Fiona
and Dechlan finally consummate their relationship, making one another
very happy. A few days ago, Cole met a lovely woman named Tielle, the
insurance adjuster who is dealing with the claim on his apartment.
Now, they just need to find a woman for Hugo.
We
made another pot while we contemplated what to do about dinner. His
phone rang.
“It's
Cole. Yes?” he answered, stroking my breast as he spoke to our
friend. “Yeah, we were thinking about dinner. No, I don't think
Fiona feels like cooking, why?” He listened for a moment, grinning.
“Yeah, that sounds good. You're sure she's cool with this?”
I
could hear a female voice and assumed it was Tielle. Dechlan grinned
again, laughing.
“Okay.
We'll meet you at seven. Thanks, Dude. Tell your lady friend we'd be
delighted. What can we bring?” He nodded, listening. “Okay. Now,
what can we really bring?” Chuckling, he hung up. “Dinner at
Tielle's with Cole, Hugo and Indira—to welcome her to the fold.”
“What
a lovely idea. I wish I'd thought of it.”
He
took me in his arms, holding me close. “Babe, you invited her to
put her possessions here. Just because you didn't think of a welcome
party, it's okay. Besides, Tielle wants an excuse to entertain and
impress us.”
“Why
us?”
“We're
Cole's family, of sorts. I think she feels a little strange being the
non-actor.”
I
hadn't thought of it that way. It was quite possible she did. “Then
we need to take something really nice.”
“I
agree. Cole said we didn't need to bring a thing, that Tielle had it
all set.”
“But
you know differently.”
“Obviously.
What do you think? Wine? Dessert?”
“We
don't know what's on the menu, nor do we know any food allergies.
Therefore....” I thought for a moment before putting my empty mug
in the sink. “Come.” I grabbed up my purse and sunglasses.
Dechlan
caught me around the waist. “I did that already. Couple of times.
Where are we going?”
“You'll
see. Come with me.”
He
nuzzled my throat, holding me close. “I will come with you
anywhere, anytime, any place you like. As often as you like. I will
also join you on your errand.”
Taking
him by the hand, I led him to the elevator. We drove to a nearby
department store. It was near closing, but I knew exactly what I
wanted. Walking over to the dishes, I reached for a box. Dechlan
lifted it for me, carrying it to the checkout.
“What
is this?”
“You
can read, can't you?”
A
disgusted look and a sharp huff of breath were my only reply. The
clerk rang up our purchase.
“Would
you like it gift wrapped?” she asked.
“Not
this near closing,” I replied. “But do you have a gift bag,
maybe?”
“We
don't have those, but we have these cloth shopping bags. Will that
do?”
“Sure.
How much?”
“You
can get them for free by purchasing fifty dollars or more. It's close
enough.” She winked, handing me the bag.
“Thank
you. Dechlan, we'll come back sometime when it's not so near the end
of the day.”
“Sounds
good, Babe. Whatever you want.”
“A
man who doesn't mind shopping for house wares?” The clerk laughed
as she led us to the door to let us out. “Where did you find him?”
“Australia,”
Dechlan said, laying the accent on thick. He kissed her hand, his
aquamarine eyes meeting hers.
The
young woman melted. Who wouldn't? He's had that effect on me since I
met him. He's immortally gorgeous and can turn on the charm like a
fire hose. I felt it, too, and he wasn't even directing it toward me.
“I'll
have to go there sometime.”
Dechlan
smiled, kissing her hand once more. “You do that.”
“Are
all Australian men as gorgeous as you?”
“Nah,
better. I'm dead average.” He smiled, blinking slowly as he lowered
her hand.
“Oh,
my God!” Letting go a shuddering breath, she unlocked the door,
shutting and bolting it behind us.
We
walked back to the car, Dechlan carrying our purchase casually. His
swagger showed how proud he was of himself.
“You're
positively evil, Dechlan Albright.”
“Me?
How? I made that girl's day!”
“Because
the man she goes home to isn't you. If she goes home to any man at
all!”
“At
this point, doesn't matter what the blighter looks like. He'll
thank me.”
©
2015 Dellani Oakes
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