“Cord?” She widened her eyes, gestured to the door. “Is he home?”
His smile faltered, and he shook his head. “No.”
Just great!
He stepped forward, widening the door, giving her a glimpse into the entryway of his home. From her view, she couldn’t see much except for a large couch set in the back and the wooden staircase leading to the second floor. That was really what caught her eye. No one had cascading stairs anymore, probably because of the expense. It was obviously mahogany, which she knew wasn’t cheap. She craned her neck over the boy’s shoulder for a better glimpse.Beautiful.
“Hey, um,” he hooked his thumb over his shoulder, “do you wanna come in and wait for him?”
His eagerness was almost comical. Roxanne surveyed the boy. She was usually a good judge of character. Not always, but for the most part, she could read people well enough to weed out the decent from the dangerous. This kid may be eager and flustered but wasn’t a threat. She took in his size and build, cocking her head to the side.I could take him if needed.
“Okay, sure.” She walked forward and hid her smile when he stumbled backward. It was as if he were in shock she actually took him up on his offer.
Roxanne only made it to the foyer when it was her turn to be entranced. She looked up at the tray ceiling, scanning the crown molding.
God, this is amazing.Her view from the porch was nothing compared to the close-up she had now. This was spectacular. Old-world charm, something straight out of the fifties in thevery well-to-doera.
“Your house is beautiful.”
“Uh, thanks. My brother built it.” He closed the door, turning around and shoving his hands in his pockets. “Well, he rebuilt it. All the interior is new. Gutted the whole place.” There was an element of pride in his tone.
Roxanne glanced over her shoulder, smiling. “Your brother is incredibly talented.” She pointed toward the arched doorway leading into the living room. “Do you mind if I …”
She hadn’t even finished her sentence when he rushed forward, passing her. “Yeah, come on in.”
She followed him into the room, down two steps. Everything from the floors to the molding on the windows had the same dark mahogany wood as the staircase. There was no denying the details. This house was somebody’sbaby. A labor of love.
“I helped.” Roxanne glanced over, and he waved his hand, gesturing to the room. “I mean, I helped my brother with some of the stuff. Like the building stuff.”
Roxanne pressed her lips together. Whether or not it was true, it was said in a way to impress her.
“Well, you and your brother did an amazing job.”
His chest puffed out like a rooster.
“You should see the upstairs.” His face immediately shaded red, and his mouth fell open. “I didn’t mean like come upstairs or anything creepy.” He gulped, and she raised her brows. “Not trying to get you up to my room, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
It had been a long time since she’d been around a fumbling teenager. Most men she spent time with, besides her brothers, had the market cornered on being a player. It was almost refreshing to see a guy flustered. Although she was pretty sure that if she took him up on the offer he was currently denying he made, he’d be running up the stairs in record time.
“Uh, I’m Holden, by the way. Cord’s brother.”
“Roxanne.”
“Roxanne,” he whispered, and his lips spread in a wide smile. “That’s a cool name.”
She chuckled. “You think?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
Roxanne rounded the coffee table, pausing near the brick fireplace. “Do you always invite strangers into your house?”
He scoffed and shrugged. “You know Cord, so you’re not really a stranger.”
Oh, this is going to be fun.
Roxanne folded her arms and stared at him. “I asked if he was home. I never said we were friends.”
His smile faltered, and his face paled. “Oh shit, you’re not one of his psycho exes looking to rip out my heart and leave it on his bed as a sign of retribution for him fucking you over, are you?”
