Marti greeted us at the door, spinning with delight when she realized that she had three additional admirers to charm.
“Oh, Iloveyour dog,” Claudia cooed, dropping to her knees to pet her.
“Thanks,” Owen said as he collected our umbrellas and placed them in the tile anteroom. “I need to warn you that she might end up sleeping with you. Hope that’s okay.”
“Our bed is open to all animals,” Wes said as he squattednext to Claudia. “We’re hoping to adopt a pup soon. A little Barnham mascot.”
I followed Owen in, and when he flicked on the light in the foyer, I had to stifle a gasp, because the space to the right of the door featured a room-length, floor-to-ceiling bookshelf.
With aladder. A sliding ladder that was the stuff of every bookworm’s dreams.
“Wow, you’re quite a reader,” Wes said as he walked into the dim space.
“Oh, I haven’t read all of these yet,” Owen replied quickly. “But I have a lifetime to get through them.”
So his to-be-read list was house-sized. Got it.
Owen tossed his keys on the hall table beneath a big black-and-white abstract artwork that actually was a painting and not a print.
“What can I get you to drink?” Owen asked. “Wine? Something harder?”
He flipped on more lights as he made his way through the place, and I followed behind him in silent awe, because his home was nothing like I expected. Not that I thought he lived in a one-bedroom with a mattress on the floor or anything, but given the way he dressed, I never imagined that he’d be living in a home that could feasibly show up in a YouTubeArchitectural Digesttour.
It was airy but masculine, with high ceilings and dark walls and an orderly but not off-puttingly tidy aesthetic. There were a few dirty dishes stacked on the black counter by the sink and a grouping of healthy plants sitting in the deep windowsill, including an orchid, a plant I’d never managed to keep alive. I could see French doors on the far wall that no doubt led to an equally delightful outdoor space in back.
“Mate, I’m sorry to ruin the party, but we’re on fumes,” Wes said, glancing at a barely awake Claudia. “Would you mind if we turned in for the night?”
“Of course, I get it,” Owen said. “Let me show you where you’ll be.”
We all followed him down a narrow flight of stairs to a basement that didn’t feel subterranean thanks to windows and a door leading to his backyard. I wasn’t sure about the mechanics of how the underground-but-not scenario was possible; all I knew was that it was just as comfortable and well designed as the rest of his home.
Owen walked to a narrow closet and opened it to reveal stacks of perfectly folded linens. “That couch pulls out to a bed. Sheets and pillows are in here. Towels too. Powder room is right over there.” He pointed across the space.
I forced myself not to let my jaw drop. A basementbathroom? Owen had hit the housing jackpot and I wanted to know how.
Marti hopped onto the couch, clearly waiting for her bedmates to hurry up so they could snuggle.
Owen turned to me. “You’re on the second floor with me.”
I gulped and followed behind him, up the basement stairs and the floating staircase in the main hallway to a small bedroom with chocolate-brown walls and white bedding that looked sumptuous even from a distance.
But I wasn’t ready for bed.
“Hey, can I take you up on that wine?” I asked him. “I’m all stressed from the fire stuff. I just need to unplug a little before I go to sleep.”
“Yeah, I’m not tired yet either, but one more glass of red wine should do the trick.”
I dropped my gym bag in the bedroom, kicked off my shoes, and followed him back to the first floor.
“I wish it wasn’t raining; we could sit out back,” he said as he pulled gigantic goblets and a bottle of wine from a kitchen cabinet.
“Here is fine,” I said, pulling out one of the modern sling-leather barstools.
“No, don’t sit there!” Owen held his hand out and I froze. “They aresouncomfortable. I’ve been meaning to replace them, but I like how they look, so I only sit in them when I’m going to be quick.”
I smiled to myself. So this glass of wine was going to be slow?
“Here.” Owen handed me an overfull goblet.
