The Grand Tour

by Layne

As Ben led her up the front steps of the wide porch, Liana looked at the house and the surroundings in delight. Landscaping had been done, and there was sod laid, along with some bushes and a few flowers which had been planted in beds around the yard.

"Now just remember, sweetheart," he cautioned with a smile, as he unlocked the front door. "The place is mostly empty. I figured we'd spend tonight and tomorrow getting acquainted with the place a little, and then go down and stay a coupla days in Sydney. Buy furnishings and whatever else we're gonna need."

Ben enjoyed the look on her face as Liana entered the door and looked around her. There was an entry hall with a den off to the left. A huge den with a rock fireplace. They wandered through a kitchen, a dining room, a bathroom and two bedrooms. Then down to the basement. A large, finished basement, with a gameroom and another bath.

Then Ben led her upstairs. He'd been saving the best for last. The loft was, essentially, two rooms--a large master bedroom with attached bath, and a study alongside it. The delight had never left Liana's face, and now she turned to look up at him.

"It's beautiful," she sighed, hugging him hard. "But how did you get this done? There was only a few weeks!"

"Darlin'," he told her with a grin. "Never underestimate the power of cash. You got enough money you can get just about anythin' done. Don' let anybody tell you diff'rent."

He walked over to the deck and looked down at the view. "I sent my business manager down to do all this. Just got the key from him the day before we left. From the look on your face, I'm guessin' you like it?"

"It's perfect," she told him, sighing as she took in the view from the deck. Then she looked back at him again. "People in- in your line of work have business managers?"

Ben chuckled quietly. "They do if they're smart." He studied her intently. "I've put in too much time and risk gettin' what I have to wanna take a chance on losin' it. Just 'cause I didn't get it the way people normally do don' mean I didn't work for it."

"I know that," Liana told him, meeting his eyes. She reached out to put her hand over his and squeeze it tightly. "I'm glad you gave it up, Ben. I'm not judging you for doing any of it, but I'm happy you won't be putting yourself at risk any more. I wouldn't want to lose you."

He could tell by the look in her eyes that she meant it. For the first time in his life, there was someone who was actually happy to have him around. Someone who cared that he was safe. That was gonna take some adjusting to on his part.

Ben took her hand and led her back inside. "Well, I see Dan got us a bed like I asked him to." He grinned again. "I did figure we'd need a place to sleep for the next couple of nights. They looked at the bed with the plain white comforter on it. "I told him not to get nothin' fancy. You can replace it with anythin' you want while we're down in Sydney."

Liana sighed and looked longingly toward the bathroom. "What I really want after all that traveling is a nice, hot shower. I don't suppose we own any towels yet?" Her glance at him was hopeful.

"Brought us a couple down in the car, darlin'. Why don't you go ahead, and I'll go bring 'em up. Might take the water a coupla minutes to heat up, seein' as how it's never been used before."

As Ben went downstairs, Liana undressed and stepped into the huge cubicle. She sighed as the hot water splashed down on her. Apparently, Ben had thought of everything. That ordered and controlled mind of his that had spent so many years planning robberies was great at planning other things too.