Page 33 of His Vicious Desire

“While you do that, I’ll be in the window coverings.They’re on this back wall.”

He sees me pointing and nods.

The window coverings are almost overwhelming.While nothing is ugly, it’s all boring.I’m almost ready to give up when I find the perfect pattern: a white background with interlocking waves of gray.And they’re also blackout curtains once closed, perfect for the heat here in Las Vegas.

“Find it?”Gaetano is at my back.

“Yep, I just can’t figure out what size and how many we need.”

“I’ve got that.I measured the two windows last night.”He gives me the length and width.

“Ouch, that’s three panels on one and four on another.That’s…”

“It’s not a big deal.Did you pick out the curtain rods and get their hardware?”

I nod.“Yeah, I have them leaning against the end of that aisle.Let me grab them.”

When he sees them, he nods.I don’t miss his look of relief.They are basic black with matching hardware.

“Oh wait.”I stop in front of the prints.Someone has thought of purchasing two Monet prints that complement each other.Both are of his garden in Giverny.“What do you think for the huge wall the television is on?”

He considers them before nodding.“It’s not kittens.It will work.”

“Please don’t tell me that you don’t like kittens?”I beg.

“I don’t dislike kittens.I’m also not a fan.Most animals require more care and attention than I’m willing to expend on them.”One shoulder lifts.

Sighing.“I guess that’s not bad.I’ve always wanted a cat.Sandro said no, though, because he thinks I wouldn’t take care of it.The minute I get my own place, I’m totally getting a cat.Expend…” I giggle.“Sometimes you talk like a freaking computer.”

“Expend was better word usage than wasting my time.”

I gasp.“Animals are not a waste of time.”

An exhale of air that might be a laugh.“If you say so.”

“I worry about you, Gaetano.”I’m shaking my head as we get in the checkout line.

Back at his house, he carries everything inside without letting me help.I decide I can at least push his recliners back and move the ottoman so the rug can be laid down.When I try to move things back because I have to pick them up, I’m warned to stop so he can do it.Sighing, I don’t argue.

Once it’s all back in place, I fight not to do a happy dance.Everything looks great.Maybe I should be in interior design instead of marketing.

Gaetano is back from the garage carrying a ladder and drill.He has everything put up in only twenty minutes.We both study the windows once it’s up.

Shaking his head, he sighs.“It looks good.”

I giggle.“Was that so hard to say?Does this mean I get a look in your library?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Following him down the long hallway, I spot an open door to a large bathroom.One other door in the hall is closed.Gaetano opens a door down the long hallway.Holy crap, it’s huge, with shelves on every wall.Even the wall with a window has shelves underneath the window seat.

The shelves are a color somewhere between black and gray.While the wood floors are the same that run throughout the home, they look darker with the dark color on the shelves.

“Now I understand why you put your gym in the dining room.This is a much better use of the space.”

“Exactly.If I really hadn’t wanted Dario over, I would have set this room as my gym.But I didn’t.The minute I saw it, I knew this would be the best room for the library.This window had a ton of rot in it and needed to be replaced.I figured it would be perfect for a window seat.”

“A window seat?I love it.”One wall of shelves is filled with classics, some I’ve read, most I haven’t.Another wall is full of recent bestsellers in the crime and mystery genre.The third wall has all graphic novels, a few I’ve heard of, but most are new to me.

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