Christmas Diamonds (5 page)

Paula blushed. “Are you flirting with me?”

“Maybe I am a little. I’m also being honest.” Chase kept a straight face. “But I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable—again.”

“You’re not,” she was quick to say. In fact, Paula found herself feeling quite comfortable around him, which was part of the problem. It would probably be a mistake if either of them crossed any boundaries. Or would it be more of a mistake to avoid the obvious chemistry between them? “I really appreciate the compliment. I just think it’s best if we keep this a professional relationship.”

Chase lifted his hands as if blocking a blow. “Hey, it was just a compliment, Paula. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Paula felt foolish. For the second time, she had jumped the gun and misinterpreted his compliment as something more. She blamed her reaction on her unstable and disappointing history with men. They had made a habit of making her feel very special, only to reveal later that they fell far short of what had been advertised. She somehow doubted that would ever be true with Chase.

“Sorry, it’s just me, not you,” she explained, hoping it would be enough.

Chase furrowed his brow. “He must have done a quite a number on you.”

Paula sighed. “You must be a mind reader.”

“Not really,” he said. “It’s obvious you have a chip on your shoulder. I figured someone must have left it there.”

She wanted to open up to him, but felt this wasn’t the time or place. Maybe she would if they got to know each other better down the line. “Let’s just say the last man I was involved with made me want to run and hide from all men,” Paula said with an uneasy chuckle.

Chase tilted his head, and, for a moment, Paula thought he might kiss her. She wasn’t quite sure how she would react if he did. Instead, he took a step back.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said genuinely.

Paula blinked. “I’ll get over it in time.”

“I hope so. One jerk shouldn’t represent the entire male species.”

She smiled. “I agree.”

His eyes crinkled. “I’m glad to see that we can agree on something where it concerns the ups and downs of the dating world.”

“So am I,” she told him.

Paula could tell that Chase wasn’t just another good-looking man on the prowl. There was obviously far more depth to him than that. Had her grandmother been right that maybe their meeting was a sign? Or did they both have the type of history that would only complicate any chance for moving beyond decorator and client?

Chase saw Paula out and once more scolded himself for being attracted to the lady he’d hired to do his great room. He couldn’t help but feel this way even if reluctant to give in to his emotions. Though she bore some resemblance to Rochelle, it was more than that. Her poise captivated him, along with the softness of Paula’s voice behind those luscious lips. Her lithe body movement dripped with sexuality and had him imagining what it would be like to make love to Paula.

It had been a long time since anyone had aroused Chase mentally and sexually. He wasn’t sure if this was a good thing or not. Paula seemed to want to keep things strictly professional between them, and a part of Chase felt the same way. Maybe it was too soon to start a relationship with someone else. Rochelle was gone, but her presence was still very much with him and in this house where they had created and shared such wonderful memories.

Chase stood in the great room, looking around as if for the last time. He liked the makeover plans Paula had shown him and was ready to see them implemented. Hard as it was, he needed to do this for closure and moving beyond Rochelle and what she meant to him. He was sure she would want him to move on with his life and be happy. Beyond changes to his
house, Chase wondered if it was time to really start working on finding someone to give his heart to. The thought of being in a serious romance again sent sensations up and down his spine. He had a lot of love and affection built up inside him and wanted more than anything to find an extraspecial lady he could share that with. Maybe a smart and sexy woman like Paula Devine.

Chapter 4

D
ivine Decor and Designs was located on LaGrande Drive amidst a collection of other suites offering home and garden renovations. Paula sat at her desk, taking a sweeping gaze at the large office that included a showroom, window displays and some of the latest ideas for interior decoration. She’d designed the place herself, wanting it to represent her vision along with being an artistic, fun place to visit.

She phoned her contractor, Bradford Stowe. They had worked together for the past year, and she was pleased with his amazing ability to get practically any job done in a timely manner. His team of an architect, electrician and muscle was perfect for her needs.

“Hey, Paula,” he said in the gruff voice of a man pushing sixty. “I was just about to take out the trash before my wife has a conniption. What’s up?”

“I’ve been hired to redecorate a great room,” she told him. “The work mostly entails putting in new furnishings and
taking out the old ones. The swags and jabots will need to be replaced with window shades.”

“Sounds simple enough.”

“Will you be able to get your crew together on Wednesday morning?” Paula asked hopefully.

Bradford cleared his throat. “Not a problem.”

“Great. My client is eager to see the room transformed to fit his needs.”

“I’m sure you won’t disappoint, and neither will we,” Bradford responded.

“I know I can always count on you,” Paula said and meant it, never underestimating the importance of a good crew.

“Haven’t had any complaints yet, knock on wood,” he indicated. “I’ll try to keep it that way.”

Paula could say the same thing, by and large. Her work spoke for itself, and many of her clients came back for additional redecoration projects, which in her mind was the highest form of flattery. She recalled that Chase’s Dad, Sylvester McCord, had indicated that he might want her to give his patio a face-lift. Paula welcomed the opportunity to put her talents to good use for him again. For the moment, though, her focus was on his son and achieving the objectives set forth.

A few minutes later, Paula answered a call from her grandmother.

“Are you busy?” Isabelle asked.

Had it been anyone else, Paula would have said yes, as she was in the process of working on her next assignment. But she always tried to find time for the one person who had been there for her through thick and thin.

“Not really,” Paula said. “Is everything okay?”

“Just fine, child,” Isabelle reassured her. “I wanted to check and see how your latest meeting went with the diamond man.”

Paula smiled. Honestly, they seemed to click, at least professionally speaking. There also appeared to be the potential for something more, as she felt there was some chemistry between them. Of course, she couldn’t get too carried away
daydreaming about a man she barely knew, even if it seemed like Isa practically already had their future together laid out.

“It went well,” Paula said. “Chase loves the design scheme I came up with.”

“Did you think for one minute that he wouldn’t?” Isabelle asked, confidence brimming in her voice.

“You never know for sure. Not everyone thinks I walk on water like you, Isa.”

“Just wait till he gets to know you better. I’m sure you’ll have the man eating out of your hands.”

“I think I’ll settle for having him fall in love with my work,” Paula said with a chuckle, definitely not wanting to prematurely think in terms of strong romantic possibilities between them. “Besides, we haven’t reached the stage of dining and feeding each other yet.”

Isabelle laughed. “Give it time.”

Paula rolled her eyes. She had plenty of time to regret her last relationship. And even the one before that.

“Whatever happens will happen,” Paula said nonchalantly.

“Sometimes you have to make things happen,” Isabelle countered. “The good ones can’t always read your mind.”

“And how would you know what’s on my mind concerning the good ones?” Paula was curious.

“I’m not so old that I’ve forgotten how nice it is when you actually connect with someone special.”

“And who says I’ve made such a connection?” Paula asked.

“Not all things have to be in words, child,” Isabelle told her wisely. “A feeling can be just as powerful.”

Paula felt there was no winning this round with her grandmother, even if she found no fault in her argument. “I’ll try to keep that in mind.”

“Good. I’m happy to hear it.”

Paula peeked at her watch. “I hate to cut this short, but I’ve got a few things I need to finish up.”

“I won’t keep you any longer. Oh, by the way, if you could pick up my prescription on the way home, I’d really
appreciate it.” Isabelle took medicine for an elevated cholesterol level.

“Consider it done,” Paula told her.

“You’re a dear.”

“And who do you think I inherited that from?” Paula teased.

“I wouldn’t know,” Isabelle said jokingly.

“Oh, yes, you do,” Paula shot back merrily. “I love you, Isa.”

She disconnected and counted her blessings, starting with having Isa as a grandmother and confidante. Then there was her interior-decorating business, which allowed Paula to use her college education and creativity productively. All that was missing was a man who could light up her life with his intellect and humor, not to mention his skills in the bedroom. When would she find that man?

Paula’s mind drifted to Chase, wondering if the sparks she was starting to feel between them were only her imagination or could possibly be something much more tangible.

Chase worked out of his home office while his great room was being refurbished. He tried to focus on ordering gems for the stores. Aside from diamonds, the company did well with emeralds, opals, pearls, sapphires and tanzanites. It would soon be the holiday season, which was normally their busiest time of the year.

Chase mused about modernizing part of his house as second thoughts crept in. Maybe he should have kept things as Rochelle had created. Would making some drastic changes mean he was erasing memories of her? The last thing he wanted was to negate what they had built together. He quickly rejected the idea, knowing that this wasn’t about tearing down barriers to the past, but rather building bridges toward the future. It was time he quit making excuses for living in yesteryear and got on with his life. Giving the great room a new look was a step in the right direction. Whatever came next in his redecorating scheme, if anything, he was prepared to take it head-on.

“I think maybe we should add some onyx and jade,” Monica suggested over the phone.

“Uh, yeah, that’s a good idea,” Chase mumbled.

“You’re sure? You sound distracted,” Monica said.

Chase stopped musing and gave her his full attention. “Yes, we’re both on the same page,” he said. “You always make sound business decisions, Monica.”

“I try my best. If it’s good for the company, I say let’s go for it.”

Chase leaned back in his chair. “Agreed.”

“So how’s the great-room project going?” Monica asked.

“Good, I think. I’ve kind of buried myself in the office so I wouldn’t be in the way.” Or maybe it was that he couldn’t bear to witness them taking away little pieces of him in the process, in spite of his better side recognizing it was a sound decision.

“You know Rochelle would be the first one to say you probably should’ve done this a long time ago, right?”

“Yeah, I could see that,” Chase acknowledged, knowing she hadn’t been one to dwell on things out of her control.

“Then don’t stress out about it.”

“I’m not,” Chase said unconvincingly.

“Remember, I know you better than most,” Monica said. “I’m sure you’re reminiscing and wondering if everything in that house should remain untouched for all time as a tribute to your life with Rochelle.”

Chase sighed. “So maybe I am a little. Can you blame me?”

“No, but it doesn’t do you any good to hold on to something that only exists in your heart.”

“Is that a bad thing?” he questioned.

“Of course not,” Monica told him. “Keeping a special place for Rochelle is important. It’s equally important to move past that place when you still have the better part of your life ahead of you. And that includes laying out a new course on your house.”

“You’ve made your point,” Chase conceded.

She smiled. “That’s why I hang around, to keep you grounded,” she joked.

“And you do your job well,” Chase acknowledged. The one thing he could count on from Monica was straight talk, which he greatly appreciated to help put his life in a proper perspective. In fact, he had already begun to come to terms with letting go of the past and focusing more on what possibilities the future held over and beyond remodeling his personal space.

After hanging up, Chase watched Paula walk into the office. She was sharply dressed in a black sweater and gray plaid skirt with slingback flats. He couldn’t help but admire her as a striking woman, stirring a fire deep within his soul.

“Hi,” she said. “We’ve wrapped up your great room and just need your approval now.”

“All right.” He got up from his desk and moved up to her. “This should be interesting.”

Paula laughed softly. “As long as that translates into your liking the result.”

I like you, and that’s a good start
, Chase mused, even if their affiliation was strictly professional. It didn’t mean that couldn’t change over the course of time. He was certainly open to the possibility.

His lips curved into a smile. “Let’s take a look at your work.”

Chase felt some anxiety at what he might see when he rounded the corner of the curved hallway. As far as he was concerned, there was no turning back. He just hoped he didn’t live to regret his decision to redecorate.

The first thing Chase noticed upon entering the great room was the chenille sectional and rounded glass-top coffee table. He eyed the primavera end tables and Tiffany lamps, then shifted his gaze to the smartly arranged taupe leather chairs and pedestal cocktail table. The half-round pine curio fit nicely, and an arrangement of artwork seemed perfectly suited to the room. He glanced at the Caribbean rug beneath his feet and then the new window treatments before settling his eyes on the interior decorator.