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Chapter 15: A Force of Nature
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Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 16: In the Name of All That is Holy
Chapter 16: In the Name of All That is HolyLuke's mobile alarm went off at 8:00 am local time. He got up immediately, remembering their 10:30 appointment. Pausing to listen at the bedroom door and hearing nothing, he knocked gently before letting himself in.Bella was in the same position he'd left her in when he'd helped her into bed. At least she hadn't gotten sick in the night. He took advantage of the empty bathroom, showering, shaving, and dressing. When he emerged she still hadn't moved.He shook her gently. "Bella? You should get moving. We have that appointment in a couple of hours.""Oh, God…" she moaned.He smiled good naturedly. "I know. Hangovers are a bitch. Drink the water. I'll order some breakfast.""Oh, God…" she moaned again."Are you up?" he asked."Yeah…" she grunted."Ok, see you in a bit," he replied, chuckling to himself.He returned to the sitting area and phoned room service to order breakfast. He also dug out his bottle of ibuprofen. Oh, yeah, sh
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 17: A Great Story
Chapter 17: A Great Story"Ailsa Duncan survived the explosion that destroyed an entire neighborhood five years ago," Bella explained in the back of the cab on their way to meet their 10:30 appointment. "But her husband and two children were killed. They were crushed when their house collapsed. Ailsa was found the next day, badly injured but alive."Luke was only half listening. He remembered covering the disaster, shooting video of the devastation. There had been a gas leak and before the neighborhood could be evacuated, there was a tremendous explosion. The fire had been apocalyptic, but the percussion from the blast obliterated homes that were never touched by flames."She wrote an open letter that was published in the newspaper, kind of an anniversary remembrance," Bella continued. "Are you alright?" she asked, concerned by his silence."Yeah, I'm fine. What happened to your hangover?" he asked, trying to change the subject."I've put it on ignore," she responded.The cab s
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 18: Electricity
Chapter 18: ElectricityThey left Ailsa's house at 12:30 and because they didn't plan to meet Nevin until 2:00, Luke had the cab drop them at the hotel."I really wanted to change anyway," said Bella.Luke rolled his eyes. "Do I have to change, too?" he quipped.She scanned him. "You look fine," she said.Sometimes sarcasm is wasted, Luke lamented to himself.Back in the suite, Luke turned on the camera to check out some of what he'd shot."Ooh, I want to see," Bella exclaimed. She stood behind him as he sat on the couch, leaning over his shoulder to peer at the small screen on the back of the camera, her cheek just brushing his. Luke stilled immediately. "Oh, sorry," she laughed, moving slightly away.Even so, he was aware of her proximity, he could smell that perfume, still feel her hair brushing his face. Determinedly, he prompted the camera to play the last segment he'd shot, the part in the rose garden. Together they watched as Ailsa commented on the roses and announced the
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 19: Visiting a Family Business
Chapter 19: Visiting a Family BusinessNevin and Luke kept up a lively conversation as they drove out of the city and into the countryside. Bella sat between the two men, listening to them reminisce about the old days and she smiled. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall during their misadventures. About twenty minutes out of town, Nevin drove up to a large rambling collection of buildings made of dark stone and roofed in slate. They were easily a hundred years old. After Nevin parked the truck they got out and Luke and Bella followed him to one of the smaller buildings. It looked like a cottage and that's exactly what it turned out to be."This is the home where I grew up," Nevin explained, "and my father before me, and his father before him. This business has been in my family for five generations." He spoke with a sense of heritage and pride.Nevin opened the door and as he did so they were treated to the aroma of something delicious cooking inside. "Here we are!" he shouted
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 20: A Night In
Chapter 20: A Night InThey said their goodbyes to Maw and headed back into town, Bella once again situated between the two men in the cab of the truck. Luke and Nevin chatted back and forth amiably, but she was lost in thought, the day's events swirling in her mind. She imagined how the stories would look, edited and compacted into a neat one-hour package.Post-production sure as hell better get it right, she thought. Glancing up she realized that both men were looking at her. Luke was wearing his amused expression. "Um, sorry, what?" she asked, realizing they had asked her a question."Tonight," Luke repeated. "How about we go back to McTavish's and just chill, no work allowed?""Oh, I don't think so," Bella said. "It's been a busy day and I'm exhausted from last night.Nevin's eyebrow arched suggestively. "Do tell!"Bella blushed furiously. "I mean…I drank way too much last night and woke up very hung over. I'm taking it easy tonight.""You heard the lady, Nevin," Luke sou
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 21: Boy Time
Chapter 21: Boy TimeNevin and Luke entered McTavish's and were greeted as conquering heroes. Nevin waved off the crowd and took Luke to his office in the back of the pub. He sat behind his desk and motioned for Luke to sit on the leather couch across from him. From a shelf behind the desk Nevin took down a bottle of Three Labels and a pair of tumblers, pouring and handing one to Luke, keeping the other for himself. "To good times!" he toasted his old friend. They both drained their glasses instantly."So how are you?" Nevin asked."Great," Luke replied, uncertain of his friend's mood."No, really," Nevin said. "I thought you'd retired. You show up here with the lovely Bella, now you're shooting a travel program? What's going on?""Well…" Luke began, realizing Charlie had been right and hating to admit that, even to himself, "I got bored." Nevin regarded him without blinking. "Seriously. That's the long and short of it. I was staying out all night, drinking way too much, sl
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 22: Crossing a Line
Chapter 22: Crossing a LineBella padded out into the sitting room in her pajamas, a thin black tank with pink bottoms. Looking down, she realized she wouldn't feel comfortable dressed this way if Luke came in, so she went back for a bathrobe. Still hot from the bath, however, she draped the robe over a chair thinking she could grab it when she heard the door. If, that is, I'm still up when he comes back, she considered.She poured another glass of wine and wandered to the French doors, watching as lightning streaked across the sky, occasionally replacing the warm glow of the firelight that filled the suite with flashes of cold blue. Large raindrops peppered the glass as the wind whipped the hotel, Edinburgh castle lit up and barely visible in the distance. It's such a lovely place, Bella thought. Such a cozy night. I could curl up now and fall asleep to the sound of the storm.Instead, she sat on the floor in front of the fire, laptop before her. Luke had dumped the raw video
Dream Dominant Collection Chapter 23: Afterglow
Chapter 23: AfterglowThey lay together in front of the fire, his arms around her, her head resting on his shoulder. She stroked his chest hair absently as he gently kissed her forehead."Well Cowboy, that was…unexpected," she drawled.He smiled at the accent. "Should I apologize?" he asked quietly."Of course not," she replied. Bella lifted her head and looked at him. "I wanted that as much as you did, you know," she whispered. He leaned down and kissed her lips softly."So," she began hesitantly, "tell me about 'Cowboy.'"Luke chuckled softly. "It's not such an exciting story," he answered. "On my first day of basic training, my Company Commander found out I was from Florida, and for some reason he started calling me Cowboy. I have no idea why. Maybe because there wasn't anyone from Texas. Anyway, since then it's sort of how I think of my inner voice." He looked at her trying to gauge her thoughts."Hmmm…" Bella smiled. "Well, I like it. Beats the hell out of my inner vo
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