Consume Me (A Burning Desire Novel) (18 page)

I laughed.

“Let’s go and play a little, I'm feeling
positive tonight, and you'll be my lucky charm."

I took his extended hand and pushed to my
heels.

“Okay kiss me!"

Landon had been playing at the craps
table, and he really won. He requested a kiss every time he threw the dice and
I laughed at the youthful and carefree gorgeous man at my side.

“See I told you're my lucky charm."

He said after another win

“Okay, let's not lose all that money for
the sake of the people who will need it."

I encouraged him and we head to the terrace
to join the others.

“Ladies and Gentleman, Dinner is served,
please follow the hostesses to be directed to your respective tables."

A man’s voice announced and we all head
inside.

We walked to a table where stood two
gentlemen with his partner; Evelyn.

I tensed; then remembered the Alec’s words
and laughed. I wasn't a jealous girlfriend, but I never had to or felt like I
needed to be. It was probably all those tabloid photos or I was starting to
feel something and that time it would come with the territory.

I looked back at Jude for moral support
and squeezed his hand, secretly asking him to stick with me. He squeezed mine
and nodded his understanding.

“Dad, Simon, Evelyn, let me introduce you
to you my date Miss Clea Dane and her friends."

He introduced the rest of us and we all
shook hands.

“Dane and Seiter?"

Landon's father looked at both Jenna and
me with a wondering look and we nodded.

“Clea Dane.”

He muttered smiling.

“I would remember that name. Daniel had
chosen it. He thought you’d bring glory and ambition.”

I was taken aback.

How the hell?

Landon's dad laughed.

"You girls are still inseparable,
even after all those years?”

I shrugged and looked at Jenna.

“Oh my goodness, this is the most pleasant
surprise.”

I was at a complete loss of words.

“I was in the army with Danny and Keith.
Don’t you girls remember me? I used to visit frequently back when your father
was the ambassador in France."

He looked at me then turned to Jenna.

"Hell. After the wars, and everything
that followed, I even climbed the Lenin Peak with Keith. And might I add, we
were one of the few who succeeded."

“Oh my god.”

I muttered and looked at Jenna.

“He’s that Uncle Rob; remember the one who
gave us all those stamps and said to us…"

“This will always remind you where home
is." Jenna continued

”Oh my god I remember that, we were
twelve."

“That would be me. Now what does an old
man got to do in order to get a hug?”

He opened his arms to us, and hugged us.

He let go of Jenna then held my hand
between his palms.

"I'm so sorry for your loss kid, I
couldn't come due to attenuate circumstances, as I'm sure, um you
understand."

He looked at his son then put a light kiss
to my hand.

“You don't have to worry about it.” I
smiled at him.

“Great. Now both of you come and sit next
to me and tell me all about your lives."

He took out the two seats at his sides.

We all settled around the table; I sat
between the two Davis men. It was too good to be true; Davis Sr. put all of us
at ease starting to tell stories about our fathers. We laughed at some of his
jokes and told him about our work and studies. The whole time Landon’s hand was
holding mine, even when they served the salad, he wouldn’t let go of it.

“You know Uncle Robert, don't ask me about
mine, but Clea still has your stamps."

Jenna confessed

“You do?”

He turned to me and I nodded.

“I most certainly do, you said they will
remind me where home is, and they did."

I said to him.

“Yeah, Boo is a romantic, we all know
about the stamps; they are all over the apartment."

Jude explained, carrying a tender look.

“I’m happy it took you where you belong
and probably brought you here."

“No, that would me my doing, Father."

Landon interjected, and everybody laughed.

“So what brings you to Chicago?”

Evelyn directed her question at me, and
seeing the look on her face I had a feeling she didn’t like me; she didn't
speak much, and offered fake smiles and empty compliments.

“I came to find Landon.”

I answered coldly.

“How romantic. “

She said throwing daggers.

“Evelyn."

Simon; Landon’s brother brought his hand
to her back.

“I think so too."

“Me too."

Landon squeezed my hand and brought it to
his lips

”And she found me, much like my father'
stamps found her.”

He continued. I didn’t fully comprehend
what he’d meant.

Everyone at the table was wide-eyed;
including me, then Jenna clapped her hands together.

“See I knew I loved you."

She told him and turned to the father.

"Hey Uncle Robert, How about I tell
you the story of how they met? It's very funny.”

Avoiding my gaze she leaned and talked to
his ear, I shifted uncomfortably in my sit and Jude mouthed “Screw her"
glancing in Evelyn's direction.

Landon kept holding my hand and talked to
Ryan, then turned to me.

“Don’t worry about Eve; her bark is worse
than her bite. “

He murmured softly.

“I don't care about her, but she does make
me uncomfortable, I feel like you guys should talk things over." I
murmured to him.

“What things?”

He asked, genuinely confused.

“You know, maybe she's not over you
yet."

I insisted.

“Over me?” He said with a frown.

“Oh I forgot that you got acquainted with
my public life."

He leaned further.

“I dated Eve when I was seventeen, during
our senior year. Today I'm twenty-eight, you do the math."

He explained pressing a swift kiss to my
cheek.

Oh! That was news…

“But the media said...”

“I know what they said baby, but it's not
true, and I don't care for them enough to correct them, but I'm with you now,
so maybe I should take the time "

Oh Okay!

I fell short of words to say to his
confession. So he did date her, like a decade ago, and he said he was with me;
reality crept all over me once again. We lived in two different cities, we had
different lives, and how was it going to work.

He squeezed my hand again.

"Don't worry baby, we'll figure
everything out, we still have to talk about it, but basically we're together,
we have our rules, the rest is just detail."

He said like reading my mind, and then I
thought about those damn expressive eyes of mine and nodded.

"Okay."

I agreed with a hopeful smile; his face
lit up.

We finished dinner, and sat talking about
the charity. I knew that Landon and his father cared for the cause, because his
late mother was very attached to it. She was an oncologist and traveled the
world raising money for research dedicated to the disease.

“Ladies
and Gentleman, I hope you enjoyed your dinner."

The host’s voice came from a stand.

"Time for you to enjoy the
festivities, and don't forget to get your checkbooks ready, the auction will
start in thirty minutes."

He finished presenting the group of
musicians.

Landon pushed to his feet and extended his
hand bowing.

“Miss Dane, will you dance with me?"

I took his hand and stood.

“It will be my utmost pleasure."

“Save me one Boo."

I heard Jude yell after us.

”Yeah me too Buttercup."

Ryan joined.

“Don’t forget the old man."

Landon's dad continued, and I laughed.

“Gentlemen calm down, there are other
women around the table. “

Jenna yelled at them, and Uncle Robert stood
and walked her to dance next to us.

I loved
the unexpected turn the party had taken; his father, his confession, his
reassuring nature. I was glad my friends were around me. But what I liked most,
was being in his arms, dancing to the most beautiful music, I rested my head on
his shoulder and took in his scent and stroke his neck.

I loved the musician’s version of
‘
Somewhere
only we know’ by ‘Keane’

“Are you having fun baby? If you want to
leave, just say the word."

Landon breathed in my ear, sending shivers
through my body.

I looked at him and shook my head.

“No, but if you'd rather leave, I won't
mind."

“As long as you're with me and enjoying
yourself, we have until tomorrow."

I felt sad by the idea of leaving him.

“I don't want to think about it"

He pulled me further into his embrace.

“Don’t worry baby, I have a plan."

“You do, don't you? “

I smiled at him and he nodded; ever the
self-confident.

“I have a plan on my own; too."

I said wickedly.

“So don't play coy with me Mr.
Davis."

“Does it involve dessert? Please say I'll
get some dessert!"

It made me all flustered. He thought of me
as his dessert.

Landon feigned a prayer with a sinful
look.

“Careful Mr. Davis, haven't you heard of
diabetes?"

I grinned at him, “I’d hate for you to get
it."

“I don't care it's worth it! “

He said dramatically and I couldn't help
my giggles.

We continued flirting endlessly, and I
changed partners three more times; Uncle Robert was one-hell-of-a-dancer, he
said that he had to be, since his wife dragged him all over the country for
these kinds of events.

But he mostly liked to dance with her on
their dates; he talked about her with so much love. I was in awe. He called her
his true one.

I danced with my two favorite men who told
me how happy they were, especially Jude, who liked the way he spoke to Evelyn,
whom he’d baptized Ice Queen.

*****

The auction was about to begin and the
hostesses handed us a brochure of the items:

"You're donating the sculpture?"

 I asked Landon, bewildered by such
an act of generosity.

La Courtisane was a treasure, and he
seemed to care for it. In truth, I was actually against art possession,
especially those that belonged in another era. I’d rather take the time and go
see them where they truly belonged; museum and expositions. I found it to be
selfish that people would keep some art pieces in their living room, instead of
sharing them with the rest of the world.

"I'm doing it for my mother.”

He stated simply.

“See those diamond earrings?”

Landon signaled to the first item on the
list, and I nodded.

“They were my mom’s; Dad got them for her,
and she never took them off, not even once.”

He asserted.

“So, it's the least I can do."

He shrugged slightly.

I could hear the awe and admiration he had
for his father.

I was struck by his sensitivity and his
respect for his family.

Landon could’ve written a check to the
organization; he could’ve chosen something else, something he cared less about;
he seemed very fond of the sculpture, yet he’d chosen to give it up in the hope
that it would bring more funding for the research. He did it out of pure love,
and selflessness.

The
auction started.  His mother's earrings raised the bids to
two-hundred-and-fifty thousand.

I saw the expression on Uncle Robert’s
face; it was one of sadness, and nostalgia; the loss of his wife affected him
badly.

Landon fixed his father with pure praise
and kindliness.

I felt suddenly overwhelmed; I hadn’t
expected to witness anything like that.

Those people were giving up so much, not
in a matter of chattel, but rather by an act of love. They were willing to
prove their devotion to a woman who seemed to represent the world to both of
them and I was in awe; bearing witness to it.

Many of the following items raised a good
amount of money, especially some two hundred years old bottle of sherry wine.

The auctioneer was interrupted by his
assistant. Then he announced a last minute addition. It turned out to be made
by Alec Avery; and to Landon’ surprise, his partner had offered his Ferrari.,

“Men and their toys.”

Jenna commented; and we all laughed.

Once
the auctioneer announced Evelyn's donation; she raised her hand, and placed a
bid. Everyone looked at her in confusion.

"What?” She said.

"I'm not letting anyone stay on my
boat for a week, so I'll be the highest bidder; it's a win/win for
everyone."

I was repulsed by her audacity.

The host announced La Courtisane, and made
a full historic coverage of the sculpture. When I saw Landon’s expression, I
had a thought I hadn’t had in the past fourteen months. He didn’t seem to have
any regret; he reminded me of him.

It was a worthy opportunity; it felt
deserving and right, especially after what I’d witnessed from the two men
sitting next to me.

The bid had started at eight hundred
thousand, and we were launched into a spiral of several raised voices and
numbers.

I looked around me; everyone was focused
on the auction. Uncle Robert was glancing at his son; pure pride gleamed in his
eyes, but also compassion. Probably because he knew, what his son was going to
lose, which also was a gift from him.

That was all it took for me to do the unthinkable…

"One million dollar!"

I said raising my hand.

I avoided the stunned gazes of my dinner
companions.

"One million dollars, do I hear one
million fifty thousand?”

The host echoed.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing
Clea?”

Landon grabbed my arm and I heard another
raising bid.

“One million one hundred thousand.”

I couldn’t believe what I was doing, and
my friends seemed too stunned to comment.

“Stop it Clea.”

Landon warned.

“One million one hundred thousand.”

“Going once, going twice. Sold to the lady
in the Ivory dress!"

The host announced, and a cheer of
applauses echoed around me.

I fell short of words. I had no idea what
had crept over me. I’d never been that irresponsible, or unpredictable.

"Did you just do what I think you
did?"

Jude faced me with his stunned expression.

"Yes, I believe I just did."

I breathed out.

"My god C.! Are you sure?” Jenna
interjected.

“More importantly are you okay?"

Jenna looked down and I knew she felt for
me. The others didn't say a thing; Landon was in shock, I hoped it wouldn’t bother
him; because it was still his.

I turned to my worried friend, reached for
his hand, and squeezed it to translate my state of mind. I was shocked by what
I’d done. But the truth is, I was relieved.

He nodded and kissed my knuckles.

I stood.

"Excuse me gentlemen.”

They all followed, along with Jenna.

"I'll come with you."

She said clasping my hand.