Chapter 38 Go for the fire
She started to the door but Renwick bolted towards her and gently grabbed her shoulder. His closeness and his touch made her feel like she was standing on top of an active volcano. Her blood turned to lava, boiling hot. She could keep her guard up only for so long, until it would come crashing down before them, allowing them to do to her whatever they pleased.
“Wait,” Renwick smiled. “I’ll go. You stay here.”
His voice was kind and gentle, she almost couldn’t believe that a guy’s voice could ever be so soothing. All she wanted to do now was give him an acoustic guitar and make him sing love songs all night long. The thought made her grin uncontrollably.
“Did I say something funny?” he asked.
“Oh, no, no...” she quickly shook her head. “It’s just me. I’m silly.”
“You are,” he grimaced, cupping her chin with his fingers.
He quickly let go, then walked out the door, leaving Izabella and Raphael alone. She had her profile turned to him but she could tell that he hadn’t taken his eyes off of her for a single second. His gaze was deep, pensive, as if he was in grave deliberation on what to do with her. She tried to shoo away these thoughts, which were clouding up her judgment. They were here just for a coffee and nothing more. There would be no hot
action, no matter how often these images were popping up inside her mind.
She made sure to sit on a chair, away from him. She didn’t trust him to be this close to her. Or maybe, just maybe, she didn’t trust herself. She wasn’t sure anymore and she didn’t even want to risk it.
“Why don’t you sit over here?” he asked her, patting the place next to him on the
bed.
“I’m okay here,” she replied.
“Scared?” he winked.
“Of you?” she snorted. “Don’t be absurd.”
“Actually, I meant are you scared of yourself?”
“What do you mean?” she frowned.
“Oh, come on….” he rose up from the reclining position he was in and was now sitting with his legs down and his feet on the floor.
She watched him, in anxious anticipation.
“You can’t deny the chemistry that’s between us,” he whispered seductively.
“I think you got hit in the head with that ball one too many times, my friend,” she teased him, enjoying it far more than she thought she would.
“Ouch,” he laughed at her comment. “That’s a good one.”
Instead of a reply, she just raised her eyebrow impertinently, while the corner of her lips danced, in a hidden attempt at smiling.
“So, you guys headed to the Bunker?” she asked, trying to change the topic.
The sexual tension in the room was palpable. She had no idea if it was just Raphael and his energy. His good looks were undeniable. Even she herself, who despised such overly assertive, pushy guys, couldn’t refuse him this compliment. Also, there was a boyish, impish kind of charm about him. That was usually when he’d stop being so full of himself and just try to be himself, like that last time. That was the kind of Raphael she could see herself with but, the cocky jock – no.
“That was the plan, yeah,” he nodded. “Wanted to get you in. But, then I remembered you were already in, so you don’t really need us but we still need you and, besides...”
Raphael was about to say something, when Renwick opened the door and walked in, carrying three coffees in his hands. He pushed the door closed with his foot.
“Am I interrupting anything?” he wondered, seeing the look on their faces.
“Hendrik got her in,” Raphael told him, without even being asked about their topic of conversation.
Renwick thought about it for a second, then shrugged his shoulders as he handed everyone their coffee.
“So?” That was his only comment.
“I thought we had an agreement,” Raphael was pouting and Izabella had no idea why.
“It doesn’t matter,” Renwick urged him. “Stop being a wuss. She’s in. That’s all that matters.”
Renwick sat back down on the bed, and took a sip of his coffee. Izabella felt like they knew something they weren’t telling her. Why was it so important to make her a part of their silly little club?
“Is there anything you guys want to tell me?” she asked, eyeing them suspiciously, as the heat from her cup oozed through, warming her fingers.
“No, why?” Renwick smiled, pouring sugar into his cup.
“I don’t know,” she still sounded distrustful, “feels like you guys are talking about something specific.”
“Nah,” Renwick waved his hand dismissively, “we were just talking to Hendrik and he said he wouldn’t be going to the Bunker these days, so we offered to get you in. Seems he beat us to it, though, that’s all.”
He sounded sincere, as he sipped his coffee, not taking his eyes off of her once. Raphael on the other hand, still seemed like he was pouting. His brows came together just a little, giving him that cute, funny upset look. Renwick noticed that she was eyeing Raphael, so he elbowed him gently. She noticed that, too.
“I didn’t know you guys hung out with Hendrik,” she continued.
“Well, you know there’s not a lot of us at the Bunker, so we kinda know everyone.”
“How did it start?” she wondered. “I mean, the Bunker.”
“My grandfather started it,” Raphael interrupted, less pouty now, obviously proud of this historical fact. “He was friends with Renwick’s grandfather and, basically, whoever was a member back then, their sons and daughters and so on were also automatically in.”
“What about me then?” Izabella asked.
“We can always add someone new,” Renwick explained. “It’s not a closed kind of club. I mean, you can’t join unless someone gets you in, someone who’s already a member, and even then, the rest need to confirm that it’s okay. So, in the end, it’s a group decision.”
“I see,” she nodded, “and, why me?”
Renwick looked at Raphael. For a second, they looked confused, as if there was a secret they knew, but they were keeping her in the dark, like something was preventing them from sharing what they knew.
“I kinda have a crush on you,” Raphael grinned.
She burst out laughing. It was such a stupid thing to say and, yet, it sounded completely sweet and genuine. The look of confusion immediately disappeared from their
faces and they were their usual selves again. Renwick was also laughing. Izabella wasn’t sure if that was the real reason, or if Raphael just cleverly managed to steer the conversation in another direction but she was happy to hear what he had to say.