Burning Bright (Going Down in Flames #5)

“Why then?” Bryn asked.

“No reason. I just like making random decrees.”

Ivy laughed.

After breakfast they all walked to where Bryn was meeting her grandmother. Two hugs later, Bryn climbed into the backseat of the SUV where her grandmother sat waiting for her.

“I have a surprise for you,” her grandmother said. “We’re making a special stop before we go home.”

“Cool.” Hopefully it wouldn’t have anything to do with a Westgate. “Can you give me a hint?”

“No.” Her grandmother sat back in the seat with her hands crossed in her lap. “I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”

Okay then. “How are the decorations coming along for the Christmas Ball?”

“Oh, they’re lovely,” her grandmother said. “I decided to go with the gold and silver trees with the reverse color ornaments and the stars on top are a mix of the two colors.”

“That sounds pretty.”

The SUV didn’t head toward Dragon’s Bluff. “We’re not going shopping,” Bryn said. “Are we going out to my secret estate?”

“It’s not so secret anymore. I shared the plans with Lillith and your grandfather. They were surprisingly agreeable,” her grandmother said. “And yes, that is where we’re going. We’re going to pick out a color palette.”

When they pulled up to the estate, Bryn was once again amazed that she would live in such a massive and amazing place. The sand-colored stone looked even better in the daylight. The wide front porch with the columns gave it an open, airy feel. Inside the massive front door, the spiral design of the foyer floor looked even better in the sunlight. The veins of silver that ran through the floor and the walls sparkled in the light cast from the giant chandelier.

“The chandelier is beautiful.” Made of crystals and silver, it was more modern than anything she’d seen in her grandparents’ house.

“I’m glad you like it. If something like this had been available when I’d decorated our home, I would have chosen it.”

“Can’t you redecorate?” It’s not like they lacked funds.

“If I changed one fixture it would cause a ripple effect and I’d have to change dozens of other lights and fixtures. It’s far more fun to start from scratch.” Her grandmother walked up the stairs to the landing. “Follow me.”

The hallways were light and airy in a way that Sinclair Estate was not. There were clean lines and random bits of sparkle but unlike Westgate Estate everything was in good taste.

The dining room had a back wall of atrium windows which made the room glow. The giant mahogany table which took up the center of the room was gorgeous. It could seat a dozen people with no one having to worry about bumping elbows, but Bryn hoped for something a bit cozier for her everyday meals. Although, if she ever had a dinner with Jaxon’s parents and her mom and dad a little distance between the guests would be a good thing.

Her grandmother sat at the table and opened a large leather portfolio which contained several sketches of the very room they sat in. Each was done up in a different color scheme with samples of paint and wallpaper.

“You totally missed your calling as an interior designer,” Bryn said.

Her grandmother nodded in appreciation. “Is there a color scheme you’d eliminate on first glance?”

“I’m hoping there is no wrong answer to that question.” She didn’t want to offend her grandmother.

“There is not,” her grandmother said. “Since we built your home with lighter colored stone, your options for the interior can either continue with a neutral palette.” She pointed at the drawing done up in tans, browns, and creams. “Or you can go with any number of colors.”

Of her choices, there was only one that she didn’t like. “The black and gray one isn’t my favorite.”

“Then we can eliminate that one.” Her grandmother placed the sketch back in the portfolio.

One palette jumped out at Bryn. “I like the fall color scheme with the amber, yellow, evergreen, and red.”

“Are you sure you’re not just picking that because it’s familiar?” her grandmother asked.

Bryn laughed. “Well, I was until you asked me that question.”

“I tend to prefer those colors myself. We could use the darker colors as accents while keeping the walls mostly neutral warm tones.”

“I trust you.”

“Thank you.” Her grandmother beamed. “Now I want to show you the adjoining room.”

What kind of room adjoined a dining room? She was about to find out. Her grandmother pointed at a door which Bryn had assumed was a closet.

“After you.”

Curious, Bryn walked over and opened the door. Inside she found a normal sized version of the room she’d just been in. It had the same atrium windows, but the table was meant for no more than four people.

“I love it.”

“I know you prefer less formal meals on a day-to-day basis.”

Everything her grandmother did was so thoughtful. “Thank you for all of this. It’s amazing.”

“You’re welcome. It’s nice to be appreciated.”

After exploring a few more rooms which were unfurnished, they returned to Sinclair Estate. Her grandmother showed her the trees she’d designed for the Christmas Ball. They were gorgeous, of course.

“What’s on the menu for dessert this year?” Last year her grandmother had surprised her with the Christmas cookies she’d missed baking with her parents. Now that she had her parents back what would her grandmother want to serve?

“We never serve the same thing two years in a row, so I can order Christmas cookies for you, but we won’t have them as dessert at the ball.”

“That works for me.”

“For the ball, I was thinking about cake, but I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about that.”

Hmmm, she hadn’t eaten that particular dessert since someone had poisoned her using carrot cake. “As long as it’s not carrot cake, it might be okay.”

“I was thinking chocolate cake with mint frosting.”

“Sounds good.”

The days before the Christmas Ball flew by in a flurry of activity. Her grandmother involved her in most of the choices for the event which was fun but stressful.

She was in the middle of taste-testing two different types of hot cocoa when Abigail the maid came in and told her that she had a phone call from Jaxon.

“Thanks.” Bryn walked over to the phone and waited for Rindy to put the call through.

“Hello, Bryn?”

“Hey, Jaxon. What’s up?” They hadn’t spoken in four days which was a new record.

“I was wondering if you’d like to show me around the estate your grandmother is building.”

That wasn’t what she’d expected him to ask. “Sure, but where is this coming from?”

“It’s not my idea,” Jaxon said. “It’s my mother’s. She’d like to be invited, too.”

Bryn laughed. “Hold on. Let me ask my grandmother.”

She explained the situation to her grandmother.

“I wondered how long Lillith would be able to stay away. See if they can meet us there this afternoon.”



Bryn wasn’t sure what reaction she expected from Jaxon, but the silent treatment he was giving her during the tour didn’t seem right. She grabbed his elbow and let Lillith and her grandmother move farther ahead of them before speaking.

“How am I supposed to interpret your silence?” she asked.

“I’m seventy percent impressed, and thirty percent annoyed,” he said. “The estate is amazing, but if I’m going to live here I’d like to have some input.”

“Oh.” That she could deal with. “I have no issue with that. My grandmother won’t, either.” She looked up expecting to find her grandmother and Lillith. “Where’d they go?”

“I’m sure they’re down the hall.”

They continued walking and came to the stairs which led up to the second floor. “I bet they went up.” Bryn dashed up the stairs but didn’t see them. “That’s weird.”

“Let’s just look around this floor,” Jaxon said.

“Okay, but I don’t think the rooms are finished up here.”

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