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“You draw?” he asked as she kept her gaze locked on his rather than turn back to the ocean.
“It’s kind of like a hobby. Some people knit, I draw and paint.” Once again the breeze blew some of her hair toward her face. This time before he could react, she pulled all her hair back in a ponytail and held it in place. “I should have tied my hair up today. I didn’t consider how breezy it might be near the water.”
“Why don’t we go inside and check out the third floor? Then we can have some dinner before we head back to your house.”
***
Situated at the beginning of Newport’s famous cliff walk, The Spiced Pear remained a popular five star restaurant that welcomed anyone who could afford its pricey meals. Over the years, he’d taken a few women to the exclusive restaurant partially because it provided its clients with privacy. Members of the paparazzi never made it past the front entrance thanks to security guards stationed near the valet parking stand. But the privacy of the restaurant wasn’t the main reason he’d picked it tonight. Instead, its romantic atmosphere had been first and foremost on his mind when he’d made the reservation.
“It is nice to see you again, Mr. Sherbrooke,” the maître d’ greeted when they walked inside. “If you’ll please follow me, I’ll show you to your table.”
Placing a hand at the small of Addie’s back, he followed the maître d’ into the main dining room. Although on the early side, several couples sat at
tables, already enjoying drinks while they waited for their dinners.
“I hope this table is satisfactory.” The maître d’ stopped at a table near the windows overlooking the Cliff Walk. A single candle sat in the center of the table and a red rose had been placed in front of one chair.
“Perfect, Pierre. Thank you.” Before the other man could do so, he pulled out a chair for Addie and gestured for her to sit.
“Your waiter, Allen, will be right over.”
With a slight nod, Trent took the seat across from Addie. “Is something wrong?” Uncertainty clouded her expression as her eyes darted around the restaurant.
When he spoke, her eyes swung toward him. “When you said dinner I thought you meant one of the restaurants on Thames Street, not here.”
Trent let his forearm rest on the edge of the table. “The Spiced Pear is my favorite restaurant in Newport, but if you’d prefer somewhere else we can go.”
Addie’s eyes swept across the room one more time. “No, this is fine.”
Her feeling uncomfortable here hadn’t crossed his mind, but evidently it should have. Time for a distraction. “What are your initial thoughts for the house?”
Across the table, she took a sip from the water glass she’d just picked up. “I know you had other ideas, but in some of the rooms I wouldn’t do anything more than redecorate.” She placed the glass back on the table, but her fingers remained on the stem. “The house contains a lot of character. I think it would be a shame to tear it apart. That said, there are some areas where I’d make major design changes, starting with the kitchen. Its layout may have made sense in the 1900’s but it’s poorly laid out for today. There is a lot we can do in there.”
Even as a person who spent little time in the kitchen, he’d noticed the antiquated design. “I agree with you. Any other thoughts?”
“The bathrooms. Although I wouldn’t change everything. The clawed-foot tub and built-in makeup table in the woman’s master must stay, but I’d include a shower stall and additional cabinets. I’d leave the connecting closet to the other bathroom but reduce the number of shelves so it’s not so narrow.”
As the evening progressed and they enjoyed dinner, Addie went through each room, listing what she believed needed to remain and what needed to be changed. With each suggestions she made, she listed her reasons, demonstrating just how well educated she was on the matter.
“You’re the client, so if you want me to do some designs for the entire home I will, but I believe it’d be wrong to destroy what you already have.”
He speared the final piece of tenderloin on his plate. After his tour of the home that afternoon, he’d noticed many fine details that he’d missed on his previous walk-through. “I agree with you. Can you start on designs for the kitchen and bathrooms and at the same time come up with less drastic changes for the rest of the house?”
Addie blinked a few times as realization dawned on her face. He was offering her an opportunity at a million-dollar project, and she knew it. “Yes.” Her voice resonated with excitement. “I’ll need proper measurements and a few ideas of what you may have in mind, but I can start right away otherwise.”
Much like a current of electricity, Addie’s excitement traveled across the table and zapped him. “Like I said, I have the original architectural plans with me. You’re welcome to them. If they’re not sufficient we can head back to the house after dinner.”
Across from him, she placed her fork down beside her plate. “I’ll take the plans, but if you don’t mind I’d like to go back and get some photographs as well.”
By the time they walked into his home again, the sun had begun to set, casting shadows across the main entryway. “Let’s start in the kitchen since that’s the room that requires the most work. Then if I don’t finish before it gets dark I can come back and get more pictures later.”
“You’re the expert here. Start wherever you want and I’ll follow.”
With no further encouragement, she headed for the rear of the home. Inside the kitchen, she switched on the overhead lights, then began to snap pictures from various spots in the large room. In an effort to stay out of her way, he remained in a doorway, his shoulders against the frame.
“Do you want a kitchen designed for a staff or one where you would sit and eat meals you prepared yourself?” She lowered her camera and looked in his direction.
“Maybe something that could lend itself to both. I don’t cook much myself, but that could change. What about you? Do you enjoy cooking?” If everything worked out as planned, any changes he made here would affect her as well.
