Sultry Nights. Donna Hill

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      Chapter 3

      Dominique opened the door onto the first floor that had once upon a time been an apartment.

       “Here we are.”

       Trevor took in the space. The wood floors were warped and coming up in spots and some of the boards were missing. It was clear that there had been major water damage from the stains on the ceiling and the buckling walls. The kitchen would have to be ripped out completely along with the bathroom. The two back rooms that must have served as bedrooms were in no better shape. He took pictures as they walked through the space. Then they went up to the top floor that was in a similar state of disrepair before returning to Dominique’s office.

       Dominique stood in the center of her office and folded her arms in front of her. “So…what do you think?”

       “Anything is doable. It will take some work but it can be done.” He walked past her and caught another whiff of the scent she was wearing before sitting in the chair she’d been in earlier. He could almost feel her warmth.

       Dominique perched on the edge of the couch with her delicate ankles crossed.

       “I’ll take a look at the pictures, talk it over with my partner and put some sketches together based on what you say you need. I can get back to you in about a week.”

       “A week…is great. How long do you think it will take to complete?”

       “Once work is started, barring any surprises, about two to three months.”

       Her eyes widened. “Really? I had no idea it could be done so quickly.”

       He pushed up from his seat. Her gaze followed his rise.

       “As I said, barring any obstacles.” He gave her a half smile. He tucked his iPad under his arm and extended his free hand.

       Dominique placed her hand in his. “I’ll get the contracts drawn up as soon as I see the design,” she said, sounding a little breathless even to her own ears.

       “Fair enough.”

       “Can I offer you some coffee before you go?”

       “Thanks. But no. I have another appointment.”

       She offered a tight smile. “I’ll walk you out.”

       “I’m good. I’m sure you have things to do.”

       Inwardly she flinched. Was she being blown off?

       She crossed the room to the door and opened it. “Thank you for coming, Mr. Jackson.”

       Trevor met her at the threshold. “I look forward to doing business with you, Ms. Lawson.” He walked out, stopped then turned. “You really should get some ice on that knee.”

       The air got stuck in her throat. She didn’t know if she was embarrassed or ticked off by his offhanded comment. It wasn’t so much what he said, it was the delivery, as if he had one up on her.

       She spun away from the door and her knee screamed. She slammed her office door shut, limped over to the couch and plopped down. For the first time she took a peek at her knee. It was already obviously swollen. Tenderly she placed her hand, the hand that was still warm from holding his, over the knee that throbbed beneath her touch.

       Trevor’s half grin and probing eyes seemed to tease her as she replayed their meeting behind her closed lids. There was nothing special about Trevor Jackson. She’d been with much more handsome men, men with money, class and prestige, men who would do just about anything to be with her. So, what was it about Trevor that had gotten so quickly under her skin?

      He’s just not that into you.

       Her eyes fluttered open. Hmm. Not on her watch.

      * * *

       Why he drove around in pretty much a circle for nearly twenty minutes, he would never tell anyone. He couldn’t get her scent out of his head or the way she ran her tongue across her lips. He considered himself well educated, comfortable in any situation and articulate. But for the life of him he’d barely been able to string a full sentence together.

       Finally, he wound his way back onto the right road leading out of town to his office in New Orleans. It was a miracle that he hadn’t run over someone’s cat.

       He pulled into the angled parking space in front of the three-story brick building that housed his construction company. There are some things you know in life, and the one thing that he’d known since СКАЧАТЬ