Page 54 of Brighter Shades of Light
“If the budget would allow for it, I want to install solar powered roofs on most, if not all, of the buildings,” he explained. “It’s pricey at first but would pay itself off in little time with the amount of energy saved. The issue is getting the okay on it.”
“I think it’s a great idea. Is your house solar powered?”
Sebastian nodded. “My car is a hybrid, as well.”
“Look at you being Mr. Save the Planet.” I smiled behind my cup.
“If I don’t, who will?” He grabbed an orange slice and raised it to his mouth. The juice wet his lips as he slid the tip inside and gently bit down.
I doubted he realized how sexy he looked, since he appeared to be deep in thought, but Idefinitelynoticed.
“I believe a problem with humankind,” he continued, after swallowing the bite, “is many people recognize the need for change, but very few take charge, themselves. They see the bridge start to crumble and say what a shame it is, but yet they still cross it, unaware that their actions will make the problem worse.”
“That’s a good way to look at it. I kind of feel like that about joining the Corps. If I don’t fight for my country, who will, you know?”
He regarded me. “You’re very admirable.”
“Nah.” I dismissed the compliment and popped a cube of cantaloupe into my mouth. “I’m not admirable. Just a regular guy.”
Once the food was eaten, we refilled our coffees and kept talking. An hour and a half must’ve passed and we were still out there.
Before coming to his house, I had viewed today as a hookup, imagining us making out and tearing off our clothes shortly after I got there. That was the hope, anyway. I should’ve known better. Sebastian wasn’t like most men. He seemed more interested in what was in my head than under my clothes.
And honestly? I didn’t mind.
I had done the hookup thing. The one-night-stand thing. Hell, I had even had a friends-with-benefits type situation for a while during my freshmen year that had carried over into sophomore year before the guy graduated and moved out of state. So taking it slow was actually kind of nice.
“Should we go inside?” Sebastian asked.
“Sure.”
I helped him clean up. He carried the tray with the plates into the kitchen, and I rinsed them off in the sink. We didn’t say much, but we didn’t have to. I caught him staring at me once, and I grinned. He pushed his glasses back up his nose and cleared his throat.
“Do I get a tour of the house?” I asked, not actually serious. Sure, I wanted to see it, but he had no obligations to show me. Sebastian was a private man.
“Of course. Follow me.”
I stared at the back of his head, stunned. “Really?”
“It’s only a house, Mr. Miller. Don’t look so shocked.” He quirked a brow. “Unless you’re afraid of the ghosts.”
“Ghosts?” I strode forward and stood beside him. “Bring it on.”
His answering smile would be worth the scare, if the ghosts were real. Which they weren’t. Right? I moved closer.
There wasn’t much to see. The rest of the house was almost as bare as the living room. The bathroom was clean, with perfectly folded white towels on a rack like ones you’d find in a hotel room. His bedroom seemed as if he only used it for sleeping. No TV and nothing that showed his personality, other than a book on the nightstand beside the bed.
We walked up the stairs, one of those that went up a little and then curved. The house seemed too big for one person, especially someone who didn’t seem to care much for materialistic things. There was another bathroom on the second floor, identical to the first, and a bedroom that had nothing in it other than a large telescope and a chair. The wow factor was the ceiling. One part of it was glass, giving an amazing view of the sky.
“I like to look at the stars sometimes,” Sebastian said, staring at the glass ceiling.
“When I was little, I did that, too.” I walked over to the telescope and studied it. Not touching it, though. It was probably insanely expensive, and knowing my luck I’d break it. “My dad made a pallet in the backyard and we’d try to pick out the constellations.”
“That sounds nice.”
“Yeah. We didn’t have much, but we had each other.” I focused back on him. “Where to next?”
We left the room and moved down the hall. When we arrived at a closed door, he hesitated.
