Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
My mouth is totally agape when we walk in and I know I’ll never see as beautiful a bedroom as this one. Three exterior walls are nothing but massive bay windows with white shutters and I can only imagine how bright this room is at midday. What’s most shocking is that the room is filled with plants of all types, from small trailing vines to young trees in large pots. They’re all healthy and some are budding with flowers and I refuse for a second to believe that Gabe takes care of them himself. I’m not ready to admit he might have normal talents.
“Isn’t this room amazing?” Sylvie asks me as she gazes out one of the windows.
I glance at Gabe who leans against the doorjamb watching. “It’s definitely… tranquil,” I admit.
We move down a long hall to look at some of the guest rooms. Gabe opens a door to a room, motioning me and Sylvie in. “I thought that maybe one day, if you’re allowed to come stay here with me for a visit, this could be your room.”
Sylvie gasps as she enters and I see why. It’s a little girl’s dream.
It’s not overtly feminine but it fits Sylvie. The room is anchored by a wrought iron bed, dressed in layers of puffy white bedding that looks as soft as a cloud. A luxurious chandelier with crystal droplets casts a soft glow, enhancing the room’s warm taupe walls. Flanking the bed are nightstands, topped with crystal lamps and a circular, off-white lounge chair nestles in the corner. Along another wall is a desk that sits atop a zebra-print rug, which is exactly the dash of whimsy that Sylvie would want if she were to ask.
“I bought this place fully furnished and I’m guessing they had daughters.”
Sylvie’s smile wanes a bit. “I don’t think my dad will let me stay anytime soon.”
“That’s understandable,” Gabe says, and I do a double take his way. The fact he’d validate Ethan’s feelings is astounding and well… appreciated. His eyes flick to me briefly before he says, “Well, maybe your aunt Kat can stay overnight with you?”
My stomach flutters because while I’m sure he’s talking about only in my capacity as a chaperone, for a fleeting moment, I wonder what it would be like if circumstances were different. What would it be like to lie in that big bed of his? Have his skills as a lover grown over time? Although I admit, he was damn good when he was younger.
Sylvie rounds on me. “Would you stay over here, Aunt Kat?”
“I don’t know,” I say hesitantly and her smile falters, so I hastily amend, “I’m sure we can work out something.”
“Can Renault stay?” Sylvie asks as she glances back to her uncle. Renault is her dog that she had in France and Gabe worked to bring here to the States for her.
“Always,” Gabe says easily.
The house is so enormous it takes almost half an hour to see everything and then we’re walking out onto the back patio along a garden path to an enormous building of iron and glass.
“What is that?” Sylvie asks.
“The pool house,” Gabe says. “You did bring your bathing suit, didn’t you?”
She did indeed because I told her to pack it. Sylvie, however, presumed Gabe had a run-of-the-mill, in-ground pool, not a gorgeous Olympic-size indoor pool.
“Wow,” Sylvie exclaims as she rushes inside, leaving Gabe and me to follow.
“Aren’t you even the slightest bit embarrassed how ostentatious all of this is?” I ask as we stand shoulder to shoulder, watching Sylvie traverse the custom tilework that surrounds the pool. I know I asked him something like that once before, completely nasty and condescending.
God help me… now I seem to be teasing.
“Not at all,” he says with a grin.
Gabe shows us an upstairs living area above the pool, the pungent smell of chemicals not as strong up there. It has a balcony that looks over rolling hills all bordered by white fencing and in the distance atop a ridge sits a beautiful barn that I’d estimate could hold eight horses. “Maybe you can have a horse here one day if you decide you want to ride,” Gabe says.
“How about I take a lesson if you take a lesson?” Sylvie asks him, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
I’m completely caught off guard by her offer to Gabe as Sylvie has been adamantly opposed to riding. It’s been a sore spot with Ethan—he believes every Blackburn has equine DNA in their blood. She’s admittedly been afraid and hesitant but she’s spent a lot of time in the barn lately, so maybe she’s getting used to the idea.
Gabe’s eyes slide to me. “Is your aunt Kat willing to teach us both how to ride?”
I smile at him tartly. “For Sylvie, absolutely. For you, it will cost.”
Gabe chuckles. “Fair enough.”