Read Online Behind Every Cloud by Pauline Lawless - Free Book Online

into a massive room. It had high ceilings and beautiful big windows that let in lots of light. It was breathtaking .
    “ Make yourself at home here, I ’ ll just be a few minutes, ” he said, loping away.
    Ellie caught her breath as she took in the beautiful room. It looked like something out of House Beautiful or H omes and Gardens . She noticed both magazines lying on a coffee table. As she looked around she knew instinctively that the décor had a woman ’ s touch. There must be a Mrs Buckley lurking around somewhere. Obviou sly no children , as the place was immaculate.
    Sam interrupted her thoughts as he returned brandishing a bottle of wine and two wineglasses. “ Sorry about that but I was on to a producer in Bordeaux about a delivery. Well, how are you? ”
    “ I ’ m fine! ”
    “ You look lovely, ” he remarked as he opened the bottle.
    Ellie blushed at the compliment. What was it about this man that made her blush? “ I love your house. It ’ s so elegant. Do you live here alone? ” What a dumb thing to say, she thought as soon as the words were out of her mouth. He ’ ll probably think I want to know if he ’ s married or not.
    “ I ’ m afraid so. My last girlfriend departed about four months ago – luckily, or else we would have killed one another. ” He grinned as he said this and handed her a glass of white wine. “ I remember you liked the Chablis Frank served at the dinner. ”
    “ How thoughtful of you, ” she said, smiling, and raised her glass to him. “ Sláinte !”
    “ Santé !” he replied , smiling back.
    “ Well, how about you? Do you live with your fiancé? ”
    She laughed. “ Oh, no, I still haven ’ t flown the nest. David ’ s place is far too small for us both. Anyway, I like living with my family. Of course, once we ’ re married that will change. We ’ re looking for a house at the moment. ”
    “ Well, it ’ s a good time to buy. When are you getting married? ”
    “ We haven ’ t set a date yet. I ’ m just enjoying being engaged at the moment. ” She held out her left hand and looked at her ring.
    Sam hid a smile. She was so transparent. The words ‘ an innocent abroad ’ came to his mind.
    “ Enjoy it while you can, ” he advised. “ Getting married is no joke. ”
    “ Yes, everyone tells me it ’ s nerve-wracking, planning a wedding, ” she said, biting her lip. “ How about you? Did you find it so bad? ”
    “ Oh, I wouldn ’ t know . I ’ ve never been married but I think I ’ d elope if I were you. ”
    “ Oh, no !” she squealed. “ I adore weddings. They alway s make me cry. ”
    “ You ’ re a romantic. Do you know how many wedding s end in divorce? ”
    “ Don ’ t say that! ” She felt her voice quiver.
    “ I ’ m sorry. I ’ m an old cynic. Of course there are many happy marriages out there and I ’ m sure yours will be one of them. ” He could have kicked himself. Here was this sweet young girl, newly engaged and dewy-eyed , and he behaves like an insensitive lout. Just because he didn ’ t believe in marriage or romance didn ’ t mean he had to throw cold water on her dreams.
    “ Your house really is beautiful, ” she said , wanting to change the subject. “ Was it your girlfriend who did the décor? ”
    “ God, no, I wouldn ’ t have let her near it! She ’ d have had everything black and white and stainless steel. An interior designer friend of mine did it. ”
    “ Well, whoever it was , they did a great job. ”
    “ Thank you. I ’ m very happy with it. Would you like to see around? ”
    “ I ’ d love to. I ’ ve never been in a house as nice as this – well, except maybe Frank and Judith ’ s, where I met you .”
    “ Yes, I suppose for Mars this is considered a nice house, ” he teased.
    He smiled as he saw that she was blushing again. He s howed her around the house , pleased that she was so impressed with everything. They ended up in the basement.
    “ This is where I have my office and in