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She nodded. Appreciation bubbled up that he included Danielle in his welcome.
“Hungry? You didn’t each much at dinner.”
He certainly was observant. She hadn’t eaten much because of her nerves, and they were still very much present. “No, thank you.”
Aaron walked into the next room. A long table surrounded by ten or more chairs solely occupied the room. Three low-hanging chandeliers that seemed more like pieces of modern art hung over the table.
“This is the formal dining room, but I never really use it unless I have guests. I usually eat at the bar in the kitchen. But through here is the living room.” He walked through the arched doorway.
Brynn followed, her gaze sweeping over the opulent room. An L-shaped light-grey almost-white couch filled with colorful pillows sat on a white rug. The dark coffee-colored floors matched the beams on the vaulted ceilings much the same as the kitchen. She tipped her head up to the stairs that led to a second story in the house.
He pointed to two doors off to the side. “The one on the right leads to the bathroom down here with an adjoining laundry room, and the other leads to the basement where I have a TV set up along with games and couches, and a wet bar as well as a gym.”
Brynn searched the room once more, realizing there wasn’t a TV, unless it was hiding in some fancy system. Instead, there were three bookshelves filled with an array of novels in genres from non-fiction to romance.
“I’ll show you the upstairs.” Aaron gripped the iron banister as he climbed.
Brynn followed a few feet behind, her heart racing. Is this when everything changes? Sure, he said he wouldn’t expect me to consummate the marriage, but maybe he lied? Maybe he read more into me letting him get close today. I felt his erection while we were taking photos. I didn’t mean to arouse him. But what if he blames me like Paul did and forces me to take care of it? Was my dress too revealing?
“Brynn?” Aaron stood in front of her, his kind brown eyes studying, as if he could tell she was spiraling. But that couldn’t be because she’d learned long ago how to steel her features and not show any emotion. It had been a survival skill she’d honed.
“Are you sure you don’t want a drink to relax a little?” Aaron asked.
She shook her head. “No.”
“May I ask why you don’t drink?”
“I was never allowed.” And I’m afraid it will make me feel out of control, which is the last thing I need in your presence.
He nodded. “Just so we’re clear, there are no rules in this house from me except basic respect, which I don’t expect to be a problem anyway.”
That depends what your definition of respect is.
Paul had a long list of demands in how his wives should respect him.
“I keep trying to set you at ease, but the tension in your shoulders tells me I’m doing a piss-poor job of it.” Aaron sighed.
She blinked up at him, still stunned by his honesty. A sliver of calm relaxed her shoulders just a bit.
He pointed to the first door. “I figured Dani could stay here.”
Brynn opened the door and gasped. It had pink walls and a four-poster bed with curtains tied to each post and string lights surrounding the top. Posters of Dani’s favorite comic, Selfie, adorned the walls. A big wooden dresser with a matching vanity lined one wall, and a spacious closet opened to the side. There was also a bookshelf with a few titles already on the shelves. This room was designed for a teenage girl.
Brynn turned to Aaron. “Did you do this for Dani?”
He stuck his hands in his pockets in a self-conscious gesture as he looked away. The movement only endeared him to her. He’s really trying.
“I wanted her to be comfortable and feel welcome.”
Brynn’s lips turned up into a smile. “She’ll love it.”
Aaron’s gaze fell to her lips before his own grin appeared. He nodded towards the hall. “Come on, still a few rooms to go. That’s the bathroom.” He walked to the second-to-last door and opened it.
Brynn peeked in. It was a little bigger than Dani’s room, simple and clean. A bed with a soft green comforter took up most of the space. There was a dresser and matching side tables. A desk sat in the corner by a window overlooking the lake with a bouquet of sunflowers. There was a closed door which she imagined led to another spacious closet. And her suitcases were stacked neatly by it. A few paintings adorned the walls, soothing pastel colors, making the room cheery and bright. The space seemed a little feminine for his tastes.
“Whose room is this?”
“It’s yours.” He backed into the hallway before opening the final door to the master suite. The walls were a similar blue to his office, his comforter a deep navy color. Black-and-white photographs of nature spread out onto his walls in black frames. His dressers were black, as were his side tables.
