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“Actually, yes.” I followed him inside, finding myself in a cozy, comfortable space fit more for a family of four than a man living by himself.
He turned on a floor lamp in the spacious living room, casting a soft light over the comfortable, fashionable furniture. The man had style. “What about Edgar? We can go get him and bring him over here,” he offered.
The fact he remembered my beast of a dog made me like him even more. “That’s okay. My neighbor down the road, Mr. Sheehan, will take care of him. I called him earlier and he was going to go by and let him out and feed him. He usually stays a bit and fusses on him for a while.”
“You’re okay letting some random guy in your house?” Robert asked in disbelief.
“He’s not a random guy,” I chuckled. “I’ve known him since I was five. He used to coach my little league t-ball team.”
“Okay, as long as you’re sure.” I watched him light a couple of candles on the mantle of the rather ornately painted fireplace. It had been filled in with brick and Robert had put a dried flower arrangement in the hearth. He was the first man I had encountered that didn’t view decorating as painting the walls white and putting a futon in the corner. Even Adam’s, who wasn’t a typical dumb guy, the first apartment looked like a hotel room.
“When I moved to Southport I decided I didn’t want something temporary. I planned to put down roots. I didn’t want a sparse apartment that I’d have to move out of when I wanted something bigger. Then this place went up for auction and I snatched it up for a bottom-dollar price. At the time, not many people were looking for property in a town with one coffee shop and a rundown bar.”
“That’s all going to change in the next few years now that ground has broken on that massive development just outside of town.” I walked over to a large built-in bookshelf that took up most of the far wall. It was filled with every type of book you could imagine, but there was a set that instantly caught my eye.
I pulled out an old book, the dust jacket yellowed with age, my eyes practically popping out of my head. “Is this what I think it is?”
Robert joined me and grabbed the other two to make the set. “First editions of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, yep.”
I gingerly opened them, using the utmost care as I turned the pages. I lifted it and inhaled deeply. “I love the smell of old books.”
Robert smiled. “Me too. I could spend hours in an antique bookshop.”
I gave him a gentle nudge with my shoulder. “I knew I liked you for a reason.”
“Now I’ll just think you’re using me for my Tolkien first editions,” Robert teased, putting the books back on the shelf.
“There are more?” I gaped, finding a first edition of the Silmarillion and the Hobbit as well. “I’m thinking we should put the Bruce Lee movies on hold and dive straight into The Fellowship of the Ring instead.”
“One does not simply walk into Mordor,” Robert intoned darkly, leaning down and kissing my mouth.
I had been lucky in that my friends had shared my Tolkien obsession when I was growing up. Meg and I watched the trilogy over a dozen times. It felt nice to know that Robert got my love for fantasy. It was almost unbelievable how many things we had in common.
“Can I have a tour?” I asked.
Robert took my hand again, pulling me close. “I’ll lead the way.”
We walked into the open and brightly colored kitchen. Someone—Robert? —had painted the cabinets in different colors, giving it a patchwork feel. The tiled backsplash along the counter was done in a mosaic style reminiscent of a Spanish villa. “Oh, I like your kitchen.”
“It’s a pretty great space, but if I were to choose kitchens, I’d choose yours hands down.” He opened the refrigerator and got out a couple of beers. I noticed they were a brand that I usually bought for myself when I had extra cash in my pocket. They were from a high-end brewery in the city.
“I couldn’t have done it without your friend, Mike. He is amazing at what he does. And thank you again for the stained glass. It’s such a gorgeous piece.” I took the beer he handed me and took a long drink.
“Mike has a lot of talent. He’s always had an eye for architecture. I’m planning to hire him to build an ensuite bathroom in the master bedroom.” He put his hand on my lower back and we returned to the living room before crossing the hall. Robert opened the door to a dining room complete with an eight-person table.
