sure a summer fling doesn’t fall
under those guidelines.”
    “I
don’t want a fling .”   She pulled her hand away.
    “Forgive
the way that sounded. That was not my intent. You’re a good girl, dear. I worry
more about my son’s intentions more than yours.”
    Hey.   “Jacob is a good man.”
    She
nodded.   “He is. He has a good heart.
He’s also young, and usually gets his way, and I don’t think he’s mature enough
to be what you hope, Elizabeth.”
    “What
does that mean?”
    She
smiled kindly.   “That I don’t think it’s
the right time for you, dear. Maybe in a few years. Maybe ten—who knows? But, I’d hate to see you hurt unnecessarily when the
distance wasn’t realistic in the first place.”
    Logic
sucked .   “Maybe I won’t like UCLA.”
    She
sighed, but the smile was still in place.   “Maybe you won’t.”

 

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