Desire by Design - By Paula Altenburg Page 0,40

too. “But it’s certainly modern,” she added.

Matt’s jaw set, the intimate, possessive look he’d given her earlier now gone from his eyes. She could tell by the glint of steel in them that she’d gone too far with the Disney remark.

“I could always stick a bit of gingerbread trim around the archways,” he suggested. “Would that satisfy you?”

Now, he was just fighting dirty.

“Are they married?” she heard one councilor whisper to another. “Because they do a really good impression of it.”

“I don’t think they’re married, but I hear they live together,” the second councilor whispered back.

Good news traveled fast.

“Putting up one more building with Palladian arches in this city would be cheating future populations,” Matt continued. There were a few nods of agreement. “The past is important, yes, but so is the future. I believe my design encompasses both.”

“And it’s impressive.” Connor rose from his seat, indicating that the meeting was over, and reached over to shake his hand. “I suggest we wait until we get the engineers’ estimates before we discuss this any further.”

The room was emptying fast, and Eve hustled to join the tail end of the queue.

Matt snagged the belt loop on the back of her skirt. “Not so fast.”

He was beyond angry. The tiny jerk of muscle underneath his clean-shaven jaw gave that much away.

“I thought of everything—the history of the region, the other buildings bordering its location, even how much sun exposure the front entrance would receive—winter and summer. What’s your real objection to my design?” His words were low and measured.

This couldn’t be the first time someone hadn’t fallen in love with one of his designs.

But she had. She simply couldn’t bring herself to admit it. She’d convinced herself he couldn’t come up with a terrific design, and she’d been wrong. On the other hand, she wasn’t wrong about the cost. This building was never going to happen.

He clasped his hands together and tapped his lower lip with his index fingers. He raised an eyebrow and studied her for an excruciating moment. A sudden gleam erupted in his fierce blue eyes. He took two more steps toward her until her back was literally against the wall. He planted his palms on either side of her head and looked down at her.

“Do you know what I think?” he said. “I think you won’t admit you like my design because you’re afraid if you do, you’ll be admitting you like me, too.”

What?

He was so close that, if she leaned forward, she could press her cheek into the crisp, broad solidness of his white, cotton shirtfront. She could wrap her arms around him or rise up on her toes and kiss him on the corner of his solid, sexy mouth. She could breathe in his expensive, spicy aftershave, mint cough drops, and fabric softener, all mixed together in a heady male scent.

“It doesn’t matter whether or not I like the design,” Eve said over the sudden hammering of her heart. “Bottom line is that we can’t afford it.”

“So your only objection is the money?” Matt asked, shifting his body closer.

Eve struggled to remember what it was she was objecting to. He was standing far too near for her to think straight. His tie was temptingly close to her nose, and she grabbed the knot, giving it a hard tug, and he jerked back in surprise.

There. She could think again.

“I know how much money we’re working with,” she reminded him. “Bob would have to come up with a whole lot more in order to pay for your building, and I don’t believe he can do it.”

Matt took her fingers in his and held them against his chest. His hand was warm, strong, and swallowed hers whole. “You’d be amazed at what a person can do when given the proper incentive.”

He might find himself somewhat amazed, too, if he kept this kind of incentive up. Eve found it difficult to figure him out sometimes. He enjoyed tormenting her—never going too far, just far enough to confuse her.

She heard footsteps in the corridor outside and remembered where they were. “Anyone could walk in here,” she said, snatching her hand back. “This could prove embarrassing for the both of us.”

“They already know we’re living together.” He slid his hands around her waist. “Tell me. If I got the extra money for the design, would you kiss me, Eve? And would you admit you liked it?”

She wasn’t sure if he meant the kiss or the design, and she wasn’t about to ask