Paint Me Curious Bronze [Curious] (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Silke Ming

  “My father,” he said when he noticed her staring at the painting.

  He sat across from her and gazed at her, unblinking.

  “Why would you apply for a job as a housekeeper?” he asked, studying her.

  “I need the money.”

  “It’s a life of solitude out here. Do you want to work out here with me in this wilderness?”

  “As I said before, I need the money.”

  “When can you start?” he asked, rising and walking behind her.

  “When would you like me to start?”

  “I like that. You answer my question with another question. All right, then how about right now?” he asked, looking through her with his sea-green eyes.

  She laughed uncomfortably.

  “Unfortunately I am not prepared to start today,” she replied, not sure of the seriousness of the question.

  “Why don’t you start in a week or two?”

  “I’m available from next Monday. I can start then.”

  “In that case, let me show you around my home.”

  “Does that mean I have the job?”

  “Unless you decide you’d rather not take it.”

  “Thank you,” she said.

  He pointed to the transparent glass stairs and she started the climb. It was an uneasy feeling with him walking behind her, only inches away from her. She felt naked under his stare. She could feel it as he peeled each piece of clothing from her body with his eyes. The last piece to go was her underwear. Her body shivered under his gaze as they stood on the second floor landing. The stairs continued to another level, but they remained on the second floor.

  “These stairs are out of bounds. Only on my request are you allowed to climb to the third floor.”

  “What?”

  “I said you are not allowed on the upper level of the house without my permission.”

  Her mind started to race. What is he hiding up there? The bodies of dead assistants? They continued their tour of the home, which was definitely in need of some serious attention. She walked along the hallway and came face-to-face with the painting of the older man. His stare was severe and she felt no affection for him.

  “This is my bedroom,” he said, walking through a pair of double doors.

  A huge four-poster king-size bed with heavy posts, topped off with finials, took up most of the space in the room. The bed was a mess. It was obvious he hadn’t had time to make it. Her eyes fell upon the finials. Attached to each one was a long, sturdy curtain tassel. She could not help but stare at them and allow her mind to wander. He gazed at her as her eyes asked the reason for the tassels. No explanation given, her focus was now out the giant porthole where she noticed the waves playing along the shoreline.

  “You’ll have the same view from your bedroom.”

  “I like that,” she said. “Waking up to this would be a great start to the day.”

  “In case you’re worried about your privacy, the glass in the bathrooms and bedrooms are not transparent.”

  “I did notice that from outside, it’s not possible to see inside the house.”

  They continued to discuss the working conditions, and soon the interview, which lasted more than an hour, was over. He walked her to the door and opened it.

  “We are going to make a good team,” he remarked, his eyes still undressing her.

  “Thank you,” she said as she walked out to her car.

  “See you again next Monday.”

  He did not wait for her to reverse from the driveway. He closed the door and disappeared inside the house.

  Chapter Two

  Her bartending job a thing of the past, Summer packed all her possessions into her Volkswagen and set out for 43098 Port Collier Road. She made sure that she was appropriately dressed, because she was afraid of sending the wrong message to Seamus, even though she found him to be a very attractive man. Retracing her route, she drove along with a new sense of direction in her life. She made a stop at the local drugstore, since she had no idea if there were any stores close to her new home. A few more items were added to the already overloaded vehicle, and she was on her way.

  The black SUV was nowhere to be seen, and she wondered if he had forgotten about her arrival. She struggled to lift the heavy suitcase from the car and, dragging it behind her, rang the doorbell. She waited, and soon she could hear footsteps. His hair was tousled and he was fiddling with the sash of his robe when he opened the door.

  “Good morning. Sorry if I woke you up,” she said.

  “No problem, Autumn,” he said, stepping aside to let her in.

  “It’s Summer.”

  “I knew it was of the seasons of the year, but I couldn’t recall which one.”

  “Just think of the warm one,” she replied.

  “I would prefer to use the word hot,” he said.

  He picked up the suitcase she had placed at the entrance, took it to her bedroom, and placed it on the bed.

  “I’ll bring the rest in,” she said.

  Ten minutes later, the Beetle had been emptied and her belongings were stashed away in her new home. She looked at the mess in the house and wondered what she had done.

  “Where should I begin?” she asked.

  “Start wherever you want. I’m going back to bed.”

  Had she done the right thing in taking the job? The house was such a mess. It would probably take one week to put it in order. First area she would tackle was the dining room and later the kitchen. Old Chinese food containers, pizza boxes, and dirty mugs littered the kitchen counter and filled the sink, in spite of the fact that there was a dishwasher right next to the sink. Outfitted in a long pair of rubber gloves, she had the first floor sparkling clean in a matter of three hours, and since her employer had not yet reappeared, she decided to unpack her suitcase.

  “What have you done to my house?” he asked, appearing at her bedroom door all washed and shaven.

  She could see his muscles under his tight T-shirt, and his arms bulged a little at the end of his shirtsleeves. It was obvious he was in good shape.

  “I have tidied up the rooms. If there is something you would prefer to change, I will do it.”

  “I’m just surprised to see that you have done so much in so little time. There is nothing to eat in the house. I’ll take you to the mom–and-pop store to do some shopping. I’ll be ready to go as soon as you are.”

  “I’m ready when you are.”

  They walked together into the garage and climbed into his SUV. Turning the vehicle onto the main road, he continued in the direction away from town. He was very quiet, and she was afraid to interrupt his thoughts. What was he thinking, she wondered as she stole sideway glances at him? Being so close to him, she could feel that animal magnetism, and she saw how handsome he really was. His skin was smooth, much too smooth for a male. His hair, a cross between auburn and red, lay tousled on his head. She could smell his cologne. It was the sensuous odour of musk.

  “Are you an artist?” he asked her.

  “No, why do you ask?”

  “Because you have been staring at me from the moment you got into the car,” he said, turning to face her.

  She felt a little embarrassed and could not wait put distance between them. They finally reached the shopping centre and he turned off the main road. The sign in front of the mall read “Port Collier.” She was surprised to find so many shops in such a remote location. Pizza, Chinese food, Italian food, boutiques, a hamburger shop, a mom-and-pop store, and also a liquor store. She now knew the source of the boxes and food containers which were in his kitchen.

  “This is not what I expected,” she said.

  “What did you not expect?” he asked, turning to face her.

  “That there would be so many shops around here.”

  “There is also a cinema and a movie rental on the other side. What should we buy?”

  “What would you like for dinner?”

  “You have this uncanny way about you,” he said, staring
at her. “Do you always answer a question with another question?”

  “When I must.”

  He smiled at her.

  “Tell me what your favorite foods are, and I will tell you what you should buy.”

  “Surprise me,” he said, walking briskly ahead of her.

  She wondered about him. He seemed so unpredictable. Perhaps a little arrogant, and she hoped she would be able to cope with his mood swings.

  “Hello, Seamus,” said the fresh-faced young woman behind the cash register.

  “How are you, Rachel?”

  “As fine as could be,” she replied, staring at Summer.

  “Keep it that way, Rachel. Meet Summer. She’s my new assistant.”

  The excitement on the young girl’s face faded. She stared at Summer, her face showing no emotion. Was there something between the two of them, Summer wondered? Why was she showing such hostility toward her? He continued talking to the girl while she picked up the necessities and the groceries needed for dinner. They paid for the supplies, and he turned around to wave good-bye to the young woman.

  “I don’t think she is happy that I’m here,” Summer said.

  “Pay no attention to Rachel. She has been trying to get into my pants for a very long time. I could’ve taken advantage of her, but I have my principles.”

  She started to laugh.

  “Please tell me what you find so funny.”

  “She’s a young girl. How old is she?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m not interested.”

  “I get the impression she thinks you are.”

  “I’m not! Are you sleeping with anyone?” he suddenly blurted out.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Just curious!” he said, smirking. “What are we having for dinner this evening?”

  “I haven’t decided yet. I’ve still got some more tidying up to do.”

  “You can’t do it all in one day. You’ll wear yourself out.”

  “Never put off ‘till tomorrow…”

  “What you can do today,” he said, laughing.

  His mood was definitely improving, and she realized he had a sense of humour, and seeing him laugh for the first time made her feel a little more at ease.

  “You haven’t said what we’re having for dinner,” he continued, his eyes fastened on her face.

  “Let me surprise you.”

  He pushed a CD into the player and sang along with Lionel Richie’s “Hello.”

  With a smile across his face, he turned to her as he sang the last line. Is it me you’re looking for?

  “Do you know how beautiful you are, Summer?”

  “Thank you, Mr. Balsam.”

  “Mr. Balsam was my father. My name is Seamus,” he said, changing the gear and brushing his fingers against her knee. “And don’t thank me for your good looks. I had nothing to do with it. So are you sleeping with anyone, Summer?”

  “No I’m not,” she said, somewhat taken back by the question.

  “Why would a stunning woman like you be depriving herself of male companionship?”

  “No time.”

  “When was the last time you slept with a man?”

  “I could say it’s none of your business,” she replied. “Why do you want to know?”

  “I’m just curious.”

  “Since you must know, it has been about six years,” she replied, turning her head and looking out the window.

  “What?” he asked, laughing. “Six years? You’re practically a virgin.”

  “Well I’m not, in case you’re looking for one.”

  “I don’t think I have ever deflowered anyone.”

  She did not reply.

  “Six years!” he remarked again. “And such an absolutely gorgeous woman!”

  “Thank you.”

  “Does that mean we can have an affair?”

  She was saved the embarrassment of having to reply to his off-the-cuff question, since he had already parked the SUV at the front of the entrance. Even though there was a garage with an entrance to the kitchen, it seemed as if he preferred to park in directly in front of the home. They removed the supplies from the SUV and placed them in the kitchen. He watched her while she opened the cupboards and put away all the canned goods, and later, while marinating the lamb chops they had picked up for dinner.

  “Since we’re having lamb tonight, should I choose the wine or would you prefer to do that?” he asked as he put his favorite Lionel Richie CD into the CD player.

  “We forgot to buy wine,” she said, thinking she had already screwed up.

  “Come with me,” he said, holding her by the shoulders and turning her around.

  He opened a small door in the corner of the kitchen and went down a few steps. There she saw shelves which ran from the floor to the ceiling with the best vintages.

  “Want white? You can have white! Want red? You can have red! What’s your pleasure, Summer? You used to be a bartender.”

  She moved past him into the narrow wine cellar and inspected a couple bottles.

  “How do I get up there?” she asked, pointing to the top shelves.

  He brought a collapsible ladder from a corner and placed it against the shelves, and watched as she climbed up the rungs to the very top shelf.

  “They are all lined up in alphabetical order by country,” he said, holding onto the ladder.

  She stared at the great number of bottles in front of her. He paid more attention to the wine cellar than he did to the rest of the house. From the very top shelf, she chose two bottles of Australian Shiraz, which she was about to pass to him, when the ladder shifted and lodged under one of the shelves. She fell backward, still holding the two bottles. He caught her before she had a chance to slam her body into the shelves and, in the process, destroy the precious libation. His face was now inches away from hers, and they stared at each other. There was that smell of musk again. She noticed the curve of his sculptured lips, and being so close him, it made her heart pound wildly.

  “Falling for me?” he asked.

  “Too much wine,” she croaked, barely recognizing her own voice.

  “You’ve got a sense of humour, too,” he said. “You smell so good Summer. May I kiss you?”

  He did not wait for a reply, and in the narrow, dimly lit wine cellar, he lifted her chin and his lips covered hers. His warm tongue darted into her mouth, exploring every corner and crevice, and soon she was responding, playing, intertwining hers with his, and finally sucking long and hard on it. His arm brushed against her breast and a sigh escaped her lips.

  What was she doing? She knew nothing about him. Why had she given in to him so easily? Was it because she hadn’t been with a man for such a long time? He was moving too quickly, and it left her head in a spin. She was still leaning against one of the shelves and tried to steady herself, as the blood pounded in her ears and her heartbeat quickened.

  “Let’s get out of here,” she said, trying to regain her composure.

  She walked ahead of him and entered the kitchen. He followed closely behind her, still trying to seduce her.

  “Please,” she said, “what just happened between us was a mistake. We both got carried away.”

  “I don’t see it that way,” he replied. “We are two adults. You need me as much as I need you. I know it by the way your body responded to mine.”

  “It was all in the heat of the moment. I’m not like that.”

  “Like what?” he asked.

  “Today is my first day here, and I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that I’m cheap and easy. So if you don’t mind, please allow me to do what I came here to do.”

  He stared at her, disappointed that his expectations had been dashed.

  “I apologise,” he said, he said turning around and leaving.

  The apology, she felt, was not a heartfelt one, but he at least did apologise.

  Chapter Three

  The dining table was scratched and covered with flecks of paint. It was not at all
what she envisaged as a place for eating, so she went in search of a tablecloth. Finding none, she placed a bed sheet over the table. Much too big, she thought, as it fell down the sides and draped along the floor; but it did the job. She must find out where he had hidden his tablecloths, if he had any. She opened a bottle of wine, and placed it on the table along with a wine glass. The potatoes and veggies stood warming on the stove, and all that was left to do was sear the lamb chops. Medium rare, he had said, just the way she also liked them! She climbed the stairs to the second level and called out to him

  “I’ll be right there,” he said.

  She returned to the lower level and waited for him. She poured him a glass of wine and turned to go.

  “Aren’t you going to have dinner with me?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said, stopping in her tracks.

  “I don’t see a place setting for you. Do you expect me to eat alone?”

  “Are you inviting me to have dinner with you?” she asked.

  “I want to know more about you and this is the best opportunity to find out, so please,” he said.

  She returned with a plate and cutlery and sat down across from him.

  “Are you afraid of me Summer?”

  “Why should I be?”

  “Are you annoyed with me?”

  “I’ve gotten over it,” she said, placing a lamb chop on her plate.

  “I’m not usually like that. Sometimes I can be a little impulsive, but I promise you it won’t happen again,” he said, pouring her a glass of wine.

  “Thank you.”

  They ate in silence, with his eyes fastened on her. She knew he was staring and refused to look up at him.

  “You are a good cook,” he said. “The lamb was delicious. There is still a question that weighs on my mind.”

  “What is it?” she asked, raising her fork to her mouth.

  “I still don’t understand why a beautiful woman like you applied for this job.”