Authors: Toni Kelly
“I assure you, the foundation is sound. I have not yet gotten around to beautifying the exterior. My door is the last on the left.”
She turned. “Foundation, exterior? Do you mean to tell me you own this building?”
“I do. Actually, I run a real estate company and own quite a few buildings. Pardon me.” He slipped past her, brushing along her thin cotton shirt as he took out his key ring. Electricity sparked inside him with the contact and he pulled away quickly. Her hardened nipples drew his gaze for a moment, and he nearly rumbled aloud in appreciation. Amongst her medley of emotions, he grasped arousal. “Follow me, I’ll show you your room.” Walking through his foyer, he tossed the keys in a bowl on an entryway table and headed toward the kitchen and living room area. “The kitchen is stocked with food. Please make yourself feel at home.”
Luke turned but Savannah no longer stood behind him. What now? He returned to the foyer. “Is something wrong?”
She spun slowly, mouth wide like a child’s in a candy shop. “It’s beautiful.”
“Are you not accustomed to fine things?”
She laughed. “Are you always this formal? No, I’m not accustomed to marble floors and cherry wood.” She smoothed a finger along the dark finish of an entryway table. “I would be satisfied with being able to pay my bills, let alone buying gorgeous furniture. I’d be lucky to find anything half as nice at Good Will.”
He knew nothing of this good will she spoke of. “Are you are willing to be my companion to buy yourself these luxurious items?”
Her eyes met his, and he tensed at the sadness evident there. She felt so strongly it pained him to be near her.
She shook her head. “There is a lot more to life than being wealthy and owning fine things. You’re rich. Do you think money buys happiness? I’ve never found it to be true.”
What game did she play? A perceptive question and answer. “Neither have I.” The truth left him exposed. He turned away. “If you are ready, I can show you your room.” He lifted his wrist, noting the dial of his watch read fifteen minutes past eight o’clock. “You have forty-five minutes to get dressed. Tonight, we shall go out.”
3
Who is more foolish, the child afraid of the dark or the man afraid of the light?
—Maurice Freehill
Savannah pursed her lips and followed Luke down a softly lit hallway. Despite Luke’s formal manner, he’d decorated his home with vibrant colors and combinations. That, or hired help had made it inviting. Peach-colored plaster complimented hardwood floors and Persian rugs. Bold, colorful paintings lined the walls.
“These will be your quarters during your stay here.” Luke rolled Savannah’s suitcase into a spacious, high-ceilinged room and set her leather bag on a luggage rack. “Towels and sheets are in the armoire along with several gowns. The dresser houses the clothing you will need, and toiletries are in the washroom closet. If you have no questions, I will take my leave now.”
Words failed her. A canopy bed. Pale blue wallpaper with an intricate, carved design. Ugh, she’d nearly ruined this. She rubbed her face. If she didn’t have everything riding on this one stint as a companion, she would have thrown Luke’s ad back at him after he’d insulted her.
The man was mugged.
She was fortunate he still wanted a companion after such a traumatizing experience.
“Shall I take your silence as a sign you have no questions?”
She didn’t know what to make of him. He was poised, proper and talked like born royalty, yet there was a rugged side to him. A good night’s sleep would do them both good.
“Um, wait. I do have a couple questions. Where are we going? Is there a dress code?”
“An auction. Formal dress.” He shuffled in place, performing an odd dance of indecision. “If you require nothing else, I shall leave.” Forehead creased, he pivoted and left the room.
She sat on the bed with a huff. A mystery of a man, but she couldn’t deny his great taste. Creamy silk curtains framed the tall windows and paintings in this room were of landscapes with soft, muted colors. She smoothed a hand along the dark cherry wood of the bed centered in the room. Who would have guessed a rundown wreck of a building on the outside looked this beautiful within? She yawned. She’d traveled for ten or more hours and hadn’t slept in near thirty. The enormous amount of food she’d fed herself hadn’t helped either. No relaxing tonight, though.
Italy. She still couldn’t believe it. Four weeks seeing centuries old ruins and eating incredible food. Creamy risotto, salty prosciutto, aged parmigiano reggiano. Her stomach whined in protest. “Okay, I get it, you’re full.”
Better to concentrate on something else. Leaning over, she brushed a pale gold dress lying beside her with the palm of her hand. How had she not noticed it? The gown was stunning, like Luke and his home.
It wouldn’t take long for him to see she wasn’t accustomed to money, not anymore at least. She fingered the black slacks and blue collared shirt she wore. Hardly a splurge. Otherwise she would have met her potential employer wearing ripped jeans and a tank. Given his formal demeanor, she couldn’t imagine that going over smoothly.
Holding the dress, she approached a long, oval-shaped mirror. Simple, yet elegant, the gown had a matching gold belt that dressed it up further. She frowned at her reflection. Becoming a companion for medical bills didn’t make her a gold-digger, did it? She didn’t want to hurt anybody. Still, his words resonated. She’d let a complete stranger get under her skin.
“I hope you are not practicing your expressions for tonight. I daresay you will not make friends with much ease.” The sides of Luke’s mouth curved upward as he leaned against the doorframe.
More relaxed than she’d expected, his smile took her off guard. She shook her head and pretended to pick lint off her slacks as she gained composure. “You didn’t knock.” She stood, smoothed back several locks of hair.
“You left the door open,” he said.
“Oh. Guess I was lost in thought.”
“You have not washed.” He tilted his head but no expression gave away his thoughts.
“I don’t take long.” She stifled a yawn and hung her dress from a clothing rack next to the mirror. She swore she had barely sat down. Why was he checking on her already? “What time is it, anyway?” How long had she spaced? Dresser, mirror, vanity, lamp...where was a clock when you needed one? “Since I still have to shower, maybe you’d like to join me there also,” she bit out then regretted the words as soon as they’d left her mouth.
He combed her with his dark gaze, assessed her. “I have business to take care of before we leave.” He entered, holding a rectangular, red velvet jewelry box. “I only came to give you this. And make sure you did not need anything else.”
Heat rushed over the surface of her skin, and she bowed her head. She’d behaved a complete shrew but what could he expect? She hadn’t slept in over a day. The space which felt enormous when alone, suddenly grew cramped. Barefoot, her height fell near an inch below his jaw. She’d never considered herself a petite woman, but he made her feel small.
“Do not look so disappointed. I can always join you later.”
“I didn’t actually expect you to accept.”
“A shame.” Luke held up the velvet box. His expression calmed as if he couldn’t see she burned with humiliation and maybe something else she’d rather not admit. “These will complement the dress I left for you.”
“Thank you.” She pried open the lid and released a soft cry of surprise. Delicate drops of crystals hung intermingled with strands of gold, a necklace and earring set. Her hand hovered over the jewels. “They’re beautiful but I couldn’t possibly take these.” Such gorgeous jewels must have cost a fortune. With his current display of tastes, she couldn’t imagine him buying costume jewelry.
“Think of it as a loan. You can give them back afterward.”
Ah, of course. The modern day Cinderella story, only she was missing her Prince Charming. She rubbed the pale band of skin around her ring finger and a sharp pang burst in her chest. Who was she kidding? Ben was no Prince Charming. At least she no longer wore his ring. Like a sad and desperate old maid, she’d held onto their engagement long after its expiration, making too many excuses to doctors, nurses and even her friends. Lying had made it worse.
“Is something wrong?”
“Huh?” She lifted her head. “No. I got lost in thought again. I’m sorry. I admit, traveling wore me out a bit.”
“I apologize. If it were not for my business, I would not force your attendance, but I cannot leave you here alone.”
She fingered the neckline of the dress. “How did you know my size?”
“You are not the first companion I have had, Savannah. I will leave you now to shower and get dressed.” He turned and walked out of her room.
“Wait.” She brought her hand holding the box down to her side. “You’re not answering my question.” She followed him but beyond the doorframe, the hallway remained dark and empty. “Hello?”
Not even the click of footsteps echoed amid the shadows.
4
Night brings our troubles to the light, rather than banishes them.
—Seneca
Moonlight in a garden. Unusual theme for an auction. Not to mention, this wasn’t just any plot of earth and plants. It was a work of art. Savannah couldn’t begin to name the many varieties of flowers and foliage cradling the white balcony and steps leading down to the vast lawn. They left her in awe. “Some place for an auction. It’s beautiful here.”
Luke cleared his throat and said low, “Many believe the environment is near as important as items brought to auction. The right ambiance creates desire to buy.”
“I guess I could see the logic behind the belief.” She’d never quite understood the fascination of going to auctions. Sure, one could find some unique treasures but they had those at garage sales too. It depended on who was looking.
“Going once, going twice, sold to the beautiful lady in pink.” The auctioneer raised his arms in an exaggerated stance and the audience erupted in applause as if the woman had reached the finish line of a marathon. All this for a gold-encrusted mirror that cost twenty-five thousand euro? It was nice but she could have found a comparable look-a-like at a department store for around two hundred euro.
“You do not approve?” Luke bent close, and a shiver rippled through her.
Was she so easy a read? She’d have to be more discrete at displaying her emotions otherwise she would invite questions she didn’t want to answer. “Why would you say that?” She brushed her fingertips along the petals of tiny pink flowers on the trimmed hedge beside her.
“Your knit brows, pursed lips. Shall I continue with telltale signs of your facial expressions and body language? Even now you’re pretending interest in a bush to avoid my confrontation. Surely you do not believe she should have paid more.”
She dropped her hand. She didn’t want him to think her cheap, but the auction prices seemed absurd. “I’m not avoiding you. I’m just not a fan of mirrors.” Not a complete lie. She hadn’t liked them even before her accident. The accident only made them more difficult to deal with—a necessary evil in her book.
“Strange. I assumed a woman of your beauty would be quite fond of her reflection.”
Then he hadn’t looked close enough, and she hoped he wouldn’t anyway. “Ah, but we’ve already discovered you have a tendency to judge too quickly.”
“Well put.” He inclined his head and turned toward the auctioneer, allowing her a pleasant view of his strong profile. He was obviously not a native Italian and yet he appeared right at home in a country where Roman gods and goddesses prevailed. A defined jaw and thick brows. The sensual shape of his mouth softened his other features.
As if sensing her stare, he turned. She shivered, sure she could lose herself within the infinite darkness of his eyes.
“What is it?” he asked. “Are you cold?”
She shook her head. “I’m okay for now.” Or at least, she hoped to convince herself she was. The night air held a frosty edge to it but the garden atmosphere astonished her with its beauty. Wind whistled through the trees and down toward them, carrying occasional scents of jasmine and lavender. Above them, stars littered the clear night sky. She wasn’t searching for a romantic atmosphere but here she’d found it, making her feel more lonely.
She pulled up her shawl around her shoulders and lifted her chin. This wasn’t a time to feel sorry for herself. “What’s next for bidding?”