Page 38 of Broken Rules
She looked around the space. “I’ve never wanted the boy next door,” she said honestly and took a sip of wine. Her eyes widened. “This is amazing.”
“It’s aChateau Lafite Rothschild.”
She took another sip before saying, “I’ll have to tell Joe about it so we can carry it at the restaurant.”
An easy smile curved his lips. “It’s a five-hundred-dollar bottle.”
Her eyes flashed wide. “Or maybe not.” Smiling, she took another sip and sat back against the wall. “So, you live in broken-down warehouses and drink five-hundred-dollar bottles of wine.”
“I usually only stay in one place for a night, maybe two.” He smiled. “But there’s just something about this place. I can’t seem to bring myself to leave.”
Knowing that he stayed for her, she blushed, but then a thought occurred to her. “Isn’t it risky? I mean, staying in one place?”
He gave a careless shrug as if safety was his last concern. “Don’t worry about me.”
“How can I not?”
“Did you see your grandmother this morning?” he asked.
She smiled at his obvious attempt to change the subject. “I did. I made her breakfast, scrambled eggs with Swiss cheese and ham, and toast with lots of butter. Every morning she eats breakfast in bed. It takes her a good two or three hours to finish.” Chuckling, she added, “After an hour passes, I always offer to reheat her food, but she says it’s perfect as it is.”
“She seems happy.”
“I think she is. Her short term memory is all but gone. She won’t remember what happened two days ago, but if you ask about December 13th, 1945, she could tell you what she wore. I love her stories.” An ache filled her heart. “I miss her though. The way we used to be before she really started to decline. We would cook meals together, listen to old records, and I could tell her what was in my heart. Now, I keep my troubles to myself. I don’t want to worry her.” She suddenly felt self-conscious and dropped her gaze. “This must all seem pretty boring to you.”
He shook his head. “On the contrary, you’re giving me a window into a world I’ve never experienced.”
They locked eyes. It felt like electricity moving from his gaze into hers, slow and steady, and so very warm. She blushed, feeling awkward in the face of his effortless calm. Looking around, she said, “So no TV, huh?”
“No, but I do take in a movie every now and then.”
“Really? It’s hard for me to picture you doing something normal like that.”
He took a swig from the bottle before standing. Then he offered her his hand. “Speaking of normal, would you like to take a walk by the river?”
She let him help her to her feet. “I would love to.”
Following him to the edge of the loft, he climbed down first and spotted her descent. Then, together, they carefully made their way through the rubble. Once outside, they walked hand in hand along the wharf, talking about books and movies. He told her about his travels around the world. And when they made it back to his warehouse, she looked up at his gorgeous face and asked, “Why me? I’m this mess and you’re so cool and calm and smart.”
He raised his brow at her. “I’m twenty-seven. I’ve never had a real home. I rob people for a living, and our brief trip to the beach this evening was my first real date—and you think you’re the mess?”
“Was that our first date?”
“I suppose it doesn’t count since it was cut short, but I do believe a walk on the beach is one of the most sought after first dates, unless romantic comedies have misled me.”
She laughed, rising up on her toes and wrapping her arms around his neck. “I think a river walk counts.” She glanced at the run-down mill. “Are you going to ask me up to your place?”
He grimaced. “It’s being fumigated. Why don’t we go to yours?”
When they pulled up to her house, Brandi was sitting on her front step. Savannah got out of the car and rushed to her friend’s side.
“What’s happened?”
Brandi’s cheeks were streaked with black trails of watery mascara. “William’s more like Mr. Darcy than we thought. But not in a good way,” she sobbed.
Savannah wrapped her arm around Brandi’s waist and walked her inside. “Start from the beginning.”
