If only | Damon Salvatore

033. WILDEST DREAMS

Chapter thirty three

"Wildest dreams."

The next morning, Beatrix, Caroline, Bonnie, and Elena were fast asleep until a ringing phone woke them all.

"Go away," Caroline groaned, rolling over.

"Yeah, who's calling this early?" Beatrix asked, pulling the covers over her head.

Elena reached over to the nightstand and grabbed her phone. "Hello?"

"Shh," Bonnie complained.

"Elena!" Caroline hissed.

"If you're gonna talk..." Beatrix muttered. She grabbed a throw pillow from the bottom of the bed and tossed it, hitting Elena. "...go to the bathroom."

Elena got out of bed to answer the call, allowing the other three to roll over and fall back asleep.

Later that morning, Bonnie and Caroline left. Beatrix headed downstairs for breakfast, but stopped when she saw Elijah standing in the entryway with her mother, Cassandra, and her grandmother, Winifred. All three adults were dressed elegantly.

"Well, I see I'm underdressed," Beatrix noted.

Her grandmother looked up at her. "Well, I figured you'd be staying in today."

Beatrix shook her head. "No. I go where you guys go. I need a distraction."

"Then go get dressed, preferably in cocktail attire," her mother replied. "We have a Historical Society high tea to attend for Elijah. He's currently disguised as a small-town writer researching Virginia."

Beatrix turned around and headed back upstairs to change.

A short time later at the event, Beatrix wore a green dress and walked arm-in-arm with Elijah, while Cassandra and Winifred followed closely behind. The group mingled with Mrs. Lockwood.

"Have you spent much time in Richmond for your book? There's such a wealth of history there," Mrs. Lockwood noted.

"No, I'm focusing mostly on the smaller regions of Virginia," Elijah explained. "Lots of research. Strictly academic." He turned to smile at Beatrix's grandmother. "My friend Winifred here told me about this town, so I thought I'd visit. It sounded intriguing. She, along with her daughter, Cassandra, and granddaughter, Beatrix, have been helping me immensely with my research."

"That's fascinating. Especially since they are one of the founding families of this town, they must know a wealth of history," Mrs. Lockwood shared.

"They do," Elijah agreed smoothly.

Damon walked up to the group, catching Mrs. Lockwood's attention. She turned her head. "Damon."

"Carol," Damon replied.

"What a surprise," Mrs. Lockwood said as Damon leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Hi."

She turned back to the others, and Beatrix offered a polite smile. "Elijah, I'm not sure if you've met him yet, but this is Damon Salvatore. He's our neighbor, and a member of another one of the founding families."

As Damon shifted his gaze to her, Elijah subtly tightened his hold on Beatrix's arm.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Damon said, looking back at Elijah and extending his hand.

"The pleasure is mine," Elijah replied. He offered his free hand, and the two men shook, locking eyes in a tense stare.

A short while later, Damon walked over to a nearby room and held the door open. Beatrix turned to her mother and grandmother, raising her brows in question. The two older women nodded in approval. Beatrix turned back, walking inside the room with Elijah, and Damon followed, shutting the door behind them.