Page 27 of Declan
“It is.”
“Will you show me the rest of the house?”
“Sure.” He offered his hand, and she slipped hers into his. Together they wandered down the hallway.
“How many bedrooms?” she asked.
“Four total. I use one as an office.” He paused at each door, allowing her to look inside, then opened another door to reveal a cozy den. Walls lined with bookshelves bowed under leather-bound volumes. A second stone fireplace was set into one corner, its mantel strewn with framed photographs. “Elise, go ahead.”
She stepped inside. “This is beautiful.”
“Of course, you saw the living room and dining room. The house has three stone fireplaces; one in the living room, this one, and the third in my bedroom,” he explained, leading her toward another doorway. As she stepped inside, her breath caught once more at the sight before her; an entire wall of rugged, rough-cut stone dominated the room, featuring a grand hearth and bordered by a door leading to the bath. A plush, soft blue carpet cushioned her footsteps, as she moved through the space and gasped at the luxurious surroundings. The marble tiles spread out beneath her feet, their intricate veins of gray and white swirling together, like clouds drifting lazily across an endless sky. A deep, inviting jacuzzi tub nestled snugly beneath a frosted glass window seemed to beckon her to unwind. Beyond it, a spacious glass-tiled shower stall stood proudly, expansive enough to comfortably fit ten people. The stall boasted shower heads on three of its walls, with an additional one suspended from the ceiling, creating a rainfall effect over the center. The back wall of the stall was stone. Chrome fixtures gleamed brilliantly under the warm, ambient glow of recessed lighting, casting a soft radiance throughout the space. The long granite vanity, with its sophisticated elegance, displayed double sinks. Each sink was adorned with polished silver faucets that glintedlike precious jewels, adding a touch of opulence to this serene and elegant sanctuary.
“This is just…” Elise ran her hand over the countertop. “Incredible.”
Declan leaned in the doorway, arms folded, a grin on his face. “This bathroom sold me on the house.” He pushed off the frame, walked to the cabinet, opened it, revealing folded towels and a shelf with aspirin, acetaminophen, band-aids, and jars of salve, which he took one down for her and handed it to her.
Elise smiled at him. “Thank you. I saw garage doors under the house when we arrived.”
“Four-car garage beneath the main floor. Outside, the three ponds are stocked, you can fish whenever you like. I spend every spare minute out there on the weekends I’m not working. One of the larger ponds has a cabin that I stay in sometimes when I go there to fish or hunt.”
She smiled, imagining him at the water’s edge. “That sounds perfect.”
He grinned. “Do you fish?”
Elise shivered in mock terror. “No. Absolutely not.”
He laughed. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”
She shook her head, amused. “Maybe I’ll just watch you fish.”
He offered his hand with a smile. “I’d like that.”
She placed her hand in his, and together they strolled back toward the light-filled living room, then walked outside to head to the diner.
When he escorted her home, his fingers intertwined with hers as they ascended the stairs, and her heart raced with conflicting fears: the possibility that he might kiss her, and the equal fear that he might not. Did she want him to? Absolutely, with every fiber of her being.
At the stoop, he gently took her keys from her grasp, unlocked the door, and handed them back. She met his gaze, smiling only to frown in playful curiosity.
“How tall are you?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.
“Six-five,” he replied.
“I’m five-six. You’re almost a foot taller,” she observed, an amused note in her voice.
“You don’t like tall men?” He grinned.
“I happen to love tall men,” she confessed, a blush creeping up her cheeks as she realized the implications of her words. “You know what I mean.”
Declan chuckled. “Yes, ma’am. I had a great time today, Elise.”
“I did too. I’d love to do it again, once my legs stop feeling like jelly.”
“You need to ride more,” he suggested.
“I understand that. It was the same with ballet.” She nodded.
“So, when would you like to go out to dinner? I’ll need to make a reservation,” he asked.
