Page 7 of That Time in Venice
He didn’t think it was possible, but the temperature in the room plunged below zero. Her dark brown eyes, devoid of emotion, seemed to look through him. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t this. “No. Of course not.” He’d expected—hoped, he’d see a glimpse of the woman he’d spent time with in Italy. They’d joked around, seen the sights together, and made love like there was no tomorrow. Swallowing his pride, he answered the almost forgotten question. “I work from home a few days a week. How aboutWednesday?”
A slender, light brown finger scrolled down the page. “Oneo’clockokay?”
“That’s good for me,” he said, voice as clipped and devoid of emotionashers.
Anika wrote in the planner, capped her pen, and set it on the desk. She smiled brightly, as though nothing was amiss. He began to wonder if he werecrazy.
“I have a little homework assignment for you. Go to the ideas tab on our website and look at the different decorating styles—eclectic, traditional, contemporary, etcetera—and give some thought to what you think your style is. We can talk in more detail when I see you on Wednesday, but I want you to examine the photos so we can discuss which one you find yourself gravitating toward. Also, think about the changes you want to make, the furniture you want to keep, do you want to start from scratch with a clean slate—that kind of thing. Don’t feel pressured to make any decisions. I only want you thinking about these things so we have a startingpoint.Okay?”
Her aloofness irritated him. She really was treating him like any old customer. As if they didn’t spend almost every minute of every day together for six straight days. As if they hadn’t been lovers. As if she hadn’t clawed his ass and gasped his name asshecame.
“I candothat.”
“We’re all set. Do you have any questionsforme?”
“Small world, isn’t it?” He couldn’t help pressing forward, demanding aresponse.
She averted her eyes to thedesktop. “Very.”
“I’m looking forward to working with you.” Reed extended his hand, and for a split second thought she wouldn’t take it, but then she clasped his larger hand in hersmallerone.
Her soft skin sent a zing of electricity through his veins. As his fingers tightened fractionally around hers, her full lips parted slightly. No sound came out, but his chest tightened with the memory of those lips against his, and he was glad for the glass and wood desk between them. Otherwise, he might have done something irrational, such as pull her in for a quicktaste.
Anika tugged away her hand, clenching it into a fist at her side. “I’ll see you on Wednesday.” She kept her face neutral, but he didn’t miss the underlying tremble in her voice. The fire was still there, waiting toconsumethem.
“I’ll seeyouthen.”
Reed walked out of the office, letting the door swing close behind him. He flexed histinglinghand.
Those brief moments alone with Anika reminded him of what could have been, if he hadn’t been a dumb twenty-two-year-old, afraid to take a chance. But he wasoldernow.
And much, muchwiser.
