Page 18 of Dimitri
He overslept. There was a reason for it of course. He had spent almost the entire night thinking about her. Wanting her, the taste of her still on his lips.
He had gone back to the party but had to force himself to be social and to dance with the women demanding his attention. Several times, he had to remind himself that they had thrown the party in his honor.
It was after one that he managed to escape to his room and had spent the entire night reliving the feel of her in his arms. He wanted her. Stacking his hands behind his head, he stared up at the patterned ceiling and smiled grimly.
Of course, the word want was too weak, too lackluster for what he was feeling. He needed her. Sitting up, he leaned against the pillows and closed his eyes.
He could take a drive to her place, insist on seeing her and finish what he started. Or he could give her a bit of time. She had not liked what transpired between them.
The last thing he wanted was to get involved with someone this early. His last relationship had ended painfully. He had ended up hurting someone he had known since childhood. He was unable to commit and love anyone with the deep abiding love that was required to take a trip to the altar.
The relationship had lasted a year, but when it was time for him to take it further, he had backed away. He was forty-two years old and still single. Something was definitely wrong with him.
The last thing he wanted was to get involved. He had decided to take the time to reevaluate his life. Now, he had complicated it.
Telling himself that the best thing to do was to stay away from her, was not working. He had to see her again. Whether she bloody well liked it or not.
*****
She was groggy and disoriented. Sleep had eluded her until almost dawn, and it had been restless. Realizing that she was not going back to sleep, she rose and went to the bathroom to take a shower. A glance at the clock showed that it was a little past seven, much too early.
Dragging on an old pair of leggings and a thick sweater, she bundled her hair into a thick knot at the nape of her neck and went to make coffee. Staring out the window, she noticed the angry looking clouds and resigned herself to shoveling snow.
The phone rang just as she was pouring her first cup. The thought of ignoring it flitted through her mind before she picked up the phone. A smile touched her lips as she recognized the number.
"Grams, hi."
"You have not called me in a couple of days, I was beginning to think I no longer have a granddaughter."
Settling on a chair at the counter, she wrapped her hand around the cup and prepared to have a long and pleasant conversation.
"I've been busy, and you were on a tour. How was it?" Irene Trent was a retired surgeon who had moved to the UK when she lost her husband and was now singing in a band. It always amazed Allison that her eighty-two-year-old grandmother was touring Europe and singing.
"Wonderful. I wished you had come with us. We sang and played at several theatres and did some weddings. I've decided to stop off in Dublin to see some friends."
"I don't know how you do it," Allison murmured, shaking her head. "I don't think I could manage the hectic lifestyle."
"What you need is a husband and a couple of kids," Irene told her firmly. "We're the last remaining Trents; something has to be done about that."
"It's too late for me."
"Nonsense," the woman snorted indelicately. "You're young and beautiful. Any sensible man with blood running through his veins would be proud to have you. I'm not giving up. I lost my husband and son and a beautiful daughter-in-law. I want to hold a great-grandchild in my arms before I leave this earth."
A shiver went through her as the words resonated through her mind. The thought of losing yet another person she loved was not something she wanted to contemplate.
"You're going to live till you're a hundred years old. Please God."
"We don't get to choose. Now tell me about your work."
*****
He decided to take a chance. It had only been him and his grandmother for breakfast as his grandfather was feeling a little out of sorts.
"Is he going to be all right?" Dimitri asked in concern as he sipped his second cup of coffee.
"His blood pressure is a little high and he has a cough. The dratted man wanted to go and see to the horses, even though he's not feeling well." Elizabeth buttered toast and sent him a reassuring smile. "He refuses to take time to rest. We have excellent help, and Ben knows the farm inside out. Besides, on a Sunday, we have a scaled-down operation."
"I could take on some of the chores he wanted taken care of."
