Past, Present and Passion

We Meet Again

Kelsey was starving. Again. She also needed to get to a*****e. Maybe she would head straight to a market and grab some stuff to make a meal at the cottage. She pondered that for a moment, but the lure of seeing Charles again was too strong. She would return to the Red Lion.

Once again her eyes adjusted from the bright sun to the dimly lit pub. She scanned the bar area quickly. No Charles. Bummer. She let out a small sigh but knew it was probably for the best. She would just grab some food quickly and head to the store. Eric could probably tell her the best place to go anyway.

Sitting down at the bar, Kelsey smiled as she saw Eric walking over.

“Back so soon?” He said with his big grin.

“I’m starving again too!”

Eric laughed and said “well how about a shepherd’s pie tonight? Best in town!”

Kelsey’s laugh rang out, “I’m noticing that you seem to have all the best things in town!”

“Sure do!” Eric put down a beer in front of her and said “be right back.”

The beer was tasty and hit the spot. Her mind wandered back to her day. It was one she would always remember. Seeing that many beautiful things in one room..she couldn’t even fathom what else she would find. She also didn’t know about getting this done in a month! She knew it was going to take more time than she thought. There was just so much of everything.

Kelsey pulled out her phone and opened her messages. She had seen some texts come in from Jared but she had been too engrossed in her work to check them. They were similar to the texts from last night. Just checking in. They felt awkward and distant already. She took a few moments and then started a text back.

“Jared, I am sorry for the delay. I started working this morning and it was so amazing! So much beautiful stuff! I was so busy I didn’t even eat lunch! I didn’t mean to ignore you. But honestly it’s going to be like this for a while. I probably won’t get back to you right away. I think I just need some time to figure out how I’m feeling.”

Kelsey paused. It all so fake and weird. She sat her phone down. She didn’t know what she wanted to say. She had to say something though and she picked her phone back up to type.

“Ah! She’s back!” A hand touched her shoulder and sent tingles down her arm. She could already recognize his touch. Kelsey turned around and was staring once again into the emerald green eyes that she had seen in her dreams.

“As are you! Do you come here everyday?”

Charles smiled his charming smile and Kelsey felt as if she was melting into her chair. “Almost. It is the best pub in town after all.”

“So I’ve heard.” Charles sat in the stool next to her.

“Ok if I join you?” He had sat down before she could answer so she just smiled. No way she would have said no anyway.

Before they could say anything else, Eric returned with her shepherds pie. It smelled heavenly. She smiled her thanks and took a bite. She was so hungry that she didn’t even care she was stuffing her face in front of Charles.

He chucked and said “starving again I see?”

Between bites she told him about her day and how she had forgotten to eat lunch.

He looked at her, she thought she could actually see concern in his eyes? “Hope you aren’t being over worked over there. You should be eating lunch!”

“Oh it’s fine. It wasn’t their fault. I didn’t even meet Mr. Scottsfield today. I just was so excited about everything, I forgot to eat! It’s an amazing estate. I feel really lucky to be working there.”

Charles ordered a beer. He looked at her with a smile that looked almost proud, she wasn’t sure what the look was. “Well it’s good to hear you are enjoying your new job, but maybe tomorrow pack some lunch.”

She nodded enthusiastically. “Actually, I need to get to a*****e to get stuff for lunch. And water. And snacks. Can you tell me the best place to go?” Kelsey was surprised at how easy it was for her to talk to him today. Yesterday he had overwhelmed her. But today it felt different. It felt easy though she could still feel her heart beating faster than normal. He was just so handsome!

“I’ll do you one better, when you are done eating I’ll take you over to the shop. Figure you might need some help carrying all those groceries.”

Charles and Kelsey made their way down the street toward the store. All those feelings Kelsey had felt yesterday were still there. She purposely let her hand brush his and she could tell he was doing the same.

“So tell me more about what you did today. Did you find anything particularly exciting?”

“Well, really everything was exciting. It’s all very highly sought after and rare items. Basically a dream job. But I haven’t found what I was hoping to find just yet, though I haven’t given up hope.” It was true, Kelsey had searched all day, hoping that one of the items she found would tie back to Princess Lizette in some way. But it hadn’t happened..yet. She was sure she would find something, it was a big house and she was just getting started.

Charles raised his eyebrows, “so there is something specific you are looking for?”

“Just for my own curiosity really. Mr. Scottsfield’s family can be traced back to Princess Lizette. I’ve been obsessed with her story since I was young. I am just hoping to find out more about her.” They had stopped and Kelsey looked up to see the market. “Oh, we are here!”

They slipped inside and she began to put things in her cart. Charles showed her around and helped her find the things she needed. They laughed and flirted the whole time, Kelsey couldn’t believe that shopping for groceries could be this fun.

Pretty soon they were walking back to her cottage, Charles carrying the bulk of the bags with his muscles arms. Kelsey started to think ahead. He would obviously come inside her cottage to help carry her bags. The thought of him in her place, so close to the bed that she had dreamed of him in the night before, actually made her sweat. Her pulse quickened at the thought of the dream. It had felt very very real.

They both got quieter the closer they got to her cottage. She knew he was probably thinking the same. Or similar. They had only been in public together so far but their chemistry was palpable. Being alone, it could get out their control very quickly. She wasn’t sure if she could keep herself from behaving badly if presented the option.

Before they knew it they were standing in front of the door. She took a deep breath and turned to meet his gaze, “would you like to come in?” Charles emerald eyes twinkled, his lips curving in a smile that was happy, yet hungry at the same time.

He nodded.