Page 30 of Seduce

“It is, but I have a special place in mind. As long as you’re okay with being alone with me at my home?”

There was that consent again. Tessa’s insides melted. “I’m fine with it.” She reached back for her jacket and purse.

“Let me.” Damon took her jacket from her and held it out.

“Such a gentleman,” Tessa commented.

“I try.”

She pulled the door shut behind her and locked it, and they were on their way. “How far out of town do you live?” Tessa asked as he drove.

“On the outskirts. I’m not as far out as Max.”

“Why out there?” There wasn’t a lot of housing in that area.

“I needed space for my other business.”

“What do you do besides run the bookstore? I know you have degrees in engineering.” Until he said that, she’d forgotten she didn’t know what he did for a living, but he said he’d gone to MIT and picked up some industrial engineering books at the library.

“Mechanical and electrical engineering.” He turned down a small paved road.

“Those are your degrees. Not what you do.” The trees were beautiful this time of year. The fir and pine trees are so green. If a winter storm came in they would be covered with snow. Tessa shivered.

“Cold?”

“No. I was thinking how the trees would look when it snowed.”

“They’re beautiful, but the snow makes driving a little hard.”

“I bet. I…” Her voice trailed off as the road opened up and a beautiful home came into view.

It was a single story, somewhat modern home. There were angled roofs with intricate carvings on the archways. Wood-looking columns. Green grass and shrubs and trees that would bloom come spring.

“It’s gorgeous,” she whispered as Damon pulled up the stone driveway.

“Thank you.” He pressed a button, and the garage door opened. He pulled inside. “It will be warmer this way.”

Damon was there when she opened her door. “Normal garage,” he said.

“It’s warm.”

“I had it insulated when I had the house built. Keeps the cars warmer in winter.” He unlocked a door and opened it. “Utility room.” He flipped the lights on.

The tile was a beige color, and a front loading washer and dryer were off to one side, white cabinets above. On the other side were more cabinets with a place to fold laundry and a small bench with baskets beneath it.

“This is very nice.” She’d kill for a laundry room like this.

“I like it.” He shut the door to the garage and slipped off his shoes. “If you don’t mind slipping off your shoes?”

Tessa was glad she wore her sneakers. She slipped them off and set them in an empty basket. Damon, she noticed, placed his boots in one of the cabinets.

“There’s slippers in the other basket,” he said as he straightened.

“I’m fine.”

“All right. He reached past her and opened the door to the house. “Welcome to my home.”

“Thank you.”

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