Butterfly and Flame - Alina and Evan

Theodore

"I think you'll find everything you need in here. You have your own on suite and just down the hall is the gym, sauna and jacuzzi. If you need anything you can ring downstairs and Olivia will see that you get whatever you want. I'm just downstairs on the East side of the house. My home office is there and so its easier to have a room there as well". Miranda looked around the large, perfectly appointed guest suite and was stunned at the wealth his family had. She had certainly seen her fair share of fancy hotels and spas and even had dated a rich guy in college but this was on another level and she was afraid that her gaping mouth sent the wrong message. Getting ahold of herself and looking through the window she said "I'm sure it will do just fine. So who's the swimmer because that looks like an Olympic size pool down there? She looked back at him as she said it and then answered her own question with a bit of sarcasm as she saw his silly grin "Of course you are. CEO at 23 with your GQ/Armani swagger, art dealer, swimmer"......and just as she was about to say something derisive in sauntered an incredibly gorgeous Main Coon in silver and black with the loudest and deepest of meow's she had ever heard "Theodore" said Christian as he picked up the complaining feline in his arms and scratched his chin and set him on his shoulders. Before he could say anything else she finished her sentence with ...."and animal lover extraordinaire". She stretch out her index finger to the cat's nose and saw as the cat craned its neck to smell her and then rub his nose and mouth on her. "Well if I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't believe it. Theodore is not particularly a ladies man. He prefers the bachelor type. He is actually purring and not hissing....."All cats love me" said Miranda with a huge smile on her lips. She reached up to where the cat sat on Christians shoulder in order to lift the cat off. Christian watched as Miranda cooed at Theodore and was struck by how easygoing this girl was. Incredibly assertive, that was true, confidant in herself as well, but she was also soft and gentle as he had seen with Alina. Christian leaned in and down so that she could grab the cat but the fickle feline moved up and sat straight up as if to avoid her hands. Miranda didn't give up so easily and spread her arms up and on either side of Christians head looking up toward the cat but catching Christians staring eyes instead. For a moment they took in each other's features as if they were seeing each other for the first time. Miranda had been out with enough good looking guys to know that they expected to be catered to and held in high regard just because of their good looks. As she matured she realized that good looks were just a part of attraction and the rest was mostly about who the person was. She had even had a crush on Leo but like Luis and Alina it was a passing fancy that turned into a brother/sister relationship and that's how it would always be. Christian was devilishly good looking. From his eyes to his chiseled chin and cheekbones he could grace the cover of any magazine as if though he belonged there. But she had also noted his strong and unyielding loyalty to his brother. It would have taken more than a snowstorm to keep him from finding and helping Evan. Here she was staring into those hazel/green eyes and forgetting what it was she was about to do.
Christian was caught up in a mix of emotions just then. The first was unbridled lust and the second, well the second was a seeping interest. He liked Miranda and couldn't  remember the last time he had ever honestly said that about a woman. There had been plenty of them to be sure. He had always wanted them, always found aspects of them entertaining or interesting but he couldn't remember ever thinking that he genuinely liked a woman and found her sexually appealing as well. Right now that same woman was making him incredibly aroused just being near her. He felt like he was fifteen and looking at his swimming partners who were girls in their bathing suits for the very first time in a completely different way. Miranda had all the attributes he liked in a woman. She was beautiful, sexy, athletic, independent, confidant, intelligent, and determined. But she was also kind, and funny with a sharp quick wit. She was unimpressed with him which at first rubbed him the wrong way but then found alluring and challenging. She was fully aware of who she was and that was incredibly attractive to him. The fact that Theodore liked her was icing on the cake. The fact that he was thinking of how to spend some time alone with her was blowing his mind. Typically he would be looking at the days figures and not at her figure. Which he had ingrained in his brain.

Miranda put her arms down and had to shake her head to get herself composed. She was loosing her mind if she thought there was anything more than close proximity that was causing her face to flush and her heart to beat like a racecar. "Christian, the room is beautiful and I know I've already thanked you plenty but I can never thank you for what you and Evan are doing for Alina. You have no idea how difficult these past two years have been and now that she is actually getting her life together and moving on, all this happens. Not to mention falling for you brother. It's just so unfair that the psychotic brother of her ex shows up". He looked at her then and couldn't help himself. "Have dinner with me tonight. Alina and Evan have a whole lot to talk about and they wont be back for another couple of hours, so have dinner with me and thank me properly for my Knight in Shinning armor act" he said with an incredible smile that almost made her dizzy. "Christian we've been in the city for all of a day. I don't have anything to wear to go out where you probably like to eat and even if I did I'm not sure that's my scene." Was she crazy,she was turning this gorgeous man down. She must be certifiable. For a moment his smile faded a bit, but then it came back full force. "I have an idea. Why don't you take a shower or bath and meet me downstairs in my room in lets say an hour and a half. Maybe I can change your mind". He didn't give her a chance to respond but instead took Theodore off of his shoulder and handed him to a surprised Miranda. She took the great big beast in her arms and watched as Christian walked out the door. Looking at the cat in her arms she cooked at him saying put"He's a bit bossy isn't he?".

Evan opened the car door for Alina and putting out his hand helped her out. They had arrived at the Manhattan gallery. He thought that she could use a day of relaxation and artistic visuals to get her to unwind. They had spent the morning and early afternoon at the day spa getting her a massage, manicure, and some beauty products. Next they had gone to Saks to do a little bit of shopping for her, but she was astonished at the prices of the clothing and only let Evan buy her a few necessary things. She told him that Macys or Nordstroms was more her speed and that whatever he spent on her she would pay back with the proceeds of her book. If that didn't pan out she would have her parents front her the money and then pay him back. She didn't intend to take advantage of his kindness even if he was her boyfriend. Just saying that word gave her all the goosebumps and butterfly's in her stomach. Evan was bar none the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to her. If she would have to had to endure all that Kyle had put her through just to be here right now she would have done it with out a single doubt. She was madly in love with Evan and it was joyous and painful all at once. Joyous because she had finally found her soulmate and painful because she could never bear to loose him and be separated from him. She smiled at him as she stood up and straightened her long skirt over her boots and enjoyed the feel of his arm as it wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. She was simply the luckiest person in the world.