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In keeping with the rest of the house, this space is a designer’s dream and I blink in astonishment at the gleaming surfaces and walls of cabinetry that must hide everything ever required to whip up a feast for a king.
My main purpose is to make a coffee, but the scary looking barista station is a step too far, so I seize the remote lying on the marble-topped counter and press the button marked ‘beverage’.
I’m amazed when a door slides open, revealing a beverage station like no other. Shelves of teas, coffees, hot chocolate and every refreshment invented shine like a beacon from their impressive home. My heart lifts when I spy a kettle and as I fill it, I wonder how much this must have all cost. It’s a good job Robert has billions because I’m positive he needs them and once again I hate that I’m impressed with this standard of living when my flat has always been adequate for my needs.
A movement by the door alerts me and I spin around, and my jaw drops when I regard the man himself entering the room. Gone is the corporate suit and in its place is a tight t-shirt and shorts. He has a towel slung around his neck that he is using to wipe the sweat from his face, and I swear all my lady parts stand up and cheer as they focus on only one thing. Him.
“Glad to see you found the kettle.”
“Um, yes, um, thank you.”
I can’t even speak properly, and I hate myself for that which causes the crazy in me to speak up to hide my confusion.
“Don’t you have a shower? Honestly, that’s so unhygienic.”
He shrugs and grabs a bottle of water from the fridge and chugs it down.
“I have twelve showers, to be exact, but I heard you in here and thought I’d check on you.”
“Twelve showers, what the…”
“One for every bedroom of which there are ten. One in the pool house and one in my gym that is currently being refurbished, otherwise I would have used it.”
I’m speechless and he sighs, stretching his shoulders, causing me to focus on the rippling abs that appear to be moulded to his sweat ridden t-shirt.
“I’ll clean up and then I’m catching the game. Help yourself to anything you need. Breakfast is at seven am.”
He turns, effectively dismissing me, and from out of nowhere, that hussy inside me calls out, “The Christmas cards.”
He turns slowly. “What about them?”
“Have you got them? I would like to take a look.”
“What now?”
“Why not? In case it escaped your notice, I’m working and am currently on a job right now. Now is the perfect time.”
“If you insist.”
He nods towards the door.
“They’re in my study. It’s this way.”
Despite being desperate for a cup of coffee, it appears that I’m even more desperate for another lustful gaze at my roomie and I scamper after him like a kid following the pied piper, checking out his physique as I go. I’m definitely dreaming of him tonight. He’ll never find out, though. This infatuation that’s developing is being given a one-night pass before I shut it down completely.
He strides off, making conversation difficult, so I say nothing and follow him to discover what all the fuss is about.
As he opens the door, I’m not surprised to see a man cave that I would have expected from him. Panelled walls and subdued lighting surround a walnut desk and a leather chair. A fireplace kicks into life as we enter and the warm scent of brandy wafts towards me, accompanied by a wave of heady cologne. The shelves in the far corner hold leather-bound books and a few black and white photographs in silver frames. They all appear to be of dogs and for some reason it makes me a little sad that the only friends he appears to have is of the four legged variety.
“I see you’re a dog lover.”
I nod towards the picture and as he smiles, my heart skips a beat.
“My only love.”
“He, or she?”
“She. Her name was Willow.”
