Read Online Strictly Business by Aubrianna Hunter - Free Book Online Page B

surprised her. Shock registered on her face
before she stumbled out her next words. “Ummm, thank you. I think.”
    “So, can we meet Monday and go over some basic floor plans?”
He figured she had plans with Cody, and expected her to ask to meet on Tuesday
or Wednesday instead.
    “Yes, that’ll be fine.”
    She still wouldn’t admit that she had plans. Maybe she would
actually cancel on Cody. That would be unique. Women never cancelled on Cody.
“Okay, then, Monday at ten o’clock? Just meet in here.”
    “Fine, I’ll see you then. Oh, and thank you for lunch.” She
took her plate with her on the way out.

Chapter 10
    Jess spent most of the weekend in her room working on the
blueprints. Her clothes arrived, for which she was extremely grateful, and
Marsha showed her where the washer and dryer were so she could wash and return
Jake’s shirt. By late Sunday night, she had the blueprints done. She’d added
some features she would like to see added, like the huge stained glass window
above the fourteen foot double front doors. She knew he had some money, but
everyone had a budget to stick to. Hopefully this was within his reach. She was
actually looking forward to the meeting tomorrow.
    She had been absolutely floored over his choice. Now that
she knew she got to build a log cabin, she was beginning to get more excited
about this project. And less angry over being stuck in Wyoming for so long. It
had been years since she'd done a personal residence, though that is what she'd
cut her professional teeth on. She had never done a log cabin. In her
excitement over the project, she hadn't really even minded having to work all
weekend. She was also beginning to get some ideas for the interior. Part of
majoring in architecture involved a little bit of interior design. She had
enjoyed it. Not enough to give up the building and blueprints, but enough that
she had retained some of the knowledge. Though it was not her specialty, and
definitely not her job, it might not be so terrible to see this house all the
way through. Usually she started a project and popped in here and there to make
sure things were moving along and everything met specifications. This could be
interesting. Although, she would have to be careful not to let Jake know that.
No matter how much money one had, they shouldn't be allowed to demand such
special treatment.
    Monday morning, Jake was already in his office when she came
in. She was wearing jeans, a T-shirt and a lightweight long-sleeve button-up
over it. And she was carrying his shirt, clean and folded.
    “So, I’m guessin’ your stuff came?”
    “Yes, Saturday afternoon. Thank you for the loan.” She set
his shirt on the desk. “So, are you ready to take a look?”
    “Okay, let’s see ’em.”
    He had smiled at her. A real smile, not a sneer or a forced
polite expression, but an actual smile. And it took her breath away just as it
had the first time. She looked closer and saw the little wrinkles of laugh
lines at the corners of his eyes. His dark blue eyes lit up when he smiled, and
his whole face looked softer and ridiculously handsome.
    “That’s the second time you’ve smiled at me. You should do
it more often. It looks good on you. Comfortable, like something you used to do
more of.” She was annoyed to find her voice sounded a little breathless. She
smiled back then quickly glanced away.
    In the quick second she took to compose herself, his smile
had changed back to his normal scowl. “Apparently that stopped when I got
here,” Jess muttered under her breath.
    Okay, back to the matter at hand. “So, these are the floor
plans. The total square footage is six thousand three hundred twenty eight.
There are seven bedrooms total, the master is downstairs, like we discussed.
Here is the game room, the family room, formal living. I skipped a formal
dining room and made the kitchen breakfast niche twice as big. You would have
to custom order it, but there is enough room in there for a