Never Far Away (The Never #2)(63)
“Wow, you're good,” Ella said as she took the pad and paper.
“I've been doing this a long time. I recognize the look of inspiration when I see it. Your fingers were almost miming making a list.”
“Thank you,” Ella said as she started making notes. She spoke her thoughts out loud as she jotted them down. “We would need to build a backroom and stock area, fitting rooms, and shelving. The floors need to be replaced. Hard wood maybe.”
“Cherry. It would warm the space up,” Porter chimed in. Ella turned and smiled at him.
“You think it's cold?”
“Yeah, but it's an empty room right now. We can make it right. Portland can handle the starkness of Poppy; the concrete floors, the dark walls. It fits. Here though, I think you'd want to go with something softer.” She smiled because it was like he was reading her mind.
“Hardwood floors. Cherry wood. Butter yellow walls. White shutters around the mirrors. Shabby Chic. Drapes on the fitting rooms, not doors.”
“Will you call it Poppy?” He asked.
“I don't know yet,” she said, contemplating everything. “I think it might be good to call it Poppy, to draw in the people who already know the store in Portland and would want to shop here. But part of me wants to make this store different. A different vibe. I've been toying around with the idea of still using the name of a flower though. That way the stores are tied together, but this one could have its own unique look and feel.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It's just an idea.”
“It's a good idea, Ella.” Porter said, wandering back to the other end of the room. “Is this space already have complete plumbing? I'm not a plumber.” Ella laughed to herself at Porter's constant insistence that he doesn't do plumbing.
“Yes, the whole space has complete plumbing and electrical,” Rachel said cooly.
Porter looked at Ella. “Do you know what this means?” He asked, his eyes wide, eyebrows raised.
“Yeah, that is was meant to be and we were supposed to find this place?” Ella said laughing.
Porter looked back at Rachel. “I don't do plumbing or electrical.”
“Babe,” she heard Porter yell through the house. “Are you almost ready?”
“For someone who didn’t really want to go, you sure are eager!” She yelled back through the bathroom door. Within a few seconds she heard a small knock on the door. She smiled and rolled her eyes simultaneously. She cracked the door just enough to see his gorgeous brown eyes peering at her through the crack.
“May I help you?” She asked, smiling sweetly at him.
“I think the real question is, may I help you? What do you have going on in there that’s taking so long?” Ella shrugged her shoulders and added ‘grumpy when kept waiting’ to the ever growing list of things she was learning and loving about Porter.
“Give me five minutes. I’m almost finished.” His eyes glowered at her and he turned and walked away. She laughed, shook her head at him and closed the door. Even though he’d spent most of his adult life single, he seemed to be falling into the typical ‘relationship guy’ role with few problems.
Ella needed to finish up a few things before they headed out to the club. Megan convinced them to celebrate at an actual dance club, which Ella wasn’t terribly excited about as she preferred dive bars, but Megan was so excited it was impossible to say no. She was also excited to let loose for a night and spend some time doing normal couple things with Porter. It bothered her a little that their relationship thus far had really been unconventional. She loved the way they met and would treasure their past because it only led them to where they were now, but she’d be lying if she said that it wasn't a little stressful at times. They needed a night of fun out with friends and with each other.
Ella took just one more moment to make sure she was put together properly. Her hair was down with big barrel curls floating past her shoulders. Her make-up was a little more dramatic than she was used to, but she wanted to fit in at the club and thought the smoky eye look complimented her outfit. She was wearing a pair of black trouser shorts that came down to about mid-thigh. They were short enough to show off her legs, but not short enough to be inappropriate. Her top, a simple button-up white, cotton tank, was tucked into her shorts. She threw on a chunky silver necklace and silver bangle bracelet. Just to add a splash of color she chose bright red pumps which matched her red lips. She turned her body every which way just to make sure she looked presentable from every angle and when she was satisfied she looked her best, she pulled the door open just to find Porter standing at the end of the hall.
She saw him leaned back against the wall looking terribly bored, but tremendously hot. He added some gel to his normally unruly hair and the effect was maddening. He looked sharp and sexy. He wore her favorite pair of jeans that hugged his thighs and made his ass look amazing. His arms were hugged tightly by his maroon button up shirt, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The red of his shirt made his brown eyes pop and the chocolate color was so delicious she found it difficult to pull her gaze from them. The sight of him was arousing and she knew she was going to have to keep women off of him all night. It was a task she was happy to take on, seeing as how she didn’t plan on leaving his side.
“Porter, I stand by all my previous comments. There is no way on this earth you made it to thirty-two years old and remained single. I think you must have been really irritable or a complete * before we met. You are, by far, the sexiest man I have ever seen. I’m not sure I even want to go out anymore. Let’s stay home,” she smiled at him as she wrapped her arms around his waist.