Read Online Hunting for Curves (BBW Erotic Romance) by Juliane Reyer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Juliane Reyer
Ads: Link
man like him anyway? She couldn't presume to know anything about his life, or his relationship. This was all so out of her league.
"Are you sure you're all right?" Evan asked. "Or do you find architectural floor plans that fascinating?"
Jasmine blinked. She'd been staring at the coffee table much too long, trying to compose her thoughts into something clever, or at least something that didn't sound forced. She hadn't even noticed the printouts in front of her. But she was grateful for the change of subject they offered.
"Is this a new building?"
Evan shook his head. "Remodeling the hotel. Starting with the ground floor next year." He leaned forward and tapped a finger thoughtfully on one of the pages. "It's in a prime location downtown but we're not taking advantage of that. The lobby looks like an overripe bank, and the meeting rooms on that level are an immense waste of space. Retail shops opening onto the street would be a better choice for foot traffic and for the vibrancy of the neighborhood. We'll also get the bar out of the basement."
"Oh, that sounds like a huge project."
She watched Evan's hand on the table before her gaze finally darted back up to him. He sat at the edge of the couch in a pose like Rodin's Thinker, brow furrowed as he studied the printouts. His words surprised her, but not because of his grand plans. Rather that he wanted to talk to her about this at all.
"It is, but I've wanted to do this since I bought the place." Evan turned to her. "The hotel is too segmented from the local culture, but with the right changes, we could make it a destination instead of a very tall afterthought. Long term, I'd like to buy the building next door and turn that into a theater. But in the meantime, I'll be satisfied with an upscale wine bar with good lighting."
"So no more peach martinis?"
"We'll see. It's a long way off."
Evan settled back into the couch and stretched his long legs. Jasmine took another sip of wine. Slower this time. Light had gleamed in his eyes when he spoke about his plans for the hotel, but now he seemed cool and collected again. He watched her with an indecipherable smile as he drained the last of his glass.
"More?" He reached for the bottle.
She extended her hand and let him top off her glass. For a moment, it felt like she was getting to know him. The man who Luke knew, not the careful image Evan liked to portray. With her courage buoyed by the alcohol, she tried again.
"If you care about culture, like you said…" It's probably a stupid idea , she thought, her voice trailing off in a whisper.
"I do. Go ahead."
"Well…" She cleared her throat and took a long sip of wine, forcing herself to continue. "Have you considered putting smaller businesses in that retail space, instead of big chains? Like artisan wine and cheese, a local coffee brewer, things like that…"
Evan gave her a long, thoughtful look.
"Forget it," she stammered. "Sorry. I didn't mean—I don't know anything about your business."
"I hadn't thought that far ahead." He raised his hand to stop her from apologizing again. "No, it's a good idea. It would make the place unique, and local flavor could be a big hit with hotel guests. I think Luke would agree too. He likes standing up for the little guys."
"You really think so?" She stared into her wine glass.
"Yes. Don't underestimate yourself. I certainly don't."
She let his words hang for a moment, then she sucked in her breath and took a gulp of wine for good measure. "Look, I appreciate everything you've done for me and I had a great time with you both but—" She leaned forward. "Why me?"
He arched an eyebrow and took a slow sip before he spoke again. "Why not?"
"I'm just an average girl who can barely pay the rent. You could have had your pick of anyone in that bar."
A frown tugged at his mouth. "If I was seeking the company of a supermodel or a hooker, I would have just paid for it. But I'm not interested in that sort of thing." He straightened, bracing
"Are you sure you're all right?" Evan asked. "Or do you find architectural floor plans that fascinating?"
Jasmine blinked. She'd been staring at the coffee table much too long, trying to compose her thoughts into something clever, or at least something that didn't sound forced. She hadn't even noticed the printouts in front of her. But she was grateful for the change of subject they offered.
"Is this a new building?"
Evan shook his head. "Remodeling the hotel. Starting with the ground floor next year." He leaned forward and tapped a finger thoughtfully on one of the pages. "It's in a prime location downtown but we're not taking advantage of that. The lobby looks like an overripe bank, and the meeting rooms on that level are an immense waste of space. Retail shops opening onto the street would be a better choice for foot traffic and for the vibrancy of the neighborhood. We'll also get the bar out of the basement."
"Oh, that sounds like a huge project."
She watched Evan's hand on the table before her gaze finally darted back up to him. He sat at the edge of the couch in a pose like Rodin's Thinker, brow furrowed as he studied the printouts. His words surprised her, but not because of his grand plans. Rather that he wanted to talk to her about this at all.
"It is, but I've wanted to do this since I bought the place." Evan turned to her. "The hotel is too segmented from the local culture, but with the right changes, we could make it a destination instead of a very tall afterthought. Long term, I'd like to buy the building next door and turn that into a theater. But in the meantime, I'll be satisfied with an upscale wine bar with good lighting."
"So no more peach martinis?"
"We'll see. It's a long way off."
Evan settled back into the couch and stretched his long legs. Jasmine took another sip of wine. Slower this time. Light had gleamed in his eyes when he spoke about his plans for the hotel, but now he seemed cool and collected again. He watched her with an indecipherable smile as he drained the last of his glass.
"More?" He reached for the bottle.
She extended her hand and let him top off her glass. For a moment, it felt like she was getting to know him. The man who Luke knew, not the careful image Evan liked to portray. With her courage buoyed by the alcohol, she tried again.
"If you care about culture, like you said…" It's probably a stupid idea , she thought, her voice trailing off in a whisper.
"I do. Go ahead."
"Well…" She cleared her throat and took a long sip of wine, forcing herself to continue. "Have you considered putting smaller businesses in that retail space, instead of big chains? Like artisan wine and cheese, a local coffee brewer, things like that…"
Evan gave her a long, thoughtful look.
"Forget it," she stammered. "Sorry. I didn't mean—I don't know anything about your business."
"I hadn't thought that far ahead." He raised his hand to stop her from apologizing again. "No, it's a good idea. It would make the place unique, and local flavor could be a big hit with hotel guests. I think Luke would agree too. He likes standing up for the little guys."
"You really think so?" She stared into her wine glass.
"Yes. Don't underestimate yourself. I certainly don't."
She let his words hang for a moment, then she sucked in her breath and took a gulp of wine for good measure. "Look, I appreciate everything you've done for me and I had a great time with you both but—" She leaned forward. "Why me?"
He arched an eyebrow and took a slow sip before he spoke again. "Why not?"
"I'm just an average girl who can barely pay the rent. You could have had your pick of anyone in that bar."
A frown tugged at his mouth. "If I was seeking the company of a supermodel or a hooker, I would have just paid for it. But I'm not interested in that sort of thing." He straightened, bracing
Similar Books
