Page 114 of Hidden Nature

“If you did, I’d know you lie.”

Studying, surveying, she pushed the brim of her hat up about an inch.

And he felt something stir inside him he recognized as pure and simple lust.

“Then if I do something with it,” she went on, “I’d need to bring out the hearth another couple inches because it’s too narrow, and replace the mantel because it’s too small and flimsy-looking, and the hearth frame is old, dated, stupid-looking.”

“I don’t lie, as a rule anyway.” Amused by her, Nash spread his hands and hoped the lust died down. “When you’re right, you’re right.”

“But I’m not tearing that brick out.”

“No need to. It’s sturdy, and they mortared well.”

“I’m going to go with stucco. A simple look, a chunkier mantel. I have to at least ask my dad on that. I can’t give him two hits in a row. But the rest.”

Now she pointed at Nash.

“Popcorn ceiling goes away. New trim, paint. New light.”

He glanced up at the close-to-ceiling trio of flute-edged amber glass. “Yeah, that’s an unfortunate ceiling light.”

“Recessed lighting. Four cans would do in this size space. Five,” she corrected. “One right as you come in the front door.”

“Cleaner look. On dimmer switch?”

“Yes. And shit, another down each hallway, on separate switches. Damn it, damn it. I’m getting a glass of wine. Do you want one?”

The offer surprised him, and he realized it shouldn’t have.

The Coopers had friendly in their DNA.

If he had to live with the lust, at least he could have a drink.

“I can handle one, considering my short commute. Do you want me to measure while I’m here?”

“I’ve already got the measurements.” She brought out the wine, what he recognized as a very nice Cab.

“Why don’t I pour that, and you can take off your coat? Hat’s optional.”

“Right.”

She walked to the closet, and to his mild disappointment, took off the hat, too.

“Well, damn it, this closet door has to go, too, doesn’t it?”

At this point, he couldn’t stop the grin.

“I didn’t want to mention it.”

“Single-panel Shaker style, same natural wood as the bathroom. And I am not replacing the rest now. Just the closet. Okay, fine, the closet and the bathroom door, but that’s it.”

She walked back, picked up her wine, drank deep. “If I’m doing this, the floors need to be sanded. The ones in the bedrooms are fine. They were protected under the ugly carpet. These, sanded, stained to match, sealed.”

She drank again. “This is going to cost me. I can’t even really blame you because I’m the one who decided to redo the bathroom ahead of schedule.”

Damn it, over and above the lust, he just liked her.

“We did have the nerve to do exceptional work. I can take part of the blame.”

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