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His brows rose. “Only two hours and you’re eager to leave already? You haven’t even been given a proper tour or tried out any of theamenities.”
I licked my lips. “Dinner wasgood…”
“How would you know? You barely touched it,” he countered, a grin on his face. “Come this way.” Blaise laid a hand on my lower back and began to direct me to the patio. The heat from his touch made me want to melt into him, but Iresisted.
I’m not that girl,I kept reminding myself. Only, I feared if I stayed here too long, I might become like those I abhorred. “Where are wegoing?”
“First, I’m giving you the grand tour. Then we’ll come back out here for some of the wine I promised, and dessert. You’ll be starving by breakfast.” He chuckled. “And finally, I’ll give you that massage I promised when you’re ready to go tosleep.”
I nodded. Dammit. Iwasgoing to end up being that girl. He was too kind, had been since the first moment we met, despite the way I snapped at him. My cheeks warmed as a wave of embarrassment hit me. “Okay. Thank you.” He growled and I glanced up at him wide-eyed. “Something Isaid?”
“Actually, yes. So far, I’ve lost count of the ‘thank yous’ and we’ve had zero meaningful conversations.” Blaise sighed. “I think I liked you better when you were snapping at me.” I froze in place and he barely managed a half-step before he realized it. Then he turned. “I’m sorry. I’m not a people person. This is why I handle the computer side of the business and my brother handles the bodyguardpart.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not like I get a lot of practice being social. I spend my days helping my father.” I gestured to the house. “You see how much we interact. Needless to say, I suck at computers and I’ve grown to hate techies.” Ihuffed.
His brows rose. “Glad we got that established.” Blaise blew out a breath. “Let me show you around so you can find what you need without having to ask anyone forhelp.”
“I’m sorry, too, okay?” I moved to stand in front of him, blocking his way and forcing him to acknowledge me. “I’m out of my element. You saw how we live. I’m pretty sure the bathroom in the suite you set me up in costs more than our entirehouse.”
“Not the whole house, but definitely the first floor.” Heshrugged.
“See? I’m doing my best here. Be patient with me.” I gnawed on the inside of my cheek and waited expectantly for hisresponse.
“I’m not exactly known for my patience, but for you…I’lltry. Help me?” He held his arms out at hissides.
“Of course, I’ll help you,” I murmured. I’m not sure what response he expected, but for some reason, it felt like an invitation to me. Without hesitation, I walked into his open arms and pressed my head against his chest. I half-expected him to stiffen at my touch. He should’ve. We were practically strangers. And yet, I found myself feeling more at ease with him than I ever had with anyone else, which would explain my brazen actions. I held my breath and waited. I’d seen how he had responded to the other women who threw themselves at him. I figured it would only be a matter of time before he pushed me away. A few seconds at best. Instead, he wrapped his arms around me and drew meclose.
When he finally pulled back, almost reluctantly, he spoke in a low, seductive voice. “Let me show you around my home.” Blaise brought me through the doors into the kitchen. “In case you get hungry,” he teased. “Nothing is offlimits.”
“Thank you.” I nodded as the tour moved into the dining room. I didn’t want to gawk, but this was truly the most magnificent home I’d ever toured, and for a little while, I’d get to live here. So, I walked around and marveled over the high ceilings and exposed beams. “This place is so different from the traditional home I grew up in, obviously. I mean, you saw the place. Nothing grand about it.” I shrugged. “Even when we had money, my parents never wanted to move. That home was the first place they ever bought, the only place they’d ever lived together and there was no convincing them torelocate.”
“I can see why they’d want to stay and I think that’s beautiful.” He wrapped an arm around my waist while he took me through the great room to the right side of thehouse.
This place, though easily five times the size of the home where I’d been raised, felt warmer somehow. The rough-hewn dark wood floors were dotted with area rugs. There was artwork everywhere, from the paintings on the walls, to the sculptures, statues, and pottery. It had a very old worldfeel.
“If you ever wonder where your father is, try here.” Blaise pointed to the door, which was barely ajar. “If not, the room across the hall is hissuite.”
I peeked through the opening and could see my father was in his glory. “You’ve made him very happy. Thankyou.”
He frowned. “What about you, Maggie? Are youhappy?”
I hesitated before responding. “I could be.” I shrugged. “I’m not used to thinking in those terms. I’m too focused on making everything work and getting everything done. I don’t remember being happy,” I admitted quietly. “Sometimes I wander around, go for walks at night. That’s about as close as Icome.”
“You can go anywhere you want during the day,” he began seriously, “but after dark, I’d prefer you stay away from the back of the house and never move beyond thegates.”
“Oh.” I looked away to hide mydisappointment.
Blaise reached for my hand. “This might help with theboredom.”
I let him tow me down the hall outside of my room. Then he pushed open the double doors and I gasped. “A library?” Slowly, I walked the perimeter of the room, admiring the floor-to-ceiling shelves loaded with hard cover books. Some of the leather spines appeared to be incredibly old, like Gutenberg Bible old. I beamed. “This will definitelyhelp.”
“And through here,” he pushed open the double doors on the opposite side of the room, “is where I worksometimes.”
“Beautiful.” I couldn’t stop admiring the coffered ceiling. The room was absolutely perfect, from the high back chairs I imagined curling up in to read, to the overstuffed sofa opposite them. Hell, I’d be happy on the fluffy rug in front of thefireplace.
“Ready for wine?” He beamed while he clapped his handstogether.
“Absolutely.” I strolled through the doors as I exited the room and glanced to my right. There was another little hallway with a closed door at the end. “What’s down there?” The house seemed to go onforever.
