Kissed by Ms. Carla Krae Page B

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