Read Online The Caledonian Inheritance (The Athena Effect) by Derrolyn Anderson - Free Book Online Page A

for a moment. “I’d love to.”
    “It’s kind of a long drive,” she explained. “It’s in Santa Rosa.”
    “I know a really charming bed and breakfast just outside of town,” he looked at her expectantly. “We could get a room…”
    “Together?” she asked, a little shocked.
    “It’s a two room suite. You’ll have your own bed.”
    Her cheeks flushed hot with embarrassment. Of course he hadn’t assumed anything, and she felt like a fool for jumping to conclusions. She looked up to see him smiling with amusement.
    “Uhm… uh… Okay.”
    “Maybe you can take me to the building site on Sunday?”
    She smiled wide . “Sure… That sounds perfect.”
    After lunch they took a stroll in the gardens that surrounded the guest cottages, following a brick path to a rose covered gazebo that looked like it belonged in a fairy tale. Conrad kept up his chatter, telling her about a famous actress that had been married there last summer.
    “There were helicopters with paparazzi and everything,” he said. “She really put this place on the map. Ever since then the cabins have been booked solid.”
    “I can see why,” Layla nodded, looking out toward the windswept bluffs. “It’s lovely.”
    “As are you,” Conrad said, taking her hand.
    They leaned against a rail, watching a distant ship pass by on the horizon. There was a chill in the air as the breeze picked up, and Conrad took off his blazer to drape it around her shoulders. She looked over at his handsome profile, thinking what a perfect gentleman he was.
    He turned to meet her eyes with a warm smile. “We should head back,” he said.
    She was silent on the ride home, watching the trees blend together in a symphony of green and brown. When Conrad looked her way she could see the evaluation in his eyes, and taste his calm, sweet approval. Unlike Ramon, he was extremely satisfied every time he looked at her.
    They pulled into the driveway of her house and Layla could see that Calvin and Cali’s truck was missing, and there were no lights on inside. She looked at the empty building with trepidation, turning towards Conrad, “Would you like to come in for a cup of tea… or something?”
    “No thanks,” he replied. “I have an early start tomorrow.”
    “Alright,” Layla said, looking back to the house again. She steeled herself and reached for the door handle, and by the time she gathered her purse and got it open he was already on her side of the car, ready to escort her to the door. This time, when they reached the porch he took both of her hands in his and turned her towards him.
    He lowered his face to hers and they both turned their heads the same direction, bumping noses. Layla giggled nervously, stopping when she saw the serious look on his face. He leaned in again and this time she froze, holding perfectly still. When his lips finally found hers she held her breath, waiting.
    She’d seen Calvin practically devour Cali’s mouth, and she tensed up, expecting a passionate onslaught, but his lips only brushed against hers softly. It wasn’t unpleasant, and she watched with clinical detachment as his colors changed. He pulled back and looked at her through a warm peach glow.
    He smiled, leaning in for a second time. This time she relaxed a little, parting her lips expectantly. He delivered another chaste kiss, just as sweet as the one before, withdrawing to squeeze her hand and say, “I’ll see you Saturday then?”
    She nodded, opening the door with a sense of relief. “Saturday it is.”
    He waited on the porch until she closed and locked the door behind her. She heaved a sigh, startled when Tripod came hopping around the corner, wagging his scraggly stub of a tail hopefully. He whined a little bit, and Layla could see that he was anxious, as uncomfortable about being alone in the house as she was.
    “I know,” she spoke out loud to him. “Me too.”
    She looked around the quiet room nervously, finally going over to flip on a lamp and sit