“Of course.” He rose from his seat and could have sworn she looked alarmed.
“Are you going to show me around?”
He arched a brow. “Yes, is that a problem?”
“No, no,” she said quickly, depositing her writing pad and pen in her leather purse. “It's just I know you're busy, and I'm sure there's someone else you could ask.”
“Well, the day care is an important project, isn't it?”
She darted him a quick look, but before he could interpret it, she'd started out of his office.
A mixture of curiosity and the need to fill the silence made him ask, “How long have you been on your own? You used to be with one of those big design firms in Boston.”
“It's been two or three years.”
“Things didn't go well in Boston?”
He silently berated himself for the obvious negative assumption behind that question, but she didn't seem to take offense. “No, not that,” she replied. “I just always knew I wanted to run my own business.”
Now that, he could identify with. He'd spent the past several years expanding Whittaker Enterprises and multiplying his net worth. He guessed he shouldn't be surprised that, while he'd been occupied with his career and hadn't seen much of Elizabeth, she'd been moving forward with her life as well.
The elevator opened on the ground floor and he led the way to the northeastern-most section of the building.
The room was large, sunlight streaming through the floor-length windows that faced the lawn at the back of the building.
“This is wonderful!” Elizabeth exclaimed, her voice proclaiming that she was pleasantly surprised.
Quentin supposed that comment reflected badly on the level of interest he'd shown in the construction of the day-care center, but aloud he just said, “I'm glad you approve.” He leaned against the door frame, crossed his arms and watched her as she moved gracefully across the room.
Two paint-stained ladders sat on a tarpaulin at one end of the room. The painters he'd hired had been covering and smoothing over holes in the walls. The room had housed dozens of cubicles, and computer wire and cable had run everywhere.
She glanced back over her shoulder at him, her face alight with possibilities. “My initial idea is to create a door where one of the floor-length windows is now and create a small outdoor play area. Enclosed by a fence, of course.” She paused, then added, “Do you think that'll work?”
“I don't think it'll be a problem to give up a little lawn.”
“And it gives the kids a direct exit in case of fire. So that will be another advantage.”
“Good.”
“We'll need to set up cubbyholes against one wall.”
“Cubbyholes?”
“Yes,” she said patiently, “so parents can store things for their kids. You know, like diapers, bibs.”
“Right.” She could have told him they needed space suits and a couple of rocket ships, and he'd have taken her word for it.
He wracked his brain. Preschool was a vague and hazy memory. Had they had—what did she call them—cubbyholes?
“—kitchen?” Elizabeth finished.
“What?” He pushed away from the door frame.
“I said,” she repeated, “you know we'll have to put in a small kitchen or pantry. And bathrooms.”
He nodded. “I guess we can't have little Johnny standing in line behind some business executive to use the facilities.”
A smile touched her lips. “Exactly. You know more than you think you do.”
He brought his finger to his lips. “Shh. Don't let the word get out.”
She laughed then, her eyes merry, the light glinting off her hair as she turned back to him.
She was gorgeous. Time—when he hadn't been paying attention—had been good to her. How hadn't he noticed? And why hadn't he?
It seemed impossible that Elizabeth was facing infertility. She exuded the Earth Mother. Her lush curves bordered on voluptuous.
The white blouse she wore under her open suit jacket clearly defined her large br**sts and just hinted at the lacy bra that supported them. While her straight blue skirt ended, appropriately enough, just above her knees, it also allowed a display of shapely legs, showcased in clear hose and high-heeled black pumps.
His only disagreement was with her hairstyle: she had hidden her thick, long auburn hair in a businesslike knot. He wondered what she would say if he asked her to take it down, then felt his blood heat at the thought.
She started walking back to where he was standing. “Is that all?” he asked, keeping his voice even, although his body felt tight and all too aware of her.
“Oh, yes-s!”
Her exclamation ended in a gasp as she stumbled. Instinctively, he reached out to break her fall, catching her against him. He almost groaned aloud as her soft br**sts collided with his chest.
Her face jerked up to his, her eyes wide, her face flushing with embarrassment. “I think my heel caught on something!”
He forced himself to look past her to the floor. “Definitely a crack. Must have been caused by the repair work. Looks like the floor will need a touch-up job.” His eyes came back to hers.
She gave a weak laugh. “I'll have to be more careful. Otherwise I'll need a touch-up job.”
She must have read something in his gaze, because suddenly all attempts at amusement faded and a stiffness came back to her shoulders. Her eyes widened—a fascinating shade of green flecked with bits of gold, one slightly more than the other—and her lips parted, drawing his gaze down to them.
They looked full, wet and infinitely kissable. Instinctively, he bent his head.
A look of alarm came into her eyes and she quickly braced her hands on his chest. “I-I'll have some design plans in the next week or so,” she said a bit breathlessly.
Abruptly, his head cleared and he dropped his arms so she could take a step back. “Right.”
She straightened her handbag on her shoulder. “I—I'll call as soon as I have some plans done.”
She couldn't escape fast enough after that.
Quentin swore silently as he watched her go.
Damn, damn. What had gotten into him? He'd been about to kiss her in the middle of his office building, in the middle of the day! Was he nuts? He hadn't seen her in a long while before the barbecue at his parents' place, but he'd known her for ages.
Of course, this was the first time she'd literally fallen into his arms! Still, he wasn't the seize-the-opportunity type. And Elizabeth had enough problems without having him add a lecherous employer to the mix.