The Honeymoon House. Patty Salier

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      She couldn’t erase from her heart what had happened at the architectural firm where she and her ex-boyfriend Kevin had been employed. Working together had destroyed their relationship and ruined a job she’d wanted more than anything. She wasn’t going to let that happen with the honeymoon house. She vowed to keep emotionally clear of Paul Richards, no matter how incredible a man he was.

      

      Mr. Harrington closed the door to his private office and turned to Paul with a concerned look on his face. “Paul, I hired Danielle Ford because I owe her sister a huge favor. Danielle’s got talent, but I don’t want to see any mistakes due to inexperience.”

      Paul felt uneasy. He remembered the Tilden house. He couldn’t afford to make even one infinitesimal error on Harrington’s honeymoon house, not if he wanted that partnership with him.

      “Don’t worry, Mr. Harrington,” Paul assured him. “The construction will go smoothly.”

      “I’ll be honest with you, Paul,” Mr. Harrington went on. “The only reason I feel comfortable with my decision is knowing you’re in charge of the construction. That’s why I’m asking you to monitor Danielle’s work on the house.”

      “Watch over her work?” he asked. The idea of monitoring Danielle’s plans felt totally wrong. “It’s kind of an awkward situation for me, Mr. Harrington.”

      “I know,” he replied. “But you’ve never worked with Danielle’s plans before, have you?”

      Paul anxiously looked away. He barely knew Danielle, yet he felt an immediate allegiance to her. He didn’t want to risk her job with Mr. Harrington.

      “I’ve never met her before today, Mr. Harrington,” he forced himself to say. He was telling the truth about that.

      “That’s why I’m depending on you, Paul,” Mr. Harrington continued. “I want my house to be flawless.”

      “I’ll make sure of it, Mr. Harrington.”

      “I knew I could count on you, Paul.” Mr. Harrington sat at his shiny oak desk. “By the way, I’m still intensely interested in your partnership idea.”

      Paul beamed with hope. “I’m glad to hear you say those words, Mr. Harrington.”

      “However, I want to get this project going first,” Mr. Harrington went on. “I also want to discuss my new children’s library with you.” The telephone rang. “I definitely want you to build it, Paul. I particularly like your recommendation of Victor Horton as the architect for my new library, especially since the three of us might go into a partnership together.”

      Paul’s spirits rose to the sun. “Victor’s a creative architect. I know you’d enjoy working with him on your library.”

      “We’ll talk more about Victor when I get my requirements for the library together,” Harrington said as he picked up the phone.

      Paul extended a warm, thankful hand. “I look forward to building your honeymoon house and your children’s library, Mr. Harrington.”

      Though the partnership deal still wasn’t signed, Paul knew he was on his way.

      

      Danielle hurried into her small architectural office on Main Street in Santa Monica. She threw down her briefcase and excitedly phoned her sister, Lisa, at the real estate office.

      “Lee, I got it!” Danielle gushed when she heard her sister’s voice. “All because of you!”

      “I knew it!” Lisa replied with joy. “Mr. Harrington loved your computer sketch, didn’t he?”

      “Just like you said he would.” She was still spinning with joy. “To celebrate, when you get home from work tonight I’m cooking your favorite Italian dinner.”

      “Oh, no, I’ve got to work late,” Lisa said, disappointed. “Then, before I leave the office, I have to phone Manny before it gets too late in New York. You’ll probably be in bed when I get home.”

      “That’s okay, Lee, we’ll do it tomorrow night.” Danielle knew how much Lisa looked forward to talking to her boyfriend, Manny, who had temporarily moved to New York for his job.

      “I’m so happy about your new project!” Lisa added enthusiastically.

      The moment Danielle hung up, she spread out her plans on the drafting table. She’d drawn a contemporary but warm two-story house in Malibu, near the ocean, with picture windows in the front facing eucalyptus, orange and lemon trees, and two large windows in the back facing a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

      She made a quick list on a pad. First, she had to call a structural engineer for the framing plans. She wanted the honeymoon house to have a strong foundation because of L.A.’s earthquakes.

      She also had to draw up the electrical and plumbing plans. She couldn’t forget the bathroom pipes! She was so excited she could barely write.

      She’d show Paul Richards she was a good architect.

      Paul Richards. She fingered the plans. She knew Paul could have easily told Mr. Harrington about her part in the Tilden house catastrophe. Why hadn’t he? Was he as attracted to her as she was to him?

      Her stomach fluttered just thinking about working closely with Paul. The sensual way he looked at her in Mr. Harrington’s office had made her momentarily forget about work.

      She put down her plans and drank a cup of cold water to calm her insides. She couldn’t allow her sexual attraction to Paul Richards to take over her senses. Hadn’t she learned the hard way that getting involved with a man she worked with only ended in emotional disaster?

      As she drank the cool water, she remembered when she’d met Kevin three years ago at the architectural firm where they’d worked together. Kevin had been selfconfident and fun, and when she’d fallen in love with him, she’d shared her secret dreams with him.

      She’d told Kevin she wanted to design a modern, high-tech house. She was sure a project of that magnitude would move her career ahead in their firm.

      Her chance came. A wealthy client appeared in the office, seeking an architect to design his ultra-contemporary home. She excitedly told Kevin she was going to talk to the owner of their company right away and request that she be chosen for the job.

      Kevin advised her to wait a little while. She listened to his advice because he loved her. He supported her. And she trusted him like family.

      A few days later, she spotted Kevin talking privately with the owner. She was thrilled. She was sure he was recommending her for the job.

      Then, one afternoon while Kevin was at a construction site, Danielle couldn’t find her drafting pen. When she searched Kevin’s drafting table for one, she felt the breath knocked out of her.

      Hidden underneath other plans was Kevin’s sample design of the wealthy client’s modern, high-tech house and a letter to the owner of their firm requesting the prestigious job for himself.

      She СКАЧАТЬ