Page 79 of Sweet Siren
She stared at him. He was not a king defending his realm by force. But a king of commerce with enough humility to display it in his style of a new home. "Did you hire Roger because of hisreputation?"
He narrowed those piercing silver eyes at her. "I did. Not because you worked for him, Liv. If that's what you're really asking me. I had asked among my friends and acquaintances for recommendations for architects. I'm not in the habit of hiring people unless I'm impressed with their potential. And though I knew you worked with Roger, I planned to see you again whether or not you worked on myprojects."
"Thank you. I had toask."
"Iunderstand."
"Shall we goin?"
"We should," she said, her hope to resolve their conflict growing more positive by theminute.
Stepping through the hollow of what would become the double doors into the foyer, they stood on the Italian cream and honeyed marble parquettiles.
"As you can see if you stand here," she said and took his hand to lead him nearer to her, "you turn right to climb the grand staircase. Or if you wish to turn left you have a straight line of sight from the entrance through to the long gallery and large French doors leading to the outside terrace and the Dominican arches. Your view of the sea will be unobstructed. On a clear day, this will be a sweep to the sun and the water. With the doors open, I predict you'll hear the waves upon theshore."
She stood entranced by theprospect.
When she tore her attention to him, he was smiling down at her. "You hear themnow?"
She nodded. "Even though it’s not high tide? Ido."
"Show me the rest." He offered his armagain.
This time when she took it, she felt a rush of joy. He was here. He'd come to be with her, enjoy her company and he was not angry. He was not demanding explanations, but had come, she was certain now, to see if there was hope they might find a way forward into a future. At least asfriends.
And if I am fortunate, perhapsmore.
