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And he was scared as hell.
Ethan nipped at her bottom lip and smoothed his thumb over the dampness as he eased back.
“Let me see what you’re torn between here,” he offered. “I know a thing or two about design.”
Harper licked her lips, tempting him to clear this desk with one swoop and spread her out over it. But the businessman in him took ov
er. He wanted to know about final decisions, and if he was careful, he might just be able to assist in achieving the end result he wanted.
Blowing out a breath, Harper stepped back and gestured to the samples beside his hip.
“I like them all,” she stated. “I can envision each one of those in the lobby, and none of them are wrong.”
Ethan came to stand and turned his attention toward the marble slats. He studied each one and then glanced to her screen, where the design layout was still pulled up.
“Which one do you think?” she asked after a bit.
Ethan shoved his hands in his pockets and shook his head. “I want to know your first instinct.”
“I told you I love them all,” she reiterated.
“No. When you look at them, if you’re honest, you’re drawn to one.”
He watched as she glanced over them, her eyes lingering on the slat with a subtler swirl pattern—the exact option he would’ve chosen.
“This one was the first one I pulled when I initially asked for the samples,” she said, smoothing her hand over the flawless piece.
“Don’t doubt yourself,” he told her. “You’ve got this. Not just the flooring, but the entire project. Do you think Carmen would’ve asked you to join her brainchild had she not had faith in your capabilities?”
Harper smiled. “You’re scolding me like she used to.”
“Well, maybe someone needs to move into her old spot,” he declared. “Speaking of, you never gave me an actual answer to the proposal.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Oh, she was such a tease. He loved every bit of her sass and knew they’d make a great team. He just needed her to officially say yes.
“How could a marriage between us work?” she asked.
“First of all, neither of us likes to fail or admit defeat, so we’re already a determined pair.”
Ethan moved around her, adjusted the desk chair and placed his hands on her shoulders, easing her down.
“What are you doing?” she asked as her butt hit the seat, her eyes wide as she stared up at him.
“You seem tired,” he stated. “I didn’t want you passing out on me.”
“I seem tired?” she repeated. “Maybe it’s because my nights are consumed with a man who has more stamina than a triple-crown racehorse.”
Ethan let out a bark of laughter. “I don’t know that I’m that active, but I’ll take it as a compliment.”
“You would,” she murmured. “Anyway, I’m not passing out. I’ve never passed out in my life.”
“You’ve never been pregnant before, either.”
She pursed her lips, apparently irritated that she had no comeback.
“Good. Now, circling back around.” Ethan rested his hands on the arms of her chair, stared into those dark eyes and moved on. “The second reason we’d make this marriage work is because we both value family and would want the best for our baby.”
