AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ve enjoyed having you here. It’s not very often I get to spend time with someone outside the office.”
“I’ve loved being here,” Chance said. “Thank you for the lovely evening and for sharing a part of your life with me.” He knew if he walked out of the door he might never see or hear from Derek again, except for when it was time for him to check the proofs for the magazine article. And he wanted very much to know the Derek behind that smile.
“Would you like a tour of the house?” Derek asked.
“Yes,” Chance answered. “I’m sure it has some historical significance about it being in this area.”
“My great-grandfather built it,” Derek said. “Just leave your stuff in here. It’s not going anywhere.”
Chance put down his things and followed Derek out of the parlor door. “Was your great-grandfather famous?”
“He was the local medicine man,” Derek said. “He sold medication door-to-door.”
“That’s interesting,” Chance said as they walked.
*****
How many rooms did one house need? Derek took him around the bottom floor. Besides the huge kitchen, there was another dining room, a living room, parlor, library, a den, office, and two bathrooms. On the second floor there were five bedrooms, two more bathrooms, and a playroom.
“What’s up here?” Chance asked.
“More bedrooms,” Derek answered. “Three to be exact.”
The first bedroom Derek showed Chance ended up being a suite on the right side of the house. The second room was Jaden’s nursery. Chance smiled. The kid’s nursery was bigger than his bedroom in the condo. He even had his own en suite. Jaden was on his back sleeping peacefully.
“Whose room is this,” Chance asked when they stopped in front of another door.
“Mine,” Derek said. They stepped inside.
Another suite. The other one probably belonged to Ashlynn. Chance looked around. The room also had an adjoining door to Jaden’s room. Chance dug the big bed and all of the furnishings. He opened a door, uncovering a huge linen closet. He tried another one.Derek’s closet. It was filled with suits, shirts, and lots of shoes, belts, and ties. The en suite had one of those antique footed tubs and a shower. He picked up a bottle of cologne and sniffed it.Derek’s scent.“Nice.”
“A chemist friend of mine designed it for me,” Derek said.
Chance walked over to the window. “What a view.” Though night, Chance made out the garden down below and a big, bright moon in the sky surrounded by stars.
Derek joined him. “Sometimes I stand here and just look out, wondering if there is other life out there.”
“On the moon?”
“Yes, and beyond,” Derek answered. “I’ve always been interested in astronomy. I wanted to be an astronomer.”
“Why did you change your mind?”
“Life changed it for me. I had a young sister to raise. I was still able to go to college as long as I took the bulk of my studies during the day while Ashlynn was in school, so we could be together at night.”
“You switched majors?” Chance asked.
Derek nodded. “I still take my telescope out on the balcony when it’s warm. Jaden joins me. We discuss the constellations.”
Chance chuckled. “I bet he just enjoys being with you. I’d like to watch the stars with you one night.”
Derek smiled. “I’d like that.”
Too much brilliance.Chance leaned over and kissed him.
Derek backed away.
“What’s wrong?”
