Page 48 of How to Love Your Neighbor
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Noah left the bedroom, following after Grace, but Josh stopped him on the stairs.
“Think it through, man. Don’t just storm over trying to fix things.”
“I forgot about the land survey.” He ran both hands through his hair. Damn it. He’d done what he would in any other situation, only this one was different. He’d hurt heragain.
“We have Emily here. Let’s focus on that,” Josh said in a quiet voice, glancing back to the bedroom.
Emily Swanson. A former interior designer turned writer forHome and Heart, a world-renowned magazine featuring home renos, how-to features, and a selection of covetable houses. Several famous people’s homes had graced the pages, and Josh had used a connection to get Noah’s remodel in an upcoming issue.
“I didn’t mean to upset her,” Noah said, more to himself than to Josh.
His assistant crossed his arms over his chest, tipped his chin up and his gaze down. SurveyingNoah.“Focus.”
Emily joined them, a strange smile tilting her painted red lips.Shit. Please don’t say I’ve blown it.This magazine spread would be a loud and glossily clear message to his father that he’d arrived. That he’d be just fine on his own two feet. That he was paving his own path with success.
“Emily, I’m so sorry,” Noah said, turning on his deal-closing smile.
“Please. Don’t apologize. Is everything all right?” She walked to the curved railing, put her manicured hands on it.
“Just a neighborly dispute. I’ll sort it out later. Come on. I want to show you what I plan for the guest rooms,” Noah said, heading back up the stairs and leading them down the carpeted hallway.
Emily stayed rooted to her spot, so Noah turned, gave her his full attention, his body vibrating with the tension of wanting this to go well and wanting to chase after Grace.
“That woman is your neighbor?” Emily asked.
Yup. His pissed-off neighbor who just outed him for his home-renoinabilities. “She is.”
“She’s fiery. Great energy.”
Josh laughed. “Noah seems to bring it out in her. Frequently.”
Noah’s stomach pitched at the little “hmm” sound that came from Emily. He sent a quick glare to Josh, who shrugged, his smile wide.
“I want something different for this feature. Something unique. Something that will bounce off the page.” Was she just talking to herself? She was looking around his upstairs like she could see things he couldn’t. “It’s an incredible space. I like the old Hollywood vibe.”
That was a good sign. “Yes, I agree. It’s got so much potential and I plan on being part of each room.”
“You have a designer?”
“In the works.” Damn, he needed to make a choice. Why was he waffling?
“How about an assistant?”
Josh cleared his throat. “Right here.”
Emily crossed her arms over her chest, looked back and forth between them. “The chemistry between you and the girl next door is captivating.”
Shit. Could they just focus on his house?
“Oddly enough, Grace is finishing up her degree in design,” Josh said.
Noah’s jaw dropped. What the hell was he doing?
Emily’s expression turned nothing short of gleeful. She actually clapped her hands as if Josh had just put on a show.
“This is too good.”
