You two do realize I can hear you, Cole drawled.
Emilys face flushed red as she straightened in her chair. Were not talking about you, she snapped.
I know. Youre talking about Emilio. Cole looked up again, his gaze boring deep into Emilys this time, anger lurking in the sapphire depths of his eyes.
As the tension thickened in the room, Jenny started to rise from her chair. Why dont I just leave you two-
No! Emily snapped. Sit down. Were choosing your new house. This one. She pointed to a set of plans. I like the contemporary hardwood floors, and all that glass.
Jenny turned her attention to the blueprints for the two-thousand square foot single-story custom house. The floor plan looked very elegant, ultramodern, with lots of planes and angles, and great circulation space between the bedrooms, kitchen and a glassed-in deck which could overlook the lake.
The front doorbell sounded, and Cole rose swiftly from his chair. Since any one of his staff members would answer, Jenny assumed it was his excuse to leave. She also didnt expect him to come back.
Look at all those built-in closets. Emily spoke with what sounded like false cheer. Youd have tons of room for the new wardrobe. I can picture it now, entertaining, dinner parties.
Emily- Jenny began.
What?
This thing with Cole. Are you feeling-
Im fine.
But-
The front door banged shut, and footsteps sounded down the hallway.
Hes coming back, said Emily. Dont worry about it. I can handle Cole.
only if shes not too busy, came the sound of Mitchs voice.
Jenny stilled, her stomach clenching.
Shes in the dining room, Cole responded, and Jenny met Emilys eyes.
Emily reached out and squeezed her hand. Are you okay?
Jenny gave a determined nod, ignoring the butterflies circling in the pit of her stomach. I can handle it. We spoke a few times at the office today. It was fine. Im doing fine.
Emily? came Coles voice as he appeared in the arched doorway. Mitch needs to talk to Jenny.
Emily pivoted in her chair. Im not going to-
Emily, Cole growled. He jerked his thumb toward the hallway. Now.
She opened her mouth, obviously about to refuse his command, but then something in his expression seemed to stop her.
Fine, she ground out, bringing her hands down on the glass surface of the table as she rose from her chair. But Im not going out of earshot. She gave Jenny a significant glance. Call me if you need me.
I will. Jenny fought a smile. She was warmed by Emilys protective instincts. Not that theyd be remotely necessary.
Then, head held high, Emily crossed the room to Cole. Jenny noted that he put his hand on the small of her back as he ushered her out of the room.
Mitch immediately filled the empty doorway, tall, broad-shouldered, magnificently handsome as ever. She sure wished her chest wouldnt do that little hitch whenever he entered the room.
She needed to strive for equanimity. She had to stop being attracted to him. Then again, being angry with him was only marginally better. It was just as emotionally unsettling.
Jenny. He nodded, his deep voice impacting her even more than his appearance. Sorry to bother you after working hours.
No problem, she automatically responded, her attention piqued. Had something gone wrong at TCC?
His gaze stopped on the paperwork in front of her.
We were just looking at house plans, she explained.
Pick something yet?
Jenny shook her head. Is everything okay at TCC?
Mitch strode into the room, taking the chair Emily had vacated. That put him right next to Jenny, making her body respond to whatever male pheromones radiated from his pores. Her skin tingled, and her palms began to sweat.
So much for equanimity.
I was looking for the letter to the senator. The one on the subsidies from last week.
You couldnt find it in the directory? It should be under federal government, financial issues, political support. Jenny hated the thought that she might have misfiled something.
Oh. He nodded. Political support. Ill look there.
Did you need it tonight? I can log in and get it for you. Cole probably wont mind if I use his laptop.
But Mitch was shaking his head. I can get it in the morning.
Okay, she agreed. But his words surprised her. If it could wait until morning, why had he gone to all the trouble to come over here?
Eight
Mitch hadnt lost the letter to the senator. He couldnt careless about the letter to the senator. All he was looking for was an excuse to come and see Jenny. Shed seemed like she was doing okay at work today, but he was still guilt-ridden over the way hed treated her. His instinct was to apologize again. But he didnt want to belabor the issue. He supposed he wanted the best of both worlds, for Jenny to understand why they couldnt have a relationship, but for her to still like him.
Now he glanced down at the three sets of building plans. Which way are you leaning? he asked in an effort to keep the conversation going.
You sure you dont need me to-
Dont worry about it. He waved away her question. Tell me about your house plans.
I havent decided yet. She reflexively glanced down at the three drawings on the table.
Mitch swiveled the pages to face him, finding the contrast among the three designs fascinating. It was as if completely different people had picked them out.
The first was an ultramodern contemporary, plenty of glass and sharp angles, long rooms, with sleek storage systems and display cases for art. The second was attractive, but practical. Two stories, it had three bedrooms on the top floor, a nice-sized ensuite in the master bedroom and a small balcony off the bedroom that would overlook the lake. The kitchen and dining room were L-shaped, while the living room boasted a big stone fireplace. With the exception of the skylight in the entry hall, there wasnt a lot to distinguish it from thousands of other practical houses in thousands of other residential neighborhoods around the state.
It was the third set of plans that had Mitch pondering. It was all arches and detail, softness and whimsy. It seemed to have a French provincial influence, and the demo pictures showed deep carpets, scrollwork on the wood and etching on the glass. The ceilings were high, with open beams, many of the walls were on forty-five degree angles, keeping the rooms from sitting square, while little wrought-iron balconies and bay windows gave the interior a wealth of nooks and crannies and the exterior complex detail.
He lifted one of the large sheets of blue line paper. Did Emily pick this one?
Emily picked the contemporary. That ones really a token plan. You know, included so we can have three distinct choices.
Did you pick it?
I did, she acknowledged.
Now Mitch was even more curious. This plan was very unlike Jenny. Well, unlike the Jenny he thought hed known for the past year.
Why? he asked her.
What do you mean?
I mean, out of all the thousands of house plans in all the world, why choose this one as a top three pick?
There was a definite note of defensiveness in Jennys tone as she responded. I wanted to look at something completely different.
I like it, he said.
I find it impractical. She pointed to the living room, the dining room and one of the bedrooms. How could you possibly arrange furniture in there?
I guess youd turn it on an angle. Or have something custom designed. He pointed to an alcove in the kitchen. You could put a half-octagonal breakfast nook in there. Or a window seat and a planter. There are a thousand things-
I dont know why I even added it to the list. Her lips compressed into a line, and she folded her hands primly in her lap.
He covered her hands with his own. Im not your mother, Jenny.
What is that supposed to mean? She pulled herself free.
It means, youre allowed to like something, just because you like it. You dont need an excuse, and it doesnt always need to be functional, practical and utilitarian.
Im not about to build an impractical house.
I would, said Mitch, meaning it. Hed build whatever house struck his fancy. And hed build it in the blink of an eye if Jenny wanted it.
He gave his head a shake, chasing away that ridiculous thought. Jennys taste was irrelevant when it came to his house.
He gave his head a shake, chasing away that ridiculous thought. Jennys taste was irrelevant when it came to his house.
Those bay windows all add cost, she told him. Theyll be a pain to clean, and I cant afford custom furniture.
Youll have the insurance settlement to spend.
She gave him a sharp glance. You know what I mean.
What if you had an unlimited budget?
I dont.
Play along with me for a second. If you had an unlimited budget?
She mulishly set her jaw.
But he waited her out.
Fine, she capitulated, pointing to the French country plans. If I had an unlimited budget, Id add a big deck out back overlooking the lake, and a turret up front. She moved her finger. Right there. With a round room on the top floor that had window seating all round. Id buy dozens of pillows and curtains with ruffles, in a floral pattern that looked like a country garden. It would have deep, cushy seats, and a thick green carpet.
Green?
Like grass. And everything would be soft.
He took in her rosy cheeks, the pout of her mouth, the moss green of her eyes and the way her dark lashes slowly stroked with each blink. Soft is nice.
This is ridiculous. I dont know how you talked me into daydreaming. She shook her head, moving back, appearing to physically distance herself from the whimsical house plans.
He continued to study her expression. As usual, his desire for her battled its way to the surface. But it was tempered this time, tempered by something warm, something soft and protective. His voice went husky. Its not ridiculous to have dreams.
She twisted her head to look at him. A person should stay away from dreams that have no hope of coming true.
On impulse, he smoothed a stray lock of her hair back, tucking it behind one ear. Those are the only kind worth having.
She rubbed her cheek where his hand had touched it. Really? So, what are your dreams, Mitch?
It was impossible for him to answer. Because right then, he was toying with a dream that involved Jenny and forever.