The bench near the pond provided the old lady with a front row seat to the spectacle. Who was she? “How long have you lived here?” I turned my head to ask, and caught him with his eyes glued to my behind.
He jerked his eyes up to mine. “Oh—ah … two years,” the words blurted from his mouth. “This was my Gran’s house. She left it to us in her Will.”
Us?
I spun my head back to the pond. Hi Gran. She dipped her head, sending me a smile. Brad moved into the house, opening the first door on the left of the hallway and standing aside so I could see in.
“This is the main bathroom. We’d have to share. It’s too much of a pain to use the one downstairs unless you’re already down there. Sorry. You can use whichever one you feel comfortable with.”
It was adorable how he kept apologising. I chewed on my cheek to stop a smile.
Shutting the door, he pointed to the next one along. “Separate toilet.” He beckoned me into the room across the hall. “This is my workroom. You can put a desk in here too, if you want. Or there’s room in your bedroom for a desk.”
My hand flew to cover my heart, again. A large, old-fashioned Draftsman’s desk rested against the wall under the window, but what caught my attention were the drawings pinned to the walls. Consisting mostly of buildings, and some landscapes, there were also a couple of scenes with people. His talent astounded me.
“Do you sell your art?” The words fell through my thin breath.
He choked on a laugh, “No. I’m just an amateur.” He stood crowding the doorway, without any idea how he was affecting me. Not a clue as to how he was putting me under a spell.
Swirls of energy. Oodles of talent. Humble. Clueless. Freckled face. Gah!
“You’re kidding, right?” I said, incredulous. “I’ve been to the art gallery; your art would fit right in.”
“No. It’s just something I do for shits and giggles. I’m starting a degree in Architectural Design, so I guess the drawing will come in handy.” He rubbed the back of his head. Modest and adorable. What a killer combo.
We headed to the front of the house where he opened the last door on the left. “This is my room.”
Right. Well, I’m not going in there. I hung back, resisting the smell of him, more potent and intoxicating where he slept on the king-sized bed. Cologne mixed with his own unique scent. He had a chest of drawers against the wall at the end of the bed supporting the obligatory television. I gasped. On a table beside the bed sat a lava lamp. You’ve got to be shitting me.
My gaze kept getting dragged back to the bed. I was filled with visions of limbs entwined, sweat-slicked skin, hands grabbing and squeezing. I stumbled backwards into Brad, not realising he’d moved closer behind me. He steadied me with his hands around my waist, sucking me into that vortex. My eyes drifted shut at the divine feeling.
Hazardous Brad.
I used all my strength to spin out of his hold. I pushed past him, and grabbed my bag to search for my phone. “Ah—I just remembered, I have a thing. A—my granny. I … I have to go.” Where were my bloody shoes? My head swivelled from side to side, looking up and down the hallway.
“But, you haven’t seen the room yet.” His legs were braced apart, arms out, as if he was face to face with a rabid dog.
“I’m sure it’s great, just like the rest of the house. I’ll be in touch.”
Fuck the shoes. I threw my hand on the door handle and yanked it towards me. There they are. Shoving my feet in my shoes as quickly as possible, I barely got them on before I raced down two steps at a time.
I jumped in my car and waved out the open window at a bewildered Brad, standing at the top of the stairs in the fading light of dusk. His Gran waved from the front garden, mouthing, “See you again soon,” before I sped off.
I had a sinking feeling that she might be right. I felt like I’d lost control of my life. I wasn’t in charge anymore.
The swirls of energy chased me down the road. I wriggled in the seat, trying to shake them off, but they stuck like glue. My mind stayed behind in that bedroom. On that bed. I’d brought part of him with me and left part of me behind.
Hazardous Brad.
Brad
Ben occupied one end of the dining table, while I sat at the other. Our laptops, textbooks and other study resources covered most of the space between us. Andrea was having a girl’s day out, whatever that involved. I didn’t want to ask. I was supposed to be studying different theories in design, but my mind was still trying to figure out what the hell happened yesterday with Veronica. She seemed fine until she saw my room. Maybe my lava lamp spooked her. I didn’t give a fuck if they were lame, the thing provided me with hours of entertainment. That might be a deal breaker, right there. Who was I kidding? I’d smash it if she asked, just to see a smile on her face.
“You’re frowning again. Is there something you don’t understand?” He peered at me over his laptop, with a pencil stuck under his nose, fish lips keeping it in place.
“Yeah. Women.”
He snorted, making the pencil clatter onto the keyboard. “Join the club, man. Who’s got you all twisted up?”
“Veronica.”
“I didn’t realise you were seeing anyone. Andrea will be hounding you for
