elaborate. He didn’t need to. Frankie knew all about the health issues his sister had suffered growing up. “It will work out.” He’d learned early on what mattered in life, taught himself to fix what he could fix and find a way to live with what he couldn’t.
“I made a few calls today.” Her tone was casual. “People I know whose skills are perfect for you. Most of them are busy. One of them will be free in October.”
Knowing how busy they were at Urban Genie, he was touched. “You did that for me?”
“You need help.” She dismissed it as nothing but he knew it wasn’t nothing. She’d taken time out of a horrendously busy schedule to try and help him.
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“You’d do the same for us.”
He noticed she chose the word us rather than making it more personal.
Frankie, he was realizing, had a big problem with personal. Far bigger than he’d first thought.
“The problem is that October is too late for this project. I need someone who can hit the ground running, who knows how I think and who has the same creative vision.”
“And where are you going to find someone like that?”
“I’m looking at her.”
Those green eyes widened. “You mean me?”
“I saw your expression when I described the project—admit it, you’re interested.”
“It’s true that roof gardens have their own charms and challenges but I have a job. Urban Genie is in its infancy and—”
“And you already told me you have a few too many wedding events this summer. You hate them. Delegate those to someone else and come and work with me.” He handed her the plans and saw the panic and indecision in her eyes.
“I can’t.”
“Take a look at the plans and think about it. Talk to Paige and Eva. It’s not as if I’m asking you to relocate to Alaska. You can still help with Urban Genie. Just reduce your hands-on work for now. What’s the name of that supplier you’ve been working with?”
“Buds and Blooms.”
“You’d be giving them an opportunity to grow their business, you’d be helping me and you’d be doing work you love. Let someone else deal with the froth of weddings. Design me a roof garden. At least think about it. It’s only for the summer. One project.” His gaze caught on a piece of paper on the table. “What’s that? You wrote me a note?”
She made a strangled sound and scrabbled for the paper. “You can’t read it!”
“You wrote me a note I’m not supposed to read?”
“I assumed I’d be gone by the time you read it.” She snatched it from the table, cheeks scarlet.
“Aren’t you going to at least tell me what it says?”
“I was apologizing for Saturday, that’s all.” She was adorably flustered and Matt resisted the urge to take the note from her fingers.
“Why would you feel the need to apologize?”
“Hey, I don’t know. Maybe because I almost trapped your hand in the door two seconds before I shut you out of your own apartment.” She shoved the paper into the pocket of her jeans and shot toward the door.
“It’s your apartment.” This time he was determined not to let her leave without finishing the conversation. “You live there.”
“But you own it.”
“I made you feel uncomfortable.”
“It’s not you, it’s me. It’s all me.”
They reached the door at the same time.
“Wait.” He planted his hand in the center of the door panel to prevent her leaving and saw her freeze.
“What are you doing?”
“I want to say something and I want to do it without worrying about you severing one of my limbs in the door.” He could have stepped back but he didn’t. If what it took to get her to open up to him was to invade her comfort zone, then he’d invade it. But he’d try and invade it as sensitively as possible.
“Look, I know you think it’s strange that I’d wear glasses when I don’t need them but—”
“You don’t have to explain.”
“I do. You’re wondering why on earth anyone would do something that weird.” She’d dipped her head and all he could see was the sweep of her dark lashes and the delicate freckles that dusted her nose like pollen.
“I’m not wondering that because I already know the answer.”
“You do?”
“You think it puts a barrier between yourself and the world. Or rather, men.” The temptation to touch her was almost overwhelming. “What I don’t understand is why you’re so upset that I know.”
“Because it’s a deeply personal thing.”
“That’s what a relationship is, Frankie. It’s about knowing the deeply personal things that other people don’t see. We’ve known each other a long time.”
“And there’s such a thing as ‘too much information.’” If she pressed any closer to the door she would leave an imprint.
“It’s called intimacy, Frankie. It’s what happens when two people know each other well. And for the record, I don’t think it’s weird.”
Finally, she looked at him. “You don’t?”
“No. But as we’re being honest with each other, it’s only fair to tell you that you’re wasting your time.”
“Excuse me?”
“You have beautiful eyes, and they’re beautiful with or without the glasses. And to save you examining that comment in minute detail I can tell you that yes, it was a compliment.” He removed his arm and opened the door, gently nudging her through it. “Have a think about working with me and thanks again for feeding my cat.”
Reining in his protective instincts, he closed the door before he could do something inappropriate like haul her into his arms.
There was plenty of time for that.
This was only step one.
It wasn’t as if they weren’t going to see each other again. And at some point she was going to realize that he still had her glasses.
A
