Kannon’s voice behind me was low. Gruff. “My team will be here in thirty minutes.”
I jumped. “How do you not make a single sound when you walk behind me?”
“I’m not that quiet. You were just lost in thought. You need to be more aware of your surroundings. Situational awareness is important.”
I rolled my eyes, though I knew he was right. Damn him. “Of course. Make sure you take every opportunity to put me down.”
He frowned. “I’m not putting you down. I’m just making a point. You know the situation is already stressful.”
The house was all steel and chrome and white. The front wall was mostly windows. Floor to ceiling. The place had amazing natural light. I punched in the key code I’d been given for the front door, and something clicked. Then I pushed the heavy door in.
Despite the chrome and steel, Rian was still Rian. The floors were gorgeous. The rich acacia wood instantly warmed the space. The foyer was brightly lit with a massive chandelier hanging above. Crystal probably. Swarovski? To the right was a massive sunken living room. The walls were an eggshell color, and Rian had paintings and photographs on every inch of them. The furniture was a massive white sectional, but there were a couple of fun throws on it that looked like an African print as well as brightly colored pillows that matched the colors from the throws. Just being in the space, I missed her. Everything about the place screamed, ‘Hey, Rian designed me painstakingly.’
On the left, there was a library, and I couldn’t help but grin. I remembered in college that Rian always squirrelled books away. She insisted she needed them. Even several copies of some books because she said you never knew when you were going to need a story to carry you away. I was disappointed that she wasn’t here. When I’d used Kannon’s phone to send her a message that I was in Paris and delayed even more than her, I told her I wasn’t going to make it to her flat and was wondering if I could stay in her house in the country. She’d said, ‘Absolutely.’
“London? I’m going to leave you alone here for a moment and check on the security. Okay?”
I searched his gaze for a moment. He looked like maybe he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. He was so close I could feel his heat. The fire and energy that crackled between us was dangerously overwhelming, but he stepped away.
I nodded, not sure what to say.
“I’ll be right back.”
I was left with nothing to do but explore. Walking down the hallway, I finally found the kitchen and dining room. It was a massive open space. And from the dining room, there was an archway into another living space. The kitchen was something a chef would dream about. It had all kinds of pots and pans I didn’t know the names for. There was also a massive island with what looked like a marble countertop, but Rian was practical. She liked red wine too much to have marble because it was porous and stained too easily. I figured it was probably granite or something, but it was gorgeous, no matter the material.
In the kitchen, nestled on its charging dock, I saw an iPad. From staying with Rian before, I knew she kept devices around everywhere, making sure everyone had access to the internet. I logged in with the familiar passcode from her Paris flat, and sure enough, it worked. Immediately, I called her on FaceTime. It rang several times, but then she finally answered. “London, is that you?”
Oh, my God, I hadn’t even realized how much I needed to see her face. The relief flooded my veins. There she was, Rian. Something about Rian’s broad smile always made me feel better. Her smile always lit up the entire space. When I saw her on Broadway the previous year, her presence had commanded the whole theater just by walking out on the stage and beaming that smile. “Hey, gorgeous. Yep. It’s me. In the flesh.”
“Oh good. I’m glad you’re settled in the house. The guest rooms are open and available thanks to the caretakers. You can use the guest houses too, if you want. A little privacy from each other, of course. You said you’re travelling with a friend?”
I cleared my throat. “Um, something like that.”
She lifted a perfectly arched brow. Her warm cocoa skin was perfection, as usual. High cheekbones, completely without any blush or makeup, yet she looked flawless. I looked like a bedraggled swallow that had fallen out of her nest. “It’s a long story, but I needed to get out of Alden for a minute. You know how the brothers are so overbearing. For my birthday, I decided to come visit.”
“Oh, love. I’m sorry I’m not there. Filming ran long on this shoot. But I’ll be back in a week. When I’m back we will drink wine, talk men, and discuss projects. I remember you saying there was a company you were waiting on to see if they’d hire you to do a photo series on the Amazon bush fires, right?”
This was why I loved Rian. Despite having all the world often focused on her, despite being surrounded by a gaggle of men, she always remembered and made sure to ask about the real things that mattered. “I’m waiting to hear from them. I mean, it’s kind of a long shot. I don’t have that much experience or a huge portfolio, but I’m hoping.”
“Obviously, I’m sure your family could make some calls, but we don’t want that. Better you do it on your own. That way, no one can come and take it from you.”
“Exactly. I love that you understand.”
“I’ve met your brothers, and I know you.”
Behind me, I heard a voice that was all steel. “Just who the
