Page 19 of Sharing Her Heart

“I’ll do that,” Felicity said excitedly.

“Good.” John smiled at her. “Well, relax, enjoy yourself, and have a good time. This is supposed to be fun.”

Felicity nodded, feeling a warmth settle over her as she glanced around the room again. She could already imagine spending hours here in this magical place. "Thank you," she said, meaning it deeply. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“And you have no idea how much your being here means to Nathan and me,” John replied softly. “This is the least we can do for you. This place is yours as long as you’re here.” Withthat, he strolled toward the door, leaving her to explore the vast collection in peace.

Felicity wandered through the endless rows of bookshelves, her fingers tracing the spines of the volumes as she marveled at the collection. Every turn revealed something new—a section dedicated to classic literature, another filled with historical texts, and yet another boasting of novels she had only heard about but never had the chance to read. Her eyes widened as she discovered books by her favorite authors that she’d never seen before, rare editions that made her gasp in surprise.

When she reached one shelf, her breath caught in her throat. There, displayed in pristine condition, was a first edition ofThe Time Traveler's Wife. She reached out to gently run her hand across the cover, feeling a sense of reverence wash over her. She couldn’t believe it—John’s collection wasn’t just impressive, it was legendary.

After an hour of exploring, she eventually found a novel that caught her eye, plucked it from the shelf, and made her way to the cozy reading nook. Settling into one of the plush beanbag chairs, she curled up with the book and began to read. It didn’t take long for her to lose herself in the pages, the outside world fading away as she became absorbed in the story. The sunlight pouring through the windows shifted as the day wore on, but Felicity didn’t notice—she was completely entranced.

It wasn’t until she heard a soft knock on the doorframe that she realized how much time had passed. She looked up to see John leaning casually against the door, wearing a playful smile. "You’ve been in here for hours," he teased. "I figured I’d better come rescue you before you starve. Lunch is ready."

Blinking in surprise, Felicity glanced at the clock and saw that the morning had slipped away without even realizing it. She stood, stretching her legs as a smile tugged at her lips. "I guess Igot a little lost," she admitted, feeling the warmth of the sunlight still on her skin.

John grinned. "That’s the whole point of a good book, right? Come on, let’s eat."

Lunch was just as delicious as breakfast, though Felicity couldn’t help but notice that Nathan didn’t join them this time. It was just her and John at the table, and she found herself at ease in his company. They talked effortlessly, covering everything from books and music to movies and life in general.

John was not only witty but incredibly well-traveled. As he shared stories from his many adventures around the world, Felicity felt like she was speaking with someone who had lived a dozen lifetimes before she met him. His tales were vivid—descriptions of sailing across the Mediterranean, hiking through ancient ruins, and experiencing cultures she had only read about filled the conversation.

Felicity couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. The idea of zipping around the world and exploring places from her favorite books felt like a dream—one she could never afford on a schoolteacher’s salary. But sitting across from John, hearing his firsthand accounts, was almost like experiencing it for herself. She soaked up every word, living vicariously through his stories as if they were shared memories.

"You've done so much," she finally said, a little awed. "I can’t even imagine."

John smiled warmly. "You’re still young. Plenty of time to go on adventures of your own.”

“It’s not the time I’m worried about,” Felicity commented. “I’m simply never going to be able to afford those adventures. I don’t know if you know, but school teachers are not really rolling around in dough.”

“Never say never. There is no telling what the future could hold for you,” he replied, sounding strangely cryptic.

After lunch, John led Felicity back to the studio, the afternoon light filtering through the windows as they returned to the sleek recording space. It felt strange to be back in the same room where so much had happened the night before, but John’s easy going demeanor quickly put her at ease. The tension from the previous evening faded as they delved into a more playful side of things.

"Let’s play around a bit." John wore a mischievous grin on his face as he handed her a pair of headphones. They spent the next few hours experimenting with different equipment—recording snippets of dialogue, creating exaggerated sound effects, and even attempting to voice a few over-the-top characters.

John’s laughter was infectious, and before long, Felicity found herself genuinely enjoying every second, forgetting the extravagance of the house and the surreal nature of the entire situation. At one point, John pretended to be a robot, his voice modulated through the equipment, and Felicity couldn’t stop laughing as he dramatically proclaimed himself the "Podcast Overlord."

It was all so ridiculous and fun, and for a while, she felt like she was just hanging out with an old friend. The weight of everything she had been through in the past twenty-four hours—the dinner, recording the audiobook with Nathan the night before, and even her strange attraction to both men—was momentarily lifted and replaced with lighthearted camaraderie.

As the afternoon wore on, though, the day began to catch up with her. Felicity tried to stifle a yawn, but John noticed immediately. "I’m wearing you out, huh?" he teased, eyes sparkling with amusement.

She smiled sheepishly. "A little. It’s been a lot."

"Come on," he said, stepping away from the console. "Let me show you to a room where you can rest. You’ve earned it."

He led her down a hallway she hadn’t been in before, the walls lined with beautiful paintings that added to the house’s air of grandeur. It felt as though the manor went on forever, each corridor leading to more secret rooms and quiet spaces, all exuding wealth and history.

John stopped at a set of double doors and pushed them open, revealing a large, elegant bedroom with all the charm of a teenage girl’s sanctuary. The soft lavender walls were adorned with posters of rock bands and quotes from classic books written in delicate cursive. Shelves lined with stuffed animals and trinkets sat beside stacks of well-worn novels, their spines cracked from years of love. A white wrought-iron bed big enough for four people with a pastel quilt was the centerpiece of the room, scattered with an assortment of plush pillows.

"There’s a bathroom through here," John said, gesturing to another door. "Take a bath if you’d like. And the wardrobe contains clothes. I’m sure you’ll find something comfortable."

"Thanks," Felicity said softly, her exhaustion now undeniable. John gave her a gentle smile before leaving her alone in the room.

Curiosity piqued, Felicity wandered into the adjoining bathroom and stopped in her tracks. It was breathtaking—a marble-clad oasis with a bathtub so large it looked like a small pool. The faucets were gold, and soft candlelight flickered from the sconces on the walls. She imagined sinking into the tub and letting all the tension of the day melt away.

After admiring the bathroom’s opulence, Felicity made her way to the wardrobe. When she opened it, she found a variety of clothes neatly hung inside, but something odd caught her attention as she flipped through them. The majority of the clothes looked… juvenile. The frilly dresses, soft pastel shades, and delicate fabrics seemed more appropriate for a young girlthan someone like her. The clothes were her size but had a childlike quality that made her pause.

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