But before I can fully take in the magnificence of the mansion, the front door opens suddenly, and they’re here. I immediately catch my breath at the sight of Tom Costas looking insanely handsome in a chambray button down shirt and white shorts. And before I can get over that image, Gabriel steps out from behind his brother, looking equally handsome in a soft gray t-shirt and fitted jeans.
I look down at my own outfit, feeling suddenly self-conscious. Do I look okay? I rub my hands against my thighs, the pink fabric of my dress soft against my sweating palms.
“Michelle,” Tom calls out warmly as he and his brother walk toward me. “Welcome.” He plants a soft kiss on my cheek – the touch filled with sensual promises.
“Hi, Tom.” I smile weakly, my whole body feeling like jelly.
Gabriel is less reserved than his brother. He picks me up and swings me around in a wild circle, ending the embrace with a firm kiss on my lips. “Welcome to the estate.”
“Wow, those are some greetings.” I smile at the two men, feeling more relaxed.
“Come on in, we’ll give you the tour.” Tom gestures for me to follow Gabriel into the house.
Nothing could have prepared me for the opulence I step into. In the back of my mind, I knew it would be amazing, but their house takes the word “magnificent’ to the next level.
The main hallway is open, bright, and tasteful. The ivory marble floor and delicate, crystal chandelier make me catch my breath. The entryway table holds a tall, deep blue vase that has dozens of flowers oozing from the dainty glass.
“This is the indoor winter garden. Well, that’s what our mother called it. It’s really more of an indoor porch that gets steamy in the summer,” laughs Tom.
I stare open-mouthed at the marvelous room: floor to ceiling windows, cozy couches, and dozens of ferns, palms, and tropical flowers serving as the main decoration. A winter garden? I can hardly believe that something like this exists outside of fairy tales.
“Stunning,” is all I can manage to squeak out.
“The main parlor is this way,” Gabriel says with a tinge of laughter in his voice. I can tell they’re amused by my dazzled expression.
We move forward, and for the next several minutes, Tom and Gabriel give me a tour of the first level of their sweeping, enormous home. It’s a mix of old-school class with modern luxury and comfort. Several rooms boast gorgeous hardwood floors that gleam, while others have floors of pale marble or slate. Rich, thick carpets feel plush beneath my feet, while the kitchen is easily five times the size of my studio.
“We’ll take you upstairs later, but first, we’ll show you the backyard, since we’re down here.” I follow Gabriel outside to the sunny veranda. From its elevated level, I find myself looking out onto the most stunning of views.
This isn’t a backyard. This is a park. There are lush, manicured lawns, again decorated with a colorful array of flowers and trees. The swimming pool is made up of thousands of tiny blue tiles that sparkle in the early afternoon sunlight. The pool house is a miniature version of the mansion, with grand floor-to-ceiling windows.
“We have a wet and dry sauna inside the pool house, as well as rain showers for rinsing off after a swim.” Tom’s tone is nonchalant, but I feel myself more and more in awe of this beautiful estate.
My face must reflect my shock, because Gabriel touches my arm gently.
“Michelle, are you okay?”
I look up into his stunning blue eyes.
“Y-yes,” I stammer. “I think I’m just a little overwhelmed by everything.”
They chuckle.
“It’s to be expected. Most people are when they come by the first time. Besides, we’ve been rude,” Tom says while touching my arm, his hand warm against my bare skin. “Why don’t we all grab a drink and relax for a bit? We can finish the tour later.”
I nod, touched by the brothers’ thoughtfulness.
I follow the two men back into mansion. We wind our ways through various rooms until we reach the kitchen again.
“Here we are,” Tom says as he pulls out a chair for me at a gorgeous, white-marble island counter.
“Thank you.” I plop onto the chair gratefully, suddenly feeling very tired. Maybe it’s the sun, or the presence of these two men, but I feel overwhelmed.
“Usually, we’d have drinks on the porch or in the garden room, but it looks like you could use some normalcy,” Gabriel offers again with a chuckle.
Normalcy? I almost laugh out loud as I look around splendid kitchen. The counters are all stately white marble, while the cupboards are a soft shade of ivory. The hardwood floor gleams beneath soft lights, and I’m fairly convinced I could fit my entire body into the massive kitchen sink.