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Julia struggled to not look back at Lucian as she left the roo to follow them? She sure hoped not, because it would be hard to focus on her patient with hi at her like he wanted a repeat of--

Okay, she couldn’t even finish that thought

Thankfully, Lucian appeared to remain behind as Devlin escorted her up the interior staircase to the third floor Pushing aside all thoughts of hi up enthralled by all the ork and beauty of the hoold color, the trith of the hallways an antique white There were paintings she’d never seen before, so realistic that she could almost smell the earthy scent of the bayou or hear the sounds of Jackson Square

"The ork in the ho What appeared to be vines were carved into the rich wood

"Most of the ork you’ll see has been done by Gabe," Devlin explained, surprising her "He’s been working at it for the last decade or so"

"Wow He’s very talented"

He nodded in agreement "We have dinner here at six-thirty You may join us if you wish," he offered, and she had no idea if she could seriously sit and have dinner hoever "ere "Richard will be with you shortly to discuss access to a vehicle Since you have no set schedule, all that we ask is that if you are to leave, you advise Richard Please feel free to take breaks I know that her care does not require constant observation, but Dr Flores will discuss that eted with the strap on her purse

Devlin was quiet once lanced up at him, still a bit shocked that it was the Devlin de Vincent in front of her It was incredibly unreal that she was reading about hio and noas here

The photographs had not done him justice

"Is the third floor a new addition?" she asked in the silence between theinal house was only two levels, built in the late 1700s," he answered

Whoa That was seriously old Like old enough to be haunted She rolled her eyes at her own thoughts Why did her brain always have to go somewhere creepy?

Devlin continued up the staircase "My fao It had been upgraded before--the electricity, plu, but it needed n as the rest of the house"

At the entry of the third floor hallway, she noticed several doors "Do they lead out onto the balcony?"

"They’re more like porches, but yes There are several entryways from the hallway and fro back in her direction "There’s also an exterior staircase"

More fans churned overhead, keeping airflow going This place must be a beast to cool in the dead of summer "It’s a beautiful home"

It truly was, but there was aa shadowiness that clung to the hallways, along the floors and ceilings It was as if the wall sconces even during the daylight couldn’t cast enough light to chase them away

Devlin nodded "It was my father’s pride and joy"

Was? She found that odd considering she was under the impression that the older de Vincent was still alive She also found it weird that he wasn’t the one discussing Madeline’s care with her Maybe he ay on business?

Devlin went quiet then, and she assumed he wasn’t much of a talker, and she was fine with that After all, what in the world would they have in coht of Lucian and inwardly cringed Last night, she’d been surprised by how easy it had been for them to talk, but now? She knew it had to be an act They came from two very different worlds

Devlin stopped at the end of the hall, opening the door with pretty vine-engraved tri to the side for her to enter, Devlin held the door open as she walked in and scanned the room

By a set of double doors hite curtains drawn back, was a large chair and in that chair was a wos and was tucked in around her waist, as if soly folded it back and then smoothed all the wrinkles out Her ar limply on top of one another over her stomach Under the short-sleeve cotton shirt, her chest rose and fell in deep, even breaths