Page 10 of Once Upon A Player
Nice.
“Hi.” I sure won’t win any prizes for scintillating conversation. “I didn’t think you were going to be here today. I’ll try not to get in your way.”
Pants on fire…
“You’re doing me the favor, coming back today.”
“Not really. I’m being paid overtime for this.”
“Good.” He strolls over and takes the case that’s filled with Mum’s tools of the trade from me, which I suppose I should take issue with, but don’t. “The coffee’s on. Do you want one?”
As we enter the room, the rich aroma of fresh coffee permeates the air, and my mouth waters. While I’m a strictly tea girl first thing in the morning, I’ve already had two mugs at home, so I reckon I’m due for my first coffee of the day.
“That’d be nice.”God, stop using that word.I glance at the rug so I don’t keep gazing at him. Luckily, my hard work there appears to have paid off. “You know, you should really rethink the positioning of that rug. It’s not meant for a high traffic area.”
Did I just say that out loud? What’s wrong with me? Nobody wants an unsolicited opinion, especially not any of Mum’s clients. Except it’s so obvious. Isn’t it?
“Oh?” The surprise in his tone is evident, and he even pauses on his way to the kitchen to stop and stare at the damn rug. I resist the urge to shuffle. Too late to backtrack now. At least he didn’t tell me to mind my own business which, I think, is a good sign.
Since I’ve already put my foot in it, I might as well jump in up to my neck. “Yes. I mean it’s beautiful, but it’s not particularly hard wearing. It’d be fine if you move it, say, over there.” I point to the far end of the room where there’s less likelihood of food and drink being dropped on the poor thing. “You can make a feature of it. Or even hang it on the wall for more of a statement.”
When he doesn’t answer straightaway, I risk glancing over my shoulder at him. There’s a strange expression on his face, as though he can’t quite believe I just told him he needs to rearrange his soft furnishings.
Well, shit. Me and my big mouth. Why does he have to be so easy to talk to? I can’t afford to forget Mum’s relying on this contract to open more doors for the business.
“That’s…” He clears his throat, and I steel my nerves for a put-down. “That’s an interesting idea. I wouldn’t have thought to hang it on the wall.”
The tenseness seeps from my shoulders. He’s not pissed off at all. “It’s just a thought. It cleaned up well this time, but it’s not created for the hard life.”
He comes back over and stands by my side, close enough that I can inhale his knee-wobbly cologne but not so close that he’s invading my space. Actually, I wouldn’t mind if he stood a little closer.
Stop that, right now.
“When I bought the place, all the furniture came with it. I’ve not had a chance to do anything with it yet.”
That makes so much sense. Everything I’ve seen in the penthouse so far has that perfectly coordinated visual vibe going on, but without personal touches, it’s just a shell.
“So, do you have a lot of stuff to bring with you when you move in for good?”
“Yeah.” He glances around the room, and a frown creases his brow, which is far more adorable than it has any right to be. “I don’t know where it’s all going to fit. It doesn’t even match this stuff.”
“Eclectic can work.” Oh my God, stop getting so excited. He doesn’t want my ideas on how to style his home, he’s just being polite. “Well, anyway, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
To hide my red face, I fuss with the case that he placed nearby. Why did I even follow him into the sitting room? It’s the bathrooms and bedrooms I need to tackle today. Maybe I should’ve worn the work overall to remind me why I’m here. And it’s not to flirt with the client.
I wasn’t flirting.
“Don’t know about that. I reckon I’ll need some serious help.”
I give up pretending to do something constructive with the case and turn to look at him again. Like that’s a hardship. “Let me know if you want any pointers.”
I smile to let him know I’m just kidding. Even if a small part of meisn’t. Well, who wouldn’t want to help with some styling advice in a penthouse as beautifully proportioned as this one? It’s not as though an opportunity like this comes along every day.
Stop right there.What am I thinking? There’s no way Lucas Carter wants my input, and even if he did, I doubt he’d want me to use it as part of my college portfolio.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Even though his megawatt famous smile is aimed in my direction, which can only mean he’s continuing with the whole flirty banter, hesoundsas though he means it.
