“That’s my office. I’ll show you my workspace after we eat.” I shoot her a nervous smile, hoping she won’t be angry when I reveal my big secret.
“This is one of two guest bedrooms,” I explain, opening the door to the lavender room. I decorated this one with my youngest sister in mind. “I wanted to have space for my sisters to stay over. It hasn’t happened much though. By the time I moved in, Sarah was already at Cornell and Esther was in her senior year of high school. She stayed with me sometimes on weekends, but mostly she preferred to be in Medina. It’s where her friends are.”
Stevie taps a finger on her chin. “Is that how you know Ivy too? From growing up there?”
I shake my head. “She lives on the other side of Medina and she only moved there maybe ten years ago?” I scratch the back of my head. “I have never bumped into her there, and Dad is particular about who he has over to the house. Someone like her would never have received an invite.”
I close the door and open the one to the second guest room. It’s painted in pale shades of gray and green. “This is the room Sarah stays in though I can count on one hand the number of times she has stayed over.”
“They are both gorgeous rooms. Chic and comfortable. You have great taste, Beck, and I love how neat and tidy everything is.”
Her words warm hidden parts of me. “I’m glad you appreciate my strengths. My sisters are so messy, and they don’t understand why I get mad when they leave shit all over the place and don’t put things back where they belong.”
“Tell me about it. I’m constantly picking up after Hadley. She believes life is too short to worry about cleaning and tidying up. She says I’m too anal, but I can’t help it. I feel disorganized when everything is all messy.”
“I can relate. I feel exactly the same.” I close the door to Sarah’s room and move to the bathroom. “I have help though. Mary-Beth comes in once a week to clean and do my ironing.”
“I’m totally doing that when I can afford it,” she agrees, poking her head into the main bathroom.
After that, I guide her into my master bedroom, leaving the door open as I stride toward the double doors that lead to the balcony. Stevie shuffles timidly into the room, her gaze raking over my dark wood king bed with navy silk sheets. The rest of the furniture matches my bed, and the room is decorated in various shades of navy, white, and gray. One side door leads to my walk-in closet and the second to the large en suite bathroom with gray-and-white-marble tiles, dual sinks, a large rainforest shower, and a freestanding claw tub.
I watch her peek into the closet and the bathroom before she joins me on the balcony. “Your room is stunning, and that tub is to die for.”
Visions of her long red hair cascading over the edge of the tub as she floats in petal-covered scented water surge to the forefront of my mind. I swallow over the lump in my throat as I punt that visual away before it gets me in trouble.
“One of my favorite things to do in summer is sit out here on the weekends with a book and a glass of wine and just enjoy the serenity,” I admit, leaning on the cast-iron railings.
Stevie mirrors my position. “It is peaceful here. It’s like you’ve carved out a little piece of heaven amid all the craziness of city life.”
“My dream is to one day own a house by a lake, surrounded by trees and nature and peace and tranquility.”
“Sounds dreamy.”
Shaking myself out of it, I smile and offer her my arm. “Come on, milady. Your banquet awaits.”
We chat casually over a dinner of Thai green curry with rice and noodle accompaniments, and fresh fruit meringue for dessert. She showers me with compliments, and a guy could really get used to this. The wine is flowing as easily as our conversation, and things are just so natural with Stevie. It’s like we’ve known one another for years. There’s a comfort and familiarity in her presence I’ve never felt with any woman before.
I simply adore her.
She’s the most incredible woman, and I’m so damned lucky I get to call her my friend.
An inordinate thrill runs through me having Stevie here in my place.
She looks like she belongs.
That thought hinges on crossing a line, and it’s borderline dangerous to entertain it, so I don’t dwell on it, tossing it from my mind before it grows roots.
Although conversation is lively, I have noticed her drifting away a few times, looking lost in thought. Deep grooves furrow her brow, and I can tell something is troubling her. “Do you want to talk about it?” I ask when she stares into space again.
“Talk about what?” She blinks profusely.
“Whatever has you so lost in thought.”
She swallows audibly, and her hands shake as she raises her wineglass to her lips. I stack the plates and cutlery on the table while she takes a healthy mouthful of white wine, content to wait her out.
“I don’t want to put a dampener on tonight. I’ve been enjoying it, and you went to lots of trouble.”
“If something is bothering you, I’d rather you told me. It won’t ruin what’s already been a great night. Is this about Ellen? Has something else happened?”
