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I’d caught him off guard again. “Perhaps we’ll consider it. Whatever you’d like is fine with me. As I said, make yourself at home. I’ll only be a few minutes. Our bedroom is on the third floor, last door down the hall.” He backed away, leaving me with a quick nod, walking out a corridor, his heavy footsteps echoing on the cold tile for a few seconds.
How was it possible the man took my breath away?
Because he saved your life. Because he’s gorgeous. Because you…Nope. I did not love the man. He wasn’t lovable.
I turned in a full circle, finding myself a nervous wreck, rooted to the spot.
There were dozens of ways to attempt to escape but he was certain I’d choose not to do so at this point in time.
And he was right.
Our bedroom. Butterflies continued to swarm inside, another moment of lightheadedness forming. Marriage. God.
The realization was somehow already eroding what was left of my resolve. I took another sip of beer, so uncertain of my surroundings I had no idea what to do. The draw to the outside world pulled at my attention first. I headed toward the window, able to catch a glimpse of the pool and outdoor kitchen that I’d escaped from what now seemed like a lifetime before. Somehow, it looked entirely different in the waning sun.
The orange glow was spectacular, the beauty of the landscaping all too perfect.
I had a hand on the doorknob to head onto the trellis-covered patio, but another sickening sense of dread washed through me. There was a ticking timebomb waiting to go off and both Arman and I were stuck in the blast zone. His warnings of danger and enemies had obviously gotten to me.
Turning abruptly, I headed for the hallway, realizing his home was even more beautiful than I’d remembered, inviting in every way. I milled about the surroundings, finding myself smiling as I moved from room to room, finding the library he’d mentioned. He was right; his collection of books was extensive. What I found curious was there as a section that could only be described as young adult novels. There was even a pristine collection of Nancy Drew mysteries. I laughed, glancing over my shoulder as if I was still intruding. Wow. I knew nothing about his brothers really, including the third one he’d mentioned.
Maybe he had a niece.
After touching a few of them, admiring his tastes for at least ten minutes, I returned to the hallway.
The staircase was suddenly in front of me. I had no idea where he’d gone but had obeyed his rule to not enter rooms where the doors were closed.
I caught a glimpse of the housekeeper he’d mentioned, her quick glance in my direction followed by moving into the kitchen without saying anything. No doubt to gather my bags as directed. Whew. His beautiful home was completely out of my comfort zone.
The staircase continued to loom in front of me. There was no reason to be frightened of exploring the second and third floors. As I headed up the stairs, my grip on the railing remained firm, the one around the bottle almost painful. The lack of noise was terrible. It was also unnerving, so much so when the glass bottle accidentally hit the ornate wood, I jumped, nearly tumbling down the stairs.
This was ridiculous.
Remaining on the second floor, I debated finding the bedroom upstairs and decided against it, peering down the long hallway. There was no oddness in the shadows, light coming from almost every room given the open doors. As I passed by, I noticed guest bedrooms and a small sitting room, a partially closed door catching my attention. It was open by a few inches, more than I’d considered just a crack. I couldn’t help myself, pushing it open with a single finger.
The beautiful room was decorated as an office, yet decidedly girlie with shades of violet and turquoise, including the iMac. I glanced around the room, noticing the bookshelf nestled near the front window. Three shelves were filled with textbooks and novels I’d read in high school. Confusion settled in.
When I noticed an entrance into another room without a door, I moved through it, straight into the bedroom of a young woman. Immediately stiffening, I wasn’t certain if the area had been made a shrine. Something was off. Then my curiosity kicked in and I moved to the closet, glancing over my shoulder before opening the door.
It was similar to the one in Arman’s bedroom, only filled with clothes meant for a young woman, many with tags still on them. There were tennis shoes and boots, purses, and a few pairs of low heels. Was this from the past or the present?
I backed away, furious with myself for invading, even though I hadn’t intended to.
When I hit something solid as a rock, I closed my eyes.
Arman.
“What the fuck are you doing in here?”
CHAPTER18
Arman
Anger had never been my friend.
When I allowed the dark emotion to tear through my soul, bad things happened, the kind that usually took an entire cleanup crew to handle. While I’d tempered it over the years, my reaction at seeing her inside my daughter’s closet had been unacceptable.
The beautiful vixen who’d worried I’d died while trying to save her had rattled me more than anyone had in a very long time. The thought of almost losing her had driven me into a moment of madness, an entirely different level of rage. Now this; my emotions were raging on a scale that she didn’t deserve. She was trying to find her way, ignoring what was between us. But what I’d seen in her eyes would keep me awake for the entire night.
