to say. You haven’t seen me in a bad mood or when I’m angry.”
“We’ll get there eventually. How do you feel about baseball? One of my frequent flyers gave me tickets for a Shrimp game tomorrow night. They’re the minor league team in town. If you and Owen are free, we could go. I think he’d like it.”
“I know he will.”
“And you? Will you like it?”
She grinned teasingly. “More false modesty, Mr. Diamond?”
Reece didn’t need words to let her know what he thought about that.
Chapter Twenty-One
Robin was in the office at Truly Scrumptious doing her usual juggling act of trying to finish lunch, order supplies, and answer email inquiries. Concentrating on anything these days was more challenging thanks to a certain person. It had been four magical weeks since she and Reece started dating. Not a day went by that she didn’t hear from him, and not more than two passed without her seeing him in person. His calls just before she went to bed had become the highlight of her day. Falling asleep was impossible without hearing his voice wishing her ‘sweet dreams’.
It was a constant source of delight to know that the two most important men in her life had formed a strong connection. Reece wasn’t faking interest in Owen to impress anyone. He didn’t talk over or around him. His affection for the six year old was real, and it manifested itself in dozens of ways. One of those was what he called ‘dude nights’ where he and Owen did something on their own.
True to his word, Reece had taken them flying. It would have been hard to decide whether she or Owen was the most excited as they’d walked across the tarmac to the plane. One second they’d been hurdling down the runway at a rate of speed that seemed to spell disaster. The next they’d been staring down at the tops of trees. Once Robin’s stomach had regained its normal position, she’d been able to appreciate the birds-eye view of Jacksonville. From the jumble of tall buildings and busy streets downtown, to the spider-like network of interconnecting highways, to the natural beauty of the coastline, there had been no shortage of something to see and admire. As she’d told Reece when they landed, she was beginning to understand why he loved flying.
Two weekends ago, he’d taken her to see his house in Sawgrass. To say it was beautiful was inadequate. This was luxury on a scale that had to be seen to be believed. The sprawling Mediterranean-style mansion sat on a bluff, its jewel-like magnificence hidden from the road by lush foliage and palm trees. The soaring ceilings and open floor plan accentuated the feeling of endless space. The décor complimented rather than competed with the unparalleled views of the blue-green ocean visible through walls of windows.
Not surprisingly, Robin had been drawn to the kitchen. To her it represented the heart and soul of a home. The long stretches of black granite countertops, floor-to-ceiling cabinets, oversized copper stove, double oven, and walk-in pantry were a baker’s dream. To the right of the kitchen was a breakfast room. Through a pair of French doors, one could access a walled garden with a fountain as its focal point. The formal dining room had not one, but two massive crystal chandeliers. The antique mahogany table and chairs could seat twenty guests for dinner with ease.
The living room wasn’t just one room; it was several areas, each opening on to the next. Reece’s paneled study led directly into the music room where his vintage guitar collection was on display. The most impressive part of the house was the ground-floor master suite. Along with a sumptuous bedroom, there was a large sitting area with a fireplace, a butler’s pantry, and a bathroom that was more like a spa experience with its extended walk-through shower and built-in tub.
She wouldn’t have been human if she hadn’t found such trappings of wealth a little intimidating. This was a world away from her existence. But that feeling hadn’t lasted long. Reece loved her, and that’s all that mattered.
Last weekend he’d surprised her with a trip to St. Augustine. It was a place she’d always wanted to visit, but had never found the time to go. Hand in hand, they’d explored the Spanish fort, browsed the shops in the historic district, checked out the art exhibit at the Lightner Museum, shared a wedge of warm fudge on a park bench, and walked across the famous