Chapter 5
Sydney
He had selected the room with the view of the sea. The one just across from my own bedroom, and I stood by the window now as he looked around the place.
“Feel free to let me know if you need anything else,” I said to him, as I watched him move. Dane walked smoothly, noiselessly, even though he had lost his shoes somewhere and was now completely barefoot. He had given me a scare earlier, his behavior was strange and I didn’t know what to expect from him anymore. Was he here for a specific purpose? Was he depressed? He didn’t look like the kind of person to have any reason to be depressed.
He caught me staring and I looked away from him, trying to hide the blushing of my cheeks.
“Yes, thank you Sydney, this room is lovely,” he said and I tucked in stray strands of hair behind my ears. He had stepped towards me, and suddenly I felt like there was nowhere to run. I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to be very close to me. I wasn’t pleased with the way my body was reacting to our proximity.
“Glad you like it. Would you like some lunch?” I said, avoiding his eyes. Dane didn’t stop, he kept walking closer to me, and now I only had the wall behind me.
“I’m not hungry now, and you shouldn’t strain yourself. I’m sure I’ll find something to eat at the cafes I saw along the promenade on my way here,” he said in a low voice. I met his dark eyes, he was grinning.
“Okay, that’s fine. You’ll have the house all to yourself this evening either way,” I said, as he came even closer. I got a whiff of the masculine musky cologne he was wearing. He was too close for comfort now, closer than I had been to any guest before. I could feel goosebumps erupting on my arms because I wasn’t sure of what he wanted from me. The worst part was that he was too handsome to look away from.
“Where will you be? Hot date for the night?” he asked, with a small laugh, and I felt my cheeks flush again.
“I’ll just be at the local pub, for a gig. One of my friends is playing,” I said and was ashamed. It wasn’t like Leo was really my friend. Dane’s eyes widened and he puckered his lips.
“A gig, you say? I might drop in as well then,” he said and pushed his hands into the pockets of his damp pants. I licked my lips, still nervous. I could barely meet his eye. It was like he had me under some kind of spell that I wanted to escape from.
“I’m sure you’ll like it,” I said and made to step away, but Dane abruptly placed his hand on the wall beside my face. Blocking my path on one side. I was startled by it, and he had brought his face very close to mine.
“I’m sorry, Sydney, did I scare you?” he asked and took his hand away. I stepped away from him, with my back to the door now.
“No, of course not. I was just…” I was at a loss for words. I hadn’t met a man like him before, and I didn’t even know who he was.
“Don’t worry, I’ll try and be the best guest you’ve ever had,” he said and I started backing out of the room.
“I hope you have a lovely stay here, I’ll see you later then,” I said and turning on my heels, I left the room and bounded down the stairs and back into the kitchen.
Once there, I gripped the edge of the sink and tried to catch my breath. What was happening? Why did I suddenly feel so weak and like I didn’t have enough air in my lungs? Dane Forsyth was handsome and mysterious and charming, but he was just a man. Just like Leo was also a man, as was James and everyone else…What was so different about him?
He was wrong, he didn’t scare me at all. I was scared of the way I felt around him. I suddenly felt bold and brave, like I could throw myself at him just to feel the roughness of his cheeks under my fingertips. It was hard to believe that someone like him was in Tramore. That someone who looked like him was in my B&B.
I heard him moving on the floor above me, and instinctively I looked up. Then I heard the shower turn on in his bathroom and another shiver ran down my spine. I was imagining him naked. What was wrong with me? I had never before sexualized a man like this. I had never pictured a man naked, especially someone I had just met. Dane Forsyth was strange, and brooding and didn’t seem to respect boundaries. I could smell trouble off him already.
I shook my head, hoping that would help steady me. The dinner rolls were baking in the oven and I took the tray out. They were overdone and slightly burnt. With a groan I emptied the tray into the bin. Wiping my forehead with the back of my hand, I started rummaging in the cupboard for some more flour. I’d have to start all over again. It wasn’t like I needed dinner rolls any more, I just wanted to have something to do.
“What’s cooking?” I heard his voice behind me and I froze. I was embarrassed even before I turned to him. Like I was caught fantasizing about him. When I turned I found him leaning against the doorframe, with just a towel wrapped low down his abdomen. His abs were chiseled, his stomach flat and a faint dark line of hair ran down his navel and disappeared down the folds of the towel.
I could feel my knees buckling, I was going to lose my will to remain standing.