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Her boots clicked on the marble as she glanced up at me. “This seems pretty swank.”
“What, for me?”
“Kinda.”
I snorted. “Thanks.”
“I mean, I was expecting something a little more…rustic.”
“I have a cabin for when I need to get out of the city. But I like this place. It’s quiet for the most part. People don’t want to get into your business, and best of all, no one wants to make friends.”
“That seems cold.”
“I have enough friends. And fans can’t get past the front desk. Even better, neither can reporters. There are tons of security-conscious people living here. They expect and require privacy. I’m happy to add myself to that list.”
“Huh.” She nibbled her lower lip. Then said it again.
“What?”
“It just doesn’t seem very you.”
“Wait until you see the view.” The doors opened and I waved her through. She stepped forward with a gasp and hustled down the two steps into my place.
I tried to check it out from her point of view. I’d lived here for so long I didn’t see anything beyond the slightly messy mancave of a living room and wall of windows showing off the biggest thing that had made me buy this place.
From the way her gaze darted around, she didn’t seem bothered by my slightly unkempt living room. I had a service who came in to keep things up while I was out of town, but I didn’t like people in my place while I was home. And I was used to being tidy most of the time from living in hotels and on busses for so long—not to mention my former army life.
She whirled around to take in everything. The wide bank of walls were covered in every print I could find that included a set of drums. Famous drummers both illustrated and in photo form, old posters, kitchy drawings, floor to ceiling panels in various artistic styles—I had them all.
My penthouse was broken out into two levels but pretty much the whole thing was open concept. I didn’t like being hemmed in.
But as with most everyone who came into my space—and that wasn’t many people—she went right for the huge open doors that led to my patio.
“Holy shitballs.”
I tucked my hands under my arms and followed her out. It was early enough that the sun was still breaking over the buildings. The heat index wasn’t at max summer strength yet so it was still tolerable to be out here in something other than trunks.
She trailed her fingers over one of the two hanging basket swing chairs tucked under the only available shade. Instead of sitting, she went right for the pool. She crouched by it and dipped her hand into the still water. The infinity edge of the pool made it look like there was a drop off into the city below.
“This is crazy.” She glanced back over her shoulder, a few stray curls blowing in the slight breeze.
“Selling point.”
“And you just hang at my house like…”
“What? I love your house.” Her brownstone was exactly like her. Cozy and a little bohemian with all her pillows and tapestries draped over every surface.
“After this?” She waved her hand to indicate the huge patio.
“I’m just a regular guy. The same one you’ve been hanging out with for the better part of two years, Teag.”
“Regular guys don’t have places like this.”
“Babe, after a few more years in the band, so will you.”
“No. Never.”
She furrowed her brow as her gaze wandered over to the glass and steel box at the edge of the pool. I grabbed the iPad that controlled most of my smart home and tapped the app. The gas fire bloomed to life.
