Page 60 of Designing Love
I chuckle helplessly, reaching over to gently dust his shoulders. “It’s OK. It’s fixable.”
He smiles softly, eyes meeting mine. “It’s good that you’re here to supervise.”
My pulse quickens. I clear my throat, suddenly shy. “You clearly need supervision.”
He laughs, stepping closer, fingers brushing my cheek gently. “That’s why you’re here, right? Keep me from wrecking everything?”
My breath catches as his thumb lingers softly against my skin. “Exactly.”
A scratching noise suddenly breaks the intimate moment. Ethan steps back, raising an eyebrow warily toward the gaping hole he just created.
“Did you hear that?” he asks, suspicious.
I edge closer, squinting through the plaster dust. “Maybe it’s…”
Without warning, a furry face pops through the hole, eyes wide with startled indignation.
Ethan jumps back a good foot, nearly colliding with me. “Oh my gosh! It’s — it’s a raccoon!”
I laugh, clutching my stomach, tears streaming down my cheeks. “I think he’s saying we owe him rent now.”
Ethan groans, shaking his head, chuckling despite himself. “This house is a literal zoo.”
The raccoon, deciding we’re beneath his dignity, vanishes back into the wall.
We exchange an amused glance. “Maybe we’ll leave this particular wall alone for now,” Ethan mutters.
“Agreed,” I grin, jotting a sarcastic note onto the clipboard. “Raccoon residence: Do not disturb.”
We move on to safer tasks, my heart feeling lighter with every passing hour spent beside Ethan. Gradually, laughter fills the once-empty rooms, our easy banter a comforting backdrop to the chaos.
Later, as Ethan rolls out fresh blueprints on the makeshift plywood table, he nudges me gently. “So, since my wall demolition skills clearly need refining, tell me more about your vision. What’s next?”
I glance down at the plans, suddenly thoughtful. “I guess I’ve been wondering — what we should do with this space. We’ve never settled on rental? Office space?”
He clears his throat awkwardly, suddenly very interested in the edge of the blueprint. “No. I, uh... I suppose we haven’t.” He tilts his head, observing me, eyes sparkling. “But I think you already have a plan cooking in that talented head of yours.”
I blush, suddenly shy. “Maybe a small one.”
He leans closer, eyes bright with curiosity. “Care to share?”
I bite my lip nervously, excitement bubbling. “Well... what if we turned this into an office?” I respond quickly, cheeks burning. “My office. I could rent space for my office, I mean! Maybe it could even be our offices, if you want. A place I can design, research, and meet clients. A home base. Somewhere that feels creative and... mine. Ours.”
For a moment, Ethan doesn’t speak. My heart sinks slightly.Did I push too far?
Then, a slow, warm smile spreads across his face. “Sophia, that’s perfect. Actually, that’s brilliant. We could also rent out space, for out-of-towners that want to do some work.”
My shoulders relax, relief flooding through me. “Really?”
“Absolutely. You’re a designer. You need your own space. And I... I would make a more professional impression if I had a formal office, plus separating work and home sounds great. Honestly, I like the idea of this place having a new life. A second chance.”
My pulse quickens, excitement mounting. “We could open the main floor and keep it welcoming and cozy for client meetings. Upstairs would be workspaces, maybe a drafting area, mood boards everywhere...”
“Neighboring offices?” Ethan adds hopefully, a playful gleam in his eyes.
I laugh softly, nudging his shoulder. “I think I can accommodate that.”
Suddenly, we’re both leaning over the plans, rapidly sketching ideas, and notes fly between us. Ethan points enthusiastically at the small front room. “What if this is your client lounge? Comfortable chairs, bookshelves filled with design inspiration, great coffee…”
