Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Dimitri

I watched the hallway where Blair had disappeared for more than five minutes. Everyone was talking animatedly, but my mind was caught in her earlier reactions. She seemed very annoyed by this girl's advances, though she tried hard to cover it up.

I was about to go after her, when Blair returned and took her place beside me. I forced a smile back at Julie's voice, which had not yet tired of her constant questions.

" You must see some amazing places every day," the girl sighed, staring at me.

" Ahhhh, he definitely does," Blair answered for me, "Dimitri is practically a tour guide of historical cities. Right, Commander?”

" We have a deal, Blair. You introduce me to the best beaches, and I'll introduce you to the European cities.”

" You must know the beaches of Carmel then, Voitovich," John Goldberg declared with pleasure.

" The beach at the hotel is a very beautiful place," Frank declared.

" I will take you there tomorrow, Mr. Turner," Blair smiled at me, "I already have all the details planned."

" Blair knows this place like no one else, Dimitri," Abigail smiled.

" Great, I can't wait," I assured her.

We changed the subject next, Blair seemed a little more at ease to act freely around me.

All the guests were welcome to Joe and me, even though we were almost like intruders in the family celebration. But the fact that Blair seemed so much more than intimate, it was as if she herself was part of the family, made us feel so welcome.

After dinner was over, everyone was gathered watching the Thanksgiving parade on TV, having separated into small groups. Blair spent almost the entire time next to me, while Joe somehow managed to make friends with each of the people present, even offering a painting as a gift to Mrs. Goldberg.

" Soon he will be invited to be one of the best men," Blair scoffed, indicating the young man across the room.

" I don't doubt it. Joe has a unique way of winning people over. Except for his own father.”

" What is this guy's problem anyway?”

Before I could answer, I noticed Abigail and Noah watching us, whispering among themselves, until the young woman indicated that I should call Blair over to her.

I did as she asked and the girl called out to her with her hand, looking anxious to tell her something.

" You…”

" You can go, she probably wants to talk just to you," I assured her.

" Are you sure?  I don't want to leave you here alone.”

" Don't worry, I'll be fine. I promise not to run away," I assured him.

" J'espère que non, j'ai des plans pour vous, commandant," she winked before starting to walk away.

I didn't exactly understand the tenor of her words, but her tone stirred something inside me, causing me to long for her with every part of me.

Watching Blair walk away, I could no longer deny, over the past two months every feeling I had for her was intensifying. I considered her the most beautiful, sexy, intelligent, charismatic, and funny woman I knew, and that realization only showed me the obvious deduction: I was falling in love with her, and I didn't know if I wanted to stop that feeling.

Maybe it was time to set the record straight with Blair; I might dread that conversation if I didn't have so many indications that she was matching my feelings.

" Did she at least pay the dry cleaning bill? " Noah asked, standing beside me.

" She gave me a packet of cookies," I explained, "that's all I could get as compensation.”

" That's typical of her, it's not the first time she's done something like this," the young man hid a small smile.

" I imagine it is.”

" She's the kind of person who uses that pretty face to get herself out of all the trouble she gets into, and believe me, it's a lot of it," he laughed after finishing his sentence.

I felt uncomfortable with this comment, but decided to remain silent without knowing what he expected me to say.

" So, how does this work between you? " Noah asked after a few seconds of silence.

" What do you want to know? " I turned, staring at him.

I hadn't expected that kind of reaction, especially from someone who was nothing more than her friend's fiancé, and it bothered me.

" Let's get things straight, Voitovich. Blair is important to Abby, that makes her important to me," he took a deep breath. “Abby didn't expect Blair to bring someone other than Luke, but since the two of you met she hasn't talked about people other than you.”

" I don't know who Luke is, but I don't think there's anything to worry about," I declared, ignoring the pang of jealousy that threatened to wash over me at hearing that name.

I didn't know who it was; Blair had never mentioned anyone else to me. But to her friends, that man seemed to mean something.

" Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to cause any intrigue between you. Luke is just a friend of ours that Blair usually takes along as a date to these kinds of events," the man explained.

" So what are you trying to do?” I took a deep breath.

" I'm trying to make sure she doesn't get disappointed. Abby is worried about this whole living on the other side of the world thing. I don't think it's exactly a problem, lots of people know each other that way and are happy," he stated simply.

" We are getting to know each other, and so far we have made it work, but I can't define what kind of relationship we have. Or even if we have a relationship," I blurted out.

" That's easy to determine, I was ready to hold her back in case she tried to strangle Abby's cousin," he smiled, "if you didn't expect to be in a relationship, I have news for you.”

I frowned at that comment, but before I could think of an appropriate response, he turned away, motioning with his head for me to follow him.

" Come on, Abby was planning something," he explained.

We approached the girls, who whispered among themselves, not noticing our presence.

" What I mean is that this is something easy to solve. You just have to talk to him and make things clear. You don't have to kill my cousin for it," I heard the girl say to Blair as we approached.

Blair noticed our approach and immediately changed the subject. But in the end, it wasn't hard to understand what they were referring to.

Everyone seemed to have noticed the reason for her bad mood, perhaps the only exception was Julie herself.

" Hey Abby, if we want to find the pub open, we need to leave now," Noah declared, hugging his fiancée.

" The Young Irish pub? " Blair frowned, "Are you guys still going there today?”

" "You guys?” You're coming too! We've arranged it with the girls and even your cousin, is excited, Dimitri.”

" He's always excited when it comes to partying.”

" You're coming, right? " Abby insisted.

" Abby, I... I think I'd better not.”

I decided not to get involved, despite her glare at me. I was her guest here and whatever she decided to do, I would accept.

" Blair.”

" It's nothing, you guys can go out and have fun, but I'm exhausted," she explained, "I got on an early plane, drove hours from LA to here and didn't even have time to rest, just got ready and came. We'll have time to hang out another time.”

That statement put me in a state of alert. Of course she would be tired.

" It is completely justifiable, Ozkan. Besides, I bet you both will want to enjoy some time alone," Noah accepted the explanation.

" All right, I'll let you escape today, but tomorrow…”

" Come on, Commander. This is our chance," she wrapped her hand around me, dragging me away.