He pursed his lips. “Maybe a little bit of it all. I was hoping I’d be able to make an appointment for you to stop by my house and tell me what you think.” And here come the sweaty palms. I could already tell being around this guy was going to be dangerous.
“We can do that. Let me see when I’m free.” I slid my appointment book over and opened it up. “Looks like the only day I have available time is Monday. Does that work for you?”
His smile widened. “Perfect. I’ll be home all day, so any time will be great.”
“Does two o’clock sound okay?” I asked. He nodded, and so I wrote his name down in my book. Jack Reed. I really wanted to know what Jack stood for if it wasn’t his real name. “Here, why don’t you take a look at these?” I handed him three portfolios of my work so he could see what I did. He opened the first one up and his eyes went wide.
“You did all of this?”
Getting up, I walked around the desk and sat in the chair beside his. “I did,” I replied excitedly. I skimmed through some of the other pictures until I found my favorite. “If you take a look here, I added in those fixtures and had the colors added to the crystals. My client wanted a room of color and she got it.”
He chuckled. “I see that. What made you think of doing it that way?”
“I don’t know exactly. It was just something that popped into my head, and I asked around to see if it could be done.” I watched him look through the rest of the pictures, smiling as each memory played through my mind. He handed me the portfolio and I held it to my chest. “I’m all about creativity, taking things that someone would find ugly and turning them into a masterpiece.”
“Well, I’d say you have no problems in that department. You’re a talented woman, Bristol.”
I got up and walked around the other side of my desk. “Thanks. I’m happy to say I enjoy my work.”
As I took a seat at my desk, I saw that his attention was focused on the picture of me and Ryan. “Who is that?” he asked curiously. Not that it was any of his business, but in a way, I didn’t want him to think I was taken. “I saw you with him at the restaurant,” he added.
“You did? I didn’t think you’d care.”
“How could I not? You’re a stunning woman. Any man would be stupid not to notice.”
I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks. “I’m flattered. But if you must know, his name is Ryan Delaney. He’s the new quarterback for the Carolina Cougars.”
He looked at the picture again and his jaw tensed, but then it quickly smoothed out. Was he jealous? “Football, huh? Is that the type of man you go for?”
I snorted, and his attention snapped my way. “Of course not,” I said in all honesty. “My experience with football players hasn’t been a good one. I’ve learned that the hard way.” I’d been stupid enough to think I could date one of the football players from back home, but he cheated on me multiple times when he went to the away games. His name was Mark Whitmore, a wide receiver on the Dallas team. When Ryan found out, he defended my honor by kicking Mark’s ass. After that, I figured it would be best to stay away from Ryan’s crowd and find my own.
Jack’s gaze narrowed. “Then why are you with one?”
“I’m not,” I said with a laugh. “Ryan’s my brother.”
He froze, brows furrowed in confusion. “Brother? You look nothing alike.”
“That’s because he’s my half brother. Yesterday was the first time I’d seen him in a long time. I’m glad to have him here, though. I don’t know many people around here.”
“So does that mean you won’t be hanging out with your brother and the team?” he questioned.
“Definitely not. I have no interest in meeting any of them. Football players don’t really excite me, or any sports players for that matter. I’m not saying all athletes are like this, but the arrogance is a turnoff.”
“What turns you on then?” he asked, his voice low. I wanted to say that he did, that my body hadn’t felt so electrified in over a year. The way he looked at me, talked, and even the way he smelled was enough to drive me insane. There was no way I could tell him the truth. Instead, I ignored the question.
Clearing my throat, I sat up straighter in my chair, closing my legs tightly together. “So what exactly do you do for a living?” I asked, changing the subject. From the looks of him, I’d say he was a lawyer or in some kind of moneymaking profession. Not just anyone could buy a whole Armani ensemble.
He glanced out the window and then back to me. “I went to school to be a mechanical engineer.”
“What college did you go to?”
“FSU. I’m from Florida.”
“Nice. I’m from Texas. I earned an Interior Design degree out there.”
Chuckling, he moved forward in his seat. “I thought you didn’t sound like you were from around here. I can hear the Texas twang in your voice.”
I burst out laughing. “After a year of being here, I figured I’d have lost that by now.”
“Nope, it’s still there.”
“Mechanical engineering, huh? Who do you work for?” I inquired.
“Myself,” he replied. “I design cars and motorcycles.”
“Wow, I’ve never met anyone with an artistic ability like that. Have you sold any of them?”
He shook his head. “Not yet, but I hope to.”
“That’s amazing.”
“If you’d like, I can show you some of my designs on Monday when you come by,” he offered.
“That would be great. I’m excited.”
We stared at each other for a few more moments until I couldn’t handle his amber gaze any longer. There was too much heat behind it for me to keep my wits about me. I wasn’t the type to fall at a man’s feet, and I wasn’t about to fall now.
Getting up from my desk, I held out my hand. “Jack, it was so nice speaking to you again. I look forward to our appointment on Monday.”