Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Oh, he’s charming, and I might have fallen for it had I not heard them talking before. This man is polished and poised, and I already hate him. I put my hand in his and shake. “Harper.”
“Do I look like a Jerry?” Jeremiah offers his hand next. He’s got sandy blond hair to his brother’s dark, but up close it’s easy to see the similarities. They have the same bluish-green eyes. “Of course, I also don’t think I look like a Jeremiah. I should have been a Tristan or an Aidan. Something that ends in -an. Much cooler.”
And the brother is charming, too, but I get the distinct feeling he won’t be looking at my boobs with anything beyond an aesthetic eye. “Well, I think Jeremiah is a lovely name. How are you finding Banover Place?”
“Is that what they call this building?” Reid asks. “This is my first time walking through it. It’s definitely dated. I think we can do some good work here with the right people. Anika is very enthusiastic. Do you work directly for her?”
“Yes,” I reply and notice Jeremiah is watching me carefully while his brother is flirting. “We’re childhood friends. You know the kind that stick together through thick and thin and royal weddings.”
“Yes. One doesn’t say no to royalty. I was hesitant to do another show like this, but Anika seems like she knows what she’s doing. She speaks so eloquently about her new country. Is she around? I’m supposed to meet with her this afternoon.” Reid checks his watch and his grin kicks up. “But I have an hour or so. There’s a café around the corner. Maybe you would like to join us for lunch and you can tell us all about the work you do for her?”
Yeah, I’m sure that’s what he wants to talk about. “Ani’s here. She wanted to run through the house with the renovation specialist.”
“Ah, then he’s here, too,” Reid says with a wince.
Jeremiah’s gaze goes between us like he’s watching a tennis match.
“I suppose so.” I want to see what I can get this guy to say. So I can get my bestie to fire his ass. We need a woman designer. If Ivy had a hint of style, I would tell her to do it. Honestly, I don’t understand why we need a designer at all, much less a jerk like this guy.
Reid looks like he’s contemplating keeping his mouth shut. And then chooses not to. “Any idea why she chose a firm that does high-rises and grocery stores? Is there some kind of familial connection I’m unaware of?”
Says the man who works with his brother. Hypocrite much. I merely shrug. “Ani’s been friends with the CEO of that firm for years. But I also know she’s got complete faith in them. Do you have a problem with high-rises and grocery stores?”
“I simply think the ones built by this particular firm lack something. Buildings like the ones Ross Construction builds don’t add a lot of value to a community, if you know what I mean. Not like this one,” Reid says with a smile as though he didn’t insult the hell out of an entire company.
“Reid,” Jeremiah begins.
“Really? There’s no value in a grocery store?” I ask.
Reid seems to finally understand I’m not hanging on his every word. “I meant to the beauty of the community. Not that grocery stores aren’t important. I simply wish we could make them nicer than the big boxes we see so much of today.”
“Yeah, well no one cares what the store looks like when they live in a food desert, but I suspect from the thousand-dollar loafers you have on that you wouldn’t even know what that phrase means,” I shoot back.
“Maybe you can explain it to me.” The man is optimistic.
“Reid, she’s not coming to lunch with us. I do not know what is up with your radar, but this woman does not like you,” Jeremiah says under his breath. “You should probably ask what her last name is.”
Reid gives his brother a what-the-hell look. “Why? We’re just having a discussion.”
“No, you’re flirting and she’s sending you looks that should have you running for your life, and I wonder why that is. I also wonder why she’s wearing steel-toed boots,” Jeremiah replies. “It’s almost like she works construction and you made an ass of yourself.”
I like the brother.
Reid turns back my way and has the grace to wince. “Uhm, Harper. Your last name wouldn’t happen to be Ross, would it?”
“Harper Regina Ross, and for your information I’ve studied renovations like this for years. It’s a hobby of mine. I also know the history of this house backward and forward, but I do construct grocery stores on occasion. I’ll have to remember to try to make the dairy section as pretty as possible next time. Wouldn’t want to outrage the designers, would I?” I start for the door because I know how to make an exit.