Page 7 of Work and Play
Pierre stands up and goes to greet her with a kiss to each cheek. Huh, interesting, she doesn’t like his French greeting, the discomfort at his touch is evident. “Ashley, it is so wonderful to see you again. It has been too many years. Don’t worry about being late, Finn and I were just discussing a few things.”
Her mouth falls open when he says my name. Well. Before I can wonder why she had that reaction, it comes to me. Mila. That woman likes to talk, and given our first run in was as Ashley was leaving the café, and especially given Mila’s reluctance to tell me anything about her…I’m willing to bet Mila told Ashley I worked at the winery.
Maybe using a designer for the space won’t be as much of an issue as I worried it would be. It might be an asshole move, but I’ll use her obvious attraction to me to my advantage. Get her to go along with my idea of a simple design and a low budget.
But then she leans over to set her bag down and I’m given the slightest glimpse of the curve of her breasts, and goddamn, is that lace?
Work with her? No problem. It’ll be keeping my hands off her that will be more difficult.
Chapter four
Ashley
You have got to be kidding me. Mister tall, dark, and scruffy is Finn? The Finn that Mila said owns the winery? Shit, shit, shit, shit. I was expecting a couple of old men, not the hottie I made a fool of myself in front of. There goes any sense of cool, calm, and collected I thought I had harnessed.
Okay, so the other man, Pierre, who’s supposedly a friend of my dad, is older. And a lot friendlier and less stuffy than I thought he would be. I could have done without his effusive greeting, but he caught me off guard before I could put out a hand to shake to ward off his embrace.
I don’t do hugs. Or kisses on the cheek. It’s nothing personal, I’m just not a big fan of being affectionate with random people. And yes, I know, Pierre isn’t random. I’ve technically known him for a long time, but the last time I saw the man, I think I was a teenager.
“It’s nice to see you, too, Pierre. Thank you for this opportunity.” I carefully avoid Finn’s penetrating gaze, but I feel it. Oh Lordy, do I feel it. I take the folder holding my design ideas out of my bag, but of course as luck would have it, the page where I sketched out my personal thoughts and ideas comes flying out with it. My face is flaming, I’m sure, as I scramble to put things down and get it out of sight, but I’m too late.
“These colours. Ashley, this is beautiful. Is this part of your plan?” Pierre’s eyes are scanning the single sheet of paper that is cringeworthy in terms of how unprofessional it is. I hurry to try and cover my tracks.
“Oh, no, no, no. That was just some silly playing around while I was on the ferry.” I open the folder that holds the dad-approved design plan, the one that’s soft shades of grey and minimalist décor. “This is what I designed for you.”
Pierre barely glances at the actual design, or the sample materials I am in the midst of laying out. When I chance a peek at Finn, his expression is unreadable. But with those crossed arms, I can tell he is not yet on board with Pierre’s level of enthusiasm.
“I think not.”
My heart plummets to my feet at Pierre’s words until I realize that he’s finally put my sketch down and is looking at the official design. He closes the folder and turns back to me.
“That is cold, sterile. I mean no offense to your talent, Ashley, because it is clear you know what you’re doing. But that is not La Lune Rouge.” He holds up the sketch of the boho-chic, decadent jewel tone coloured page where I had let my creativity run free. “This is La Lune Rouge.”
I can’t deny the thrill of pride and excitement I feel that it’s my personal style and taste that Pierre is drawn to. The idea of bringing my ideas to life in this space excites me more than any other project I’ve worked on.
“I’m honoured you like my idea, Pierre. I’m just so sorry I don’t have a formal design plan drawn up using those ideas. It really was just me having fun and thinking outside the box.”
“Outside the box is exactly what I, what we, are going for.” I don’t miss the pointed stare Pierre gives Finn, who has so far remained silent.
“Okay…well, I can certainly fill out the design a lot more, but it will take me some time. Overall, though, especially now seeing the space, I think we can create a really intimate, luxurious space. Something that feels decadent without being over the top.” My mind’s eye starts seeing the room come together. Deep colours, soft textures, rich wood finishes. I start jumping ahead to sourcing, already thinking of which stores and vendors I’ll reach out to when Finn’s gravelly voice pierces my musings.
“I think your original design is a better idea.”
His words could be complimentary, if they were said in a different tone. But when I look at him, there’s a guarded expression on his face, one that says it might not be easy to get him on board with everything. And underneath it, I could swear I detect a thread of vulnerability.
Interesting.
The fact is, whatever I’m seeing intrigues me. And that could be dangerous. I need this job to turn out the best it possibly can, even if the future of my career lies on the mainland.
“Let me come back with a complete design based on this idea, and then we can discuss it further,” I offer, hoping to at least get Finn on board with that.
Pierre looks at him. “That sounds reasonable, doesn’t it Finn? That way we can see both ideas in their entirety before we make any decisions.”
Finn folds his arms across his chest and he leans back; a shot of lust surprises me at the sight of his muscular forearms draped over his pecs. “Yeah. And can you include some budget projections, please.”
A lightbulb goes off in my head. Suddenly that vulnerability makes sense. And I fight back a grin as I straighten my spine. “Of course. You should know, sustainable practice is a tenet for my work.”
His expression clouds in confusion for a moment, but it’s gone before I can do more than raise my eyebrows at him. Suddenly my nerves are gone, and I’ve got a new ambition. Show mister tall, dark, and scruffy exactly who he’s dealing with.
