CHAPTER 172: CHAPTER 172 SHOW HER AROUND

Danica blinked the sleep from her eyes and peered through the windshield. All she saw was a piercing light above a large steel door and a smaller wooden door to the side. The rest of the view was shrouded in darkness, though in the distance she heard a faint rumble. With the heater off, the frigid winter air infiltrated the car.

Danica shivered.

She was here. Alone with him.

She shot him an anxious glance. Now that she was sitting in the dark, with this man she hardly knew, she wondered at the wisdom of her decision. The only people who saw her leave with him were Magda and the security guard.

“Come on,” Lorenzo said, and, climbing out of the car, he went to the trunk to retrieve her bags, his shoes crunching on the gravel.

Dismissing her unease, she opened the car door and stepped onto the gravel.

Outside, it was cold. She huddled into her jacket as the icy wind whistled in her ears.

The rumble in the distance was louder. She wondered what it was. Lorenzo put his arm around her, in a gesture that she suspected was to protect her from the cold.

Together they walk to the gray wooden door. He unlocked it and pushed it open, ushering her ahead of him. He flipped a switch inside the gatepost, and small lights embedded in the side of the flagstone steps light the path down to a stone courtyard.

“This way,” he said, and she followed him down the steep steps. An imposing contemporary house lit by uplighters in the ground stands before them.

Danica marveled at its modernity, all glass and white walls, bathed in light.

Lorenzo unlocked the front door and guided her inside. He flipped another light switch, and subtle downlighters illuminate the alabaster space with a soft glow. “Let me have your coat,” he said, and she shrugged out of her anorak.

They were standing in an open hallway beside an impressive cloud-gray galley kitchen that was part of a vast wood-floored room. To the rear there were two turquoise sofas with a coffee table between them, and beyond that shelving stacked with books.

Books! She admired them and noticed another door beside the shelves.

This house was so big.

The staircase next to her was enclosed in glass. The wooden steps appeared to be suspended in the air, but they were anchored in a massive concrete block that ran down the center of the stairwell and extended to upper and lower floors.

It was the most contemporary house she had ever been in. And yet in spite of its modern design, it had a welcoming, warm feel.

Danica began to undo her bootlaces as Lorenzo marched into the kitchen and placed her bags and their coats on the worktop. As she removed her boots, she was surprised by the warmth of the floor underfoot.

“This is it,” he said, gesturing at their surroundings. “Welcome to the Hideout.”

“The Hideout?”

“It’s the name of this house.”

On the other side of the kitchen was the main living area, with a white dining table that seats twelve people and two large dove-colored sofas that stand in front of a sleek steel fireplace.

“It looks bigger than from outside,” Danica said, intimidated by the scale and elegance of the house.

“Deceptive. I know.”

Who cleans this place? It must take hours!

“And this house, it belongs to you?”

“Yes. It’s a holiday home that we rent out to the public. It’s late and you must be exhausted. But would you like something to eat or a drink before bed?”

Danica hadn’t moved from her spot in the hallway.

He owned this, too? He must be a very successful composer.

She nodded at his offer.

“Do you mean yes?” he asked with a grin. She smiled.

“Wine? Beer? Something stronger?” he asked, and she stepped closer.

She had been told growing up that alcohol was bad.

But she’s always wanted to taste it.

“Beer,” she said, because she had seen men drink it.

“Good choice.” Lorenzo grinned, and from the fridge he removed two brown bottles. “Pale ale okay?”

She didn’t know what that meant, so she nodded.

“Glass?” he asked, as he popped off both tops.

“Yes. Please.”

From another cupboard he took out a tall glass and deftly poured one of the bottles into it.

“Cheers,” he said as he handed Danica her drink. He clunk her glass with his beer bottle and took a swig, his lips circling the bottle’s neck. He closed his eyes, savoring the taste, and for some reason she had to look away.

His lips.

She took a sip, and the chilled amber liquid runs down her throat.

“Mmm.” She closed her eyes in appreciation and took another, longer draft.

“Are you hungry?” His voice was husky.

“No.”

*****************

*LORENZO*

The sight of her enjoying the simple pleasure of a beer was a thrill. But now, probably for the first time ever, I was a little lost for words. I didn’t know what she expected. It was strange. We had nothing in common, and the intimacy we shared in the car seemed to have vanished.

“Come, I’ll give you a quick tour.” I offered her my hand and showed her into the larger living space. “Study. Um...living area, I suppose. It’s all open-plan.” I waved my hand in the general direction of the room.