“Tell me about your beautiful wood,” I suggested.
There was a beat of silence as my words echoed around the small space.
I let out a breath and decided to admit defeat. I just wasn’t cool enough to hang with this gorgeous man. Too much pressure to be someone I wasn’t. I was completely out of my element. Plus, a man like him would never be attracted to a geek like me. It was a classic case of the quarterback taking interest in the band geek or math tutor. It just didn’t happen in real life.
“I think I should go,” I said with a wince. “Before I say something even stupider.”
I heard him stand from his chair and approach me. My body was still angled toward the window so I didn’t have to look at him, but as soon as I felt his large presence behind me, I slumped forward, bending my shoulders in and crossing my arms around my stomach.
This was so damned embarrassing. I honestly wasn’t used to meeting new people. I spent most of my days alone with research books and my laptop or in a glass workshop. Why did I even accept his invitation to sit down for tea? Maybe a part of me had thought this was an exotic escape from reality where I wasn’t the same introverted nerd I was at home. But it wasn’t.
“Felix.” The deep voice behind me made me want to whimper and beg. I’d never noticed how sexy something could sound before.
I shook my head and let out a chuckle. This entire situation was ridiculous. I was playing at living out a fantasy when, in reality, fantasy Felix turned out to be just as awkward and geeky as real Felix. “I’m a huge dork. Really. It’s lucky I didn’t break anything. I should really just go. It was nice to meet you, Lio.”
I turned to make my escape and came face-to-throat with him.
“Fuck, you’re tall,” I blurted at his shirt collar.
“And you’re adorable as hell. Have dinner with me tonight.”
I leaned my head back to look at him in shock. “Are you crazy? Didn’t you hear all the shit I just said? I’m a hot mess.”
“You’re fun.”
“I’m awkward,” I corrected.
“You’re genuine,” Lio said with a grin.
“You’re insane. Are you looking for trouble or something?” I asked, noticing a seriousness behind his teasing.
“No, but I think I found it anyway. Meet me in the kitchen at seven o’clock, Felix. Dress warmly.”
I shifted sideways to make my way toward where I remembered the panel opening having been. There was no obvious way to open it back up, though, so I stood there like an idiot trying to figure it out.
When Lio leaned around me to reach for one of the glass balls dangling above, I caught a whiff of his scent. He smelled like a hint of spicy aftershave mixed with the clean sea air and nutmeg from the tea he’d made. It was a unique combination I knew would always remind me of this bizarre moment in a hidden room at Gadleigh Castle.
As the panel slid open and I stepped forward into the colder air of the red salon, I heard Lio’s voice behind me.
“Seven o’clock, Trouble. And don’t forget to bundle up.”
I nodded, but I didn’t look back in case he’d be able to see the gigantic loopy grin on my face as I walked away. Maybe Grandpa and Doc were right.
It was time for an adventure. Of the sexual variety.
Chapter 7
Lio
I knew I was an idiot. And it wasn’t like it was the first stupid thing I’d ever done. I was the king of stupid things. Or, as the press had called me on a few occasions, the Prince of Stupidity. It was a title originally coined by my sister and overheard by a reporter when I was sixteen. They’d relished being able to use it since then, and unfortunately, I’d given them many chances, especially every time I left the club with multiple hookups. If only they knew half of that shit was for show. Being seen with women was the best way of hiding the fact I was with a man more often than not.
But I justified my dinner invitation to Felix by acknowledging I was technically the host of the estate while I was there. It was my house after all. And while I was in residence, it was only polite to invite my guests to dine with me.
There was a tiny little problem though. If I had any hope of continuing the ruse of not being anyone special, I needed to get a few people on board with the plan.
I quickly made my way down to the kitchen to search out Mari.
“Lior, would you like something to eat?” she said as soon as I entered the cavernous space.