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Her head dropped as she slowly shook it. “And when it’s time to go back to Seattle? Then what?”
“We cross that bridge when we get to it.”
“No,” she softly whispered. “I don’t want to fall for a guy who won’t be here in a month.” She put her hands on her hips. “Actually, no, I won’t fall for a guy who won’t be here in a month.”
I turned away from her and started to pace. Fuck. It wasn’t playing out like I thought it would. Who in the hell hurt this woman so badly that she wouldn’t even take a chance at something?
When I focused back on her, I nodded. “Okay. Can we at least be friends?”
“Of course, we can!” she quickly said.
“And you’ll still design my house?”
She swallowed hard. “Bryson, if I do this, everyone in this office will hate me. They’ll think we’re sleeping together, and that’s the only reason you asked for me.”
A sickness rolled through my stomach. Nick was right, I hadn’t thought my plan through. “Shit. I guess I hadn’t thought about that.”
“I can totally assist one of the architects with your design.”
“No,” I quickly said. “I want you designing the house. I want us to get to know each other better.”
“As friends?” she asked.
“Yes. And I really think if you give me a chance…maybe more.”
Rose buried her face in her hands and let out a soft scream before dropping them and looking straight at me.
“No! Bryson, I hate that you wasted your time and, more importantly your money, but it isn’t going to work. I don’t want more from you! My heart can’t take the chance.”
The feeling of a knife slicing through my stomach caused me to take a step back. Rose closed her eyes and was about to say something when a knock on the door caused us both to turn and look at it as it slowly opened.
Mr. Stiner walked back in. “Have you had a chance to discuss things? I’ve asked Duke to join us in the meeting room to discuss your design, Mr. Robinson. I really think once you see his past work and hear what he has to say, you’ll see he is the better choice here as lead designer.”
Rose stared at her boss and clenched her hands into fists. She may not think we know each other very well, but I knew that look on a woman. She was pissed.
Mr. Stiner narrowed his eyes at Rose, then looked at me and asked, “How is it you were inclined to ask for Ms. Shaw, if you don’t mind me asking?”
I smiled. “Of course not.”
Rose took a step forward, and I could practically feel the tension dripping from her. “Her best friend Loren is dating my best friend. He’s also a teammate of mine.”
“Yes, I know you play for the Mariners.”
Widening my smile, I nodded. “I do. Loren showed me some work Ms. Shaw had done on her cousin’s house, and it was exactly what I was looking for.”
Mr. Stiner looked at Rose and grinned. “She is talented, and with the right experience, she will make a wonderful designer one day, but for now, I hope you can understand she simply does not have the experience you need for a project of your size. Plus, if my name is going to be on the design, I must insist you use Duke Walters.”
I cleared my throat. “You’re right, she is talented. But, as Ms. Shaw has pointed out, she is a junior associate in the office, and that it isn’t her place to be a lead designer on my project.”
Stiner’s shoulders relaxed, and I saw him give Rose a slight nod. “Mr. Walters is an excellent designer, and I think you’ll enjoy working with him.”
Motioning for us to head out of his office, I straightened my tie, looked at Rose, then at her boss. “I’m sure he is, Mr. Stiner, but I think I’m going to research firms a bit more. Thank you so much for your time. I hope I haven’t wasted too much of it.”
I turned to Rose, who was now white as a ghost. “Thank you for your time, Rose, and for clearing things up for me.”
Her mouth opened to say something, but Mr. Stiner spoke first.
“Mr. Robinson, if you’ll just give Mr. Walters a moment of your time, you’ll see he is a very accomplished architect.”
“I’m sure he is. Why don’t you send some of his previous work to my email address. I’ll give it a look over and let you know my final decision.”
Without allowing him a chance to speak again, I brushed past him and quickly headed to the elevator. I tried to ignore the way most of the guys gawked at me, most likely because they knew who I was. I hit the down button, and when I stepped into the elevator, I saw Rose making her way to me, and boy did she look even more pissed than she did when I walked into Stiner’s office.
