Consume Me (A Burning Desire Novel) (19 page)

We
walked to the restroom. My thoughts scattered all over the place; I had no idea
how it was going to influence the whole relationship. It was the most
astonishing, spontaneous combustion in my head.

Jenna spoke, calling me back to reality.

"I don't know what just happened, or
how it did.”

She started.

“Hell, I don’t know what you were
thinking.”

She admonished.

Jenna shook her head in disbelief.

“But as your best friend, let me start by
saying that I'm sorry; I'm sure that wasn't an easy thing for you to do. But
I'm so fucking proud of you; I wouldn't find the words to describe just how
much."

She took me in a forceful hug and I
couldn't hold my tears any longer.

We
stood there for what seemed like hours, and then I wiped my tears and looked
into her beautiful, understanding eyes.

"It felt right.” I murmured.

“I don't know; I was looking at those two
men and what they were giving up. It's not like they had the genes carrying the
disease or knew someone close who died from it, just giving up some very
important things out of love and devotion for the wife and mother they
cherish.”

I said as a way of giving a coherent
explanation to what I’d done.

“I felt selfish. I mean, refusing to use
the money is one thing but having an opportunity like that and not take it,
it's just downright inhuman."

Jenna grinned at me.

"Like I said.”

“Damn proud of you! And whether you like
it or not, he would've been too."

I nodded. I missed him deeply: I wished he
was present, I knew he would’ve been just as understanding and maybe more
generous.

We stayed a little longer, Jenna fixed
both our make-up, and we talked a little. I felt lighter and we launched into a
laughing session about Evelyn’s audacity. Jenna resented her.

I told her about my encounter with Alec
and the little situation it had caused by Landon the previous night. We thought
it an incredible act of generosity for him to give his car. Jenna stated her
disappointment about the fact that he wasn’t attending the charity.

When we finally got back outside, I found
my two favorite men brooding in front of the ladies room exit.

"About time you two got the hell out
of there, we were about to barge in."

Jude took me in a hug and I reassured him
with a full-on wide grin.

"As long as you're alright, we are
too Buttercup."

Ryan offered me a kind smile and we walked
back to the table. People were dancing, Evelyn and Simon were also on the dance
floor, but Landon was nowhere in sight. We took our seats next to Robert.

When Jenna and the boys got busy
discussing their late plans with Noah’s crew, Uncle Robert had turned to me,
with eyes full of fatherly tenderness. He had no notion of what that gaze meant
for me.

"I don't understand what giving up
that amount involved for you.”

He paused;

“But I'll be forever grateful. Lily would
have loved you and your generosity."

He said pulling me to him.

"You have a pure and tender soul, and
my son would be a damn fool if he ever lets you go."

I had nothing to say to that; because
really, what could have I answered.

"Good thing he doesn't plan to,
then."

Landon’s voice came from behind us and I
looked up to the gorgeous sight that he was.

He pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"We'll be leaving soon.”

He announced, sitting back on his chair.

“I’ve arranged for your friends to be
driven back to the hotel."

"We're not going back?”

I was curious.

"No, I have other plans for us."

He was back to all dark and mysterious
Landon.

"But I left my things back at the
penthouse."

I argued, suddenly disappointed that I
might have to change his plan.

I was looking forward to what he had
prepared for us; more so, to see how he’d react to what I had in mind for us. I
had never been that excited about something. I needed him; I wanted him, alone,
with me.

"Don't worry, I arranged for
everything."

He winked, resigned to make me lose my
mind.

I thought I would tease him back, and
maybe somehow manage to destabilize him as well.

"I really hope, for both our sakes
that it won't interfere with my own plans."

"Why? What did you have in mind
baby?"

Landon’s tone was one of wry amusement.

I shrugged, trying my best to keep a
composed tone.

"Reveal your intentions and I'll
reveal mine."

Landon chuckle was a sound I cherished. It
made him look so young and jovial.

"So tell me kid.”

Uncle Robert got my attention.

“What are you planning to do with the
Sculpture?"

I pursed my lips.

"I have something in mind, but don't
you worry Uncle Robert, it will remain cherished.”

I beamed at him.

"I have no doubt; Landon mentioned
that you knew the story behind it."

“He did?”

I looked at him.

"Err I don't get it, that thing is
ugly."

Evelyn interrupted sliding back in her
chair.

"I don't understand how anyone would
want to have it around, I'm glad it's out of Landon's apartment." She
continued.

I rolled my eyes at her.

I resented how disrespectful she was.

"No one expects you to, and you don't
look like someone who knows how to appreciate the beauty behind such
mystery."

I was snarly. The woman got under my skin.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

She glared at me and I breathed my
exasperation.

"Well, you clearly don't respect your
partner and his father enough to understand the gesture, and you don't seem to
care that Landon gave up something he cared for and all you could do was
criticize the sculpture without any appreciation towards its history nor what
it represents."

“Not to mention, you bid on your own
donation.”

Jude eyeballed me. I didn’t understand
where my reaction came from.

“What does that got to do with the
sculpture of a prostitute?”

She asked tartly.

“Everything!”

I stated.

“It takes a great deal of selflessness to
really appreciate art; and bidding on your own gift doesn’t translate into
anything other than parsimonious egoism.”

“Excuse me?”

Evelyn pushed to her feet, and if looks
could kill; I would've probably been the victim of a homicide.

"She's not easy to deal with that
one; god knows I've been trying to for the past decade."

Robert laughed and I got embarrassed by my
reaction.

"I'm sorry."

I shrugged.

"She's just so offensive."

"You don't have to be, it's the
universal way to deal with Evelyn Crawley.”

Uncle Robert shook his head, his lips
tried to hide his smile.

“That girl has been spoiled without
limits. Landon's way to deal with her is to simply ignore her, while Simon,
just indulges her. My poor boy has been in love with her for the longest time,
it's depressing."

I nodded my understanding then took a sip
of my wine.

"Uncle Robert can I ask you a favor?

His smiled broadened.

“Of course kiddo, you can ask me
anything.”

“So since I just acquired the sculpture,
will you reveal the secret of how you came to have it in the first place?"

He nodded in acknowledgement.

"Not so fast Kiddo, it won't be that
easy."

I heard Landon's chuckle.

“Scheming old man.” He mumbled to himself.

"I have some conditions."

Uncle Robert announced proudly.

"And what might those conditions be,
if I may ask?"

 I liked the jovial glint that
sparkled in his eyes.

He was a dashing man. He said Landon’s
look came mostly from his mother, but I could still see the resemblance between
them, and Simon. The genes in the Davis family were truly astonishing.

"How do you feel about having three
dates with an old man?”

I grinned.

“I can work with that.”

“Not so fast kiddo…”

He interrupted.

“I'll be in New York a week from tomorrow.
I require three dinners; one outside, one cooked by Jenna and the last one will
be decided at some point in the future.”

“Every date I'll reveal a portion of the
story, and trust me it will be worth it."

He winked at me and I swooned at his
beautiful features. He was devastatingly charming.

"Oh I believe you got yourself a deal
Mr. Davis.”

I flashed him a swoon worthy smile.

“But just so you know, I would've done it
for the sole purpose of your company; you didn't need to blackmail me for those
dates."

“I have absolutely no doubt about that.”

He affirmed.

****

After
we’d said our goodbyes to the others, we rode silently in the car. Landon
refused to reveal anything about his plans or our destination. I only put my arms
around him and settled in the crook of his neck. It came naturally with him; it
even disturbed me. I wasn’t usually comfortable around anyone other than my
friends, even Caden thought that I was a bit cold sometimes; but I understood
that I had my reasons to be with him. Something had always left my stomach in
knots; I’d ignored it and blamed it on my self-preserving nature.

But
with Landon, and even though I only knew him for mostly a week other than
thirty minutes half-way across the globe, I didn't feel the need to hold back.
He affected me deeply; sometimes all my senses seemed to go blank around him,
and I’d only get scared when I’d thought about how a relationship with him may
fail without me being able to do anything about it, and the hurt it might cause
me.

I
brushed off the thought. I might have been scared before, but that time, I’d
chosen to look for him; my thoughts were scattered after he’d left my house
that night. I may have suffered before, when I’d given my trust to an
undeserving man. But I’d decided to take a leap of faith with Landon. I wasn't
going to allow myself to let go of some of the control I’d managed to gather
over my life; which was why I was willing to leave him. I’d rather have some
shared control than none of it with the kind of relationship Landon had the
habit to get involved in.

My
career was my priority. I wasn't going to waste all those hours studying in
order to get into graduate school. I wanted a career doing what I loved most,
and in this economy, I was lucky to find a well-paid job with a great team.

Ever
since I’d met Landon, I haven’t been able to rationalize. Everything I did was
irrational; ever since that first encounter in Paris. My body reacted uncontrollably,
as if I had no reign over it. I would want to spend my time kissing him; which
was the first thing I’d done when I’d found him on the club terrace. I had
never felt out of control, as I’d been when we were alone in my apartment.

Flying to Chicago was another level of
unreasonable for me; when Jenna had suggested the whole thing, I’d laughed at
her suggestion and thought it crazy.
I
couldn’t see any reason for me to go and see him, when he’d already planned to
spend the weekend in New York, but with little convincing from one Miss Seiter,
a promising kiss and some swoony texts, were all it took for me to agree.

I had
never been more satisfied with myself. I was happy we could attend the charity;
it’d given me a glance at another aspect of Landon Davis. He was right; I’d
made assumptions based on his mediated life. He frustrated him that I’d
mentioned some of his celebrity girlfriends and models earlier. I thought it
original that he wanted to take me on a date at a seemingly very old and very
greasy burger place we’d crossed on our way to the club last night. I’d made a
joke about the unlikely chance we’d caught any of them near the place. His
smile had faded and he made a point of stressing that I shouldn’t talk about
such things, because most of them weren’t true. I didn’t understand what he’d
meant; but scolded myself for making him uncomfortable.