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“I know,” Finn says cheerfully.
We drive for another fifteen minutes or so before he turns into a side road so small, I definitely would’ve missed it in the rapidly encroaching darkness. His car shakes as we drive up the gravel road and a large house emerges from the thick trees.
Maybehouseis the wrong word for it. It’s a huge two storey lodge with beautiful wooden panelling interspersed between the large windows that wrap around the front. Finn pulls the car up at the edge of the property, and I can spy a lake stretching out behind it.
“What are we doing here?”
“Remember the house I said Nel needed you to redesign? This is it.”
I frown at him. “This is my surprise. Work?” I love what I do, but…really? I don’t know why, but I’d been expecting more.
He shrugs and I don’t miss the way the left side of his mouth starts to twitch.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing!” he says, and he looks so earnest, I almost believe him.Almost. “I just want you to like it.” He comes round to my side of the car and opens the door for me. “Come, let me show you around.”
He pulls the keys out of my hands and guides me up the pathway.
“There’s seven bedrooms, four and a half baths, a large rec room…” He trails off and clicks his tongue. “An office. A fitness room. There’s a dock around the back that leads out to the lake. And there’s a tennis court somewhere on the land. I think this property accounts for about 10 acres or so. Sorry, I’m probably forgetting a few things. Nel was supposed to be here to tell you all of this.”
I’m not entirely sure whyhe’stelling me it in the first place.
He unlocks the door and steps aside for me to enter.
Honestly? It’s underwhelming inside. The décor is very dated and it’s easy to tell why Nel’s been struggling to shift it. But there’s potential —so much potential. I feel a little giddy as I walk around and take in the high ceilings with stunning oakwood accents, and the view of the lake from the living room takes my breath away.
“What do you think?” Finn asks quietly. We’ve nearly finished the tour, and we’re standing outside the only room he hasn’t taken me inside yet. His hand is resting on the doorknob, fingers flexing nervously against the handle every few seconds.
I frown for a brief moment, but then my lips morph into an easy and genuine smile. “It’s going to take a lot of work, but it’s definitely an exciting project. I should probably arrange to meet up with Nel as soon as possible so we can talk about what her clientele typically goes for. I’ve got a few ideas already, but it would be good to tailor them a bit more.”
“I could just tell you.”
I frown. “Do you know?”
He nods and takes a deep breath before pushing open the door. I follow him into the room. It’s a bedroom - the master bedroom, I think - and it’s empty for now, save for the large, ornate mirror resting against a wall.
My heart skips a beat, and then another.
Because I know this mirror. It’s been very carefully cleaned, but Iknowthis mirror. It’s been burned into my mind since the first time I saw it at the Interiors Fair. My holy grail item.
“What—”
Finn cuts me off, still looking strangely nervous. “The house will have to be bright and airy. Lots of natural light.” He comes to stand by my side and threads our fingers together. I stare at our reflections in the mirror. My eyes are wide, my chest heaving.
“She likes something calledmodern organic.”
She?
“That’s when you blend together modern aesthetics with nature’s beauty.”
My throat feels like it’s closing up, and my next words come out sounding choked. “Iknow whatmodern organicmeans, Finn.” I force down the lump in my throat. “How do you know?”
“You told me,” he says with a nonchalant shrug. “Back at that restaurant the day we picked up the chandelier. She’s going to want warm, neutral tones, something that makes the space feel inviting and comfortable from the second you walk in.”
“Who are you—”
“And it’s got to be very expensive. That was one of her requirements.”
