.
There was a knock at the door, and as he let her go he whispered her name in a raspy voice; “ Bethy…”
She pulled a shaky hand through her hair ; he’d kissed her breath away, and she attempted to get it back. There was such passion in that kiss. The feel of his arms around her, his lips on hers, left her shaking .
Andy opened the door and let a young man in to set up for their meal. He spread a white linen table-cloth over the table and lit candles. There was another knock, and the meal arrived. Andy looked on as Beth attempted to regain her composure, and smiled .
“ Shall we? ” Andy motioned to the table as the staff left the room. Beth rose on wobbly knees. He went to her, putting his arms around her, he kissed the top of her head. It was a sweet gesture.
He pulled the chair out for her and they sat down to enjoy a nice meal of C hicken Marsala, and she learned that Italian was his favorite cuisine. He opened another bottle of wine, Chianti, to go with the meal.
We savored the wonderful dinner he’d chosen, but I was feeling so much emotion that I wasn’t really hungry…
Afterward they returned to the sofa. Andy slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer as soft music played. “This feels nice,” he whispered in her ear, sneaking a kiss on her neck, and she shivered.
“Mmm hmm,” she murmured, closing her eyes.
After a while Andy rose, took her hand, and pulled her from the sofa into his arms. Lacing his fingers with hers they moved with the music. He hummed in her ear as he nuzzled her neck. It was a tender, romantic moment. H e led her to the bed, but there was no rush for anything more.
“Lay with me, I just need to feel you in my arms,” he said. “I dream about this every night when we talk on the phone, Bethy, just holding you, feeling you in my arms,” he said. “I want more. I want you, but for now, please just come lay with me.”
Sunday morning Roddy woke them with a phone call. The guys had to get on the road and Kimmy and Beth needed to head home. Roddy had the car brought around to a private entrance at the rear of the hotel. They said their good-byes and got ready to leave. Andy walked Beth to the car.
“Be safe,” he said. “I’ll call this evening.”
“Had a great time,” Kimmy piped in. “Thanks!”
Looking at Beth he reached for her hand and held it. “It was a pleasure.”
The drive home seemed long. It was the same nine hours, no different from the trip up, except that Beth’s thoughts were elsewhere. Kimmy was driving and it gave Beth time to ponder.
Kimmy asked, “Need a chat?”
“No, not really, just thinking.”
“And?”
“Wondering… wondering what next,” Beth said with a smile.
“Take it slow. It seems that he is.” Kimmy looked at her friend, “Right?”
“Yep,” and that was all she needed to say.
25
Rock and Roll Never Forgets
Chapter Four
T raveler was off to the Northeast for a few dates. Andy and Beth fell into what had become their routine : nightly phone calls and conversation into the wee hours. Beth loved it, but she continually wondered. She prayed that it would never end, but he was Andy Stevens, and she was ‘just a girl.’ Two weeks passed and Traveler was heading south to South Carolina .
During one of their late-night calls, Andy asked, “Can you come to Charleston? I need to see you, Bethy. Roddy will make all the arrangements, but I’d like to fly you in for the show there. It’s only one night, but it’s close. Can you pull that off? I’ll have him get Kimmy a ticket too, if you’d like. But I really need to see you. I’ve missed you.”
Kimmy would have gone, if Beth asked. They talked and both agreed that Beth needed time alone with him to see what was progressing .
She flew out early on Saturday afternoon. A driver met her at the airport. He held a placard that read “Bethy”. It reminded her of a scene from a movie and she