He Said Forever(4)
Author: Ruth Cardello
Do not look at his ass.
Do not look at his back.
Keep your eyes off those thighs.
Once inside he turned, and when our eyes met again I shuddered from the intensity of his gaze. Note to self, also don’t look him in the eye.
Focus on why you’re here.
Thankfully the starkness of the entryway was distracting. Like the rooms that flanked it, it was white on white, devoid of warmth or character—the perfect blank pallet. “This is Hamilton’s son’s home, correct?”
“Yes.”
“I can see why a family would be uncomfortable here.”
Jared looked around and shrugged. “It looks fine to me.” He turned on his heel and crossed the foyer to open a set of tall double doors. “This is the home office.”
A clear glass desk that resembled something out of a villain’s ice lair commanded the center of the enormous room. “Charming.”
“Gavin and Riley’s main residence is in Back Bay. Hamilton is hoping to lure them out of the city at least for the weekends by making this home more child friendly.” He nodded toward the window. “It already has a playground.”
I followed his gaze to the white swing set surrounded by flower beds. Decorative, but I doubted a child had ever touched it. “I see that.”
He waved a hand at the fifteen-foot bare walls of the office. “I can’t imagine there’s much you’ll need to change in here so we’ll move along to the next room.”
“Wait.” I stood in the middle of the space and let it speak to me. High ceilings. Solid structure. Huge windows. Twin children. A new father who would need a place for himself but would want his family to love being in this home. A new mother who would want her physically-challenged mother to visit often and feel comfortable.
The room transformed in my mind. “With the view of an outdoor playground, this is the heart of the house. It shouldn’t be an office. It could be an amazing multi-level family room/library.” I pointed to the bare expanse of one wall. “I see a pillowed loft closed off enough to be safe for the little ones with books in low shelves that allow for some toys as well. Soundproof padding on the floor with a ladder. Possibly an elevator to make it accessible for all ages. Definitely a slide, but one large enough for older children and adults to use. Nature-based green, blue, and purple to soothe and inspire. Below the loft I see a comfortable place with tables and overstuffed chairs. Imagine a park vibe, but with more comfortable seating. It’d be the place the family would read, relax, and refresh together. Computer desks of different heights over there, partially hidden by fake bushes. The ceiling is so high and the space so large this room could have a giant tree right in the middle.”
“A tree? You’re serious?”
“Very.” He wasn’t the first to doubt my ideas, but I didn’t have to advertise to find new clients because my work held up over time and didn’t disappoint. If I was confident about what I did, it was because I’d worked hard to earn the right. So, a little doubt in the beginning never bothered me. I continued to share my vision as much for myself as for him . . . outside of watching children enjoy my designs, the initial vision was my favorite part of the process. “A fake tree. This one would be climbable, with a swing or two. And some of the higher branches would be thick enough for a teen to sit on to read so I’d design those branches for comfort as well as safety. Like a cat tree, but for kids. The floor around it would need carpeting that looks like grass with enough padding to soften a fall but also be easy to clean. The children could be . . . children.” Yes, I could see it all clearly and it was beautiful. No notes necessary when the image was so vivid, but I used a laser pen to take measurements of the room and jotted those stats down. “The ceiling needs twinkling lights to simulate stars at night. Peaceful. Playful. This would be a place the whole family would enjoy for years.”
“Gavin designed the Terraanum Building. Have you heard of it?”
“Yes.” It was well-known to local architects.
“Does he seem like someone who’d want a tree in the middle of his office?”
Although, there was some merit to Jared’s question, I said, “It wouldn’t be his office anymore, and I’ve read about the modifications that have been made to the Terraanum recently—community gardens, play areas inside and outside. Love and marriage tend to change a person’s view of what’s essential.”
Jared looked unconvinced. “You’re out of touch with reality if you think a man would give up an office like this for what you described. Kids or no kids.”
I took a few photos of the room with my phone, happy to have something besides Jared to focus on. “I’ll sketch a mock-up of my plans and forward them to you. You can contact me with Mr. Wenham’s decision, but I believe he’ll love my ideas. People don’t come to me looking for the ordinary. Mr. Wenham wants to make this house a magical place for his grandchildren and I’m confident his son will be happy with a smaller office when he sees how much his whole family can enjoy this space.”
He gave me a long look. “God, you’re convincing.”
“I believe the word you’re looking for is talented.” Yeah, I said it, but he was so arrogant it was practically my duty to take him down a notch or two.
His mouth curled in a half smile. “That too, I’m sure.”
My cheeks warmed, but I refused to take that bait. Instead, I said, “I’d love to see the next room.”
He didn’t move at first, then nodded. “Sure. Dining room? Kitchen? Or one of the bedrooms?”
I tripped at the last suggestion. He caught me by an arm and steadied me. The touch of a man other than the one I was about to marry shouldn’t feel as good as his did. I yanked my arm free. “Thank you, but all I need to see is the first floor. I’ll be upstairs later . . .” I almost added alone but was glad I stopped before uttering it.
“Of course, then follow me.”
I did, kicking myself mentally the whole way. By allowing myself to get flustered, I was giving off the exact opposite message I needed to be sending. I wasn’t interested in flirting or anything beyond the tour. Although I’d already clearly stated my reason for being there, it was difficult to stop blushing every time he looked at me.
The dining room was, shocking, all white with a long glass table that could seat an entire football team. I couldn’t imagine a family, even a large one, relaxing enough in that room to enjoy it. I made a quick note of small changes to fix that.