Chapter Three
Loran hated the off-season. He got so antsy without the daily grind to keep him busy. That’s why he was so psyched about this project with Bella. Not that she’d agreed to take on the job. Yet.
“Oh, hey.”
A pretty blonde looked up at him when he walked into Bella’s office with an armful of flowers.
“You’re that baseball player. Loran, right?”
“That’s me.” He nodded to Bella’s closed door. “She in?”
“She is, but I think she’s busy right now. Can I…?”
Before she could suggest he come back later, Loran tapped on Bella’s door and walked in before she could invite him. “Hey, gorgeous.”
Her eyes widened before she sank back in her swivel chair. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk a little more about that project we discussed last night.” He produced the assortment of flowers in a crystal vase. “And to deliver these.”
“They’re beautiful.” There was a smile teasing her lips. “But I’m swamped today. I don’t have time to discuss your proposal.”
“How about tonight then?” He’d much rather meet with her outside of her office. At his place, preferably. “You can stop by my house, do a walk through. I can tell you what I like and don’t like about the place. That might give you some ideas for my new house.”
“I don’t recall agreeing to design a house for you.”
He set the vase down on a corner of her desk after closing her door. “No, but you didn’t say you wouldn’t. We should at least talk more about it before you decide, don’t you think?” He wasn’t being unreasonable and they both knew she’d be crazy to turn down a high-profile project that could lead to other jobs.
“I suppose I could stop by after work.” She consulted the calendar on her phone. “Does seven work for you?”
“Perfect. How ‘bout I order Japanese?”
“That sounds great.” Her smile slayed him every time.
“Excellent. I’ll see you later then.” He closed his hand around the doorknob when he heard her whisper his name. “Yeah?”
“Thanks for the flowers. They’re beautiful.”
So are you.“My pleasure.”
***
Bella believed seeing a person’s house was the best way to uncover their secrets. And she couldn’t wait to discover what Loran was hiding behind his front door.
His house was a traditional Tudor, which surprised her. She would have pegged his for a modern, even austere-looking property. But this looked like a period home, complete with mature landscaping and winding natural stone paths splitting groomed perennials and emerald green grass.
“Very nice,” she said, when he opened the door.
And she wasn’t talking about his house anymore. He was wearing black jeans and a white button down shirt with that fresh-from-the-shower look she loved so much.
“Thanks.” He smiled, nearly making her drool. “I like it.”
“So do I.” She forced herself to focus on the house when he led her inside, since that was, supposedly the reason for her visit. “Honestly, if this were my house I don’t think I’d want to move.”
The décor was classic, very traditional, in keeping with the period, but it was obvious a man lived there alone. Everything was dark and masculine, from the original wood floors to the doors and trim. Thankfully he’d taken out walls, enlarged windows, and selected light paint colors, so it wasn’t oppressive.
“I love that you kept the original trim,” she said, running her hand over the polished wood banister. “It would have been a crime to paint it white.”
He was standing behind her, so close she could feel his warm breath tickling her neck. She tried not to move, not even to breathe. It wasn’t him she was worried about. She didn’t trust herself.
