grabbed her bag of books from the car. “I’m glad you like it.”
She took his hand and he gave it a playful tug, escorted her up the walk and into his house.
Inside his home was equally well-appointed. The furniture was classic European antiques in rich fabrics. Linens, silks, and brocades. In the foyer a long chest of drawers in a rich mahogany held a large crystal vase filled with a gorgeous arrangement of flowers. Freesia, lilies, and lilacs, all in fragrant bloom. The chest sat centered beneath an octagonal mirror that opened the space by reflecting back the rest of the home. Two antique arm chairs sat on either side, upholstered in a nubby cream-colored fabric.
Beyond the foyer there was a large living room. The walls here, like in the foyer, were ivory, but with a darker glaze for texture. One wall of the room was dominated by a large entertainment system housed in cabinetry that had been custom made to match the period antiques in the rest of the room. Two lush overstuffed sofas in deeper ivory fabrics faced one another. A white marble-topped coffee table sat between and was artfully draped with a rich brocade fabric.
The far wall was all glass, showing off a large limestone terrace and pool. He pulled her in the direction of the back of the house and as they reached the end of the spacious living room, she noted the room opened to the right to an equally gorgeous and airy dining room, and a smaller breakfast nook.
“Your home is lovely,” she reassured as she noted the almost expectant look on his face.
He seemed to relax before her eyes and smiled, motioning her through an open French door which led to the patio. “I set us up out here next to the pool. I thought it might be more relaxing.”
It was heaven
, she thought. A long rectangular pool was surrounded by the limestone terrace and gardens. Limestone blocks were stacked on the left side of the pool to create a waterfall of sorts where water cascaded down the different levels of the blocks. Worked into the limestone were colorful ceramic tiles which echoed the earth tones throughout the house.
She turned, sighing in delight at their “work” area. Set beneath the canopy of a large palm tree was a wrought iron table and two chairs. Two cushioned chaise lounges were set slightly away, but still in the shade. Between the two chaise longues and on either side were small tables, for holding their papers and other materials, she guessed. In the background, the sounds of the water as it rushed over the stones, of wind-rustled foliage, soothed and enticed.
“I may find myself hard pressed to work,” she admitted, dreamily thinking of how easy it would be to sink into the comfort of the chaise and soak in some sun instead.
“Me, too,” he said and drew her near. “But for different reasons.”
Carmen leaned toward him and dropped a quick kiss on his lips. “Maybe that will keep you satisfied until later.”
Paul wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close. “No, but this might,” he said as he took her mouth hungrily, almost possessively, giving no quarter until Carmen melted against him.
She dropped her bag and slipped her hands up his back to hold him near. Moaned in protest, as he pulled away.
“Hungry?” he asked.
Carmen nodded and teased, “But not for food.”
There was no doubt in his mind that despite the playful nature of her response, there was more to it. He could see it in the flush across her cheeks and the darkening of her milk chocolate eyes. But he would wait to take her up on her offer. “Lunch first. Then studying. And then ….”
“Dinner?”
He laughed, gestured to the table and chairs and Carmen sat, primly unfolded the napkin from her place setting.
She waited for him as he joined her, pulling the cover off a medium-sized platter which held a mound of shrimp salad on a bed of thin avocado slices. “Please, help yourself,” he said and picked up a napkin covered basket, removed the cloth to reveal
She took his hand and he gave it a playful tug, escorted her up the walk and into his house.
Inside his home was equally well-appointed. The furniture was classic European antiques in rich fabrics. Linens, silks, and brocades. In the foyer a long chest of drawers in a rich mahogany held a large crystal vase filled with a gorgeous arrangement of flowers. Freesia, lilies, and lilacs, all in fragrant bloom. The chest sat centered beneath an octagonal mirror that opened the space by reflecting back the rest of the home. Two antique arm chairs sat on either side, upholstered in a nubby cream-colored fabric.
Beyond the foyer there was a large living room. The walls here, like in the foyer, were ivory, but with a darker glaze for texture. One wall of the room was dominated by a large entertainment system housed in cabinetry that had been custom made to match the period antiques in the rest of the room. Two lush overstuffed sofas in deeper ivory fabrics faced one another. A white marble-topped coffee table sat between and was artfully draped with a rich brocade fabric.
The far wall was all glass, showing off a large limestone terrace and pool. He pulled her in the direction of the back of the house and as they reached the end of the spacious living room, she noted the room opened to the right to an equally gorgeous and airy dining room, and a smaller breakfast nook.
“Your home is lovely,” she reassured as she noted the almost expectant look on his face.
He seemed to relax before her eyes and smiled, motioning her through an open French door which led to the patio. “I set us up out here next to the pool. I thought it might be more relaxing.”
It was heaven
, she thought. A long rectangular pool was surrounded by the limestone terrace and gardens. Limestone blocks were stacked on the left side of the pool to create a waterfall of sorts where water cascaded down the different levels of the blocks. Worked into the limestone were colorful ceramic tiles which echoed the earth tones throughout the house.
She turned, sighing in delight at their “work” area. Set beneath the canopy of a large palm tree was a wrought iron table and two chairs. Two cushioned chaise lounges were set slightly away, but still in the shade. Between the two chaise longues and on either side were small tables, for holding their papers and other materials, she guessed. In the background, the sounds of the water as it rushed over the stones, of wind-rustled foliage, soothed and enticed.
“I may find myself hard pressed to work,” she admitted, dreamily thinking of how easy it would be to sink into the comfort of the chaise and soak in some sun instead.
“Me, too,” he said and drew her near. “But for different reasons.”
Carmen leaned toward him and dropped a quick kiss on his lips. “Maybe that will keep you satisfied until later.”
Paul wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close. “No, but this might,” he said as he took her mouth hungrily, almost possessively, giving no quarter until Carmen melted against him.
She dropped her bag and slipped her hands up his back to hold him near. Moaned in protest, as he pulled away.
“Hungry?” he asked.
Carmen nodded and teased, “But not for food.”
There was no doubt in his mind that despite the playful nature of her response, there was more to it. He could see it in the flush across her cheeks and the darkening of her milk chocolate eyes. But he would wait to take her up on her offer. “Lunch first. Then studying. And then ….”
“Dinner?”
He laughed, gestured to the table and chairs and Carmen sat, primly unfolded the napkin from her place setting.
She waited for him as he joined her, pulling the cover off a medium-sized platter which held a mound of shrimp salad on a bed of thin avocado slices. “Please, help yourself,” he said and picked up a napkin covered basket, removed the cloth to reveal
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