Instead, Vivien bit the inside of her cheek, a flashback to Maggie in her head. She didn’t usually—maybe ever—work with clients like this. But…she’d been raised by one.
“Okay,” she said evenly. “I can do modern and sleek, definitely. But, respectfully, Fiona, you hired me to design the redecoration of your home, and I really think you could consider some?—”
“I hired you because I don’t want to do it myself,” Fiona said, standing abruptly. “I know the look I want, and this is it.” She tapped the iPad again. “So, please, make it happen. I have a business I have to run now that my husband has died. As you may recall, I manage dozens of properties in Destin and all around the Panhandle and 30-A. Those properties always need refreshes, remodels, and redesigns. Do my house right, and you’ll go at the top of the list for recommended designers for the owners. Do it wrong and you won’t work in Destin again. Do you understand?”
She most certainly did.
Vivien stood as well, forcing a smile. “If you could just email me the link to your inspiration board, I’ll get started on finding materials and furnishings right away.”
Fiona nodded curtly. “Good.” She walked Vivien to the door and offered a brisk goodbye before disappearing back inside.
Standing on the porch, Vivien took a deep breath, letting the warm air steady her nerves. She turned to look at the house again, her designer’s eye picking out the details she’d love to keep and others she’d like to change. Yes, it was faux Victorian, but she could work with that and bring out the home’s essence. That would be fun.
This would be…work. But it was a stepping stone to more work.
And speaking of stones…she glanced left and right, noticing the sprinklers were running, but were now aimed at the grass and shrubs. Danny was nowhere to be seen, thank goodness, so she walked gingerly to her Highlander and climbed in, turned on the engine, and made a safe getaway.
Just as she turned the corner, she glanced at the side of the house and saw him. He stood halfway up a ladder reaching into a gutter, shirtless now—he’d probably gotten himself soaked. As she slowed at the stop sign, she squinted at him, grudgingly acknowledging that he had a nice physique.
Actually, really nice.
She slid her window down to get a better look just as he turned and stared right at her. Before she could turn and pretend not to be gawking at the man, he tipped his ballcap and grinned.
Blood warmed her face as she breathed out a sigh and turned to face the street.
Great. With luck, she’d never see that hapless handyman again.
* * *
A carshe didn’t recognize was parked in the driveway at the Summer House when she returned, making Vivien wish she could slip in unnoticed, rush upstairs, and get these ruined clothes off as soon as possible.
But as she opened the front door and heard male laughter and voices, she knew that wasn’t going to be possible.
“Hey, there she is.” Eli stepped into the entryway and instantly drew back. “Oof. What happened to you?”
“A wayward sprinkler,” she muttered. “Do you mind if I…” She pointed in the general direction of the stairs. “Could you, uh, distract our company?”
“It’s Peter, he’s not company.”
Peter? Oh, she didn’t want to see him like?—
“There you are, Viv.” He came around the corner, looking tall and strong and way more together than she felt. His gaze dropped over her. “Is it raining somewhere?”
“Just over me,” she said, fluttering the now destroyed Belgian linen trousers.
Eli pulled out his phone and looked at the screen. “Jonah needs me up in the apartment. Catch you out there, Pete.”
He breezed by her, going right out the door she’d just come in, leaving her standing bedraggled in front of the man she once prayed would be her first kiss. She could still see some of the reason why—the dreamy dark eyes and easy smile—but he was an older, wiser, confident detective now, and attractive in a very different way.
He hadn’t been her first kiss, but not for lack of writing in her diaries about it.
“I understand you’re going to be working in the area,” she said. “Missing persons case?”
He nodded. “Routine stuff, but the department rented me a townhouse right off 98, so I’ll probably make a pest of myself here.”
She laughed. “Just like old times. Can you stay for lunch?”
“I just had mine,” he said. “I really just wanted to swing by and see…you.”
