Chapter 4

When we reached the inn, Dayne followed me back to my room. I thought it was cute when guys walked me to my door. It was nice to think that they wanted to extend the night as much as possible. Mrs. Battersby was lounging on a couch in the lobby, reading a book when we walked by. She had a smirk on her face. Again, I blushed. Did she EVER speak?

In the hallway, Dayne told me, "I had a great time. I'd like to see you again. Would you like to spend the day with me tomorrow? I can show you around London."

I smiled at him. "Yes. I'd like that," I told him. I reached out and took his hand and laced my fingers in his as we walked to my room.

When we reached my door, I said good night and turned around to dig my key out of the bottom of my purse.

"Beth?" he said. I looked up and turned around. He reached down and placed his hand on the back of my neck. I pulled my face closer to his and gently he kissed me. I smiled and kissed him back. His lips were warm and soft and his breath tasted delicious. When he breathed out of his nose, the air tickled my cheek. His hands went to my waist and my arms reached up and locked around his neck. It was like heaven. Our bodies melded together perfectly and his lips were intoxicating. I could hardly bring myself to pull away to take a breath. We might've kissed all night, were it not for the fact that my cellphone started ringing. I pulled away and said a quick goodbye and I rushed into my room to answer my phone. Phone calls were always something I did in private.

I hastily opened the phone. "Hello?"

"Andie! Hey, what's up? It's Steve. How's England?" It was Steve Rainley. He always had the worst sense of timing.

I grimaced. "Hey Steve. I'm great. London's great; England's great. It is so amazing here. I don't think I want to leave." I told him.

"Aw, Beth, you don't know how boring it would be here without you. And I'd never get to see you again…" I could hear his poorly-hidden disappointment.

"I know you'd get along fine without me," I insisted.

"Beth, I don't think I could…I…I need you." He said. Oh crap. How can I get this guy to take the hint?

"Come, now. You'd be fine."

"Jeez, Beth, I thought you picked up on this long ago. I like you. I really like you!"

"Steve, please. Don't say that." This was getting to be too much. He was a friend and I couldn't bear to break his heart. How could I tell him I wasn't interested in him without hurting him?

"Beth, I have to. It's the truth and I wouldn't think of telling you anything different. I finally worked up the courage to tell you. Please come home."

"Listen, Steve. You're a friend and I love you, but not in that way, I'm sorry. You are really too valuable of a friend to lose you, though."

"Oh…"

"You'll find someone better than me! I'm not all that special. Um…do you know Susan, Bill's secretary? I heard she likes you!"

"Her? Um...I don't know. I don't think anyone is as nice and pretty as you. And -"

"Steve, listen to me. I'm going to be up here for a while. I can't deal with a relationship right now while I'm in a different country. Talk to Susan. See what happens, then call me and we can talk. How does that sound?"

"Uh…"

"Steve."

"I guess I could do that. But I mean -"

"Sorry! Got to go! Bye!"

Click.

I quickly closed my phone and sat it on the counter. I sighed and rubbed my face. What am I going to do with him? Talking to him is so difficult lately. He's just gotten so awkward around me, I'm uncomfortable. I couldn't even think of the possibility of dating him. It just wouldn't have worked. Looking at the clock, decided it was time to go to bed. I was still a little jet-lagged and a good night's sleep would help with that. I brushed my teeth and changed into my comfy cotton pajamas and climbed into bed. The covers were warm and I curled up in a ball underneath them.

I couldn't fall asleep, though. I lay awake for hours just reviewing everything that had gone on today. And the way that Dayne's lips felt on mine. And his hands on my waist and neck…Smiling, I drifted off to sleep.

-oooooooooooooooooooo-

Beth and Dayne went out almost every day that week. They spent a lot of time together and were having. Dayne had been to London often enough to be able to take her to the best tourists spots. They hit all the hot spots like Madame Tussaud's, visiting Platform 9 ¾, and the London Eye. All the while, Beth quickly began falling for Dayne. Whenever he wasn't around, if she'd think of him, the biggest smile would form on her face. And she was having so much fun just being around him. Every goodnight kiss excited her a little bit further and each left her longing for more. Soon, the kisses felt like they weren't enough to Beth. She wanted more; more than just a kiss. Yet, she was afraid to be the first to propose the idea of taking the next step. She was afraid of scaring him off by moving too fast. She enjoyed what she and Dayne had and couldn't bear the possibility of ruining it. So she kept it to herself.

Meanwhile, Dayne was hatching a plan.

-oooooooooooooooooooo-

"Hey babe," Dayne's voice crackled over the phone. "Be ready. Tonight, we're going to do something…different. Are you up for it?"

Thinking that he meant what I've been longing for, I answered, "Yes, of course."

"Brilliant. It'll be at my house, so don't worry."

"Okay. See you then."

"Oh, and Beth…I love you." And then he hung up his phone. It caught me by surprise. I stared at my phone as if it had just morphed into a camel and done a jig. My heart was racing and my mind was soaring.

He loves me, he loves me, he loves me, he loves me, he loves me. I couldn't think about anything else. It was like a mantra repeated incessantly that brought a huge grin to my face. I moved around in a daze. My head was in the heavens, submerged in thoughts about Dayne. I felt a little anxious about tonight, though. I wonder what Dayne has in store for us…