“Uh, I am, yes. Sorry. It’s just—I swiped the air—all this is so majestic.”
“Majestic?” He tilted his head.
“Oh, yes.”
“You describe things oddly.”
I shrugged. “Is this, like, the living room?”
“Grand room, or some refer to it as a great room.”
“Is there a difference?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t elaborate, so I gestured for him to go on.
He sighed. “A grand room is multifunctional, more open concept, oftentimes combining rooms such as living rooms, family rooms, and dining rooms. My dining room is not here, but this room is more spacious than my living room, which is smaller.”
“So one’s bigger than the other?”
“Yes.”
“Coulda just said that.” I walked deeper into the grand, great, and fabulous room and yeah, I was totally gawking at the artwork hanging on the walls and the sculptures.
Lukas was silent behind me—so quiet, I couldn’t even hear him breathing. Even though I was in the presence of so much artistic beauty, I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder every so often to look at Lukas…who was watching me as if I’d touch one of his prized possessions.
“I won’t get my fingerprints on anything.” I chuckled.
“I’m sure you won’t. Did you want a tour of the rest of the place?”
I nodded excitedly. “Absotootly!”
“Not a word, Sam. Come on.”
I followed him down a hallway, which led to another room—a study, he’d said—then a library, then a sitting room, and then a living room. There were a lot of rooms, and while I wanted to stay in each one and investigate further, he didn’t linger.
A couple of lefts and a right and we were in the kitchen, and it was remarkable.
“Wow! This is incredible, Lukas.” I ran my finger along the marble countertops. “Do you like cooking?”
“No. And I don’t. I do have staff, though.”
“Staff?” I glanced around. “I don’t see anyone.”
“I asked for them to leave us be, but if you’re hungry or thirsty I can call someone to fetch something for you.”
My eyebrows rose. “While I wouldn’t just begin cooking in someone else’s kitchen, I dare say I can open a fridge and get my own drink.”
“Unnecessary. It’s why they’re here.”
I smirked. “But they aren’t here; you excused them.”
He pursed his lips, and I was beginning to love how flustered he got. “And I said I could call them back.”
“Like they’re dogs?”
Now his eyes were squeezed shut, and it took everything in me not to start laughing.
