deck. The house just came with it.”
“Of course not. That would be foolish.”
She didn’t believe him for a second. “Would it?”
“No. Not if that’s what you wanted,” he admitted. “The truth is, I bought the view. The house and the deck came with it.” He smiled. “Come on inside and let’s get you settled. Then you can see what I mean.”
Amanda had no problem believing Mark, but he was different than most men she had known. He wasn’t into image or money. He was into simple joys, compassion and breathtaking views. She liked that. And his killer smile.
Mark snagged her case and paused to punch in the five-digit code to disarm the security system. “Did you get that?”
“Got it,” Amanda admitted, hoping she was supposed to have gotten it.
They stepped inside through the garage. Cool, crisp air washed over her. Beyond a tall tile entry, a den ran thelength of the house decorated “beachy” in soothing sea colors, overstuffed leather sofas that looked like sun-warmed butter, and cushy pillows and plush rugs scattered everywhere. It was clear that this was Mark’s favorite part of the house. She understood why. It was calming and it had a good feel to it. The back wall was glass, and beyond it, his deck, a patio, a stretch of lawn, and then the bay, which had whitecaps and was just rough enough to sparkle like diamonds winking under a puffy pink-tinged sky. “You’re right.” His beloved view was breathtaking. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Wait until sunset.” He smiled, pure pleasure in his tone. “Your room is this way.” Carrying her case, he led her down a hallway to a large room that faced the bay.
Sheer white drapes hung from the ceiling, fell in soft folds down the long windows and puddled on the floor. The furniture was hand-carved teak, and she couldn’t help but wonder how many women had slept in the bed, and how many of them had slept there with Mark beside them.
Not that it was any of her business.
Still, she was curious.
“There’s a bath and sitting room around the corner there.” He motioned left. “If you need anything that isn’t here, yell.”
She looked at him, saw the gleam in his eye, and couldn’t resist a little good-natured teasing. “This is your date-six room, right?”
He didn’t return her smile or her teasing tone. “Actually, you’re the first woman to ever stay in this room.”
She’d gone too far. “Don’t get defensive. I was just teasing. You certainly don’t owe me any explanations.”
He nodded but didn’t take the bait to tell her where his women did stay. “I’m sure you itch from rolling around in the grass out there,” he said. “Why don’t you grab a shower and then meet me on the deck for a snack.”
He seemed to always know when her low-fuel light came on. “Are you hot-wired to my stomach, or what?”
“No.” The look in his eyes turned serious. “I remember.”
“Remember?” She deposited her case near a walk-in closet the size of her apartment in D.C.
“For a few weeks after I returned, I was constantly starving. I couldn’t get enough food, or enough to drink.”
“Same here.”
“See you in a few.” He walked to the door.
“Okay. I’ll be a few minutes longer, though. I need to report in to Colonel Drake.”
“Use the house phone. It’s satellite secured at all times.”
“Thank you.” She waited to really look around until Mark walked out and closed the door behind him. The room seemed cavernous without him in it, and not sure she liked that, she rounded the corner to the bath, which was sinfully gorgeous, with a garden tub large enough to swim in. “Well, Princess—” she toed off her shoes and sank deep into the plush carpet “—you’re definitely in a room fit for royalty.” The amazing thing was, it felt comfortable, too. Homey touches of peach-scented potpourri and candles and shells and stones sprinkled atop counters and ledges and in alcoves carved into the walls softened the
“Of course not. That would be foolish.”
She didn’t believe him for a second. “Would it?”
“No. Not if that’s what you wanted,” he admitted. “The truth is, I bought the view. The house and the deck came with it.” He smiled. “Come on inside and let’s get you settled. Then you can see what I mean.”
Amanda had no problem believing Mark, but he was different than most men she had known. He wasn’t into image or money. He was into simple joys, compassion and breathtaking views. She liked that. And his killer smile.
Mark snagged her case and paused to punch in the five-digit code to disarm the security system. “Did you get that?”
“Got it,” Amanda admitted, hoping she was supposed to have gotten it.
They stepped inside through the garage. Cool, crisp air washed over her. Beyond a tall tile entry, a den ran thelength of the house decorated “beachy” in soothing sea colors, overstuffed leather sofas that looked like sun-warmed butter, and cushy pillows and plush rugs scattered everywhere. It was clear that this was Mark’s favorite part of the house. She understood why. It was calming and it had a good feel to it. The back wall was glass, and beyond it, his deck, a patio, a stretch of lawn, and then the bay, which had whitecaps and was just rough enough to sparkle like diamonds winking under a puffy pink-tinged sky. “You’re right.” His beloved view was breathtaking. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Wait until sunset.” He smiled, pure pleasure in his tone. “Your room is this way.” Carrying her case, he led her down a hallway to a large room that faced the bay.
Sheer white drapes hung from the ceiling, fell in soft folds down the long windows and puddled on the floor. The furniture was hand-carved teak, and she couldn’t help but wonder how many women had slept in the bed, and how many of them had slept there with Mark beside them.
Not that it was any of her business.
Still, she was curious.
“There’s a bath and sitting room around the corner there.” He motioned left. “If you need anything that isn’t here, yell.”
She looked at him, saw the gleam in his eye, and couldn’t resist a little good-natured teasing. “This is your date-six room, right?”
He didn’t return her smile or her teasing tone. “Actually, you’re the first woman to ever stay in this room.”
She’d gone too far. “Don’t get defensive. I was just teasing. You certainly don’t owe me any explanations.”
He nodded but didn’t take the bait to tell her where his women did stay. “I’m sure you itch from rolling around in the grass out there,” he said. “Why don’t you grab a shower and then meet me on the deck for a snack.”
He seemed to always know when her low-fuel light came on. “Are you hot-wired to my stomach, or what?”
“No.” The look in his eyes turned serious. “I remember.”
“Remember?” She deposited her case near a walk-in closet the size of her apartment in D.C.
“For a few weeks after I returned, I was constantly starving. I couldn’t get enough food, or enough to drink.”
“Same here.”
“See you in a few.” He walked to the door.
“Okay. I’ll be a few minutes longer, though. I need to report in to Colonel Drake.”
“Use the house phone. It’s satellite secured at all times.”
“Thank you.” She waited to really look around until Mark walked out and closed the door behind him. The room seemed cavernous without him in it, and not sure she liked that, she rounded the corner to the bath, which was sinfully gorgeous, with a garden tub large enough to swim in. “Well, Princess—” she toed off her shoes and sank deep into the plush carpet “—you’re definitely in a room fit for royalty.” The amazing thing was, it felt comfortable, too. Homey touches of peach-scented potpourri and candles and shells and stones sprinkled atop counters and ledges and in alcoves carved into the walls softened the
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