Page 27 of Axel
“I suppose…”
“I didn’t…”
They realized they were both speaking at the same time and stopped.
“You first,” he said curtly.
“I didn’t know you were going to be here.” Ellie wet her lip nervously bringing his attention to the fullness of it and sending lust surging through his body, making him angry.
“So, you did not engineer this meeting to get me to pour my heart out?”
She gave him a sizzling look, dark brown eyes flashing. “What the hell is your problem?”
You! He wanted to shout. You are under my damn skin, and I don’t like it.
Instead, he gestured towards the double glass doors. “My mother wants me to show you the garden and I need the air. Shall we?”
She wanted to tell him to piss off but decided against it. Heading for the doors without responding. Walking down the steps, they stepped into what she immediately thought of the loveliest gardens she had ever seen.
Different scents assailed her nostrils. In the middle, there was a fountain with water churning over the marble sides of the basin. In the middle, there was a cherubic looking sculptor that did not look at all creepy.
“My mother loves to dig in the dirt.”
Turning her head, she glanced at the man who shortened his steps so that she could get the full effect of the place.
“I have never seen anything so lovely.” She breathed. On her left, there were benches and a few wrought iron tables.
“I doubt I would be able to identify most of these plants.”
“I got quite an education myself.” He smiled slightly and pointed to a clump of purple petals. “Azaleas.”
“And those?” she pointed to the flowering red, purple and red blossoms.
“Zinnia. Those are Hyacinths.”
“I know over in this section are orchids. I could never get mine to grow,” she admitted. The tension that had been evident when he entered the patio had dissipated as if the wind blowing through the trees had gotten rid of it.
They were approaching a quaint looking gazebo, with wisteria and snapdragons trailing all over the surface. The sound of water mingled with squirrels scampering up the trunks of trees surrounding the entire area.
“A brook?”
“Something like that.” He nodded off to the right. With a cry of surprised delight, she rushed towards the body of water flowing gently along a winding path.
River Glades got its name because it was at one time exclusively a fishing town.”
She glanced at him over her shoulder. “What happened.”
“Pollution, an oil leak years ago and the demand for fish winding down. All those components changed things. But it still managed to cling to its charms.” Shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans, he stared out at the enchanting view.
He felt a peace stealing over him as usual. “She made something remarkable out of the ordinary. This place is the talk of the town.”
“It’s spectacular.” She turned towards him. This was the first time since their meeting that he sounded remotely approachable. He was wearing all black, the cashmere sweater hugged his impressively muscled chest and shoulders, and the denims sat well on his long legs. His coffee brown hair was tousled, giving him an endearing look.
“You and your family. You are very close.”
His amber eyes switched to her face, the piercing look sending shivers up and down her spine. “Has the interview officially started?”
“Something like that. Only I am not recording the conversation.” She tilted her head as she stared at him. “Just making an observation.”