Read Online The Sibylline Oracle by Delia Colvin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Delia Colvin
Tags: paranormal romance
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stone steps and onto the cedar deck that had a porch swing and flowerboxes. Valeria noticed the details of the entrance. It had a double cedar door with two circular, iron knockers, and an intricate, hand-carved design that looked like two large C’s facing each other. Alex took a deep breath and swung open the door. Valeria’s eyes got even larger and her mouth fell open with a sigh.
“Alex! This is…” She turned to him. “I don’t even know how to describe it. Breathtaking doesn’t seem to be enough.”
Leaning on the doorframe, Alex glowed as he watched her reaction with nervous anticipation. She looked up in awe at the wood beams high above her and the wrought-iron candelabras on each wall. Wandering across the great room, she lightly trailed her fingers along the massive library full of leather bound classics. She noticed Sense and Sensibility and Walden at eye level. The other wall was home to a stacked stone fireplace that was already ablaze and encircled by a comfortable cream colored couch, loveseat, and two overstuffed chairs. The floors were dark and spotted with colorful rugs.
Arriving at the marble kitchen island, her eyes darted from the hanging pots and pans to the state of the art, stainless steel appliances—not that they would do her any good. She had never been much of a cook. She also noted the doorless arch to the bedroom. Carrying the remainder of their bags, he dropped his by the door and continued with Valeria’s suitcase toward the bedroom.
Suddenly feeling awkward, she wondered if Alex understood what a big step it was for her, just going away with him. The expectation might be that she was ready for intimacy but, for some reason, she didn’t feel that was the case. Valeria knew Weege would call her naïve. Especially if she could see this extraordinary cottage—and this extraordinary man, who most certainly had never been told no.
She followed him into the bedroom cautiously and watched as Alex sat her suitcase on a bench at the foot of the four-poster feather bed. “Here’s your room,” he said, uncomfortably. “There’s the bath and there’s the closet,” he indicated, pointing to a walk-in and abruptly exiting back into the great room.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I’ll be sleeping on the couch.” Alex brushed his hand through his hair, obviously ill at ease. “Sorry, I didn’t have a chance to make other arrangements.”
Feeling unexpectedly let down again, Valeria realized that, suddenly, the feeling of intimacy was gone and this romantic setting seemed wasted. She followed him back to the great room and into the kitchen area.
“The others are up the hill at the main house. Lars thought it might be best to give you a night to yourself. So, I thought I would pour you a glass of wine while I meet with them. You can bathe or sit on the porch.” Alex drew in a deep breath and hesitated before exhaling. “But, don’t worry. We’ll be keeping an eye out to make sure you’re safe,” he said, as he pulled a bottle out from under the marble countertop.
“You’re leaving? Won’t you join me for a glass of wine?”
“No,” Alex said, absentmindedly, his hands fumbling with the normally simple task. Finally, the cork released with a pop. “I need to stay sharp.”
Valeria could barely hide her disappointment. “I guess I’m just surprised that you're leaving. You drink wine don’t you? Yes, you drank today.”
“Yes, and I really shouldn’t have. I guess I got caught up in the…” Alex’s voice faded as he pulled down a wine glass from a cupboard. “I drink occasionally. I like Scotch. I’d join you but, as I said, I really need to stay sharp.”
“Why?”
“You’ll understand later.”
The musical ping of the wine being poured into the glass told Valeria that this was very fine crystal. Not that she knew much about fine crystal, but she knew she hadn’t heard that sound before. Alex came around the counter to where she was standing by the
“Alex! This is…” She turned to him. “I don’t even know how to describe it. Breathtaking doesn’t seem to be enough.”
Leaning on the doorframe, Alex glowed as he watched her reaction with nervous anticipation. She looked up in awe at the wood beams high above her and the wrought-iron candelabras on each wall. Wandering across the great room, she lightly trailed her fingers along the massive library full of leather bound classics. She noticed Sense and Sensibility and Walden at eye level. The other wall was home to a stacked stone fireplace that was already ablaze and encircled by a comfortable cream colored couch, loveseat, and two overstuffed chairs. The floors were dark and spotted with colorful rugs.
Arriving at the marble kitchen island, her eyes darted from the hanging pots and pans to the state of the art, stainless steel appliances—not that they would do her any good. She had never been much of a cook. She also noted the doorless arch to the bedroom. Carrying the remainder of their bags, he dropped his by the door and continued with Valeria’s suitcase toward the bedroom.
Suddenly feeling awkward, she wondered if Alex understood what a big step it was for her, just going away with him. The expectation might be that she was ready for intimacy but, for some reason, she didn’t feel that was the case. Valeria knew Weege would call her naïve. Especially if she could see this extraordinary cottage—and this extraordinary man, who most certainly had never been told no.
She followed him into the bedroom cautiously and watched as Alex sat her suitcase on a bench at the foot of the four-poster feather bed. “Here’s your room,” he said, uncomfortably. “There’s the bath and there’s the closet,” he indicated, pointing to a walk-in and abruptly exiting back into the great room.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I’ll be sleeping on the couch.” Alex brushed his hand through his hair, obviously ill at ease. “Sorry, I didn’t have a chance to make other arrangements.”
Feeling unexpectedly let down again, Valeria realized that, suddenly, the feeling of intimacy was gone and this romantic setting seemed wasted. She followed him back to the great room and into the kitchen area.
“The others are up the hill at the main house. Lars thought it might be best to give you a night to yourself. So, I thought I would pour you a glass of wine while I meet with them. You can bathe or sit on the porch.” Alex drew in a deep breath and hesitated before exhaling. “But, don’t worry. We’ll be keeping an eye out to make sure you’re safe,” he said, as he pulled a bottle out from under the marble countertop.
“You’re leaving? Won’t you join me for a glass of wine?”
“No,” Alex said, absentmindedly, his hands fumbling with the normally simple task. Finally, the cork released with a pop. “I need to stay sharp.”
Valeria could barely hide her disappointment. “I guess I’m just surprised that you're leaving. You drink wine don’t you? Yes, you drank today.”
“Yes, and I really shouldn’t have. I guess I got caught up in the…” Alex’s voice faded as he pulled down a wine glass from a cupboard. “I drink occasionally. I like Scotch. I’d join you but, as I said, I really need to stay sharp.”
“Why?”
“You’ll understand later.”
The musical ping of the wine being poured into the glass told Valeria that this was very fine crystal. Not that she knew much about fine crystal, but she knew she hadn’t heard that sound before. Alex came around the counter to where she was standing by the
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