Free My Once and Future Love by Carla Krae

cure, then the waiters started bringing out the first course.
I looked at all the silverware around my plate and gulped. Waiting
to see what Jacob did, I took another sip of water. He picked up
the outside fork first.
    After three courses of food I could barely
identify, I hoped the entrée was something normal. Thank God for
chicken.
    He whispered to me, “Don’t worry, we’ll snag
somethin’ good later.”
    I giggled. Vivian arched her brow at me.
    “This isn’t so bad,” I whispered back.
“Just…”
    “Small?”
    “Yeah.” We shared a grin, and I almost kissed
him in front of everybody. “But dessert can’t be bad.
It’s…dessert.”
    “Unless it’s coffee flavor.”
    My nose wrinkled up. “You would have to say
that.”
    “Ain’t my fault your taste buds are
defective.”
    “Eat your chicken.”
    He grinned again and squeezed my knee under
the table.
    Dessert had nuts sprinkled on top—which I
don’t like, either—but once removed, it was chocolate-y goodness.
The shell of chocolate hid some kind of berry mousse. Don’t know
how they sealed it in there…
    “Bored?” Jacob placed his hand on my
shoulder.
    “Huh?” I shook my head. “No…I was wondering
how they made the chocolate thing.”
    He laughed. “You’re adorable.”
    My cheeks turned pink. “Adorable is for
puppies and stuffed bears.”
    “Sweetheart, learn to take a compliment.” He
stood and offered his hand. “Dance with me?”
    “I don’t dance.” Please don’t make
me .
    “Bethie, it’s just swaying in time.”
    Sighing, I put my napkin on the table, and
stood. “No fancy maneuvers.”
    He grinned and took my hand. “Scouts honor.”
Instead of joining the other couples, he headed for the door
outside.
    “Where are you going?”
    We stepped onto the patio. He pulled me into
his arms. “We can hear the music out here, too.”
    I placed my hands on his shoulders. It was nice being a bit removed from all the chatter. The
summer night air was perfumed with roses and other flowers I
couldn’t identify in the garden. Standing between the house and the
open air, with the band playing slow jazz, the atmosphere was a lot
more romantic. Private.
    “Better without all those eyes on you?” he
asked.
    “Mmm-hmm.” I let out a contented sigh and lay
my head on his shoulder.
    “I hope you and Kit hit it off tomorrow.”
    “Kit?” I asked, lifting my head to look up at
him.
    “The photographer. Did you forget
already?”
    “ No . You didn’t tell me her name.”
    “Oh. Anyway, I hope you want to work with
her.”
    “So I stay,” I translated. So
transparent.
    He rolled his eyes and hugged me a little
closer. “Yeah, I have an agenda. Sue me; I have an interest in
keeping my girlfriend in town.”
    “Girlfriend?” I sounded way too
hopeful-needy.
    He met my eyes. “Well, yeah . Thought
you were the smart one in this relationship.”
    My heart started doing cartwheels. “You know
what they say about assuming.”
    His hands slid up to my neck, cupping my
jaw-line. “Then let me be clear: as far as I’m concerned, love,
you’re my girl. My squeeze, honey, girlfriend, etcetera. My
Bethie.”
    He dipped his head and I tilted mine to my
right, rising on my toes to kiss him back. One of his hands stayed
on my cheek; the other dropped to my low back, pressing our bodies
closer. That same fire from all week stirred again, driving me to
try crawling inside him. Nothing was close enough. He could kiss me
a thousand times and I’d still want more.
    It scared me.
    “This, um…”
    “Not really the place for a snog.” He let out
a long breath. “Yeah.”
    “I’m going to visit the ladies’ room.”
    “Alright. I’ll see if Mum’s ready to go.”
    ****
    Less than a week in each other’s presence
again, and he was biting back proclamations every time he kissed
her.
    He’d always cared for Beth—it was pretty easy
to do, actually—but he’d never named it before. Honestly, though,
he should’ve seen