Page 33

She lifted a brow but did not comment.
The khakis and simple navy polo, paired with worn work boots, did nothing to hide her curves.
I had dressed similarly. Though I’d gone with jeans instead of khakis, and my polo was gray instead of blue. Since the moment I met her, I couldn’t look at the color blue without thinking of her eyes.
Tina moved to the back of her car and opened the hatchback, pulling out a leather messenger bag, faded from years of use. After pulling the strap crosswise over her torso, she joined me on the sidewalk, her eyes already on the building.
“She still has good solid bones,” Tina murmured, a light entering her lovely blue eyes. “They didn’t build many older buildings to last. Most of them, all you can do is tear them down. But this place, with time and money put into her, she’ll be beautiful again.”
I tipped my head back and studied the hotel front, trying to see it through her eyes.
“Are you looking to go with a style similar to the original?”
I looked at her before answering, caught a glint of what I suspected was hope. I hadn’t considered it one way or the other until that moment.
“Yes. If, of course, you think that’s doable.”
“I can make it happen.” She caught her lower lip between her teeth, a thoughtful expression in her eyes.
For a moment, I thought she’d say more. But she only nodded toward the doors. “You got the okay from the building inspector for us to enter?”
“Yes.” I’d paid a shit ton of money to get somebody at the last minute—as in almost nine o’clock last night—to make sure the building was sound. It hadn’t been in use for more than a decade, but miraculously survived storms and harsh weather without deteriorating into dangerous conditions.
Once inside, Tina stood in the entryway, gazing around with an expression that I’d carry with me for a long time. A mixture of longing, excitement, and something almost akin to lust. Or maybe it was greed—not for money, but for this place…to tackle this job and remake this hotel to its glorious days.
Not wanting to risk ruining the moment, I stayed quiet.
Several moments passed before she took a deep breath and blew it back out. She met my gaze.
“Sorry,” she said, her tone polite, but that cool edge was back, and the warmth in her eyes just seconds ago had vanished. “I just needed a minute to take it all in.”
“It’s not a problem.” Fuck. This was going to be more challenging than I thought. “Shall we walk around?”
She moved to my side without speaking, pulling a tablet from the messenger bag. She made a few notes as we inspected the hotel and asked short, pointed questions that gave no room for anything but business.
She would not give me an opening.
Fine. I’d just make one.
“Why haven’t you answered my texts or calls?”
From the corner of my eye, I saw her reaction, the way her shoulders stiffened slightly, the soft rush of color to her cheeks.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” she said. “I talked to you yesterday, didn’t I?”
“You took the call because my PA called—you didn’t know it was me,” I said bluntly. Stopping, I waited for her to turn and look at me.
I was almost surprised that she did.
But the impassive expression on her face pissed me off. I wanted to pull her against me and kiss her, strip her naked, stroke those strong, sexy curves until she begged me to fuck her.
“Are we here to discuss business or not?” she asked, voice cool.
Son of a bitch. “Business. By all means.” Leaning against a mahogany counter with a layer of dust and grime, I gestured expansively to the grand lobby. “Tell me what you think we should do here.”
I hoped her answer involved me bending her over; perhaps by the broken fountain, her hands braced on the marble edge as I fucked her.
“Well, for starters….” She turned away so quickly it was like she couldn’t stand to look at me.