Chapter Fourteen #2
“A facelift?” She glanced over at him and nearly went speechless while watching him remove his tuxedo jacket and then his tie. Why did he have to look so sexy while he did it? Could it be that she knew at some point tonight, the rest of his clothing would be removed as well?
“Yes. Five years after moving in, Deena suggested we change things up a bit. Make the decor a little more modern without changing any furnishings, since some of the pieces were the ones Mom had selected. Timeless and priceless. I’ve changed the curtains and flooring, and I’ve totally redone the kitchen with new appliances.
I let Deena redecorate all the private baths and will admit she did an awesome job. ”
He came to stand directly in front of her. “Would you like a tour?”
She preferred having a tour later since his proximity was causing an ache between her legs like she’d never experienced before.
Not that she figured they would rip each other’s clothes off the moment they were inside his door, but it seemed to her that he was intentionally drawing things out.
To intensify the heat between them? If that was his aim, then it was working.
“Show me around, Matt.”
Taking her hand, he gave her a tour of the downstairs that included a spacious dining room, and his eat-in kitchen was to die for.
It had everything she’d always wanted in hers.
Namely, multiple ovens and sinks, durable countertops, a walk-in pantry and layered lighting.
He had the perfect kitchen for someone who enjoyed cooking.
“You like to cook, Matt?”
He grinned. “Never enjoyed it until I had a child to feed. A child whom I was determined would eat healthy. That meant I had to learn to cook our meals instead of eating out. We only did so on occasion.”
“I used the same approach with Garlan. The first time he ate a fast-food hamburger, he nearly gagged. He said mine were a lot better and tasted like real meat.” She flashed a smile, then said, “I knew then I was on the right track. But Mom set the stage before she died for me to learn how to cook and take care of not only a home but also business matters. Dad had no problem keeping up the training. This is a to-die-for kitchen.”
“Glad you like it. You can come over and use it anytime.”
Iris didn’t say anything. Was he hinting at something long-term between them?
She didn’t have a problem with that since she preferred exclusivity.
However, the one thing she couldn’t and wouldn’t promise was permanency.
Maybe she should explain her position on things now.
After taking another whiff of his cologne, she decided there would be time to do so later…
after taking care of a need for him that increased every time she inhaled his scent.
The tour downstairs ended after he showed her the two guest rooms and baths, a room he used as an office, a laundry room, a half bath and a theater room. He also had a six-car garage. He explained that his godfather had been into collecting antique foreign cars. He still was.
“Now for the upstairs,” he said, tightening his hold on her hand as he led her up a beautiful spiral staircase. The twin staircase led to his bedroom on the opposite side. However, the two landings were connected by way of an indoor glass courtyard.
Iris nodded while her heartbeat kicked up a notch. She was looking forward to seeing his bedroom. The place where he slept, got undressed, showered and re-dressed. It was also the place where she hoped he would make love to her tonight.
He showed her the six beautifully decorated bedrooms. “Who did the decorating?”
“A friend of Megan’s. She worked with Deena on what she wanted. I think she did a good job.”
“I agree. Everything blends nicely. Even those colors I thought would not. I’m yet to see why you feel any part of your home needs a facelift.”
He chuckled. “I’m just going by what I used to hear Mom and my godmother say a lot.
You mainly have to make changes to your house every so often to keep it updated.
I’m not talking about structural changes, but things like repainting the walls, swapping out bathroom or kitchen fixtures, or installing modern ceiling lights. Those sorts of things.”
“Okay, now I see.” And she did. She’d done the same thing before she moved into her present home.
She figured it looked like it had when Garlan’s granduncle and grandaunt had lived there.
She had gone in and done updates and upgrades.
Of course, she figured that if she moved to a smaller place and Garlan moved into the house after college, he would make changes more in line with his style.
She pushed the thought from her mind that Garlan might not move there because he might decide not to make California his home.
He still hadn’t talked about any problems at school.
Whenever she brought up how college was going, he would quickly change the subject.
Hopefully, she would find out what was bothering him when he came home for Thanksgiving.
“And this is my bedroom,” Matt said, bringing her attention back to the present as they stood in front of a set of double wooden doors.
He was right about his bedroom being on the total opposite side of the house.
To get to the other side meant going through an indoor courtyard completely covered in glass, built in such a way that it wasn’t visible to neighbors, unless they had a drone.
The moment Matt opened the door to his bedroom, she caught her breath.
Not only was it spacious, but it appeared to be designed for a king.
First, she entered a spacious sitting room with a sofa, wingback chairs and what looked like a hundred-inch television.
One side of the wall was entirely glass, showing the back of his yard, where a massive pool and a tennis court were located.
Then, on the opposite side of the gigantic bedroom, where she walked up at least three steps, was his bed.
It was massive. And it appeared inviting.
Not wanting to seem too eager to get anywhere near that bed—although she was—she walked over to the window and glanced out, and said, “I love the shape of your pool. From up here, it resembles a cruise ship.”
He chuckled, and that’s when she realized he had come to stand behind her.
He stood so close, she could feel the warmth of his breath near her neck.
“It is. Marcello’s first business venture was Saxon Cruise Line.
For that reason, the pool was specifically designed that way to celebrate his success.
It’s a good thing his first business venture wasn’t a hotel.
Can you imagine how the pool would have looked? ”
“Yes, I can just imagine,” she said, turning to face him. She met his gaze and saw the intense heat there. He probably saw the same thing in hers.
“What else can you imagine, Iris?” he asked in a husky voice, wrapping his arms around her waist.
She had no problem telling him. “At this precise moment, Matt, I can imagine myself in your bed.”
A smile curved his lips. “I can imagine that as well.” And then, to prove a point, he swept her off her feet and into his arms and moved up the steps to the bed.