“The penthouse? Oh my God. There’s no comparison. This must look like a dump compared to yours.”
“Just the opposite.” Jay looked her straight in the eyes. “Your home is warm and inviting. Ours is just a place to entertain clients and to sleep. It’s where we live but it’s not a home. I am serious, Izzy. Clay and I could use your touches to help warm up our penthouse.”
“I’m no interior designer, but Gabby and I would love to help.”
She keeps bringing up her daughter. It was very clear what Izzy was trying to do, but he and Clay were interested in her, not Gabby.
“Okay, let’s wrap this tour up, guys.” Every room she showed them was just as nicely done as the kitchen. “And this is my bedroom.”
The room’s palette incorporated different shades of white and cream with gray accents, creating an airy, restful retreat. There was purity to the design, l
ike Izzy herself.
“Here’s my luggage.” She stepped next to the two suitcases, garment bag, and makeup case. “I really appreciate this,” she said, picking up the makeup case.
Jay touched her arm and shook his head. “You’re not even carrying that, Izzy. We are here to take care of you. That was the deal we made last night.”
She smiled and handed him the case. “A girl could get used to being treated like this, you know.”
“At your service, me lady,” Clay said with a bow.
Jay also bowed, and in his best Cockney accent said, “Our pleasure, me lady.” When he straightened up, he saw her cheeks were bright red.
“Did you see this picture of Gabby?” Izzy grabbed a photo and held it in front of her for them to see. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
He looked at the girl in the photo. Gabby had long, blonde hair and green eyes like her mother. “She is beautiful, Izzy, just like you. And I’m sure there’s a very nice young man who will sweep her off her feet one day.”
He could see in her eyes that she realized trying to play matchmaker wasn’t going to work.
“Izzy, I wish Brownie was here.” Clay grabbed one of the suitcases and the makeup case. “Do you have a picture of her that we can take a look at?”
“Um…I’d have to dig it out.” She turned and opened a drawer. “Here it is.” She held it in front of Clay.
“What a cute dog, Izzy. Who’s the woman holding Brownie?”
“My girlfriend, Cami.” She placed the photo back in the drawer. “Can we go now? I’m hungry.”
“Sure,” he said, picking up the other suitcase and garment bag. Izzy seemed a little rattled every time they brought up Brownie, but he wasn’t sure why. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen any sign of a dog in this loft. No bed. No bowls. Nothing. He grinned. She’s lying about having a dog, but why? He intended to find out.
Chapter Seven
Izzy sat between Clay and Jay in the back of the stretch limo, trying to keep her emotions in check but having a very difficult time of it. It wasn’t that she’d never been around men before, but she’d never been around over-the-top, sexy-as-hell men like them before.
“I hope you like bagels and fruit.” Clay’s voice was rich and deep, calling to her deepest desires.
“Mmm. Sounds delicious.” Izzy, you’ve got to stop with the daydreams about him and Jay.
“We’re going to dine in the air,” Jay said. “Chefs Roberto and Miguel took care of us.”
“They are very sweet guys, and I loved their food yesterday. I’m sure we’ll enjoy whatever they’ve made for us.”
She’d looked up Clay and Jay’s profiles last night on GWI’s website. They weren’t even thirty yet. Didn’t take an accounting degree to figure out that she was too old for them by twelve years, yet she was feeling like a teenager just being around them.
Since her divorce, all her focus had been solely on completing her master’s, which she had successfully finished. Graduation was over six months ago, but the next stage in her life had been to secure her place at the firm. There had been no time for a social life. None. There still wasn’t time for it. This was business. Plain and simple. But she was getting signals from Clay and Jay that made her tingly all over. But were their signals really revealing an interest in her? Or had she been out of the mix for so long she was misinterpreting kindness as something more?
Clay grabbed her hand and squeezed.
Just like this. What does this mean? Was this a signal or was this the demonstrative way Gabby and her generation showed their friends affection? Friends. Just friends.