“She was,” Brooke said, grasping quickly at the subject change. “I think it’s exactly what she’s looking for.”
Seth gestured something at his driver before they both moved toward the door. He waited silently as she unlocked it, her hands fumbling only slightly at the thought that she was once again spending time alone with Seth. It was strange, but as far as they’d come, as much as they knew each other—mentally, physically—all the tension of those early days came rushing back.
She wanted to beg him to tell her what he was thinking.
To know if he’d thought of her the way she thought of him.
If he could forgive her for the things she’d said but certainly hadn’t meant.
Brooke pushed the door open and stepped inside. The building, for all its newness from the renovation, still held the feeling of a structure that hadn’t been inhabited for a long, long time.
“The first tenants won’t be moving in until early April,” she said as they passed through a small but fancy marble foyer that would serve as the main reception area for the building. “It’s fourteen floors, the bottom twelve all office space. But there was dispute over the top two floors, some wanting to lease it as executive offices, others thinking it would be a better investment to turn it into residential space.”
“Who won?” he asked as she pushed the button on the lobby elevator.
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. Secretly, I’m hoping residential, because I can’t imagine a better place to come home to at night—not that I could near afford it—but I’m not sure it’s been decided yet. Whatever it is, it’ll be a long-term investment. It’s just open space right now. They’ll need to figure out the floor plan, kitchen, appliances, blah, blah, blah.”
Seth shook his head as they stepped into the small elevator. “Nightmare. All of this should have been planned from the very beginning. If this were one of my hotels—” He broke off, and she winced, wondering if he was remembering her callous words from before.
“Yes, well, there’s a reason why the Tyler Hotel Group is one of the most successful in the world,” she said quietly.
The elevator started upward, and they said nothing more until they reached the top floor. Seth reached out, setting a broad hand against the open elevator door and nodding her forward.
Brooke stepped out into the open space, the high heels of her suede boots clicking smartly against the dark hardwood.
“They should have done carpet,” he muttered, glancing down. “More practical.”
“Oh, no way,” she gasped. “There is nothing better than hardwood.”
His lips twitched. “I don’t think you understand just how much I’m trying not to make a joke right now.”
It took Brooke a moment to catch up, and she laughed when it clicked, grateful that she hadn’t completely killed his already hard-to-find sense of humor.
Brooke spread her hands to the side. “So?”
He glanced around, and she tried to see the building through his more trained eyes.
Still, regardless what lens someone was viewing the room through, she couldn’t imagine any fault. The dark floors contrasted perfectly with the white walls, the windows were plentiful, and delightful arches were sprinkled in among built-in enclaves for window seats, decor, or cozy cuddles.
She moved toward one of the windows in the middle of the wall. “This is the best view. The angle of the Brooklyn Bridge looks like something from a movie poster.”
He moved behind her, not quite crowding her, but close enough that she could feel his warmth. Smell his scent.
“It’s beautiful.”
She swallowed, her brain knowing that he was talking about the scene before them, her heart—her stupid heart—wishing that he were talking about her.
Brooke moved aside before she could lean back. Or worse, put her hands on either side of that window, arch her back and beg him to take her from behind right there, right now. She hadn’t gone with the sexy dress that Heather had recommended, but Seth had proven extremely adept at removing her clothing, and it would be oh so easy . . .
Damn it.
“So as you can see, there’s plenty of space,” she said, moving back toward the wall with the light switches. The romantic shadows were messing with her head. She pressed onward. “The lack of interior walls gives us amazing flexibility. Dance floor in the middle, dance floor in the corner. We could go with a circular layout, or more linear. We could even—” Brooke flicked the lights on with one hand, turning back to continue giving her sales pitch, but he was right there.
Right there.
She walked directly into his hard chest, having barely a moment to register surprise before his lips closed over hers.
The kiss was slow. Taunting. As though he knew exactly what she wanted, and what she wanted was this. Him.
Brooke kissed him back with everything, her tongue reaching for his as her fingers closed on his lapel, dragging him forward so they bumped awkwardly against the wall.