fireplace. Noticing her gaze, Kate said, “This is my favorite room in the house; Fred and I spend a lot of time in here reading by the fire.”
Jay made note of the fluffy dog bed sitting next to a comfortable-looking recliner, which was sitting at an angle to the fireplace. Boy, she thought, I could get lost in here for days.
They exited the library, next entering an office with a rich beige leather couch on one wall and a large dark oak desk on another, a matching oak filing cabinet and credenza sitting against the opposite wall. It was clear from the state of the room that Kate did quite a bit of work there. There were neat stacks of magazines and newspapers in racks next to the desk, which was free of clutter but still managed to look well used.
They moved on to the family room, which sported state-of-the-art video and audio equipment, yet another fireplace, and a light-colored plaid armchair and matching sofa; French doors opening out onto a huge, two-tiered wooden deck completed the space.
Behind the family room was the kitchen, which appeared to have every modern convenience but lacked any indication that it had ever been used. A mudroom that doubled as Fred’s dining area adjoined the kitchen, and a bathroom was situated adjacent to the mudroom.
Finally, the last room on the first level was the dining room, which featured a beautifully intricate Oriental rug on the hardwood floor, and very expensive-looking matching mahogany chairs and a table big enough to seat ten people comfortably. A mahogany sideboard and china cabinet rounded out the furnishings.
“C’mon, let’s go upstairs.”
Kate showed Jay the three bedrooms upstairs, including the guest suite, which included its own large bathroom with a sunken tub. Finally, she stopped at the threshold to her own bedroom suite. With a gesture of her bandaged hand, she motioned Jay to precede her, following her inside.
The room was large and airy, like the rest of the house, but with an intimacy about it that took Jay’s breath away. The colors were warm and inviting, the furnishings tasteful and understated; the ceiling featured a huge fan, recessed lighting, and a skylight through which she could see the moon and stars shining above.
“It’s fantastic,” she breathed. “The whole house is.”
“Thanks,” Kate said simply. “I designed it myself.”
“You designed the house?” Jay exclaimed in wonder.
“Um, yeah.”
“Wow.” Jay looked at her friend with a mixture of awe and respect.
46
The Price of Fame
Kate kicked her shoes off and sighed, beginning to shrug out of her suit jacket, although with her hands stitched and bandaged, it was a challenge.
Jay, seeing the flicker of pain cross her companion’s features, stepped forward. “I can help you with that.”
“No, it’s okay, I’ve got it,” Kate said gamely even as she winced again.
“For all the times you helped me, it’s the least I can do, please.” She looked up into those cerulean blue eyes with pleading emeralds.
Kate lost herself in those orbs for a moment, silently nodding her surrender.
Jay moved forward further, brushing Kate’s hands aside gently, undoing the two buttons on the ruined suit jacket and easing it from broad shoulders, then reaching for the buttons on the silk blouse. She swallowed hard and her fingers shook slightly as she carefully opened each button, revealing more and more beautiful skin, seeing clearly the line where the ash and dirt ended and the flesh that had been protected by the blouse and jacket began.
Exposing more skin, Jay made the mistake of looking up into those incredible deep blue eyes. The expression she saw there precipitated a flush of heat beginning in her stomach and radiating downward. Trying hard to maintain her composure, she lowered her hands and unhooked the button on Kate’s slacks and pulled the zipper down. Finally, reaching behind her back, she released the catch on her bra, stepping back as if a snake had
Jay made note of the fluffy dog bed sitting next to a comfortable-looking recliner, which was sitting at an angle to the fireplace. Boy, she thought, I could get lost in here for days.
They exited the library, next entering an office with a rich beige leather couch on one wall and a large dark oak desk on another, a matching oak filing cabinet and credenza sitting against the opposite wall. It was clear from the state of the room that Kate did quite a bit of work there. There were neat stacks of magazines and newspapers in racks next to the desk, which was free of clutter but still managed to look well used.
They moved on to the family room, which sported state-of-the-art video and audio equipment, yet another fireplace, and a light-colored plaid armchair and matching sofa; French doors opening out onto a huge, two-tiered wooden deck completed the space.
Behind the family room was the kitchen, which appeared to have every modern convenience but lacked any indication that it had ever been used. A mudroom that doubled as Fred’s dining area adjoined the kitchen, and a bathroom was situated adjacent to the mudroom.
Finally, the last room on the first level was the dining room, which featured a beautifully intricate Oriental rug on the hardwood floor, and very expensive-looking matching mahogany chairs and a table big enough to seat ten people comfortably. A mahogany sideboard and china cabinet rounded out the furnishings.
“C’mon, let’s go upstairs.”
Kate showed Jay the three bedrooms upstairs, including the guest suite, which included its own large bathroom with a sunken tub. Finally, she stopped at the threshold to her own bedroom suite. With a gesture of her bandaged hand, she motioned Jay to precede her, following her inside.
The room was large and airy, like the rest of the house, but with an intimacy about it that took Jay’s breath away. The colors were warm and inviting, the furnishings tasteful and understated; the ceiling featured a huge fan, recessed lighting, and a skylight through which she could see the moon and stars shining above.
“It’s fantastic,” she breathed. “The whole house is.”
“Thanks,” Kate said simply. “I designed it myself.”
“You designed the house?” Jay exclaimed in wonder.
“Um, yeah.”
“Wow.” Jay looked at her friend with a mixture of awe and respect.
46
The Price of Fame
Kate kicked her shoes off and sighed, beginning to shrug out of her suit jacket, although with her hands stitched and bandaged, it was a challenge.
Jay, seeing the flicker of pain cross her companion’s features, stepped forward. “I can help you with that.”
“No, it’s okay, I’ve got it,” Kate said gamely even as she winced again.
“For all the times you helped me, it’s the least I can do, please.” She looked up into those cerulean blue eyes with pleading emeralds.
Kate lost herself in those orbs for a moment, silently nodding her surrender.
Jay moved forward further, brushing Kate’s hands aside gently, undoing the two buttons on the ruined suit jacket and easing it from broad shoulders, then reaching for the buttons on the silk blouse. She swallowed hard and her fingers shook slightly as she carefully opened each button, revealing more and more beautiful skin, seeing clearly the line where the ash and dirt ended and the flesh that had been protected by the blouse and jacket began.
Exposing more skin, Jay made the mistake of looking up into those incredible deep blue eyes. The expression she saw there precipitated a flush of heat beginning in her stomach and radiating downward. Trying hard to maintain her composure, she lowered her hands and unhooked the button on Kate’s slacks and pulled the zipper down. Finally, reaching behind her back, she released the catch on her bra, stepping back as if a snake had
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