world we created, paul lahote

Chapter 12

Lucia eyed herself in her full-length mirror, her forest green eyes trailing over her chosen date wear. The delicate white spaghetti strap dress flowed effortlessly down her body, the silky fabric caressing her curves in all the right places. She ran her hands slowly over the smooth material, admiring how it accentuated her figure.

With a thoughtful tilt of her head, Lucia's gaze travelled upwards, taking in the sight of her freshly blow-dried hair. She'd opted to let her hair fall loose just as she did yesterday, knowing now that Paul liked it. Reaching over to the bed, Lucia grabbed the oversized beige sweater and shrugged it on, the soft wool enveloping her in a cosy embrace. She pulled her hair forward, ensuring it hadn't gotten dishevelled while pulling on her sweater.

Charlie leaned against the stairs as he looked at Lucia amused, the urge to laugh bubbling in his throat. He knew he'd been spot on in assuming that his niece would soon be involved with a boy--though Charlie was far more accepting of this relationship than Bella's weird obsession with Edward. Knowing that the boy was one of Sam's buddies put his mind at ease, knowing that his daughter was in safe hands.

However, he would still be giving Paul the father talk, obviously. He couldn't let the man think he was going soft -- even though everyone who knew Charlie Swan knew that he was as cuddly as a teddy bear most days.

Lucia looked down at her uncle, spying that knowing look he wore before swiftly looking away. Her cheeks had flushed, remembering their conversation not too long ago and knowing that Charlie had been right. "You were right, I know."

He let out a chuckle. "I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to," Lucia says but smiles nonetheless, unable to contain her excitement. By no means was this Lucia's first date but it was the first one she was this excited about. Her heart thumped nervously in her chest as if it wanted to escape and flutter about her room. There was also a perpetual flush on her cheeks each time her mind drifted to Paul. It was jarring how much she came to like the man in a short period of time but she didn't feel the need to shy away from it, no matter how dubious she was of it.

The shrill ring of the doorbell shattered the comfortable silence in Lucia's room, causing her heart to skip a beat. Her eyes widened momentarily as she glanced towards Charlie who smirked at her before defending the stairs. She could already sense what was coming from the loom on Charlie's face alone.

"Uncle Charlie, no embarrassing dad talks please!" She called in vain, knowing he couldn't resist. The man was already making his way to the front door and she knew there was no stopping him. She supposed if Paul would be easily scared off by Charlie, then he most probably wasn't the one for her.

Ensuring that she looked good, Lucia grabbed her shoes and slipped them on before leaving her room. She could hear idle chatter coming from downstairs. Lucia steeled her nerves and made her way down the stairs, flushing under Paul's stare that settled on her when he heard her coming down. She didn't attempt to hide behind a facade of nonchalance beneath his stare, finding his boyish grin endearing. A kaleidoscope of butterflies fluttered around her stomach as she came to a stop beside him, the Lahote man towering over her by 18 cm.

Although he wasn't wearing slacks and a crisp, white button-up he had a few days prior, he looked handsome all the same. He wore a Coventry Grey short-sleeve linen button-up shirt that hung loose on his toned build, a few buttons open at the top. He paired it well with a pair of white linen shorts.

"Hi, Paul," Lucia breathed, her voice barely above a whisper, yet laced with a hint of playful coyness. Charlie stifled a chuckle behind his hand at his niece's bashfulness, grateful that the Paul boy was nothing like Edward. After having spoken to him briefly, he could see that Paul Lahote would take good care of his daughter something he only wished Bella would find in someone.