Plus-size Perfect

Chapter 8

It is the best holiday that Eva ever had. She can do whatever she wants, without her Mother complaining about everything. She gets up at seven o' clock every morning to have her daily jog, then have a shower and take her coffee and breakfast out to eat on the back patio. After that, she sees that there is not a speck of dust in the house and then she reads or does some crafts she always wanted to try. On the third morning in Thornton she went to the shops and found this quaint little craft shop. The owner Mr. Cooper is a very friendly man. His son Craig knows everything about almost any craft there is. He is an art student and helps his father out in the shop during holidays and weekends. She always wanted to paint, mosaic something and decoupage but her Mother always find it to messy. Now she bought many things to keep busy. She made the one bedroom into her workroom and moved one table from the big study in here. She already painted a beautiful sunset and now she is busy to mosaic a small jewellery box she bought at the craft shop. She decided to make an effort and make Christmas gifts for everyone. She always wanted to do something like that and now is her chance. She has not seen Torin the whole week and she wonders what he is doing with his off time. When she went back to the craft shop again yesterday, she saw a truck parked at her landlord's castle. She stopped and tried to acquaint herself with him, but the workers said he was not there with them. Later when she took a walk in her garden, she stood on a chair and looked over the wall when she heard a car. A lovely midnight blue corvette was just leaving and she wondered if that is her landlord. He is definitely a mysterious man. Just before sunset, she sits on her little patio with a bottle of water when she hears a car and her gate intercom beeps. She looks out the window while she pushes the button. "Can I help ye?" She hears a definite male chuckle on the other side before Peter starts to talk. "Hullo dear Sister Eva, can I bother ye for a while?" She cannot believe Peter is visiting her, she never thought he would attempt any friendship with her. "Sure Peter, I will open the gate for ye." She opens the gate and the front door and waits for him on the stairs. He gets out with a paper bag in one arm and puts his other arm around her shoulders before he kisses her cheek. "I thought I should cam and see yer little hide-out, since Mom said it is absolutely beautiful and I can see she was right as always." She invites him in although she feels a little awkward with him. "Cam in, dae ye want tae sit on the patio out back? I usually sit there at this time of day and enjoy the sunset." He looks around as they walk through the house and he can see her landlord did a marvellous job. The little castle house fits Eva like a glove. "Och, I would love tae enjoy the sunset with ye Eva. Bring two glasses please. I brought us a light low calorie, non-alcoholic wine. Ye ken ye and I never had a chance tae really get tae ken each other and I would like tae remedy that while ye're here for the next two years. It always feels as if the twins ken ye far better although I'm actually yer big brother for the past few years." She smiles shyly at him and grabs two wine glasses before they go to sit on the patio. "I always thought ye think of me as a nuisance, so I tried tae stay out of yer way as much as possible." He seems a bit angry. "Eva I talked tae Torin and that is the other reason I am here. I want ye tae ken that I am nae as Morgan made me out tae be. I dinnae care if ye ar too familiar with me, my parents, or even my brothers. I really dae want tae have a younger Sister who I can boss around and protect from the two-leg wolfs in college from time to time. I want ye tae ignore Morgan's little tantrums. I will sort them out eventually and I ken she is yer Sister. However, I also ken that she bullies ye just like yer Mother. I want ye tae ken that if ye need someone tae talk tae, I am here for ye. I ken my Mom absolutely adores ye, so there is also her and my Dad if ye need someone's help. I dinnae want ye tae stay here quite literally next tae us and we never see each other because of Morgan's snobbishness. I intend tae make a nuisance of myself at least once a week here at yer house." She does not know what tae say. "I ... I ... thenk ye Peter. I would love tae have a bossy older brother and I would nae mind if ye keep the wolfs away from me, although I cannae believe I will have any problems with any men. Luckily I am nae the type of girl the average men gae for." He holds up his hand and she looks at him. "Eva ye should stop there. Ye ar a gorgeous curvy young woman and ye wouldnae believe how many men will make yer life hell if ye dinnae keep them at arm's length. Forget about luck. Ye ar beautiful and nae luck will help tae keep the wolfs away. Ye just wait and see." He asks her about her hobbies and tells her to make use of the huge library at his manor at anytime. He finds out many things about Eva and as the lights on the patio go on, her gate intercom beeps again. He gets up with her and says it is time for him to get home too. She pushes the button and looks at the blue corvette at the gate. " Hullo, how can I help?" She hears Torin's husky laughter on the other side and she is stunned. "Hullo Eva that is nae the question ye should ask a man ye ken. However, there is something ye can dae for me Love. Open the gate so I can kick my brother's erse for visiting ye behind my back." Peter laughs and she opens the gate for Torin. They wait for him in front of the house. He walks up to Peter and they make a few fake jabs at each other, before Peter grabs Torin and gives him a man-hug. "Hullo little bro. Dinnae fash yersel, I am visiting me bean-bhrathair (sister-in-law). What is yer excuse tae be here?" Peter laughs knowingly and step aside when Torin strikes at him. "I think ye should rather leave Peter, I hav something tae discuss with Eva. In private that is ..." Peter hugs Eva and kisses her cheek while laughing at a scowling Torin. "Guid cheerio the nou (good-bye) Eva. A hae tae gang (I have to go), see ye efter." He looks warningly at Torin. "Ye better behave Bro, I wull nae let ye misbehave wi Eva." Torin bumps Peter with his shoulder. "Caw canny (be careful) Bro. I cam here tae talk tae Eva nae bed her. Ye can ask her I am always a perfect gentlemen towards her." Eva blushes and thinks about the kiss they shared that one night at her parent's house but does not say a word. Peter smiles and gets into his car and drives away. "Dae ye want tae cam in or dae ye want tae talk here outside?" Torin smiles, walks up to her, put his hand in her neck underneath her hair and pulls her head to him for a soft kiss on the lips. "I would love tae cam in if ye dinnae mind Eva; I dinnae want tae talk here outside in yer front yard." She takes him through the house and grabs another wine glass while looking over her shoulder at him. "Can I give ye a glass of non-alcoholic wine that Peter brought me?" He nods and follows her outside to the patio. "Ye like it here on the patio, dinnae ye?" She smiles and pours him a glass, when she sits down with her own glass she nods. "Aye I love it here, especially at sunset and also this time of night." He sees how relaxed she is and he hopes she will be just as relaxed when he tells her the truth. "Eva I hav something tae tell ye and I am nae sure, how ye ar gaun tae react. Please just listen, until I am finish, before ye throw me with that bottle of wine." She does not say a word, just nods. "Will ye please accompany me tae the family dinner on the 24th of December at my parents' manor then tae the charity ball on the 31st and the picnic the 1st of January?" She is not sure what she was expecting so she smiles shyly. "Peter said something aboot the family gatherings and also said he will handle Morgan. I guess then it will be okay tae say yes I will love tae accompany ye." Now he smiles happily. "I am nae sure if ye noticed me at the Castle earlier today, but ... it ... um ... it belongs tae me." He waits for her to say something and she just gapes open mouthed at him. "Eva I dinnae want tae keep a secret or lie tae ye, but I dinnae gae about and shout it from the rafters. It is nae as if I use the title really. Although there ar many of the older people in Thornton that calls me Lord Thorn, I prefer they call me Torin. My Mom was Lady Isla Thornton and it was my Grandpa who started the town or as they used tae say, the Village of Thornton. My Grandpa hated my Da's dad. The Thorntons and the Mackensies dinnae like each other and my Mom and Dad fell in love. Just tae make it worst they eloped tae Blackhood and got married there. Until the day of my Grandpa's death bed, they never made peace, although he left me this Castle and title. Seth got the title of Lord from my Grandma's side of the family, the MacCallans and a big Castle just outside of Thornton that is called MacCallan's Castle." Suddenly Eva remembers the inscription in her diary. She gets up and rans to the house with a concerned Torin behind her. She grabs the diary in her study and when she turns around Torin is standing in the door. She opens the diary and pushes it into his hands. "Is that why ye wrote these words?" He reads part of the inscription and smiles. "May every one of yer wishes, cam true and may yer path be strewn with rose of all colours, but without the thorns ... okay maybe just one Thorn." She looks enqueringly at him. "Is that because you ar Lord Thorn?" He puts the diary on the desk and pulls her into his arms. "Well ... ye caught me there Lassie. Ye ar a clever one, ye ken." His face is very near hers and she can see the gold flecks in his hazel eyes. The next moment he bends his head and he kisses her sofly. She does not resist, but starts to kiss him back. His one hand comes up into her hair and he tilts her head back to give him better access to her mouth and neck. It started with a soft kiss, then turns more passionate and he knows he should stop but cannot help himself. He spreads soft kisses down her cheek and then her neck after which he bites her lightly in the neck just under her ear. She moans when he suck-licks the sting away and he lifts his head. Her eyes open and it is glazed over. "I think we should stop right here Lass, before I hav tae admit tae my brother and ye that I am nae the perfect gentleman I professed tae be." He smiles when he sees her pink cheeks and he rubs one of her cheeks with his thumb. "Cam Lass, let's rather gae sit outside." He takes her hand and leads her outside where he pours them some more wine. He looks at her still pink cheeks and smiles when she looks away into the garden. "Ar ye mad at me because I kissed ye Lass?" She shakes her head, but does not look at him. "Nae" He realises that she is more shy than he thought she would be. "Ar ye angry because I dinnae tell ye I am yer landlord before today?" She turns her head slowly and looks at him. "Nae." He chuckles softly when she looks away again. "Ar ye angry because I gave ye a hickey?" She gasps and her hand goes up to her neck. "Ye're nae serious, ar ye Torin?" He chuckles, gets up and comes to sit in front of her on his haunches touching her chin and turning her head to the side. Then he lifts her hair and smiles smugly. "Relax Lass, I am joking, it is only a light red mark, tomorrow it will be gone." She looks down to him and blushes again when he winks at her. "Why dinnae ye tell me aboot this house?" He gets up and sits in his chair again. "I dinnae dae it on purpose Eva. I wanted tae rent out the Dower house after I finished it, but nae tae just anybody and then ye said ye're coming here tae study. I talked tae my Mom and she thought it is the perfect place for ye. Ye will be safe here and near her, Morgan and Peter. I also ken that ye willnae damage my house like other tenants especially since it is furnished already. Some of these furniture is hundreds of years old. Please Eva, try tae understand my reasons for keeping it from ye. Would ye hav cam tae stay here if ye knew from day one that the house belongs tae me?" She shakes her head. "Nae I think I would hav been afraid people will talk and my Mother will get a fit. Which she probably still will hav ..." He laughs. "She still doesnae have tae ken Lass. Yer Sister doesnae even ken the history in our family yet and that can wait a few more years. I ken Peter willnae say a word without my permission." She looks a bit more satisfied and relaxed. "Ar ye gaun tae stay here then Lass?" She smiles and nods her head. "Aye, thank ye Lord Thorn, I am still gaun tae be yer tenant." He laughs about her using his title and they talk a bit more about his family while he orders pizzas for dinner. They eat outside on the patio and he promises to show her the castle during the coming weekend. Long after dinner he gets up. "It is getting late Lass, I should leave before I overstay my welcome." He takes her hand and they walk through the house to his car. Now she knows he is just on the other side of the wall if she needs any help. At his car he turns to her and softly kisses her lips before he gets into his car. "Please gae in Eva, and make sure to put the alarm and beams on as soon as the gate closed behind my car." She goes in and watches him leave through the window before she does as he told her to do. Later in her bed she dreamily touches her lips and smiles. Wow, he kissed her again and it was even better than the first time, months ago.
As she gets to know Torin during the next few weeks, she realises why she always liked and trusted him from the start. He is dependable, loyal and he has a nice personality. She also realises  he is touching her more, whenever he gets a chance. He holds her hand and opens doors and helps her to sit down and he kisses her at every chance he gets and if she has to be honest with herself, she likes it very much. The weekend when he showed her the almost finished castle he kissed her in every room and there are quite a lot of rooms. They were almost caught by Peter when he came to visit Torin. He will still have to work next year, even every holiday to finish the castle, but he enjoys the work.
Tomorrow is the Christmas dinner party at Torin's parents and she still did not find a dress. So she decided to go shopping this morning and found a cute little boutique with one of a kind dresses. Torin said it is not a formal dinner although the men will wear suits. So that means she can wear a dress that is smart but not to dressy. She is a bit scared, because Morgan is going to be there. At least Mira will be there too and she thinks that Mira and Seth together is going to be Morgan's biggest shock ever. She went to the salon in Thornton for a wee bit of a make-over. It is amazing what a good haircut and make-up session can do for a girl's self-esteem. She even had a manicure and pedicure. For the first time in her life she feels confident and actually pretty too. When Torin arrives at her gate she opens and when he exits the car her heart starts working over time. He is the most sexiest Math's teacher she knows. In his dark suit he looks sexy as hell and she cannot take her eyes off him. What she does not know is that he almost drove through the fountain when he noticed her in the door. In that white sheave dress she looks gorgeously stunning. He reaches the door and pulls her out on the stoop at her hand, turning her around so he can see her from every angle. "Miss Eva, ye look stunning. I cannae wait tae see yer Sister's face." She smiles shyly. "Dae ye think I am dressed appropriately?"