Page 64 of Meet Me at the Grand

“By blending your design elements with the functionality and amenities found in my plan.” At her look of confusion, he waved his hand in the air. “Like, for example, the community porch. That stays, but the terraces above it become individual room balconies. We can keep the colonnaded look—and the design of the porch that means so much to you—but we can also gain the amenity of a private view that so many modern visitors will love.”

She tugged on a strand of her hair, considering.

“I’ve got a million other ideas, but that’s just one example.” A pause. “So, what do you think?”

“I think…” And then Dani flashed him a real and true smile, and his heart lurched inside his chest. “I think you’re on to something, Mr. Stone. Let’s go get our brainstorm on.”

ChapterTwelve

Dani was exhausted—but the good kind. The kind that came from a hard day of work on a project that meant a lot to her, from a lot of progress made.

They still had a long way to go, but they’d begun the process of creating something new. To really get into a groove, to finally get on the same page. Which was wonderful for the project…

…and terrible for her heart.

It had been complete torture working alongside Liam, a guy she was having the hardest time not falling for more every day. Especially after his inspired idea to blend their ideas.

Which was why she probably should have said no when he’d insisted on making her dinner. But she’d been too tired from their all-day work session to argue. Now she was paying the price for that lapse in judgment, because the man was already attractive enough. But in the kitchen, making her a pizza?

Um, yeah. It’d be a miracle if she made it through the night without confessing her undying love for the food—maybe the man too.

“I know we still aren’t finished, but I think we did good work today.” Dani peeked into her oven and saw the pizza Liam had assembled after a quick stop at Doug’s Market. Her stomach growled at the sight of the bubbling cheese, the crisping pepperoni, the crust starting to turn a golden brown. It smelled heavenly.

“I was really pleased with the headway we made too.” Liam removed the apron she’d loaned him. It was dusted with flour and splatters of homemade sauce. “Our plans are really starting to shape up into something presentable.”

“I agree.” She yawned. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. You worked hard. Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll bring dinner to you in a few.”

This man. “I’m not going to let you—” Dani’s phone buzzed on the counter before she could finish her thought.

She picked it up and found James’s name on the screen. “It’s my brother. Mind if I take this?”

“Not at all.” Sliding on a pair of oven mitts, Liam turned to deal with the pizza in the oven.

Dani slid her thumb across her phone and raised it to her ear. “Hi, James.” She hadn’t spoken with her brother in weeks—not since before Liam had shown up.

“How could you do this?” His voice, normally so staid and constant, grated against her ear with a hardened edge.

“W-what?” She glanced at Liam, who had pulled the pizza out of the oven. Steam rose from it, and bubbles of cheese popped.

But instead of being focused on his work of art, Liam’s attention was turned to her. His eyebrows knit together, and he mouthed “You okay?” to her.

“Dani.” James’s angry voice cut into her thoughts, and she jumped.

Turning, she walked to the couch and plopped down. Across from her, the television flickered the latest Travel Channel show on mute. “What’s wrong?”

“Seriously? You have the gall to ask me that?”

Oh, her head hurt. This was her oldest brother, and he’d never been angry with her a day in his life. Not that he’d shown, anyway. “I…” Her voice shook. “I’m not sure what’s going on.”

He huffed. “What’s going on is that Dad tells me you got him to sell the hotel.”

“Not exactly. You see?—”

“Oh, I see, all right.”

Tears prodded the backs of her eyes, burning. “You don’t understand?—”

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