Page 23 of Shift in the Blood
I could only hope.
We walked up the two flights of stairs from the first floor to the third floor and then to the smaller steps that led to the attics. The roof of this house was gabled. I didn’t care for newer construction, and had looked for a home that would allow me to feel more comfortable.
“It’s so dark.” Clara was ahead of me.
Difficult didn’t even begin to describe how hard it was to not stare at her backside. She was shapely. Really shapely. In a way that reminded me how long it had been since I’d been with a woman. In a way that made me think how it would be to be with someone I cared for.
I’d only known her a day, less than that, even, but my heart knew. It beat for her, in time with her heart. Something out there in the universe knew something I didn’t. While I wasn’t sure what had made this happen, I approved of the choice my heart made.
I liked her. Outside of the raging desire to know every inch of her body, and taste her blood. I liked the person I was seeing.
Add to that, I knew I wasn’t seeing her at her best.
“It’s dark because of the window treatment. It’s easy enough to remove.”
She stepped into the attic, looking around. “You sure you’re not going to disappear in a cloud of dust?”
I laughed out loud. I loved that she asked all the questions people wanted to ask. “No. It’s more comfortable for me out of the sunlight. But no dust clouds.”
“Well, that’s good. I’d hate to lose you so quickly.” She stopped and turned back around again as though perhaps she’d said too much.
What she didn’t realize was that she made my heart beat faster. I thought it might even be in the singing stages, if such a thing were possible.
“I don’t think you need to worry for that.”
“I like this. I would love to get the windows cleared and then bring a canvas up here, see what the light was like. Holy shit. Is that a conservatory?” She walked further into the attic.
“The previous owner had a sunroom up here. That’s why I thought you might enjoy this, even though it’s a hike to get here.”
“Hell, yes. How soon can we get the tint off the windows?”
Her use of the word ‘we’ caught me. She was already thinking of us as a team.
That was a good start, right?
This new feeling of being unsure, not being clear on what was happening, or what I ought to do next was both thrilling and annoying. It had been many years since I’d felt either.
“I’ll talk to the housekeeper. It might take a couple of days.”
She turned back to me. Even in the dim light of the attic, I could see the enthusiasm on her face. “A couple of days? You have a really tolerant housekeeper.”
“That I do.” In fact, my housekeeper was a stickler. Mrs. Boudreaux. She liked neatness and order and things in their place. She was also kind, and knew what I was. This would make her lips thin and she’d march around like a general getting their troops in order for a bit, but I knew she’d enjoy having someone else here.
Talking with Clara made me realize that I had a good deal to do in order to make this welcoming for her and her sister.
We went back downstairs. The attic had restored some of Clara’s mood. I took her all over the house, although I didn’t invite her into my rooms on the second floor, and then sent her through the back to the cottage.
When she came back inside, she smelled of grass, the outdoors, and sunlight. I wanted to breathe it in off her skin. I hadn’t missed the sun in many years, treating it more as something to be worked around.
But on Clara, with her lingering rose scent, it was delicious. Absolutely intoxicating.
To see how far I was falling under the spell of this woman should worry me. It should. But it didn’t. I was reveling in how good this felt.
“Do you have a gallery here? I’d love to see it.”
“You mean, do I have all my stolen artwork here?” I couldn’t help mocking her. Just a little. “Of course I do. What kind of nefarious collector would I be if I didn’t keep all the precious paintings close by.”
“As long as you don’t talk to them and give them special names.”
