Page 8 of Now and Forever
Grayson punched in the code to the front door and held it open for her. "Don't worry about it, Omar will park it for me later when he comes back from his errands."
Normally, Omar, the house manager, a fancy title for their butler, was home and would have let her in even without Gaige around, but today he was out.
As the front door shut with a silent click, Golden realized she was alone with Grayson for the first time since meeting the man over a year ago. An exhilarated panic flooded her veins as she stood there clutching the handle of her bookbag.
Completely unaware of her frenzied feelings, Grayson walked ahead of her and turned down a long hallway. He paused midway and looked expectantly at her from over his shoulder.
She squealed on the inside. From his broad back swathed in the expensive navy fabric of his suit to the golden notes in his bronze hair to his commanding presence; it was nearly too much for her to endure. But somehow, she found the energy to damn near skip after him, following him into his office. A room that was no doubt her favorite place in the house.
The custom office was huge. Taking up two rooms, with a mahogany sliding door in between separating the two spaces. From floor to ceiling the part office part library was coveredin dark wood bookcases, each shelf crammed with leather books. And every time she got the privilege to come inside, Golden couldn't help but stop and gawk at its beauty. It had everything, goddangit. Two gleaming leather Chesterfield couches. Three wingback chairs scattered here and there. A huge ornate fireplace with lion heads carved into the wood. A second story with a spiraling wrought iron staircase and even ladders attached to the bookshelves so one could reach the higher placed books.
"I told Gaige I want to be buried in this room," she sighed dreamily as she sat heavily on the Chesterfield while Grayson walked around his huge desk in front of the window. "I think about here should be fine," she said, motioning to the space in front of the cold fireplace.
Grayson merely smirked as he pulled out the contents of his briefcase and began to sort through it. "So, tell me. What are you reading today? More R-rated pirate fantasies or-"
"No!" she answered quickly, her face burning with embarrassment. Every day she fantasized about Gaige's death by her hands due to his big mouth.
Last week they had been hanging out by the outside pool on the loungers. Gaige had been texting three girls at once while she was reading. Without a care in the world, he snatched her phone from her hand and read her book out loud. And, because God obviously hated her, Grayson had apparently just stepped outside—hearing everything. She couldn't even bring herself to finishPassion on the Plank.And it had been so good too.
Cheeks on fire, Golden snatched the paperback from her bag and held it up. "I am reading the book you wrote aboutlast month inThorn and Quill,If Cats Disappeared from the World."
Interest sparked in his eyes as he came around his desk to sit in a nearby wingback chair. Crossing his outstretched legs at the ankle, Grayson leaned back in the chair and looked at her with a faint smile on his lips. "Tell me, how are you liking it?"
Golden opened her mouth but immediately shut it. What could she say to the editor-in-chief of a world-renowned literary magazine about this book that wouldn't be her just regurgitating what he already wrote about it? Self-conscious, her fingers curled around the book's spine and she looked away from his puzzled expression trying to think.
"Golden?" His voice was soft as he asked. "What is it?"
Wanting to dispel the awkwardness she created, she smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure. I'm not really done reading it so maybe when-"
Uncrossing his legs, Grayson leaned forward and gave her an unwavering look. "I want to hear what you think. Not what you think I want to hear, not what someone else would say; I want to know what Golden Ray thinks about the book."
With his gaze locked onto her, it made her feel as if a giant needle had speared down from the heavens and pinned her to the seat. Holding his simmering blue gaze was terrifying yet exhilarating at the same time. His unrelenting stare commanded and unnerved her. Not to mention aroused her to no end.
This man ruined her from the moment she met him. No boy at school could ever compare, not if Grayson Rosebank walked this earth. And to make it even worse she had a feeling Gaigesuspected her slight infatuation with his dad, which was the worst if he did. He would tease her to no end if he knew.
Memo to self, learn to hide your emotions better.
"Umm, well I…" Her words trailed off as she thought about his beautifully written article on the book.
A poignant and deeply reflective novel…Kawamura masterfully intertwines fantasy with a profound exploration of life, loss…
Knowing she wasn't going to sound nearly as articulate as that, she looked at the book in her lap and answered. "I'm nearly at the end so I can't say for sure but so far it's been wonderful. Charming and sad would be the best way to summarize it."
His silence brought her gaze back up and her heart thumped at the sight of his smile.
Grayson nodded. "That's a perfect way to sum it up. I'm glad you like the book. Once you’re finished I would love to talk more about it."
A short knock at the door stole both of their attentions and they looked back to see Omar coming into the room expertly balancing a tray with one hand.
Golden gave the man a huge smile. "Hi, Omar!"
Omar Sabila, with his distinguished Ethiopian features, was a staple in the Rosebank house. He was the man who kept everything working. The pool was clean and crisp because of his attention. The marble floors gleamed because he commanded the cleaning staff like a highly decorated general. With a calm yet commanding presence, his dark eyes keenlyobserved everything, ensuring that every detail of the estate ran seamlessly under his meticulous supervision.
"Hi Goldy," he said, using the nickname Gaige often used for her. "I brought you both some refreshments. If you need anything I will be preparing dinner," he announced to Grayson.
Grayson nodded and watched Omar leave before looking back at her as she reached for a cookie. His blue eyes seemed to burn into her as he continued discussing the book. She knew it was just wishful thinking on her part but she let herself bask in the fantasy regardless.
At some point, they got on the subject of architecture.
