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“I think this is the most unused room in the house. No one ever cooks in our family,” Matt says, dumping the bags on the island. “It’s always takeout or whatever is in the fridge. Welcome to the chef’s kitchen, built for a Michelin Star chef, with no chef to actually cook.”
“I love cooking.” I breathe as I run my palm over the cool surface of the marble while staring out of the glass windows that allow in the perfect explosion of sunlight.
Just ahead, I can see the thicket of trees swaying together and the soft glow of the peachy sky.
Matt smiles and when he does, he looks like a less serious version of Hudson. His hair is lighter, almost brown and his skin tone isn’t as tanned as Hudson’s, but those similar green eyes are sharp, dark and narrow—almost like a cat’s suspicious stare.
“Right, then I will require your help later when people start arriving,” Matt tells me. “Shall we?”
He leads me out of the kitchen and into the living room. It’s clean and the air faintly smells of fresh lavender.
There are two white couches positioned near a large hearth with a small bundle of wood stacked next to a stand with clean, silver fire pokers.
A bunch of dried, wilted flowers that have clearly been in the glass vase of dark water for a long time, sits on the white coffee table.
Everything is immaculate as if no one had been in here for a long time. Pale grey curtains are tied up with satin bands. The glass doors are open and I follow Matt out onto the wide, dark wooden deck.
The air is saltier on my tongue and I breathe in the fresh scent of pine and nature. Down below and past the thick border of trees, I can see the sparkling blue water.
“Is that the beach?” I ask.
“Yeah,” Matt says as he places his elbows on the bannister. “It’s amazing down there. We can go for a swim later if you’re down for it. This is all private.”
“That would be nice—”
Just then we hear shouting and I watch as Hudson emerges from the thicket of trees.
His phone is pressed against his ear and he paces back and forth while running his hand through his hair.
“Is he always so…” I trail off unable to find the correct word to describe Hudson.
“Serious? Irritated? Angry?” Matt’s eyes flicker to mine. “He’s always been like that. I’m used to it. Although, I’m not sure you’ll get used to it.”
“What do you mean?” I ask curiously watching as Hudson disappears again into the trees.
“I don’t want to sound like an insensitive ass and I hardly know you, but things with my brother very rarely stay permanent,” Matt says. “But don’t dwell on that, let’s finish the tour if you’re still up for it.”
I smile even though what Matt says makes my heart sink for some reason. “Sure.”
“I still have to show you Hudson’s room,” he whispers with mischief in his dark green eyes.
We go around the rest of the house and Matt takes me upstairs to where the bedrooms are.
He pushes open a door and we go inside. “This is Hudson’s room,” Matt says.
It’s dark and cool inside and the windows are shaded with transparent black curtains.
The room is neat and in order just like his room back at Saylor Towers.
His bed is against the wall with a black comforter covering its wide surface.
And there’s a dark desk in the far corner near a window. Other than the gas fireplace and desk, the rest of the room is dark and empty.
“Was it always this empty?” I ask Matt as I go over to Hudson’s desk.
There’s a neat stack of papers, a lamp and black pens in a pen holder. It’s too neat, too perfect and almost makes me want to grind my teeth.
“It’s always been like this,” Matt mumbles. “He’s a mystery. Not even I can figure it out.”
