Page 13 of Bad Star

Chapter Seven

Rainn listenedto the car wheels roll over the gravel of the driveway for quite a distance.

“You have a big garden,” she guessed.

“Yes,” said Jack, surprised, as if he had never noticed it before. “I suppose I do.”

“Do you spend a lot of time gardening?”

Jack laughed. “Not a lot.”

“So you have a gardener?”

“Of course.”

Jack led her up the steps to the front door and she listened very carefully as he opened it and they walked into the vast hall.

“The house is big too,” she said. The door closed behind them and Rainn listened to the echo. “You must have a cleaner.”

“Correct,” said Jack.

“Is she here today?”

“No, just you and I.”

Rainn sniffer the air. “It’s clean,” she said. “Your cleaner does a good job. But there’s not much furniture. I can tell that much.”

“I like to keep it minimalist,” he said and took her arm. “Let me show you around.”

Rainn’s heels clicked on the floor. “No carpets,” she said. “Is it marble?”

“That’s right. There’s a few throws, a couple of rugs, for when I want to, you know, relax.”

They toured round the ground floor, Rainn making approving comments.

“I can’t believe how big it is,” she said.

Jack smiled. “It’s probably too much for one person.” He gazed at the curve of her chin and traced the line down her neck and between the buttons of her blouse.

Rainn smiled. “What?” she said. “What is it?”

“Oh, nothing,” said Jack. “Let me show you upstairs.”

He guided her up the steps with one hand on her back.

“A spiral staircase,” said Rainn. “I feel like a princess.”

“You look like one too.”

He took her into the two smaller bedrooms and she asked him to describe the furniture as she held onto the curtains and stroked her hand over the bedding.

“And this is my bedroom,” he said and ushered her in. He watched her as she walked around, carefully touching the objects she came across. He enjoyed watching her body move. It was a great pleasure, he realized, to watch her like this, without making her feel uncomfortable under his gaze.

“It’s a lovely room,” she said. “What’s this?” she asked as her hand came across a door handle.

“Bathroom,” said Jack. “Take a walk inside.”

Rainn smiled and opened the door. “Ooh,” he heard her say, “is this a hot-tub?”