Page 34 of The Forbidden

I’m stunned by this revelation. “You play piano?”

Sylvie nods with a toothy grin. “Started when I was four.”

How did we not know that?

As Sylvie walks around the living area, I take a moment to really soak in the décor. It’s sophisticated yet looks homey at the same time, and homey is the last word I’d use to describe Gabe. In fact, it’s completely impossible for me to envision Gabe in such an environment but what do I know. This is his home now. Maybe he’s changed.

Sylvie is as shocked as I am by how beautiful the house is. Such a stark contrast to the cold contemporary feel of Lionel and Rosemund’s house, and yet also completely different from the Blackburns’ historical home.

Gabe takes Sylvie through each room, culminating on the top floor where the bedrooms are located. I’m shocked when he takes us into the master bedroom as I didn’t think he would share that personal side of himself with me in tow.

My mouth is totally agape when we walk in and I know I’ll never see as beautiful a bedroom as this one. Three exterior walls are nothing but massive bay windows with white shutters and I can only imagine how bright this room is at midday. What’s most shocking is that the room is filled with plants of all types, from small trailing vines to young trees in large pots. They’re all healthy and some are budding with flowers and I refuse for a second to believe that Gabe takes care of them himself. I’m not ready to admit he might have normal talents.

“Isn’t this room amazing?” Sylvie asks me as she gazes out one of the windows.

I glance at Gabe who leans against the doorjamb watching. “It’s definitely… tranquil,” I admit.

We move down a long hall to look at some of the guest rooms. Gabe opens a door to a room, motioning me and Sylvie in. “I thought that maybe one day, if you’re allowed to come stay here with me for a visit, this could be your room.”

Sylvie gasps as she enters and I see why. It’s a little girl’s dream.

It’s not overtly feminine but it fits Sylvie. The room is anchored by a wrought iron bed, dressed in layers of puffy white bedding that looks as soft as a cloud. A luxurious chandelier with crystal droplets casts a soft glow, enhancing the room’s warm taupe walls. Flanking the bed are nightstands, topped with crystal lamps and a circular, off-white lounge chair nestles in the corner. Along another wall is a desk that sits atop a zebra-print rug, which is exactly the dash of whimsy that Sylvie would want if she were to ask.

“I bought this place fully furnished and I’m guessing they had daughters.”

Sylvie’s smile wanes a bit. “I don’t think my dad will let me stay anytime soon.”

“That’s understandable,” Gabe says, and I do a double take his way. The fact he’d validate Ethan’s feelings is astounding and well… appreciated. His eyes flick to me briefly before he says, “Well, maybe your aunt Kat can stay overnight with you?”

My stomach flutters because while I’m sure he’s talking about only in my capacity as a chaperone, for a fleeting moment, I wonder what it would be like if circumstances were different. What would it be like to lie in that big bed of his? Have his skills as a lover grown over time? Although I admit, he was damn good when he was younger.

Sylvie rounds on me. “Would you stay over here, Aunt Kat?”

“I don’t know,” I say hesitantly and her smile falters, so I hastily amend, “I’m sure we can work out something.”

“Can Renault stay?” Sylvie asks as she glances back to her uncle. Renault is her dog that she had in France and Gabe worked to bring here to the States for her.

“Always,” Gabe says easily.

The house is so enormous it takes almost half an hour to see everything and then we’re walking out onto the back patio along a garden path to an enormous building of iron and glass.

“What is that?” Sylvie asks.

“The pool house,” Gabe says. “You did bring your bathing suit, didn’t you?”

She did indeed because I told her to pack it. Sylvie, however, presumed Gabe had a run-of-the-mill, in-ground pool, not a gorgeous Olympic-size indoor pool.

“Wow,” Sylvie exclaims as she rushes inside, leaving Gabe and me to follow.

“Aren’t you even the slightest bit embarrassed how ostentatious all of this is?” I ask as we stand shoulder to shoulder, watching Sylvie traverse the custom tilework that surrounds the pool. I know I asked him something like that once before, completely nasty and condescending.

God help me… now I seem to be teasing.

“Not at all,” he says with a grin.

Gabe shows us an upstairs living area above the pool, the pungent smell of chemicals not as strong up there. It has a balcony that looks over rolling hills all bordered by white fencing and in the distance atop a ridge sits a beautiful barn that I’d estimate could hold eight horses. “Maybe you can have a horse here one day if you decide you want to ride,” Gabe says.

“How about I take a lesson if you take a lesson?” Sylvie asks him, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

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