The Honeymoon House. Patty Salier

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      “His name is Paul Richards.”

      Danielle’s legs suddenly felt weak. “But Paul is a building contractor, not an architect.”

      “I know, but Mr. Harrington’s secretary told me that Paul Richards wants to form a partnership with him,” Lisa hurriedly explained. “And Paul can’t take a chance on your screwing up on the plans.”

      Danielle couldn’t breathe. “You mean, if Paul Richards is displeased with my work, he could tell Mr. Harrington and then I’m off the job?”

      “I don’t know, Sis.”

      She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t want to believe it. “I knew it was a mistake.”

      “What?”

      “I invited Paul Richards over for dinner tonight.”

      “Why’d you do that?”

      “I bumped into him at the supermarket.” Bumped? Her cheeks flamed as she thought about his hard body under her on the store floor. “He had a frozen dinner in his cart. I felt sorry for him.”

      Lisa’s right eyebrow shot up. “Wait a minute. Is Paul Richards single and cute?”

      Danielle cleared her throat. “Well, yes, he is.”

      “Wow!” Lisa exclaimed. “Now what’re you going to do?”

      “Don’t worry,” Danielle said in a shaky voice. “I won’t get involved with him.”

      “But you’re attracted to him, and if you work closely with him, what if—”

      “I won’t let that happen, that’s all.”

      If she was so sure, why was her hand trembling as she washed the lettuce in the sink? And why did she feel crushed at learning Lisa’s news about Paul?

      Was it that she didn’t like Paul being her watchdog on the job? She shook the water out of the lettuce, feeling anxious and upset. Or was Paul Richards already more to her than just a co-worker?

      

      As Paul drove his van toward Danielle’s street in Santa Monica, Butch’s words echoed in his mind: “Falling in love, are we?”

      He shook his head. How could he be falling for Danielle? He’d just met her. Besides, being in love meant sharing his life, didn’t it? He had no idea how to blend his solitary existence with a woman like her.

      He found himself pulling into a mini-mall at the corner of Wilshire and Barrington. He got out and walked straight into the flower shop.

      Danielle Ford is the architect on the honeymoon house and that’s all, he silently reminded himself.

      The elderly saleswoman came up to him. “Are you looking for a bouquet for your girlfriend or wife?”

      He shifted uncomfortably on his feet. “For a woman—I mean, a friend—I mean, a woman friend.”

      “I understand,” she said with a knowing smile, and led him to the roses.

      

      

      In her bedroom, Danielle glanced anxiously at the digital alarm clock on her bedstand. Paul was scheduled to arrive in fifteen minutes.

      Her stomach felt jittery as she slipped on her silk, melon-colored dress. She fluffed her hair and lined her lips with hot-pink gloss. Though she tried convincing herself that she was getting dressed up to celebrate her new job, she knew better.

      No matter how hard she denied it, Paul’s coming over excited her. She knew how difficult it would be to fight her powerful attraction to him.

      The telephone suddenly rang. She stared at the phone, hesitant to answer it. Was Paul canceling? She realized how disappointed she’d be if he was.

      “I’ll get it!” Lisa called from the living room.

      Danielle heard Lisa pick up the phone. She nervously waited for her sister to say it was for her. She heard Lisa laughing and hurried into the living room.

      “Who is it?” Danielle whispered.

      Lisa’s eyes were aglow as she mouthed, “It’s Manny from New York! He misses me!”

      Danielle sighed with relief. Paul was still coming. Even though she was stung by the idea that he was going to monitor her plans, her hands were perspiring just at the mere thought that he’d be at her apartment any second.

      In the kitchen, she stirred the meatballs in the tomato sauce with a wooden spoon. She checked the lasagna and foil-covered garlic bread baking in the oven, wanting it to be perfect for Paul. Paul? The dinner was for Lisa, Lisa, Lisa! What was going on with her?

      She boiled the water for the macaroni. You invited Paul over because it was the polite thing to do, she told herself over and over again.

      Just as she put the macaroni into the pot of water, the doorbell rang. Her heart hammered. She apprehensively touched her hair and smoothed down her dress.

      She glanced into the living room, hoping Lisa could greet Paul, instead of her. But Lisa was oblivious as she whispered love words to Manny into the phone.

      I invited Paul over for good business, business, business! she repeated in her mind.

      Danielle took a deep breath and opened her apartment door. Paul’s charcoal eyes lit up at the sight of her. He looked handsome in his snug jeans and white shirt with the top two buttons open, revealing his tanned chest.

      She grew warm inside, totally forgetting her resolve. “Paul, you’re a few minutes early.”

      “I couldn’t wait to see y—I mean, eat your Italian dinner.” He took in a whiff of air as she let him inside. “Ummm,” he hummed. “Your sauce smells delicious.”

      His deep, gravelly voice sent a tingle across her skin as his gaze remained on her. Why did she feel he was talking about her?

      She swallowed. “Make yourself at home, Paul.”

      From behind him, Paul pulled out a bottle of Chianti and a vibrant bouquet of yellow roses surrounded by baby’s breath.

      Her heart swelled. “For me?”

      He shrugged, looking shy and slightly embarrassed. “I happened to pass a liquor store and flower shop.”

      She was thrilled. “The roses are beautiful.”

      She set the Chianti on the kitchen counter and slipped the sweet-scented flowers into a crystal vase.

      “Paul, sit down,” she invited. “I’ll pull Lisa off the phone so you can meet her.”

      

      As Paul sat on a kitchen chair, his eyes never left Danielle. He СКАЧАТЬ