Page 40 of Finally Forever
“This is amazing! Log cabin on the inside, whimsical cottage on the outside. I love when architecture and design surprise me.”
Sebastian watches me with a curious glint in his eyes.
I don’t know what to make of his interest in my wellbeing. Is it sincere, or does he have an ulterior motive? “Do you like it?”
He studies the landscape and house, then nods. “I like it.”
And we’re back to short-response Sebastian. He ambles toward a built-in bar. “Drink?”
“Sure.”
He fingers a few bottles and settles on either whiskey or bourbon. I can’t read the label from here. He gets two glasses as I walk near and pours what I can now see is whiskey into one glass.
My stomach swirls with nausea. I breathe in and wait for it to pass. A moment later, it does.
“Are you okay?” Sebastian asks.
“Yeah. I think it’s jetlag.” It’s happened before when we travel long distances. This is the farthest I’ve flown, which might explain the nausea. Usually, dizziness and sleep affect me the most. “Alcohol might not be a good idea. Do you think they have hot chocolate in the kitchen?” I spy it around the corner and head in its direction. From my peripheral, I catch Sebastian down a small glass of whiskey.
The log cabin style continues in the kitchen with the addition of stone walls in certain places. Another stone fireplace decorates the adjoining breakfast area, and another fireplace anchors the family room with a giant flat screen above the mantle and an equally large sectional covered with fur throw pillows and blankets positioned in front. For how large the house is, it still has a cozy feel.
Sebastian and I have visited many places but none quite like this.
I head for the coffee bar section of the kitchen and find hot chocolate K-cups mixed with a variety of coffee. A fancy coffee maker with tons of gadgets sits next to a deluxe Keurig. I never mastered fancy coffee making. In France, they use a simple French press.
“Found some,” I say over my shoulder when Sebastian enters the room.
“Good.” He has another glass of whiskey in his hand.
“I’m guessing you don’t want any.” I eye his drink.
“I’m good.” He downs the brown liquor and sets the glass on the counter.
I put a pod in the machine and press the start button. My fingers aren’t as numb anymore. A noise sounds and hot chocolate dispenses into the mug.
Sebastian wanders around the room, checking out everything. “Did we ever stay in a place like this?”
His question surprises me. Guess he was serious about hearing about our past.
“No. This is unique.” I watch him peruse the family room where more windows flank the fireplace, showing off the amazing view. “We stopped off at a small village in Germany on our way to Paris. It was similar. The inside was typical European style. I dubbed it pub-style for the dark wood floors, stone walls, low ceilings, and beams. This is brighter because of all the windows.” I’m rambling. It’s what I do when I start talking about interior design and architecture.
The Keurig machine finishes filling my mug with cocoa. I grab it and have a sip. Hot chocolate slides down my throat, warming my chilled body. “Mmm.” I close my eyes and moan. “This is so good. Heaven.” I sip more and moan again.
A gentle finger swipes at my bottom lip. My eyes shoot open with a gasp.
Sebastian stands directly in front of me. “You had a drip.”
How long was I enjoying the hot chocolate moment for him to reach me so quickly?
“I like how you enjoy things,” he murmurs, a hunger in his gaze. “You go all in, makes me curious…”
He licks the drip of cocoa from his finger and turns on his heel, leaving me to wonder what he was about to say.Curious about?It gives me an idea. I just need the lady balls to pull it off.
I clear my throat and carry my mug into the adjoining family room where Sebastian stands staring out the large windows. I stop a few feet from him and draw in a breath, ready to share my idea but chicken out. My shoulders lower with my exhale.
“Say it.” Sebastian keeps his gaze out the window.
“What?”
