Chapter Five
Five Days Later
“Your breakfast, madam,” Theodore said, serving her a plate of food that smelled divine. Avocado with eggs on toast and a side of ketchup. She’d taught him well. He’d even figured out the coffee machine, after poring over the instructions, making her a latte.
“You’re my hero.” She grinned, tucking in.
The past five days had been so much fun. They’d gotten so much more done than she’d anticipated, and all the rooms that could be de-cluttered and decorated downstairs had been done. They’d spent that time laughing and chatting, and she found herself craving his company. He’d kept a respectful distance, but she wanted him to reach out and touch her. Their fingers hadn’t so much as even brushed together accidentally.
“So, I actually have something to show you,” he said.
He still wore his suits. Even when painting. It made her wonder if he had any other clothes. Who only wears suits these days? What did he wear to bed? No. That is not a thought that should be in her head. She shooed it away like a naughty cat.
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
He smiled. “Follow me,” he said, leading her up to the first floor.
He opened the door to the library and a gasp stuck in her throat. It was transformed. Truly and completely transformed. It was one of the most intimidating parts of renovating the house. The oval room had been beautiful, full of potential, but the last time she’d seen it, it had been a wreck. Buckets had littered the corners of the room, each catching water dripping from a leak in the ceiling. There were dodgy patch repairs everywhere, the parquet floor was dull, and the only good thing about it were the books and shelves, although they had needed one heck of a deep clean.
Now pine green walls greeted her, all evidence of any patch repairs gone. The floor gleamed so shiningly that she could eat her dinner from it. All the musty, moldy furniture was gone. A few armchairs had been moved from downstairs and placed by the window. The shelves had been cleaned, allowing the deep wood to come through again, and she could’ve sworn that the room felt lighter, happier, such that the books would be proud to call this space their home.
When she didn’t speak, he ran his hands anxiously through his hair. He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry if it’s not what you wanted. I can easily strip it back to how it was. Only ... it was a lot of work, and I wanted to surprise you. You mentioned how much you loved books and how you used to own a bookshop...”
She stopped him. She couldn’t stand to see him nervous any longer. Before she could think twice, she threw her arms around him, going up to her tiptoes to get a better reach.
“It’s perfect. Thank you,” she said, her chin hanging over his shoulder. His arms hung loosely at his sides.
Oh God, I’ve pushed him too far. She made to let go, but his arms slowly, carefully wrapped around her. Her heartbeat thumped in her ears.Calm down, Julia,she scolded herself.It’s just an embrace, you can’t even feel his heart, he’s clearly not freaking out.
But then she heard his sharp intake of breath, felt the way his nose dipped into her neck, breathing in her scent like someone who had been starved of close contact. She stiffened. He seemed to take that as a cue to back away, when that was the exact opposite of what she wanted. She wanted him closer.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“No, no, that’s ... there’s nothing to be sorry for. I was the one who threw myself at you.”
His gaze lingered on her, and there was something burning in it. Then he gave a casual small smile. “Anytime.”
“Careful, I might hold you to that,” she muttered with a smile, looking around the library. Her library. That the man by her side had transformed for her because she’d mentioned that she liked books.
Julia walked over to the shelves. She had many of her own books to fill them, but she loved that there were some left over from previous owners, with worn spines and fading golden lettering. If only books could talk, she was sure they would have something to say about the past owners and guests of the manor. She trailed her fingers along the spines and couldn’t help but grin.
“You know, I think this deserves a reward. Take the rest of the day off, you’ve been working so hard. I’m sure your family would love to see you.”
