“You have an incredible view,” she said. “Is it like this all around?”
I nodded. “I can show you.”
“Sure, we’ll have a look now. I just wanted to get a feel for what you have in mind. What do you like? Any preferences? Any hard nos?” Her eyes were large and deep, a chocolate brown almost as dark as her hair. I could get lost in those eyes. And her mouth was mesmerizing.
“Parker?” she asked.
“I uh ... no.” I cleared my throat and snapped out of the spell. I’d been staring. “I don’t have any idea what I want or don’t want. I haven’t really thought about it.” I rubbed my forehead. “I just provide the living space, you know? My job isn’t actually decorating them.”
“Right,” Emily said, and her eyes danced with laughter. Was she laughing at me? “Well, how about this. You don’t strike me as the kind that wants to go over the top. I’m thinking minimalistic, but still a bit of style and culture. Something like this.” She reached for her tablet and pulled up a modern-looking room with square furniture and chrome finishes.
“I like that,” I said.
“Then we can add something like this.”
She showed me a picture of frames on the wall with nothing in them, Greek statues against clean walls with modern colors.
“That’s pretty cool too,” I said.
“Historic pieces don’t have to be buried in lavish designs and colors. We’ll do simple colors for each room—most of them the same, maybe with an accent wall here or there—and add in touches of art and culture to round it off. Blinds in front of your windows; I think curtains will soften it up too much.”
I nodded. “I like all your ideas.”
“Okay, great,” Emily said and smiled at me. “When we’re done here, you won’t recognize the place.”
“Do you want to see what you’re working with?” I asked.
She nodded, and we put our cups down before she stood. I led her through the penthouse suite, showing her every room. I had a spare room, a gym, a home office, and my bedroom. Three bathrooms, a guest bathroom, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and a dining room.
“This place is incredible,” Emily said, closing her eyes and breathing in.
She stopped in the middle of the apartment, where the sun fell through a skylight and acted as a bright light that lit up the rest of the apartment.
“This has to be my favorite part.” Emily stepped into the light and tilted her face up to the sun. “I think we can put a centerpiece here, something spectacular to bring it all together.” She looked at me, and I stared.
The sun turned her chocolate eyes into honey, and her dark hair glistened. Her fair skin was like porcelain, and she looked like a vision, a goddess.
The atmosphere shifted between us, becoming heavier.
“I think it’s a great idea,” I said in a hoarse voice. “Although, I can’t imagine what we can find that will work in this spot.”
“We can find something,” she said.
Her voice was breathy, and I stared into her eyes. She swayed a little. I slowly moved toward her, as if drawn by a magnet. I wanted to close the distance, and I would have, but her phone rang.
She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry.” She fished for her phone and took it from her bag, frowning at the screen. “I have to take this. I’m so sorry. I won’t be long.”
She turned away from me and took a few steps toward one of the bedrooms.
“Mia?” she asked. “Is everything okay?” She was silent for a moment. “Oh, no. Stall him. I’m almost done here. Yeah ... okay, no. Don’t tell him ... yeah. I’ll get it. Don’t worry, I won’t be long. No ... okay. Just stall him.”
She ended the call and spun back to me.
“I’m so sorry, but I have to go. Office emergency.” She blushed. “Can I make it up to you?”
“I think we know where we’re headed. Don’t be sorry. Send me a couple of quotes to consider, and we'll meet again to discuss them.”
She nodded. “Okay, yeah. I’ll have something for you in the next day or two.”