“Does the client have the budget for drip irrigation?”
“They thought they didn’t but I helped them see the light by pointing out how much it would cost them to replace the plants that are going to die when they don’t remember to water them twice a day.” He pulled her to one side as James walked past, carrying a large paving slab. “Any thoughts on planting?”
His fingers were firm on her arm and Frankie felt ripples of excitement spread through her body and pool low in her pelvis.
Seriously? He was trying to stop her being flattened by concrete and she found that exciting? Her body had to be the strangest, weirdest, most incomprehensible thing on the planet. When she wanted to respond to a man it didn’t happen, and when she didn’t want to, it did.
Concentration wasn’t something she usually struggled with, so it annoyed her to find unwanted thoughts creeping into her head. It was like walking in a forest and finding yourself attacked by midges or mosquitoes. She wanted to bat them away or spray them with something toxic.
“Frankie?” Matt’s gentle prompt reminded her that they’d been in the middle of a conversation.
She hoped he hadn’t noticed the lapse.
“I’d stick to a simple color palette and keep it looking natural. You want to screen the terrace to give privacy, but not obscure the view of the city.”
“The building restricts plant height to six feet.”
“I like evergreens, and their small leaves make them perfect for roof terraces. Large leaves shred more easily in the wind.” She looked around, scanning the skyline, relieved to have an excuse to look somewhere other than at him. “We’re overlooked by that apartment block, so we need to consider how to keep it feeling private.”
“We thought some low-cost reed screening.”
“That would work.” Years of experience allowed her to picture how it would look. “Have you considered planting an evergreen magnolia in that corner?”
He followed her gaze. “I hadn’t, but it’s a good idea. Anything else?”
She strolled the length of the roof terrace. As she moved away from him, her breathing normalized. “English boxwood. Maybe some ivy. We don’t want to block the view in this direction.”
“The view is about as perfect as it gets.”
“It’s iconic New York.” She stepped back. “We need to think of air flow.” She went through a mental list of options. “Tell me more about this pergola. And your plans for a water feature.”
He talked her through it, while Frankie concentrated on the view and tried to remember to breathe in and out.
“I’m going to work on this tonight.” She scribbled a few notes on her pad. She still preferred to work with a paper and pencil most of the time, and her pad was full of sketches and ideas.
“Don’t sacrifice your evening for me.” He rolled up the design plan. “I appreciate the help and it’s true that there’s time pressure, but I don’t expect you to kill yourself over it.”
“It’s not a sacrifice. It will be fun.”
“An evening doing a planting design is fun?”
“There might be wine involved. Since we started Urban Genie there is no such thing as an evening off.” She paused as one of his team presented him with a form to sign.
He scrawled his signature in bold, black ink. “Did you check it, Roxy?”
“Yes, boss.” The girl grinned and gave a little salute. “Learned that lesson the last time.”
Matt watched Roxy walk away. “It’s Friday night. When did you last go on a date?”
Frankie stared after the girl, wondering how she could bend down in jeans that tight. “I don’t think she heard you.”
“I wasn’t talking to her, I was talking to you.”
“Me? Oh—” She hesitated, knowing that her answer wasn’t going to paint a picture of her as the epitome of urban sophistication. “Well—I don’t know—I’ve been busy—I don’t date that much.” What was the point in lying when he already knew she wasn’t a party animal? “When I date, I almost always regret it so I’m just as happy spending the evening thinking about plants.”
He removed his sunglasses slowly. “Why do you regret it?”
His eyes were the most incredible blue, warm, interested and focused on her.