Page 31 of Consumed By Fire
17
CHARLOTTE
Seeing him in my kitchen still seems impossible to me. I fell in love with Dylan and it doesn't worry me anymore. On the contrary, the more time I spend with him, the more I can imagine our future.
I’m no longer afraid to look at it. Whatever it has in store for us, I know it will be beautiful.
The doorbell rings and Dylan hands me a cup of coffee as he goes to open it.
"Charlie, finally…" I hear Leslie's voice cut off. "You're not Charlie. Hi, Dylan," she greets him as she enters the kitchen with Blaire.
"Hi girls," I greet them, hugging them. "Blaire, this is DC. He works with your brother."
"Yeah, I know Blaire," Dylan says.
"How?" I ask surprised.
"I already met Blaire a month ago or so when she moved here," he says, taking his luggage. "Well, love, better go. I'll call you later. I love you," he says, kissing me.
"I love you, too. Take care of yourself," I tell him as he leaves the kitchen.
I feel the girls' eyes on me.
"Love? I love you?" Blaire asks excitedly.
"Oh, this day is going to be interesting, Blaire, a lot more than I thought," Lacey tells her, nudging her before looking at me. "Start from the beginning and don't leave out any, and I mean it, any details."
I roll my eyes heading to the living room. "We have work to do, ladies."
"But we can work and listen,” Blaire says. I almost miss her shyness from a few weeks ago. We’ve corrupted her, poor angel, or maybe it's Aiden’s fault.
"Dylan and I are together."
"No shit," Lacey snorts. "It was inevitable. I could see you caught his attention, even before that night at the bar."
"I just followed your advice. It was time to bury the past and live in the present."
"I'm happy for you, Charlie! Besides, he’s so sexy!"
We both gape at innocent Blaire talking about males, finally. We've had a few opportunities to see her let go and we love it.
"Well, now that you know everything, let's start working!" I say, rubbing my hands while I take the iPad.
While the girls are starting to decorate the ballroom, I go to Dina's to confirm the catering service with Lesley. With Dad and Annais and Dylan's parents, Paradise is fully booked. It will be a big party like it is every year. I just hope I don't forget anything.
When I get home, it's seven pm. The day has flown by. I sit on the sofa and start ticking off my to-do list. I start to yawn. I’m exhausted. I text Dylan heading to my room. I haven't heard from him today and I know he must have been busy.
Me: I missed you today. I’m exhausted and I think I’ll go to bed early. Are you coming here tonight?
I send it to him, then go to take a shower.
As I dry my hair, I hear the doorbell ring. I go to open it and find Dylan, leaning with his hands on the door jamb, looking at me from head to toe. The lustful look in his eyes makes me catch fire. With his foot, he pushes a bag into the house. Then he takes me in his arms and closes the door while his lips capture mine in a passionate kiss.
"Mmmm, I love being received home this way,” he tells me, stealing another kiss. "I missed you so much,” he whispers, looking into my eyes.
"Welcome home, love."
"Mmm, such a wonderful welcome,” he replies, looking at me. I smile, hugging and kissing him as he takes me to my room. He throws me on the bed, catching me off guard. My towel falls to the floor, leaving me naked in front of him.