Falling For You

by Nicole Taylor

  His grin widened. “If you say so. Well, …what do you think?” he asked, turning to make an expansive sweeping gesture towards the house.

  “Umm.”

  He glanced back sharply at her. “You don’t like it.”

  “I wouldn’t say that...I wouldn’t quite say that.”

  “Just be honest, will you? If you think it’s ugly, just say so,” he said in that offhand way of his. That was why she felt as though she could be honest.

  “Well, it is a bit ugly,” she said with an apologetic smile.

  She expected him to shrug and say that was her opinion.

  She couldn’t have been more wrong.

  Gabriel stared at her. Just stared. And for so long, she began to feel uncomfortable. She looked down and started to toe the ground with her ballet flats. She didn’t know he was going to take it so hard. This intense glare? Like she’d just insulted his mother?

  Leiliana began filling the space with words.

  “Look…maybe I need to rephrase…It’s not that it's ugly…It’s just that I’m not really a fan of modern architecture. I just think all this concrete and steel is a little cold...and the white everywhere …too sterile, you see. It could perhaps do with a bit more color…Not that the house is ugly…really ugly…just…unusual. That is the word…not ugly. Unusual…” She trailed off because he had come to stand right in front of her, and she could hardly think much less talk.

  He framed her face with both his hands. She caught her breath. “Maybe it was unfair of me to ask so soon. I’m going to show you this house in its entirety. You can reserve your judgment until then, all right?”

  She gulped and nodded. “All right,” she squeaked.

  Chapter 12

  A s Gabriel began to take Leiliana around his house, there were a few things that started to warm her towards it. To begin, the location was an indisputable winner. The house was poised on a cliff-edge on the Howth Peninsula with panoramic sea views towards Ireland’s Eye and Lambay Island.

  She and Gabriel climbed the steps and entered the gaff area on the first floor. Leiliana was immediately transfixed by the large entrance hall with its glistening white marble floors and white tin ceiling tiles. It was not to be compared, however, to the spacious living room featuring three large windows looking out to the Atlantic Ocean.

  “It’s really bright and breezy,” Leiliana commented, her gaze roaming with appreciation.

  “This house was built into the slanted cliff face, so there is an abundance of natural light around,” Gabriel explained.

  “What about the house’s orientation? Was that strategically selected too?”

  “Yes, that was chosen to take advantage of the sun’s energy.”

  “How did you even begin crafting a house like this?” she asked, trailing her hand along the black, granite top of the ivory-stacked, stone fireplace.

  “Well, the first principle was to ensure that the entire house design was as energy-efficient as possible. This meant that we had to incorporate water, electricity, and light to minimize waste and materials.”

  “What are the other features?”

  “All the windows and doors are energy-efficient.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means.” He took her by the shoulders and gently turned her to face the windows on the south side. “You see those? Because they face south, they are double-glazed to take advantage of the sunlight in the winter months when it is low. Now that it’s summer, I close the shades to prevent excessive heat.”

  “Impressive,” she murmured, surprised she could speak, given how his hands on her were affecting her nervous system. “Although I must say, there is no danger of excessive heat right now.”

  He laughed, and to her regret, dropped his hands.

  “Believe it or not, there are days when it can get pretty hot up here.”

  They walked over to the dining room area, where the main highlight was a gold-colored chandelier. It was huge, featuring three interlocking rings of differing sizes, suspended from the ceiling via six steel rods. Leiliana stared at it for a moment. “Is this energy efficient? That’s a lot of light.”

  “It’s LED lighting. One of the features of this home is that all of the light fixtures are energy-efficient LEDs. Did you know that the average home has twenty-four electronic products that contribute to twelve percent of the electricity use? That’s what makes what I was seeking to do with the housing project so important.”

  “Speaking of the housing project. Is it near completion?”

  He shook his head. “It’s stalled right now. I really don’t want to talk about it at the moment.”

  Leiliana detected the tension in Gabriel’s voice when he said this. She wondered if he had taken her advice to speak to the government minister and what had been the outcome. She resolved to pursue that discussion another time when he was more amenable.

  She followed him into the kitchen area and, with one look, almost sighed. It was simply beautiful. A glass backsplash set the tone for sleek ivory cabinetry and stainless steel large appliances. A chromium steel hood hung over a gleaming island. Off to the side was a cozy breakfast nook that opened up onto a patio and a lounge area.

  The family room was just off the kitchen. It featured a white, leather sectional, a large-screen, wall-mounted TV, and a fireplace that mirrored the one in the living room. There wasn’t much else in the way of furnishings. No paintings, no photos, no decorative elements, but certainly, it had potential.

  Gabriel beckoned her to follow him downstairs to the ground level.

  “High thermal mass materials were also used in the walls and slab materials during construction. It provides continuous insulation and minimizes air and moisture infiltration. So at night the walls and floors absorb the cool air and store it. Then during the day, because the walls and floors are shaded, they stay cool, and so does the interior. In the winter, the walls and floor absorb the sun’s energy and heat during the day. During the night, the heat slowly spreads through the wall and floor, warming the house,” he explained.

  “That sounds truly amazing. This is a brilliant design, Gabriel.”

  He smiled. “I’m not finished yet.”

  They climbed the stairs to the upper level.

  When they reached the landing, he said. “All the bedrooms are here.”

  He took her to three ensuite bedrooms. His was perhaps the most beautiful because, unlike the first two, it was furnished, even though sparsely so. There was a king-sized bed with a panel-style headboard in grey fabric and a matching bed base, and a large wall-mounted TV. On the wall beside the bed were decorative lamps affixed to the wall. Leiliana glanced up and was impressed with the suspended lights similar to the one in the living room, three interlinked gold circles, although these were much smaller. She couldn’t help thinking, however, that such a large room could do with bedside tables and at least a one-seater chair and ottoman. A nice rug and a painting or two to brighten the walls and possibly a potted plant in the corner could also serve as enhancements. The bed, though neatly made, would be so much more attractive with a luxurious patterned covering and some throw cushions and pillows rather than its simple grey comforter.

  She stuck her head in the bathroom. It was modern and sleek, featuring both a free-standing tub and a glass-enclosed shower stall with a white and grey stone backsplash. The bathroom countertop was white granite, and the cupboards had a shiny, lacquered white finish with chrome fixtures. There were mounted lights on either side of the mirror. The only thing she would add was a vase of flowers and a rug in a brighter color to bring life to the room.

  When they left the bedrooms, they took the stairs down to the basement. The first room Gabriel took her to was the home gym. It was bigger than Leiliana had expected, but considering Gabriel’s physique, it made sense that he would want to have a room dedicated to working out. There was a treadmill in one corner and a weight machine with a speedball opposite. There were racks for dumbbells and
barbells. The red boxing bag hanging from a rope chain connected to the ceiling caught Leiliana’s attention. She went up to it, balled up her fist, and gave it a punch. It barely moved. She glanced back at Gabriel, expecting him to laugh. Instead, he came up behind her.

  “Your stance is all wrong. May I show you the right way?”

  She nodded. He lifted her hands into a boxing position and then moved her leg back, bending her knee slightly.

  He came to stand beside her, mirroring her stance. Then he made a jabbing motion.

  She followed suit, hitting the bag. This time it moved.

  “Not bad,” he commented. “Try again.”

  She did this for a few minutes, jabbing then returning to start position.

  Gabriel stood watching her, appraising her style, and making gentle corrections to her form and technique at intervals.

  After a while, she got a little winded and stopped.

  “That was fun!” she said, smiling at Gabriel, “but I’m not dressed for this.”

  “Well, next time, bring your gym clothes, and I’ll teach you how to box,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

  “Me?”

  “Yes, I’ll teach you a few basic self-defense moves. I think it’s important for a woman to learn how to defend herself if it should ever come to that.”

  “I’ve secretly always wanted to learn how to fight,” she said.

  They moved on to the library. To Leiliana, it appeared to be the only room in the house that was fully furnished. There was a meeting table with six chairs, two one-seater white couches with matching ottomans in the corners, and a computer table with an office chair. Most remarkable of all, each wall was lined with books. It looked like a mini public library.

  She surveyed the room. “Do you like to read?”

  A corner of his mouth lifted. “Are you asking if the books are just here to look impressive?”

  “I just mean that most men I know don’t like to read.”

  “You’ve been hanging out with the wrong men,” he suggested with a sly smile, gesturing for her to precede him to another room.

  Instead of leaving, she walked over to the computer table and shook the mouse. The screen came alive.

  “Is this where we’ll be meeting?”

  He nodded. “That’s my intention.”

  She smiled. “I like it here. It’s really breezy and well lit, and it looks so comfortable. I can see myself snuggling up in one of those couches with a good book.”

  He let out a laugh. “Well, don’t do that, or it may delay negotiations quite a bit.”

  She laughed and looked up at the books, then remembered something.

  “Is the book you authored here?”

  “Of course.”

  “Where?”

  He pointed it out, and she went over and pulled it down. It was a big fat one, whose spine declared it to be Tidal Energy: The Wave of the Future.

  “What’s this about?”

  “It provides an overview of concepts, technologies, management, and control of tidal energy systems and tidal power plants. It also presents the fundamentals of tidal energy and speaks to the pros and cons of the system.”

  “What are the pros?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.

  He seemed surprised at her question and took a moment to answer. But then his eyes lit up, and he propped a hip against the meeting table chair and began to speak like he was addressing a room of investors. “For starters, it’s renewable. Compared to fossil fuels, it is likely to be a present resource until the end of time. Also, it’s environmentally friendly. This means it doesn’t emit climate gases nor take up a lot of space. Another advantage is that it’s highly predictable. High and low tide develop with well-known cycles. That makes it easy to construct a system with the right dimension since we know what type of powers the equipment will be exposed to. Did you know that water is 1000 times denser than air?”

  She shook her head. “I think I fell asleep in physics class the day that was being taught.”

  He laughed. “Well, because of the density of the water, it’s easier to generate electricity at low speeds than it would be with say wind turbines.”

  “So if they are so many pros of this, why isn’t it more widely used?”

  “Mainly because the technology for harnessing this energy is still at the experimental stage. Also, because the technology is new, it is still costly. This was one of the reasons I wanted to purchase JJ Inc. I want us to be at the forefront of developing these technologies. Plus, because it’s novel, the long-term effects on the coastal and marine environment are not widely known. As a result, we still need to proceed with an element of caution and not start using this on a wide scale.”

  “It sounds as though tidal energy will be your next big project,” she said.

  “It is. Or at least I would like it to be. I actually have a project proposal drawn up. I’ve identified the area for the project and everything. I just need an investor. I can’t afford to take it on myself right now.”

  “Where are you thinking of doing it?”

  “Right here in Dublin.”

  “I’d like to have a look at your project proposal. Perhaps we can embark on a joint venture in that area once you’re able to take it on. Do you mind if I borrow your book? I’d like to read it.”

  He gaped at her. “Mind? I am honored you would want to read my ramblings. By all means, borrow it. Ready to go outside now?”

  To Leiliana’s delight, the outdoor spaces were as breathtaking as the indoors. On the terrace leading down the stairs, she paused to take in the view of the ocean and suddenly felt chilly as the breeze swirled around her.

  She ran her hands down her arms.

  Gabriel excused himself for a moment, and as she awaited his return, she stood to gaze out at the sea. It was such a tranquil view. She briefly thought about what it would be like to share this space with Gabriel and found that the thought sent a little thrill through her.

  At that moment, she felt something warm cover her shoulders.

  “Oh!” she exclaimed when she realized Gabriel had just draped a jacket around her. She sighed at the warmth the cashmere wool provided. She glanced back at him. “Thank you.”

  “What inspired you to wear a sleeveless top to a clifftop house?” he asked with a teasing light in his eyes.

  “Well, it’s still summer.” Of course, she couldn’t tell him the real reason she had worn the top was because it looked pretty and she wanted to impress him. “Besides, I traveled with a shawl,” she said, smiling sweetly at him.

  “Is it in the car?”

  “Why? Do you want your jacket back?”

  “No, keep it on. It looks good on you.” The way he said it, giving her that slow appraising gaze as he did, made her heart race.

  “I’m sure that this house is worth a fortune for the location alone. It must be considered prime real estate,” she said, changing the subject.

  “Actually, I have had inquiries about selling.”

  “Will you sell?”

  He made a face. “Of course not. This is an inheritance. Besides, I love it here. It’s the most tranquil place on earth.”

  As they walked around the house, she noted it was entirely surrounded by meticulously landscaped lawns, shrubs, and trees. And even though a single flower could not be spotted anywhere, all the green was refreshing, beautiful, and spoke of life.

  “How did you get this amazing lawn and such big trees already? Didn’t you say the house was only completed a couple months ago.”

  “The lawn was easy. It’s instant grass.”

  “Why haven’t you done this at the front. The front looks pretty bare.”

  “I haven’t gotten to that yet. Even though the house is complete, the environs are still a work in progress. I work with the gardener in my spare time, which, as you can appreciate, is in short supply these days as I travel very often on business.”

  “What about these trees? Are they instant trees too?”
she teased, nudging him.

  “As a matter of fact they are.”

  “You’re joking! I wasn’t serious. I didn’t know there was such a thing.”

  “Absolutely. I could have gone the conventional route, but I believe trees play an important role in cooling, so that was an essential design feature,” he explained as he moved off again. “With that in mind, I hired an Instant Landscape Specialist.”

  “That’s an actual job title?”

  “Indeed, it is. The title is self-explanatory. They essentially transform any space into a mature looking garden. So the gentleman, Matthew Brown, was able to provide me with semi-mature trees and instant hedges, and this is the result. But the trees are not all instant.” He placed a hand on her back and gently steered her to the right. He pointed to a few sturdy looking trees. “Those were here before I was born. I retained as many of the existing trees as possible.”

  “What types of trees are they?”

  “That huge one over there is an oak tree. That one’s an ash. And that one is a blackthorn. Come, let me show you something.” He gently took hold of her arm and steered her over to the tree he had identified as a blackthorn. To Leiliana, it looked more like a large shrub than a tree with its thin, black branches.

  “Be careful not to get too close,” he cautioned as he reached over and plucked a black fruit from one of its branches.

  “These are called sloes. When I was in school, a lad by the name of Tim Shea, and I used to have a competition to see who could eat a sloe without making a face.” He bit it, and his face started to spasm. Leiliana doubled over with laughter.

  “I’m still no better at it,” he said.

  “Let me try.”

  “You’re a gutsy lass, aren’t you,” he said, grinning as he picked one for her.

  She bit it and then immediately spat it out. “That’s awful! My goodness, it is so sour!”

  “Yes, sloes are kept for things like spirits, wines, and jams. My grandma used to make jams with them.”

  Leiliana glanced up, then suddenly stopped and pointed. “You’ve got a wind turbine!”

  “That was my next stop.” He jutted his chin towards the roof. “I’ve also got solar panels. It’s my firm belief that an energy-efficient home should strive to create as much energy as it uses by installing renewable energy measures. The ultimate goal is to achieve net-zero energy use.”