from the second floor out into the foyer. The foyer had to be at least forty-feet wide in all directions and opened up into the upper level of the house. Italian marble covered the floor and its pattern reminded Rheyna of the color swirl one gets when mixing chocolate syrup with vanilla ice cream.
The room was naturally bright and warm, aided by numerous skylights located along the ceiling. Structural columns—made from hand-carved marble and accented with gold leaf-shaped inlays—framed oversized doorways.
Looking toward the back and upward, she could see where the room protruded outward, as in the photos. What was missing from the photos was the beautiful ornamental railing encircling a walkway, covering the entire second floor. She assumed that a series of hallways branching out from the walkway led to the upstairs bedrooms. From her position, she could see through the doors that opened to three separate balconies overlooking the pool and the ocean. She felt as if she were standing in a museum.
Terasa looped her arm through Rheyna’s, snapping her from her thoughts. She led Rheyna into what she described as the sitting room. She poured two glasses of wine, handed one to Rheyna, and then sat down on a couch in front of a large picture window overlooking the bay.
“I want you to know how much I appreciate you altering your schedule for me on such short notice,” Terasa said with sincerity.
“It was no trouble at all, Mrs. Castrucci. I was happy to do it.” Rheyna glanced around the room with admiration. “This has to be the most beautiful house I’ve ever been in.”
Terasa beamed at the compliment and smiled. “I’m glad you think so and thank you. I did all the decorating myself.”
Rheyna held her glass up in a mock toast. “You did a fantastic job.”
Just when she thought she couldn’t be surprised anymore, Caroline Castrucci walked into the room, causing Rheyna to choke on her wine. Standing before her was the most gorgeous two-legged creature she had ever seen. Caroline wasn’t just beautiful—she was narcotically stunning.
Rheyna tried not to stare, but failed miserably. Starting at the bottom of her white slacks, Rheyna’s eyes traveled the entire length of Caroline’s darkly tanned body before coming back to the area at the base of her throat where a bright silver chain hung just above her breasts. The clothing did little to hide her curvaceous body, and Rheyna wondered if all of her skin was that tan.
Rheyna felt a burning sensation in her cheeks and knew Caroline was watching her. She fought off an uncontrollable urge to shiver. She stared at Caroline’s lips and wondered what it must feel like to kiss them.
Caroline’s mouth curved into a smile, and Rheyna forced herself to meet her gaze. She found herself looking into the brightest and deepest pair of blue eyes ever created. She was overwhelmed with a physical desire so strong, that it rocked her to the core.
Caroline’s right eyebrow shot up, and Rheyna blushed. Caroline’s smile grew wider. She looked at Rheyna as if to say, “Do-I-meet-your-approval?” and by the look on Caroline’s face, it was obvious that she was enjoying their little exchange. Caroline was the first to break eye contact. She walked over to her mother, bending slightly, and kissed Terasa on the cheek.
Terasa wrapped her arm around Caroline’s waist and smiled. “Rheyna, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Caroline.”
Caroline met Rheyna’s gaze and held it as she walked over. She stopped directly in front of Rheyna. She was so close, Rheyna could smell the sweet fragrance of her cologne. She held her hand out and smiled. “Hello, Rheyna, I’m pleased to meet you.”
Rheyna took Caroline’s hand in hers and returned the smile. “I’m pleased to meet you, too.” What surprised Rheyna was how much she meant those words.
“Where’s your father?” Terasa asked, oblivious to the little exchange going on between the two
The room was naturally bright and warm, aided by numerous skylights located along the ceiling. Structural columns—made from hand-carved marble and accented with gold leaf-shaped inlays—framed oversized doorways.
Looking toward the back and upward, she could see where the room protruded outward, as in the photos. What was missing from the photos was the beautiful ornamental railing encircling a walkway, covering the entire second floor. She assumed that a series of hallways branching out from the walkway led to the upstairs bedrooms. From her position, she could see through the doors that opened to three separate balconies overlooking the pool and the ocean. She felt as if she were standing in a museum.
Terasa looped her arm through Rheyna’s, snapping her from her thoughts. She led Rheyna into what she described as the sitting room. She poured two glasses of wine, handed one to Rheyna, and then sat down on a couch in front of a large picture window overlooking the bay.
“I want you to know how much I appreciate you altering your schedule for me on such short notice,” Terasa said with sincerity.
“It was no trouble at all, Mrs. Castrucci. I was happy to do it.” Rheyna glanced around the room with admiration. “This has to be the most beautiful house I’ve ever been in.”
Terasa beamed at the compliment and smiled. “I’m glad you think so and thank you. I did all the decorating myself.”
Rheyna held her glass up in a mock toast. “You did a fantastic job.”
Just when she thought she couldn’t be surprised anymore, Caroline Castrucci walked into the room, causing Rheyna to choke on her wine. Standing before her was the most gorgeous two-legged creature she had ever seen. Caroline wasn’t just beautiful—she was narcotically stunning.
Rheyna tried not to stare, but failed miserably. Starting at the bottom of her white slacks, Rheyna’s eyes traveled the entire length of Caroline’s darkly tanned body before coming back to the area at the base of her throat where a bright silver chain hung just above her breasts. The clothing did little to hide her curvaceous body, and Rheyna wondered if all of her skin was that tan.
Rheyna felt a burning sensation in her cheeks and knew Caroline was watching her. She fought off an uncontrollable urge to shiver. She stared at Caroline’s lips and wondered what it must feel like to kiss them.
Caroline’s mouth curved into a smile, and Rheyna forced herself to meet her gaze. She found herself looking into the brightest and deepest pair of blue eyes ever created. She was overwhelmed with a physical desire so strong, that it rocked her to the core.
Caroline’s right eyebrow shot up, and Rheyna blushed. Caroline’s smile grew wider. She looked at Rheyna as if to say, “Do-I-meet-your-approval?” and by the look on Caroline’s face, it was obvious that she was enjoying their little exchange. Caroline was the first to break eye contact. She walked over to her mother, bending slightly, and kissed Terasa on the cheek.
Terasa wrapped her arm around Caroline’s waist and smiled. “Rheyna, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Caroline.”
Caroline met Rheyna’s gaze and held it as she walked over. She stopped directly in front of Rheyna. She was so close, Rheyna could smell the sweet fragrance of her cologne. She held her hand out and smiled. “Hello, Rheyna, I’m pleased to meet you.”
Rheyna took Caroline’s hand in hers and returned the smile. “I’m pleased to meet you, too.” What surprised Rheyna was how much she meant those words.
“Where’s your father?” Terasa asked, oblivious to the little exchange going on between the two
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