And if I have my way...
Her lashes flutter as her lips part, her cheeks flush that delicate shade of pink and she gives me a small smile. ‘They can’t be all that bad.’
I laugh, the sound deep and throaty thanks to her proximity. ‘You better believe it.’
I swing the door closed and watch her carry on into the room.
‘Wow,’ she says, breathless, her eyes lost in the room. She tilts her head back to look at the vaulted ceiling and turns on the spot, taking in the fresco above. ‘Is this original?’
I follow her line of sight to the garden scene above and see it with fresh eyes. It is ethereal, captivating, romantic even. Not that I go in for the latter.
‘It was restored by the previous owner, I believe; this was his private domain.’
‘While the rest of the castle was rented out to guests for holidays, events...weddings?’
‘Si.’
She flicks me a look. ‘Care to tell me why Dani doesn’t know you own it now?’
I shrug. ‘I haven’t told her yet.’
‘Why?’
‘Because she’ll think it a step too far.’
Her smile sparkles with curiosity. ‘A step too far in what, the doting big brother stakes?’
‘Something like that.’
‘So you did buy it for the wedding?’
‘I bought it because I knew how much she wanted to get married within the year and venues like this are booked years in advance.’
She laughs. ‘And what about the people that likely had this one booked before you swept in and took over?’
‘They were well compensated.’
She laughs more, her head shaking. ‘You’re quite something.’
My eyes narrow, the question itching to get out. In a good way or a bad way?
‘Don’t worry.’ She must spy the apprehension in my gaze. ‘Your secret’s safe with me.’
‘That’s not what I was worried about.’
‘No?’
‘I was working out if you thought it was a step too far.’
She looks to the floor as she considers it, her smile soft, and when her eyes come back to me, they’re warm and full of...appreciation?
‘I think if you can afford to take such measures to make a loved one happy, then why not?’ She wets her lips. ‘Though buying an entire castle and its estate does seem...’ she squeezes her thumb and forefinger together ‘...a teensy bit overboard.’
I pocket my hands and shrug.
‘I was going to buy something in this location anyway, eventually.’ Another shrug but it’s awkward, stilted with the alien need to defend myself. It’s as though someone up there is having a laugh at my expense, putting Faye in my path to see how much she can push me out of my comfort zone.
‘You were?’