Hoaley Ill-Manored by Declan Sands Read Free Book Online

middle of the huge,
marble-floored ballroom getting a lesson in the house’s colorful
history from Edgar Reeves.
    Dirk’s sexy green gaze slipped to Adam when
he stalked into the room, a cautious smile playing across his lips.
Edgar didn’t even notice Adam’s arrival, he was busy recounting a
ball he’d experienced in that impressive room when he’d been a
child.
    In deference to the old gentleman, Adam
stopped just inside the door and shoved his hands in his pockets,
silently glaring at Dirk as Edgar finished his story.
    While his ex-lover’s attention was on Edgar,
Adam couldn’t help checking Dirk out. He looked wonderful as usual.
Maybe a bit leaner and more deeply tanned than before. Adam’s
stomach twisted as he thought of all the accounts he’d read of Dirk
spending time with the attractive, gay producer. On a sailing boat,
golfing, playing racquetball at the man’s multi-million dollar
estate.
    Dirk’s piercing green gaze slipped around
the room as Edgar talked, flitting occasionally toward Adam. He had
a strong nose and a full, perfectly sculpted mouth that was almost
too pretty for a man, but somehow it worked with his other
features. Dirk’s mahogany toned hair was shorter than it had been
the last time Adam had seen him, but it still had its trademark
tousled look that made him look like he’d just rolled out of
bed.
    Adam still found it hard to breathe when he
looked at Dirk. Nothing had changed.
    A couple of minutes later, despite his
anger, Adam got pulled into Edgar’s story himself. As he stood
there, he looked around and suddenly saw the room as it must have
once been—elegant and impressive, with its now-faded ceiling
covered in bright gold-leaf frescos and new crystal chandeliers.
The tiny bulbs in the chandeliers would have been candles then, and
the seemingly endless expanse of marble on the floors would have
gleamed with newly polished brilliance. The gilding on the paneled
walls would have glistened against a creamy paint and elegant
sconces would have sent a soft, wavering light across the room,
painting a room full of dancers in tender, golden tones.
    Edgar described the orchestra, placed on a
raised platform in the farthest corner of the room, and the wide
doors that opened onto a long veranda decorated in flowering vines.
Adam could almost smell the flowers that pulled lovers outside to
enjoy their perfume.
    He looked at the chipped paint on the
veranda’s heavy, circular pillars and the dried vines clasping the
faded, red brick and felt a deep sadness. Time…and man’s uncaring
touch…had taken a truly beautiful old gentlewoman and turned her
into a penniless hag. His passion to return the hag back to her
former glory blossomed anew in his breast. Adam’s mind raced with
the vision Edgar had created in his mind and he suddenly realized
what a treasure Edgar Reeves was going to be. He couldn’t possibly
pay the man enough.
    Adam was so caught up in his plans he didn’t
realize at first that Dirk had walked over and was talking to
him.
    “Adam?”
    Adam blinked and focused on Dirk. Edgar was
standing next to Dirk, his eyes glazed with reminiscence. “Thank
you for sharing your memories, Edgar. For a couple of minutes I was
right there with you. It must have been a beautiful sight.”
    “It was, yes. I’m sure I’ve made it larger
than life in my mind, but those were wonderful times in this old
manor. I’d like to see them come again.”
    Dirk smiled at Edgar. “I can’t thank you
enough for giving me the tour. I really enjoyed it.”
    “You’re more than welcome. Now that Mr.
Hoale is here I’ll let him show you around the rest of the place.
I’m afraid these old bones don’t have the stamina they used
to.”
    Adam patted Edgar on the shoulder. “Maddy’s
in the kitchen. I think she’s got some tea brewing for you.”
    Edgar’s wrinkled face split in a wide grin.
“That sounds lovely.” He tottered off and Adam and Dirk stood
together in uncomfortable