Page 14 of The Life Daisy Devlin Designed
Still, an old house in the middle of the Irish countryside was an unusual choice.
“You know Granary House used to be a bed and breakfast, don’t you?” she said.
He laughed. “Yep, but I’ve no plans to reopen it as a B&B. I’m only thirty, Daisy. We’re practically the same age, remember? Now seemed like the right time to come home and settle down, maybe have a family. I never really saw myself doing those things in the States.”
Daisy stared at him for a moment. He’d come home to settle down? It didn’t matter. She produced a small notepad and pen from her bag.
“Why don’t you give me a broad idea of what you’d like for the house?”
“Sounds good.” He sat up a bit straighter. “Where do we begin?”
“I’m slightly surprised you don’t want to start knocking walls down,” Daisy joked a while later. “Or have you really been paying attention while I’ve been going on about the house’s proportions?”
“You know I always appreciated good proportions,” Matt said with a cheeky grin.
Daisy felt heat rise to her face.
He seemed to take pity on her. “This is where I want to live. It’s important to me that it feels right. And we’re on the same wavelength.”
They were, she thought. And they’d always complemented each other’s differences. She’d been more outgoing, and had made friends easier during college. Matt had been quiet, his only real friend back then had been Brian. And later, her and Laura. But he’d been happier when it had just been the two of them.
At the time, she’d been a bit disappointed that he wouldn’t come to Galway for weekends with her family and friends, but she’d accepted that he was shy. And maybe a bit self-centred, in the way a lot of people in their early twenties were. Still, his leaving had been a shock. There’d been no clues, not a single suggestion that he was unhappy. He’d never even hinted about staying in the States.
After they’d all graduated from college, she, Laura and Brian had gone straight into jobs. She and Laura had worked for other design firms to gain experience and build their savings. While they were working, Matt had opted to do a postgrad, and when he’d finished he’d headed to New York the summer Daisy and Laura had set up their company.
He’d told Daisy it would be a four-month internship. When he’d decided to stay, it had shaken her to her core, and left her wondering if she’d ever really known him.
Or how much she knew anyone.
He pushed his plate away now. “So, decision time.”
Daisy found herself holding her breath. Matt had already paid a lot for Granary House. She’d hardly blame him if he didn’t want to spend more money so soon.
He gave a lopsided smile. “You have the job, Daisy.”
“Brilliant!” She beamed, resisting the temptation to hug him. That would definitely send out the wrong message. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
“Why wouldn’t we be?” Matt’s tone was light. “You get the chance to work on your dream house and I get the best interior architect in Dublin.”
“Right.” Daisy deliberately ignored the niggle of doubt. She couldn’t get cold feet now. She’d contacted him, she’d pitched for the job – now he was giving it to her. It didn’t matter that they had a history. “Once I see the house, and find out exactly what you want, I’ll be able to draw up plans and give you a quote.”
Matt rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Hey, it’s just money, right?”
Daisy tried to gauge whether he was boasting, but he sounded more philosophical than anything. She opened her phone diary. “I could call out Tuesday, around eleven?”
“I bought a good coffee machine. Do you still drink lattes?”
“Oh, good memory. Flat white now, but latte is near enough.” She caught the waiter’s eye and motioned for the bill. “I’d better get back.”
“I’m glad you reached out,” Matt said with a grin.
“Reached out?” Daisy laughed when Matt gave a sheepish look.
“Is the house the only reason you got in touch?” he asked.
God, she wasn’t ready forthatconversation yet!
“Um, actually, there’s an annual competition for the industry. I’d like to enter Granary House.”
