Complications(22)

As Olivia walked up the stone pathway, she took in Alex’s home. It was in one of the nicer neighborhoods and was manicured neatly. There were no bushes or flowers, but rather sharp cut grass with a giant tree in the middle of it all. Dark bark lined the stone walkway and she tugged at the sleeves of her cardigan nervously when she climbed up some steps to reach his front door. She rang the doorbell and waited with bated breath.

A few moments later, the door swung wide open and there he was, framed perfectly by the mahogany as though he were a painting. If Olivia had thought he was hot in his business clothes, he was downright sexy in jeans and a dark green fitted sweater that brought out his hazel eyes and broad shoulders. His dark hair was tousled and he had a little hint of five o’clock shadow around his chin and jaw line. Oh my God. Her clothes would end up on the floor sooner than she anticipated.

He did that slow smile she loved so much as he pulled her inside, wrapping an arm around her waist. She tilted her head up as he brushed his lips over hers, closing the door behind them with his foot. Her stomach fluttered as she breathed in his familiar scent, that clean soap smell with a hint of musk. God, she could smell him all day long.

“Mmmm, I’m glad you’re here,” he said against her lips. His voice had gone all gravelly and it made her shiver.

“Then that makes two of us,” she replied shyly, a small smile appearing on her lips. His warm body against hers felt heavenly, sending pleasurably zaps down to her belly where she already felt the hard length of him.

“Dinner,” he whispered, as though reminding himself. He pulled away, “Dinner first.” His eyes held sinful promise and Olivia almost shook with anticipation. But he seemed to want to make her wait. Gesturing to a small table by the entryway, where his car keys currently sat, he said, “You can set your bag there for now and I’ll get it later. The oven is preheating, so do you want a tour while we wait?”

“Sure,” she said, slipping her bag off her shoulder and setting it down, overly excited to see his home. She was incredibly curious about this man and although she wanted nothing more than to jump his bones at the moment, she had to admit that nosing around his home came in close second.

The one-story home looked small on the outside, but she now realized it was because of the length. It was massive now that she was on the other side of the door. There was an immediate door to the right of the entry way and she realized it was his office as she peeked in. A very well used home office by the looks of it. It was sparsely furnished. The only item in the room was a huge dark wood desk with paperwork and a large desktop computer situated on it.

“You don’t like to read?” she asked curiously when she noticed no sign of a bookcase…or any book for that matter. Didn’t people usually keep bookcases in their offices?

“Don’t know how,” he teased, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. She rolled her eyes but smiled. “All the books I do have are in my bedroom. I don’t read much though.” His eyes twinkled. “Not as much as you at least. Don’t think I didn’t notice that monstrous bookcase at your place.”

She smiled and poked him in the shoulder, “Don’t diss my bookshelf. I love that thing.”

“I can tell,” he murmured, shaking his head as if she were a goner already.

The entry hallway led on a little bit further before revealing a large living room with a straight view to the kitchen. Alex then led her to the left side of the house, where he pointed out a guest room and a bathroom. And then for the grand finale, they stopped in his master suite.

Alex smirked at her as she tried not to blush. She spotted the enormous king size bed in the middle of the room, trying not to think about the activities they would share there later. It was difficult since the whole room smelled like Alex. Absolutely delicious. She focused instead on the décor. She saw another door off the right and figured it was his bathroom. Everything was done up in dark tones, deep navy blues and blacks. It gave the whole space a seductive quality.

As she took everything in, she realized that there was nothing particularly personal of his. In all of the house actually, now that she thought about it. Everything was clean and there was plenty of furniture to make the home feel like a home. But there was no clutter, no artwork, and no knick knacks. Not even a photograph of his family, at least none she had noticed. The only thing relatively unorganized had been his desk, but only because of the sheer amount of paperwork.

It’s all very modern, she thought. And expensively furnished. Dark hardwood floors throughout the entire house with a few rugs here and there. Stainless steel appliances and granite countertops in the kitchen. A huge flatscreen TV in the living room. But nothing that would reveal anything about this confusing, wonderful man.