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“Hello, this is Constantine Tavros. Am I speaking with Natalie?” His voice is so deep. Smooth and rich, I can almost feel it wrapping around me, like midnight-blue velvet.
That’s right, midnight blue. Not just any color of velvet. My brain is oddly specific about stuff like this. Also, I’m going to need Rosetta to send me a picture of this guy. For now, I’ll use my imagination. He’s tall, dark, handsome, and built. All over, of course.
“Yes, that’s me,” I say, pulling myself together before I end up sounding like a phone-sex operator. Notebook and pen in hand, I move from my desk chair to the couch. “Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I know it’s early there; you must be a morning person, like me. If I sound tinny, it’s because I put you on speaker so I can write things down.”
“Your lovely voice is perfectly clear.”
Lovely? I assume he’s just one of those innocently flirtatious guys, but in his voice, the compliment gives me the warm fuzzies and the tingles. It has been a while since I had a date. Even longer since I had a memorable one.
“To answer your text,” he says, “I was expecting to hear from you. I told Rosetta to give you my number.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize. That’s so thoughtful. Thank you.”
A rumble even deeper than his voice comes through my phone’s speaker, making it vibrate where it’s propped against a cushion. It isn’t a laughing rumble, nor is it an angry sound. It’s something else. Something…primal.
No, Natalie, it’s not. Get your head out of the bedroom, you sex-starved fool.
I give my head a shake and clear my throat as covertly as possible. “I’m sure you have things to do, so I’ll try not to take much of your time.”
“You’re welcome to as much of my time as you want, Natalie.”
Another ripple of yes please runs through me. Most people shorten my name to Nat, which is fine, but I like the way my full name sounds in Constantine’s voice. He says it as if he’s tasting it. And liking it.
“Rosetta didn’t give me the name of any hotels. No matter how many internet searches I try, I haven’t found a single listing for hotels, motels, or inns in Fate’s Falls. I don’t want to chance it by just showing up, only to find there’s no vacancy anywhere. Since she didn’t invite me to stay with her and Dak, I assume she had somewhere in mind, but I’m open to your suggestions.”
Silence follows. Only the faint sound of breathing and a sense of awareness I might be imagining tells me he’s still on the other end of the call.
“There are no hotels, motels, or inns here,” he says, finally.
“A bed-and-breakfast? A hostel with shower facilities?”
“None of those, either. Fate’s Falls is a small town and fairly secluded. There’s never been a need for any short-term rental places.”
“Okay… can you tell me the name of the nearest town?”
More silence. Weird silence. “There are no towns nearby. We’re quite isolated.”
There’s no logical reason for the shiver that ripples through me. So, the town’s isolated. Way up in the mountains. With no accommodations for visitors. Ro lives there, and is blissfully happy, so it must be a nice place. I’m looking for trouble where none exists.
I gather a calming breath, releasing it quietly, so the man on the other end of the call won’t hear it. No need for him to know I’m a chronic overthinker who’s having a little internal freakout right now. “Okay, do you know where Ro planned for me to stay during the two-plus weeks I’ll be there?”
“With me.”
“I’m sorry, what?” There’s no way I heard him correctly. Or that Rosetta would think this is okay.
“I have several empty bedrooms. I offered them to Rosetta for her family’s use. As her parents have declined to attend the wedding, you’ll have the largest guest bedroom and a bathroom to yourself.”
“Will anyone else be there? Your wife? Girlfriend? Boyfriend? Parents? Kids? Other boarders?” I clamp my mouth shut before any more rambling escapes.
“I have no romantic attachments, no children, and my parents live out of town. I live alone, and there will be no other guests. Only the two of us. But I have a large home. You’ll have as much privacy as you want.”
Just me and the deep-voiced stranger—who happens to be single and nobody’s baby daddy—alone in his house for two weeks. I should be politely decline, say goodbye, then call Ro and put her on blast. Either she lets me sleep on her couch, or I bow out of the wedding. Not an unreasonable request, unlike what she expects from me. This huge thing she didn’t even tell me about, choosing to let Constantine drop the bomb instead. She’s in so much shit when I see her. So. Much. Shit.
“It’s incredibly generous and kind of you, opening your home up, especially for a lengthy stay. Let me know how much I can give you for your hospitality.”
“I don’t want your money, Natalie.” Somehow, his voice sounds even deeper. The comment is innocent, but the way he says it…
I would swear there’s silent innuendo in those words. Like, he doesn’t want my money, but he wants something else. Something my body is all tingly about. Which is ridiculous because I have never met this man. I know nothing about him, have no idea what he looks like. His voice, though—I know I like that.
