Chapter 7

Madison

Nobody paid attention to us leaving.

Sneaking out is kinda fun and makes me feel like a teenager again. Also, I really don’t want anybody joining us on this house tour.

My senses are heightened just from the two of us having this conversation. So much so that at one point I had to cross my legs to calm down the fluttering in my core.

Liam looks so good and my attention kept returning to his mouth and imagining how it would feel if I kissed him.

Another few minutes on that seat and I would have done something stupid.

Being alone with him in the car doesn’t help, but at least my hands have something to do.

OMG, Liam is alone in the car with me!

For some reason this makes me feel faint and speechless.

I love the boyish interest as I show him the house management App and we remotely light up the driveway and open the gate.

The drive to my house is over in moments and before I know it we are parked in front of the house. I turn off the engine and look at him.

“This will be the shortest house tour ever.”

His eyes darken at that and my gut clenches.

I meant to say that the house is rather small but before I have the chance to add anything he responds.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” he responds almost menacingly.

I swallow hard. Is this really happening? Am I finally going to have Liam in my bed?

Until now it was all fun and games, but the reality of the situation hits me.

He really likes me? I’m not imagining that?

I get out of the car trying to process what is happening.

Reaching the front door, I punch in the code and open the door as he follows me.

“Come in,” I invite him.

On our left is my work space, first we go into the studio space with all of my art supplies all over the place. I feel a little embarrassed by the creative mess there, but he doesn’t even notice it.

Next, I show him the connected room which is my office space with a desk, small round conference table and a sitting area with a small sofa and two armchairs.

It is not ideal because it would be better that the office space is the first thing that is seen when entering the house due to the usual state of disarray of the studio. But as I need natural light for drawing and painting, and the house is partially dug into the hillside, only that front room has the big glass wall and enough light. Second room has a smaller window on the side which doesn’t let in enough light for drawing, but more than enough for the office.

“I love the combination of stone, wood and concrete” he comments, “It is modern but also very cozy”.

“Thank you!” I say honestly.

“Do you want to see the rest?”

The fact that the house is partially dug into the hillside, gave me the opportunity to exploit the difference in height and produce “being on the ground level” on both floors.

We climb up the stairs and I show him the living space which mostly consists of a big open space containing the kitchen and the living room. That space opens up to the terrace and the secret garden with a small kidney shaped swimming pool. The house is L shaped so that this garden and the swimming pool is completely hidden from the road.

As we go through, I explain what I did and how I changed it from the original.

Liam is one of the few people who actually got a tour of the house and I don’t want to bore him to death with the details, so I just stand in the middle of the living space opening my arms.

“Kitchen!” I point with my left hand to the obvious kitchen space, “living room…” I point with my right and walk towards the huge glass wall towards the “secret garden”. I open it up so that the inside merges with the terrace and the patio into one huge open space.

“I love how private this is!” he exclaims.

I step onto the patio, my little private jungle, strategically light for maximum effect.

“I love this space as well,” I tell him as he joins me beside the pool.

There are two spaces left to show, one of them being my bedroom. The chemistry between us is almost palpable and I don’t know what to expect next.

Did I misinterpret signals coming off him? Will he make a move?

Expecting… is not really describing my state of mind, I’m hoping that he makes a move.

At this point any move would be appreciated. Something.

I get back inside and lead him into the bedroom. He is so close that I can almost feel his hands on me. Or is my mind playing a trick on me. It is not, I assure myself, I can feel his body heat radiating.

“Gorgeous,” he almost whispers in my ear.

I’m afraid to turn around.

Next thing I hear are his footsteps. The footsteps that are going away from me and the bedroom! Obviously, I’m totally wrong here, there is the move I was hoping for.

Nothing! Stupid me!

I should have known I’m not his type. He likes his women tall, slim, high strung. Corporate success stories. The opposite from me.

My story is different and I stay away from the spotlight. That is why I like working with Dylan, my business brother. He is also content on building his business as a digital nomad. Living free and working from anywhere. We’re not making billions but we have more than enough to have safety and prosperity.

All of the sudden I’m sad and disappointed, not at Liam because but at my naivete.

I know that he is always charming and very seductive to any females in his vicinity. That is one of his skills. No matter the age, size, color or background he will make a woman feel like he is hers for the duration of the conversation. I knew this and in spite of it I managed to get caught in his net.

I follow him into the living room, but actually I want to be alone.

That is not the option as I have to return him to the party.

“Can I offer you a drink?” I ask him.

He shakes his head no.

“Ok. Can you give me a minute to change?” I say.

At least I can get out of this business outfit and get into something comfortable.

Heels are ruined by the gravel and if he is not interested in me at least I can stop playing this role.

Then it hits me - the date!

I have to figure out how to get myself from the fucking date.

But I expect he will do that for me, if he is not interested, I expect he will not be crazy to go through this play again.

Quickly I pull on my faded jeans and a flowy beige off shoulder T-shirt. Holding sneakers in my hand I return to the living room and sit down on the sofa to put them on.

He is on the terrace looking in the direction of the Holdens’ house.

As he enters the light, I see uncertainty all over his face.

That is the first I see that.

“Is everything ok?” he asks me.

I muster my best poker face and my brightest smile.

“Sure. I just needed to get out of those clothes,” I deflect like I didn’t understand the question while both of us are very aware of the sudden chill in our discourse.

“So how do you like the house?” I deflect some more as I close up the glass wall, preparing to return to the party.

In ten minutes, we will be back among other humans and both of us can forget this stupid conversation.

“I love the house. It's gorgeous!” he replies honestly.

“All of this,” he points to the hidden garden area “is precious.”

“I would never guess that it is here,” he finishes.

“Thank you!” I beam all house pride, “I designed it that way.”

I finish closing the windows and as I turn, I find him watching me.

A question lingers in the air and we both continue acting like nothing happened.

“Shall we go back to the party?” I ask.

He snaps from his thoughts, resolutely nods, turns and walks down the stairs.

Well that went south quickly…

Asshole.