Chapter Sixty Six

“To where?” she asked with a blink of surprise, then decided with a flashing smile when Timothy introduced her to Anthony. “Oh that's nice. Thank you then.”

They ordered drinks. Chloe asked for pálinka, the Hungarian fruit brandy and while Anthony went to get them, Timothy took her to the living room upstairs.

“Beautiful.” Chloe said as she moved into the center of the room and turned a slow circle, taking in the white walls with gilded trim, blue velvet curtains over the leaded windows and the chandeliers dripping with crystal. “What a dizzying place to be on”

“It’s an expensive obligation... It's Dad's hand work. I'd be fine with a modest apartment.” said Timothy. "But I'm glad that you like it"

Anthony brought their drinks and left immediately, while they walked into a hallway of pictures and vases that were so colorful and ornate they should have been gaudy but were perfectly tasteful in this surrounding. There was a chill in the air, though, and a faint scent of disuse.

She moved towards them. "Pictures," she said. "Good idea... It gives the house this.... homey atmosphere"

"Yeah. Mom thought it was beautiful but still kinda empty, so she decided that it would be a good idea to bring some family pictures here.

Chloe nodded." Good decision" she said, and stopped in front of one of the pictures. There was Timothy, dressed in his sports jersey and carrying a football under his arm. He looked much younger and had a huge smile on his face. Chloe guessed it was a picture from his college years.

"I'm guessing you joined the team in college too" she said as she gently rubbed the glass frame. "Couldn't let the game go huh?"

"Yeah," Timothy replied. "Played till my final year."

Chloe chuckled as she turned to look at him. "Of course you did. You were crazy about it in high school. Made me come watch all of your games. I remember how pissed you were when I missed the one where we played against the neighboring school. We won, but you were still really upset about my absence"

He sipped the drink he carried. "Knowing that you were there cheering me on meant a lot to me... Boosted my confidence. I was proud that I was with you, you know. When you were there, I tried harder. The fact that I had you pushed me to become a better version of myself…and i wanted to impress you"

As he spoke, he realized that this was the effect she had always had on him. Right from the moment he met her, she'd made him want to become betterf, and honestly now he couldn't even believe that he'd ever let her go.

"I'm glad I had such a positive influence in your life," she said. "You made me better too. You were there for me when I needed someone to talk to about the problems my parents were having. You helped me get through it. But I guess their marriage couldn't be saved and sometimes we just have to stop holding on to things that are not meant to be. I had a hard time getting used to the divorce, you know "

"I know," he replied softly. "I didn't really understand when you said you were leaving. I was so mad, but now I wish I didn't cut you off"

He wasn’t standing that close, but Chloe suddenly felt the heat of his body. The lazy half-lidded look he gave her made her pulse thrum in her throat. She wasn't sure if it was the look he was giving her or the fact that he was being so honest that made her legs suddenly feel a bit weak. She turned away from him and focused her attention on another picture. This time a family picture. Chloe traced the edges of the frame with her finger.

"This is Deanie.... How is she doing?" she asked. "She looks so big here. I don't think I'd be able to recognize her if I saw her now.

Timothy chuckled behind her. "She's in school," he replied. "But she comes home once in a while to visit…Sometimes, I think she stays away from home to avoid mom and dad…They can be a bit..meddlesome …even though they mean well. Deanie might be bigger now.. Sure... But I still see her as my baby sister who is always going to need my protection. She says she doesn't need me though, but I highly doubt that"

Chloe smiled and pushed the rim of her glass against her unsteady mouth, "I'm sure she appreciates it" she replied while Timothy placed a hand on the small of her back and led her out to continue to show her the rest of the house..

"Come see the balcony," he said. "It's my favorite spot"

Cool evening air surrounded them as they stepped into the balcony and Timothy slid the glass doors shut. She hugged her arms across her chest, hiding the way her nipples pushed against the fabric of her bra and shirt, glancing nervously to see he'd noticed her movements. If anything, his attention made her nerve endings tingle all the harder, becoming even more sensitized and receptive. She had never reacted so elementally to any man before in her life. So....enthralled and ensnared. Helpless to powerful attraction. Desperate, even. Shedidn't want to be needy, ever, but couldn't hide from herself that he stoked that compulsion in her.

They entered the balcony, and Chloe inhaled the chilly-fresh smell of the sea."

"I love the smell out here." she said

His nostrils twitched and his chest expanded. He grew pensive.

"I would be in here every day if it was mine." She continued, and put her hand on the balcony railings. She stared at the waves and people. Some playing games, relaxing or having fun with the water. "You are the luckiest person to have a place like this."

"I guess it is nice to have a place to go when you want to get away. You know, the last time the whole family was here, Deanie had some friends over and threw a party. One of the guys got really drunk and ended up breaking those glass doors" he chuckled at the memory. "Dad was pisssssed"

Chloe smiled, heart squeezed by the memory. It sounded so beautifully human. She wanted to hear more, so she asked, "And what were you doing while all of that was going on?"