Fall Into Temptation (Blue Moon Book #2)(27)
Beckett’s eyebrows winged up. “Is there any other kind?”
“There’s cheese,” Evan reminded him, toying with the dishtowel on the counter he leaned against.
“I got one of those, too.”
“I want cheese, Bucket,” Aurora said, wrapping her sweet little arms around his legs.
Beckett leaned down and picked her up. “Are you vegetarian?” he frowned.
Evan snorted and Gia let Beckett explain an admittedly slanted view of vegetarianism while she scoped out his kitchen. The daughter of a restaurateur was required by DNA to place great value on that particular room in the home. Gia considered herself to be a creative, reliable cook. The kids only really complained when she went too far toward the creative side. Like with last week’s Thai coconut soup.
It was a large, airy kitchen, most of which had been modernized, but one wall of original glass-fronted cabinetry stoically stood the test of time. He’d gone with dark cabinets and glossy marble everywhere else. The upper cabinets, that at one time flanked the sink, had been removed to allow for a large window overlooking the backyard.
A worn butcher-block island, lit by a pair of oil-rubbed lanterns that hung from the tin tiled ceiling, dominated the center of the room. Judging from the stack of law journals and other mail, she imagined it was where Beckett took most of his meals.
The mosaic tile floor extended into a cozy breakfast nook on the other side of the back door. There he’d chosen a round pedestal table in black surrounded by armless chairs covered in a creamy white upholstery.
Gia made a mental note not to let Aurora and her pizza fingers anywhere near those chairs.
Beckett enlisted their help in carting plates, glasses, and utensils into the dining room. Gia tried not to gape, but every room she walked into was more magnificent than the last. The dining room had high ceilings and glass-front built-ins in two corners. A small fireplace with marble surround occupied the space between the room’s two windows. An honest to goodness chandelier hung over the long, rectangular table.
“How many fireplaces do you have?” Gia asked.
“A lot. Would you like a tour?” Beckett offered.
“Yes, please,” she said, clasping her hands together.
As he led the way from the dining room into a parlor at the front of the house, Gia tried not to admire how well his pants fit from the back or remember how solid his chest felt under her hands.
The parlor had tall windows with built-in seats on two walls. There was another fireplace in the same marble. The spectacular wood trim here was painted a dark navy and complemented by blue and gold fleur de lis wallpaper. Beckett had filled it with small, comfortable couches that flanked the fireplace. A wide, cozy chair was tucked into the round turret in the front corner. Several houseplants took up residence on shelves and tables.
It was a romantic room. One she could imagine whiling away the hours with a good book and hot chocolate while snow fell outside.
They wound their way through the first floor, moving on to the three-story staircase in the foyer and then the main living room, a mirror of the parlor. Yet another fireplace here, but Beckett’s big screen TV and entertainment center were the focal point. Through the door on the far wall, Beckett showed them his office area with library and waiting room.
Gia could tell this was the heart of his home. In these rooms he served his community and his clients day in and day out, hoping to make all their lives a bit better. It was part of her attraction to him, she admitted. The pure goodness in him was turning out to be as intriguing as the bad boy vibe she’d fallen for years before.
“Pizza should be here in a minute, but I have something else I can show you upstairs,” Beckett offered. “It’s kind of awesome,” he warned Evan.
Gia bit the inside of her cheek. Going anywhere near Beckett’s bedroom would spell disaster. “How about I wait down here for the pizza and you can take the kids up?” she suggested.
Beckett’s heated gaze bored into her. He knew exactly what she was avoiding.
“Money’s on the table by the door,” he said with a wink. “You guys want to see what’s upstairs?”
Evan was already halfway up the stairs. “Is it an arcade?”
“Do you have a room for me, Bucket?” Aurora asked, grasping his hand as she took the stairs one at a time.
Right on cue the doorbell rang. Gia was surprised to find one of her yoga students clutching a tower of pizza boxes and bags.
Ruby was a gangly seventeen with choppy auburn bangs and a tiny stud in her nose. She helped out on her family’s farm in the mornings before school and could nail some incredibly advanced yoga poses.
Ruby’s brown eyes widened. “So you’re the reason Beckett ordered enough food to feed an army,” she said. “We thought he was having his brothers over.”
Gia grinned. It was probably a bit of a disappointment for Ruby to not be delivering to three of the best-looking men in Blue Moon. “Beckett’s feeding me and my troops tonight.”
“Interesting,” Ruby said, raising both eyebrows.
“Are you coming to class Saturday?” Gia asked, sensing the interest and changing the subject. “I’m thinking about throwing in some forearm stands.”
“I’m so there!” Ruby said, trading food for cash. She started for the porch steps. “Have a good time with Beckett tonight,” she called over her shoulder and winked.