Chapter 14: Part 2

Throughout dinner, she can't help but glance out the window every so often. Something about this place is so... magical. While they eat, she tries prying him for more information. She must find out who this mysterious guy is and why exactly she dreams of him every night. The more questions she asks, the more vague he gets, instead, deflecting the questions back toward her. It's crazy, but if she didn't know any better, it would appear that he knew her answers already.

"So what do you do for work?" Sera tries again.

"Security," he replies, with one of his classic one-word answers. "You look like you work in the medical field, am I correct?"

Her brows scrunch, "Yes, how did you know?"

"You just look like you care a lot about people."

"Um, who do you protect to afford a home like this? Madonna? The President?"

"Oh, the house? I built it myself." He shrugs.

She shakes her head, "You mean you designed it yourself?"

"No, I built it with my own two hands." He wiggles his fingers for emphasis.

"No way." She breathes glancing around the high ceilings.

"What can I say, I had a little time on my hands between assignments." He responds. He's hiding something she can tell.

"Who do you work for now?"

"I'm freelance at the moment, so I take assignments on a case by case basis." Those blue eyes of his are almost smiling at her. They seem to laugh at a joke she knows nothing about. They stay suspended like that for a few seconds. The long white candlesticks between them cast a light glow over everything. The moon spotlights his chestnut hair and that smile of his temporarily dazes Sera.

Something inside of her gets a funny feeling. Different from butterflies and totally opposite of what she felt earlier with the deer. It was almost like a tug, a pull.

When she finishes eating, she quickly excuses herself to use the restroom, desperate to get her mind right before continuing this charade. Entering the bathroom, her eyes widen.

Even this room is beautiful, she thinks tapping her finger on the white marble countertop on the vanity. Like the rest of the house, the room is made from wood panels, the toilet and claw tub are all spotless white porcelain. Underneath the marble sink is intricate cabinetry and above the sink is a large oval mirror encased in a plain white frame. She had planned on texting Amanda while in here, but as she holds the phone between her hands, she can't decide how to even explain this... yeah maybe it's best she doesn't open that can of worms right now. Instead, she fixes herself in the mirror and after three deep breaths, she returns to the dining room.

Coming back to the table, she stops short. The moon casts its spotlight now on an empty table. How long was I gone? She slips across the dining room to the kitchen. Peeking up the three steps to the loft style kitchen, she's again met with nothing but empty counter space. Nothing in the sink and strangely, the appliances look like they've never been used.

To call her confused would be the understatement of the year. As it turns out, this isn't the weirdest thing that has happened to her this week.

A shuffle coming from the front of the house draws her attention. Sera walks back toward the foyer. Nate is in that cozy living room getting the fireplace started. He looks up as she enters and even shoots her a smile as he motions her to sit on the lush green couches. Making her way through the living room, she takes the time to admire this mysterious man. His back is broad and strong as he stokes the fire.

Her mind wanders while she continues to wait. She happens to notice the lack of modern electronics. Not a television or a computer. No radio, stereo, iPod—what a weirdo! Who has just has a bunch of books in their living room?

When he gets the fire blazing, he climbs to his feet, "Would you like some wine?" his finger points to a wine decanter on the little table beside her.

"Sure."

She watches as he pours two glasses with one hand as he turns to her, "So, how was work?"

He hands her a glass "Work, um..." Sera stutters over her words as the ride home from the office re-enters her mind. The hands in her lap have started to shake slightly. She takes a sip of wine. It tastes... different. Sweeter almost, but strong. The fruit seems to explode on her taste buds.

He takes a seat beside her, "Are you okay?" his hand hovers over her knee for a second before he places it gently on the couch beside her. His eyes shine with concern as they meet her eyes again. The blueness of them glimmer back at her. She finds it... intoxicating.

Sera shakes her head. She's starting to grow lightheaded, "I don't know."

"You don't know if you're okay?" he asks again, his eyes a little more concerned this time.

"No, I'm fine." Sera corrects, "Just some personal things going on."

"Personal?"

"It's hard to explain." She takes another sip from her glass. She can't seem to stop.

There's that secret smile again, "Try me."

Shyly she glances away, "I've just been going through some things these past few days. It's nothing, really."

"Sera..." The way he says her name makes her shiver. "I can tell when you are lying." "I'm not lying."

Her eyes meet his again—big mistake, still gorgeous.

"You have a face that can't lie."

"How can you tell all that? I barely know you."

He breathes, "I have a confession to make."

I knew this had to be too good to be true. Her heart begins to race, "A confession?"