on the right, a wall unit with shelves stuffed with books, and another built-in table/desk situation.
There were two desk chairs, one at each desk.
Cary pointed at the empty desk. “I cleared that off for you and emptied out a drawer. You can put your stuff there, and if you need more room just let me know.”
“This is perfect. Thanks.” I set my bag down on the table. Holy shit. I was working in his office with him?
“You can work there, or wherever you want,” he added, like he was reading my surprise. “There’s some tables out in the great room, too.” He led me back out. The end of the hallway, outside the control room, opened into a giant room. “This was the great room of the house, like a big family room. I sacrificed it to the gods of music.”
I smiled, a little awed. “I see that. It’s awesome.”
There was a step down into the sunken room, and a soaring, high ceiling. The walls were draped in heavy, dark curtains. Ornamental rugs were layered over the carpet. And luxurious, comfy furniture was arranged kind of haphazardly, including two couches and various plush chairs, some lamps scattered around. There were a few tables. There was also a glossy black piano in one corner, and several guitars displayed on stands.
Everything was neat and clean, but it was pretty dark. Just one of the lamps was turned on, some dull light flowing in from the rooms off to the far side.
“This room is pretty soundproofed, but it’s not perfect,” he said. “The back wall has some soundproofing under the curtains, but the doors and windows there, onto the backyard, just have heavy sound-dampening curtains over them. Freddy has a kitty door there, under the curtains. That’s how he gets in and out of here when the doors are closed.”
“I know. I kinda sent him in through there to find you.”
“Right,” he said, eying me like he was impressed with that. He hadn’t seemed impressed when it happened. He pointed at the glassed-in booths at the left side of the room, next to the piano. “Sound booths, for recording guitar and vocals.”
“This is really cool,” I said, taking it all in.
“It’s pretty much a self-contained suite in here,” he said, and I could tell he was proud of the space, maybe encouraged by my interest. “That over there was a little TV room and a reading nook or whatever,” he explained, pointing at the wall on the far right, where two doorless archways led to small adjoining rooms. “The one on the right is now a little gym. And the other one has a bed in it. I have a bedroom upstairs but I usually just crash in here. I might, uh, have to change that now that I’m not the only one working in here.”
“Sure. Whatever works best for you,” I said lightly. Though I wasn’t sure how good an idea it would be if I walked in to find him in bed.
He’d look way too sexy all sleepy with bed hair.
I tried to smile pleasantly and stop picturing him with bed hair, but the damage was kinda done.
I glanced at the bed, what I could see of it, and wondered if he slept naked in there.
Nope. Not good at all.
He turned and I followed, trying to focus on what he was saying. “That was a small sunroom at the front of the house.” He pointed at an open doorway just past the control room. “I turned it into a mini kitchen. There’s a washroom back down the hall, too, where we first came in. Other side of the control room.”
“Wow. You’re really prepared for an apocalypse in here.”
“It’s not bomb or zombie proof, unfortunately.”
“Maybe in the next reno.”
He smiled a little. And holy Christ, the man was breathtaking when he smiled. “I’ll show you the rest.”
I followed him back down the hall and into the house. I thought he was about to take me upstairs, but instead we headed through the arched entry into the massive kitchen. There was a small nook by the window with a low table and chairs, and a formal dining room through another archway that looked like it was never used.
“I usually keep the studio kitchen pretty stocked, so I don’t have to bother coming out here unless I’m really cooking. But that kitchen is small and pretty basic. Rose stocks all the groceries in here and in the pantry. You can help yourself to anything