Page 32 of The Innovator

“Thanks.”

“Want to go see the model display for Three Point Park? It’ll give you an overview of the entire project. Maybe you can give me some insight on a few pending issues.”

CHAPTERTWELVE

GRAYSON

Natalie twisted her lips, thinking. “I can check it during the week.”

“Don’t tell me you fear me.”

“Why should I fear you?”

She pulled her thigh away from mine, letting me know she knew my intention all along. “I’m not afraid of you, McDimple. But you should be frightened of me.”

“How so?”

“Because I just made you miss your multimillion-dollar meeting.”

I grinned at her accuracy. She was right that I should be cautious of her. What she didn’t know was that I’d canceled the meeting when I went to order my drink and her croissant. I’d already decided her company was all I needed today. Nothing and no one could stop that. Not even a multimillion-dollar construction deal that had been postponed too many times. I was surprised the guy hadn’t gone with another architectural firm.

Money could buy many things, but not this joy she offered me. I felt like I was sitting in an oasis of Natalie where everything was bright and cheerful. I liked knowing she believed I feared her.

“Then it would be nice of you to help me recover that loss.”

Twenty minutes later, I led her past the security guard at the entrance and up to my office to a display area with miniature architectural models of my current projects.The largest display was the Three Point Park landmark, the project I monitored while my design team focused on smaller projects.

Natalie sucked in a breath. “Wow. This is spectacular.”She dropped her purse on my leather couch, walked over to the display, and examined the models. “Did you make the buildings all by hand? Look at these little people, trees, and benches.”

Standing behind her, I took in the sight of her ass. I was a man, after all, and when beauty stared me in the face, I’d be a fool not to appreciate it.

I walked to the other side, where I could see her face. “I used to. But these days, I use a 3D printer. They save time and achieve so much more.”

“There are fashion designers who use 3D printers for wearable art. Technology is changing everything. Like anything, new inventions can be used to good or evil ends.”She walked around the display and stood beside me.

“Yes, it’s all about the person and not so much the technology itself.” I looked at her. “You understand the design concept. You see things through a creative lens. Why are you working as an administrative assistant?”

“We all do what we gotta do.”

“If you ever want a design job, let me know. I have several openings at my company.”

“I’m good, but thanks.” Amusement gleamed in her eyes, and I wanted to dive into them and know all her secrets.

I should ask her how she could afford my luxury apartment, but I didn’t want to scare her. She had built a barricade that prevented the world from seeing the real her. I had my barrier, so I respected her privacy. But dammit, I desperately wanted to know what was beyond that wall. In due time, she’d open her door and welcome me in. That was my mission.

Still studying the miniature landmark, she veered back and angled her head. “I see why it’s called Three Point Park. The three locations create a triangle. It’s more obvious from a bird’s eye view. Why a triangle?”

“Because it’s the strongest shape. When a force is applied to the triangle, the tension is evenly spread to all sides. But I like it because of the way it looks.”

“What’s going in the center? There’s too much empty space.” Her hand gestured to the area.

I rocked back on my heels, loving this creative discussion with her. “What do you think it needs?”

She crossed her arms, and the wide neck of her dress slid further down her shoulder, revealing more smooth skin. My mouth watered as I imagined my lips skimming over the elegant lines of her shoulder and down her arm. She had two tiny freckles on her shoulder that seemed to be calling me.

Her voice yanked me back to reality. “Something that matters to you. The essence of the project. Everything is connected to the center—the heart—that gives life to everything around it.”

My heart flipped from that statement. No one had ever articulated my vision so clearly until her. She saw me in ways no one could. Her clarity and comprehension just made the project more important to me. Before this moment, it had just been an idea still forming in my head. But she solidified it as though she’d snuck into my head—my heart, my soul—and arranged the scattered pieces into their proper place. She was reconstructing me in unimaginable ways.

---