When she finally surfaced from her thoughts, she caught him still looking at her.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
“O-oh,” she stammered. “Nothing. My thoughts get away from me sometimes.” She resisted the urge to run her fingers through her wildly curly hair, which seemed to have a mind of its own in this weather. Her friends had always said it worked for her and people would die for her hair, but she’d always wanted that gorgeous sleek look that she saw in magazines.
“I’ve brought my sketchpad,” she said, trying to get down to business so she wouldn’t have to think about how gorgeous he was when he looked at her with those interested eyes of his. “I thought I could sketch out a plan for each room today. Then, once you approve the sketches, I can go to work finding similar furniture to fill the space.”
“That would be fine.” His gaze shifted above her head as a shiny, midnight-blue Lamborghini inched its way along the drive outside the window. It was clear that whoever was driving was meticulously careful maneuvering it in the snow outside. Nick’s concern was evident on his face.
“I was also wondering,” she said, trying to pull his attention back inside. She tipped her head up in front of his view. His eyes flickered back down to her. “I don’t know if you require a certain dress code for your staff, but I think better when I can be comfortable.” She looked down at her sneakers, wishing she could be in one of the bedrooms, behind a closed door so she could kick them off and go in her sock feet. “Are you okay if I wear jeans and sneakers to work?”
He laughed a little, his chest rising and falling with his laughter as he refocused on her face. There it was—that expression she’d been interested to see. She’d made him genuinely smile.
“You can wear whatever you like. I don’t mind at all.” He took a step toward her. “You’re free to roam the house—food, drink, anything you want. If you can’t find it, ask Richard. He’s usually in the small office behind the kitchen or you can text him. I’ll give you his number.”
“I’m going to start in the ballroom with the piano downstairs. It reminds me of Cinderella,” she said with a smile. “I loved that movie as a child.” But he just looked at her so she continued, “Do you have any requests for the use of the room or anything you’d like me to include?”
He shook his head, his disinterest clear.
“Are you planning to decorate for Christmas?”
“I wasn’t planning to. It seems like a waste of effort.”
“Why?”
“It’s just me here, and the family will be here only a short time…” His face shifted as if he were only just now realizing something. “You know, you should probably put up a tree somewhere. Robin’s son will be coming. He still believes in Santa Claus. He may need a tree for presents.”
“He may need a tree,” she repeated, her confusion running rampant. “It certainly helps to have one when Santa leaves his gifts. Have you thought about Christmas morning at all? You’re going to have guests.”
“They are my family, remember? They know that I’m not much in the way of festivities. Knowing Robin, she’ll have her own tree delivered.”
“You’re having a Christmas party, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Would you not need decorations for a Christmas party?”
“I suppose. I was thinking you could just add a few in the ballroom. But you’re the expert. Provide whatever atmosphere you’d like. That’s why I’m paying you to do it instead of doing it myself.”
“I’m not an expert,” she said. “I just believe in the magic of the season. Wouldn’t you enjoy fresh greenery and twinkling lights?”
“It is a formality of which I have no opinion one way or the other.”
“Well, I think it would be fun to decorate. Do you own Christmas decorations, or do I need to buy them?”
“Buy them.” He pulled his money clip from a back pocket and handed her a credit card. “And you don’t have to show me the sketches. Just do it. Buy whatever you need. Richard is available for you and can arrange a staff when you need someone to install or move things.” He headed toward the door. “I’ll be in my office most of the day.”
Nick headed out of the room, and she followed, turning in the opposite direction once in the hallway. Abbey pulled her eyes from him as he walked away from her, let herself into the ballroom, and plopped down on one of the two facing sofas. She let her gaze wander the space, wondering what she could do with such a room. She really liked the high ceilings and windows that stretched to the second floor, but they made it very hard to create a cozy space. In the very center of the room, on one wall, was a working wood-burning fireplace with a mantle as thick as the bow of a ship. It was painted white and empty of any decorations whatsoever. The snow outside had turned to a dreary rain, and, as she looked at this fireplace, Abbey thought that she definitely needed Christmas decorations to brighten things up. Then, it occurred to her just where to get them.