He motioned toward the plans, which contained the original and the markups. She tapped the paper. “This won’t be grand enough for the Rosenthals. They want a classic spiral splitting the foyer so it’s the main focus when you enter the house.”
Brady made faint pencil marks to the left of the oversize entranceway. “Yes, but many of the features in the house are a bit quirky. This isn’t the standard luxury mansion, and your client may benefit from having the staircase completely shifted off center.” He grabbed a scrap sheet of paper and began drawing. “We make it curve into one main horseshoe and do stone instead of wood.” His pencil scratched furiously. “The dimensions can still work, but we open up the main living room for more space, put the chandelier here, and give it more of a wow factor. By using stone and wood, we give it a more majestic look. Then do a bigger hallway, which looks more like a floating loft.”
Dalton leaned over to watch Brady sketch out the new staircase. “Bluestone is done for outside work, but for this short piece it may work. Combine it with a dark wood with some gray tones and you have the perfect dynamic.”
Fascinated, she watched as the house transformed into something she’d never seen before. Excitement slithered through her blood as the new shape took place and her mind sifted through updated design ideas. “Can you make this actually work? I’ve never seen it done before.”
Brady and Dalton shared a smug look. “Yep,” Brady said. “More money, though.”
Caleb lifted a brow. “Pity,” he drawled.
Morgan shook her head. “This increase is worth it.”
“I’d like to decrease the film room to make up some of the cost.”
“Now, that I can’t agree to.”
“What if we keep the same size but build an actual balcony to offset? Honestly, how many people are really gonna be in the film room at one time? Is he going to have one hundred executives over to the house to watch a movie?”
“No. But he wants to feel like he can.”
“Understood. We can create a wide-tipped balcony for extra seating but keep it more intimate. I see him more watching a movie with a few friends and his wife, even when he’s shooting here.”
They went over the revised plans and shot ideas back and forth, and Morgan found herself agreeing to both changes. Tristan and Dalton dropped suggestions on varying designs, and she scribbled a bunch of notes in her pad for future decorating ideas. By the end of the hour, she already had a better handle on the project and the skill set each of the men brought.
“I’ll get in touch with my suppliers to see how fast we can get some of the orders placed and shipped.”
“I have a long list of contacts if you run into trouble,” she said firmly. “The most important part is timing. We cannot be late, due to the filming schedule.”
“Never been late on a project yet. Don’t intend to start now.”
A shiver tingled down her spine at the sound of the sandpapery voice to her left.
Her gaze cut to his. Those heated gunmetal eyes did bad things to her body and equilibrium. Thank goodness she was sitting. His brothers and Brady were extremely attractive, but Caleb owned an elemental maleness that just did it for her. He was dressed more formally than usual, still in jeans, but a blue button-down shirt stretched over his wide shoulders and chest as if trying to contain him within the material. The image that seared her mind came as violently as a tsunami.
Her, crouched over that magnificent chest. Revealing each hard, carved muscle inch by inch, while she flicked open button after button with her teeth.
Lord have mercy.
Morgan jumped up from the chair in a fake flurry of activity. “Well, this has been quite productive! I’ll sign off on the finalized plans and meet y’all back on-site.”
Caleb stood up with a frown. “I want to walk the property with you first. We can drive over in my car.”
“I’ll take her.”
Dalton also stood up. His manner was easygoing, with a charming smile curving his lips. But the moment the words left his mouth, the temperature in the room dropped like a faulty elevator. She glanced back and forth, but there was some silent communication going on that she had no clue about.
“No need. I’m sure you have some wood to take care of. Elsewhere.”
Huh?
Dalton curled his lower lip in a sneer. “Actually, I don’t. My schedule is wide-open. I’d be happy to accompany Ms. Raines.”
Brady cleared his throat. “Umm, guys?”
Caleb leaned over the desk. “I think it would be better if I took her. You can work on another . . . project that needs your attention.”
Tristan bowed his head and groaned. “Not now, okay? I have a headache.”
Dalton groaned with disgust. “I never took your wood! I’m tired of repeating the same story over and over. I was trying to protect you. You picked the wrong wood.”
Caleb bristled. “No, I didn’t.”
“The wood was faulty, but you were too stubborn to see it!”
“It was mine!”
Morgan’s mouth dropped open. This was the strangest family business she’d ever been involved in, but it was too late, and she had to deal with what she got. The pseudo-symbolism was also off the charts, because it was obvious they were talking about some woman. With men, it always revolved around women and sex.
Tristan sent her a beseeching look of apology and stood with the rest of them. “Enough of the Full House repeats, okay? I’ll escort Ms. Raines to the property. You two hotheads cool off.”