“A while.” Or maybe he wouldn’t hold the compliment. It was bad to hold things in, wasn’t it? “Long enough to admire your butt.”
Confusion clouded her eyes. “Instead of staring at my butt, you should be dealing with your pet. Your cat has issues.”
Not only my cat, he thought. “I wouldn’t argue with that.”
“She was happy enough to eat my food on Saturday, but apparently she needs to be the one who decides where she eats. She wasn’t impressed that I was the one that put food in her bowl.”
“She’s giving you problems?”
“Nothing a therapist couldn’t sort out given a couple of years.” She pushed her hair back from her face and he reached forward and gently removed her glasses.
“You don’t need to wear those when you’re with me.”
“Matt—” She made a wild grab for them but he folded them up and slid them into his pocket.
“What do you think they do, Frankie? Cover up the fact you have pretty eyes?” They were a washed shade of green and they reminded him of a Scottish hillside or an English garden after a shower of rain. She looked so disconcerted he wanted to hug her. “You need to stop hiding.”
“I’m not hiding.”
“You’re hiding. But you don’t ever need to hide from me.” Knowing that he’d pushed her enough for the time being, he turned and put his laptop on the table. “Thanks for feeding Claws. That’s twice in one week. I owe you for the favor, plus extra for danger money.”
“You don’t owe me anything.” She was balanced on her toes, poised to run, and he decided that the best way to get her to relax was to talk about work.
“I spent the morning trying to find a horticultural specialist who can step in and replace Victoria. Do you have time to take a look at the plans? I’d love to hear your thoughts.” He was banking on the fact that Frankie was too passionate about her job not to be intrigued by the project that was currently occupying his every waking moment, and he was right.
“Sure.” The wary expression on her face faded. “Tell me about the project. What was the brief?”
“Architectural style with sustainability. It’s a multifunctional space. General living, family time, some corporate entertainment. They have a social conscience. Green roofs reduce heating and cooling costs. They’re reducing their carbon footprint. Everybody wins, including me.”
“It’s not winning if it gives you a nervous breakdown. Couldn’t Victoria have stayed another few weeks to give you a chance to find someone?”
“Her mother is sick. That has to be her priority. I understand that. Maybe I’m more sympathetic to that than most because of Paige.” He didn’t elaborate. He didn’t need to. Frankie knew all about the health issues his sister had suffered growing up. “It will work out.” He’d learned early on what mattered in life, taught himself to fix what he could fix and find a way to live with what he couldn’t.
“I made a few calls today.” Her tone was casual. “People I know whose skills are perfect for you. Most of them are busy. One of them will be free in October.”
Knowing how busy they were at Urban Genie, he was touched. “You did that for me?”
“You need help.” She dismissed it as nothing but he knew it wasn’t nothing. She’d taken time out of a horrendously busy schedule to try and help him.
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“You’d do the same for us.”
He noticed she chose the word us rather than making it more personal.
Frankie, he was realizing, had a big problem with personal. Far bigger than he’d first thought.
“The problem is that October is too late for this project. I need someone who can hit the ground running, who knows how I think and who has the same creative vision.”
“And where are you going to find someone like that?”
“I’m looking at her.”
Those green eyes widened. “You mean me?”
“I saw your expression when I described the project—admit it, you’re interested.”
“It’s true that roof gardens have their own charms and challenges but I have a job. Urban Genie is in its infancy and—”