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A tiny laugh escapes my mouth. He must be joking. Oh God, he isn’t. “Okay, then why exactly am I here?”
“To help refurnish the place in the same style.”
“That makes no sense.”
“Maybe this will.” He leans forward and I curl into myself. “My mother decorated this place before she died, and I’ll be damned if I step on her toes.”
I open my mouth to speak, then close it again. Why wouldn’t Phoebe tell me how rigid her brother is?
“Thank you for your time.” I say in a soft voice. Feeling betrayed and completely out of my element, I storm out of Salem’s office without a second thought. He doesn’t try to stop me.
2
Salem
Leaveit to Phoebe to leave out pertinent information. I told her that I wanted to keep this place as close to its original, intended state as possible. Of course, its design is a little outdated, but my mother put her heart and soul into this. She would be upkeeping it herself if she were still alive to do so. I run my hand through my hair and let out a long exhale. I don’t know what upsets me more, that Phoebe didn’t tell Eliana what I’m looking for, or that I let Eliana walk out of here without even trying to stop her.
I walk over to my window in time to see Eliana approach her car, wobbling on those silly high heels. The sun hits her auburn hair, highlighting the streaks of gold hidden within it. I can’t help but stare at her curves. The woman is soft in all the right places. The long line of her neck begs to be kissed, not to mention those naturally ruby red lips of hers. A ping of desire hits me below the belt and I adjust my stance to keep from getting rock hard.
From here, I can hear Eliana’s car door close. Any moment, I expect the engine to rev, but it doesn’t. I stand perfectly still, listening, until her car door opens and closes again. When I turn back to the window, Eliana is hustling back in the direction of the building.
“What the hell is she doing?” After a few moments standing in the same position, there’s a knock on my door. “Come in.”
“Salem, I think you’re making a big mistake.” The sheer force of Eliana’s will throws the door open so wide it hits the wall behind it. “This place has so much potential.”
“I’m aware of that.” I step to her, taking in the scent of her amber perfume. “It’s also doing just fine, I’ll have you know.”
“Just fineisn’t amazing.” She swallows, and squares her shoulders, lifting her defiant chin. “I saw the pictures online. I read the reviews.”
“You’ve done your research.” I say through gritted teeth.
“Of course I’ve done my research. Nearly half of them say that a facelift would make this place…say it with me, amazing.” I roll my eyes. Of course this place is in need of some sprucing, but how is she to understand my predicament. “I’m sorry I stormed out without asking you why.”
“Why what?”
Her finger flies near my face. “Don’t be cute with me.” She scrunches her nose. God, she’s even more beautiful when she’s angry. “Why in the world wouldn’t you want to make this place as profitable as it can be?”
“My mother designed it.” Eliana clearly knows at least part of my family history, because her mouth falls open, but no words come out. “And I helped her.”
“I see.” She finally says. “So, there has to be a compromise in there somewhere.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.” I turn my back to her, but this doesn’t stop her. She rushes around to face me again.
“I do understand that this place is beyond special to you.”
“That’s why I chose to keep it up and running.”
“Exactly, but wouldn’t your mom want this place to be all it can be?”
Of all of our family businesses, and there are a few, this was always my mother’s project. She convinced my father to buy the owners out, decorate it so that it feels like home, and give people the guest experience of a lifetime. As much as I hate to admit it, that last part has been somewhat lacking, which is why I allowed Phoebe to bring in Eliana. Not only is she someone my baby sister trusts, but she has both a design and a hospitality degree.
Which means maybe she knows a thing or two about the business.
“I’m not trying to pull one over on you, Salem. My ultimate dream is to open a place like this of my own. For now, I’d like for you to consider letting me help you get this place in tip-top shape.”
When I meet her cornflower blue eyes, my will begins declining. Not only is Eliana the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life, there’s something about her that feels trustworthy. I’m normally not the type of man who throws out blind trust, but gazing in this woman’s eyes, I don’t have much choice.
“I’ll make you a deal. You stay here a few nights, and then present something to me that feels like it meets somewhere in the middle between traditional and modern.” I hold my hands apart, but keep locked in on those sparkling eyes of hers. “If you can do that, the job is yours.”
