5
I’LL RAISE YOU A CHAIR
SKYLAR
Clearly, this is a test. What other explanation could there be for my potential new client being a man who hates me?
The man I supposedly despise too.
I mean, fine. What did he really do other than admonish my dog-rearing skills? But isn’t that enough?
Still, I won’t let on. I’m dressed to impress, and I’m going to move forward and dazzle him with my skills. Would a big design firm freak out? Nope. I won’t either. No way am I going to let another gig slip through my fingers.
I stick out a hand, keeping my brightest business smile in place. “Pleasure to meet you,” I say, ready to put the morning’s incident behind us. “I’m so excited to see the house.”
Maybe he’ll just forget we became mortal enemies this morning.
He looks at my hand with a raised brow. Then, after a beat, he takes it. “Ford Devon,” he says.
Ah. He just used his last name over email. Interesting.
“So it’s not just Devon?” I ask. “Do you prefer Devon?”
“Ford will do,” he says, then blows out a breath. His forehead is all bunched up. This man is so intense. “I…wasn’t expecting you.”
“And I wasn’t expecting you,” I say lightly. “Are you moving out of the house next door to me and into this one?”
He tilts his head, looking thoroughly confused. “What do you mean?”
“Well, we…”
Oh. Shit.
He doesn’t realize I live next door to him. He doesn’t know I spied on him from my brother’s catio this morning and must not have seen where I marched away to this morning. And he definitely didn’t see me this afternoon when I peeked on him from the front door.
Oh, god. Could this get any worse?
I have to tap dance my way through this. I swallow and power through. “I live on Franklin Street in Hayes Valley. My brother mentioned some of his neighbors before I moved in a month and a half ago.”
There. When all else fails, blame thy brother.
My potential client’s handsome face goes entirely blank. Ice blue eyes glazed. Lips parted.
Shock, thy name is Ford Devon. “You’re my neighbor?” he chokes out. “My next-door neighbor.”
Some luck, huh? But I smile. Fake it till you make it. “Yes, I am.”
Too bad I don’t have those shishito peppers right now. I could use an apology gift. But then again, do I really want to start a business meeting with an apology? Actually, maybe I should. I was probably too amused by Simon, and then too annoyed by Ford. I can’t just gloss over the…illicit encounter.
“And I’m sorry again about this morning,” I say, shifting into full-on professional mode. “But I already have some amazing design ideas for your house based on the info you sent over earlier.”
“This house is for my parents, actually.”
“Great, well I think your vision—integrating the natural charm of Sausalito while still keeping a modern, recycled aesthetic—is very doable.” I gesture toward my bag with my tablet in it. “Would you like me to show you what I have in mind?”
He blinks, then collects himself. “Sure.”
You’ve got this, Skylar Haven. You’re a badass babe.
