world we created, paul lahote

Chapter 14

Things had been tense between Lucia and Bella ever since their argument. No matter how many times Bella tried to talk to her cousin, Lucia remained as stubborn as a mule, refusing to acknowledge her. There was nothing Bella could say to her that would justify her selfishness. Charlie cared about Bella and the fact that Bella would easily discard her father without thought made her want to cry. She held no remorse for it either.

Lucia didn't dwell too much on their fact, despite how many times Charlie had asked what had happened. Even if Charlie knew of the supernatural, she didn't have the heart to tell him how little his daughter thought of him. But that was okay because she loved him enough for the both of them.

Regardless of all the tension that arose since Bella's return, Lucia had been walking on a cloud. Paul was a walking dream, a man plucked from a book and put on this earth, and Lucia was oh so lucky to have him all to herself. She was selfish in that regard, not willing to share the Lahote man with anyone else--not that he minded in the slightest as he bathed in her attention.

Paul had his arms wrapped around Lucia's waist, resting his chin on her shoulder while she deftly assembled the layers of her Nonna's famous lasagna. It seemed each time they met up, Paul couldn't stray far from her for too long or he'd come back for more of Lucia's attention.

From time to time, he would press gentle kisses to the soft skin of her neck, delighting in the way it caused a bright flush to bloom across her cheeks. He knew it had only been a few weeks since they first met, but he could confidently admit he was well on his way to falling in love with Lucia Barone. His heart beat for her and for her alone and nothing would change that.

The sound of the cabin door opening alerted the two lovebirds to Emily and Sam walking in, carrying bags of groceries. Emily grinned at the sight of Paul and Lucia wrapped up in each other's embrace. She should say she's surprised but she truly wasn't.

"Well, well, look what we have here," Emily teased, setting the bags down on the counter. "When I told you to keep Lucia company, Paul, I didn't quite have this in mind."

Paul straightened up slightly but didn't relinquish his hold on Lucia's waist. He rested his chin atop her head, a fond smile tugging at his lips. "Lou doesn't seem to mind."

Leaning down, he pressed a gentle kiss to her flushed cheek, delighting in the way it caused her entire face to erupt in a rosy hue. Lucia quickly escaped his embrace, muttering something about needing to put the lasagna in the oven to avoid their amused gazes.

Slipped on a pair of oven mitts and pulled the piping hot lasagna from the oven, the rich, savoury aroma wafting through the cabin. She quickly placed the hot dish on the counter and replaced it with the unbaked lasagna as slid it into the oven, shutting the door behind her. Emily had told Lucia how much the boys ate; their stomachs were nothing more than bottomless pits at this point.

Lucia draped a clean dish towel over the steaming pan, intent on preserving the heat and keeping any pesky flies at bay. She could feel Paul's eyes follow her as she worked, amused by her avoidance of his gaze. She could practically sense the teasing grin playing on his lips. He knew how flustered she became around him--especially if they were in the presence of other people.

She released a quiet breath and stopped beside him as he leaned against the counter she worked at. Her nimble fingers worked deftly, chopping crisp greens and julienning vibrant vegetables, all the while hyper-aware of Paul's captivating presence nearby. Being the centre of his undivided attention was still a novel and intoxicating experience.

Emily and Sam continued their quiet conversation, unpacking the grocery bags and putting away the various ingredients. Knowing that the pair was distracted, Paul leaned in close, his hand resting on the counter beside the bowl as she tossed the salad.