How to Love Your Neighbour(65)
He laughed, squeezed her tighter. “You know me too well.”
He sucked in a breath, realizing it was true. Grace lifted up, folding her forearms on his chest, her gaze warm and captivating. Her hair fell around her, brushing against his cheeks.
“That or we think too much alike,” she said.
Noah couldn’t stop his hands from tracing over her skin. “You think so?”
“More than I would have thought. Are you sorry?” Her eyelids lowered when she asked, and his heart clutched.
Noah cupped her cheek in his palm, waiting until she met his gaze. “I’m so many things right now. Happy. Sated. In awe. Crazy about you. A little hungry. What I’m not, in any way, is sorry. Are you?”
She shook her head, and he could see in her eyes that she meant it. Brushing her fingers through his hair, she looked like she was gathering her words.
“I’ve been fighting this since the minute I saw you on the beach. I told myself it wouldn’t happen but I think it was inevitable. I don’t know where we’ll go from here and that in itself is different for me. I always need to know where things are going. Where I’m going. But with you, needing those things comes second to how much I need you.” She took a deep breath. “And that scares me.”
Noah shifted, moving so he was sitting with his back against her padded headboard. He put his arm around her, tucking her into his side. She rested her head on his arm so they could keep looking at each other.
“I’ll never lie to you. I’ll never intentionally hurt you. I tried to fight it, too, but it’s too big.”
She snickered.
“Jesus,” he groaned.
She covered her mouth with her hand. “Sorry. Continue.”
He pressed a kiss to the bridge of her nose. “You’re adorable. I don’t know how I ever thought I could fight what I feel for you. I’m going to ask Chris to cut your checks through our corporation, though, to put a little separation between the professional and personal. But even if I couldn’t do that, I wouldn’t take this back. I’m better at contract language than professing feelings but you’re like my house, Gracie. Or this one for you. I can’t walk away. The pull is too strong. I feel like I’m finally figuring out who I am right here in this place, with you by my side.”
She sucked in a sharp breath, moved over him, her hands on either side of his face. “You must be really good at contract language. If you can take a leap, so can I.”
His body heated with the intensity of her gaze. “There’s something special between us. There’re so many great things coming up for both of us. Let’s jump. We’ll see where we land.”
He had a strong suspicion that his heart was going to land firmly in her hands. Which didn’t scare him nearly as much as he thought it would.
29
HH
HOME AND HEART MAGAZINE
It’s what’s inside that counts
New LA Designer Joins Forces with New York Real Estate Developer on an Old Project
Story and Interview by Emily Swanson
Photographs by Jack Stein
HOW A HOUSE BECOMES A HOME; PART 1 OF 3
Regardless of how many times I’ve done these interviews, how many celebrity homes I’ve been invited into, how many amazing renovations I’ve had the good fortune to witness, every experience feels brand-new and unique. Every once in a while, there’s an opportunity to do something with a twist. This twist? Hotshot East Coast real estate developer Noah Jansen is putting down roots in a little beach town south of LA. Helping him turn his house into a home is a new-to-the-scene designer, Grace Travis, who lives next door. I mean, the designer next door? I can’t even make that stuff up. If this isn’t reality show material, I don’t know what is. Speaking of which, check out our website for behind-the-scenes footage of these two working together on a variety of projects.
Now kick back in your favorite accent chair, because this is the first of a series of interviews and stories about an amazing journey full of heart, hard work, and happy endings.
Emily Swanson (ES): I have so many questions, I almost don’t know where to start. Describe yourselves in three words each.
Grace Travis (GT): Motivated. Determined. Resourceful.
Noah Jansen (NJ): Driven. Successful. Confident.
ES: How did you two meet? (Designer and client exchange an interesting glance I want to read into.)
NJ: Grace moved in next door. I offered to buy her house.
GT: (laughs) About a half dozen times. He wanted to put in a pool.
ES: I take it the answer was no. Something Noah probably isn’t used to hearing. Tell us about your background, Grace.
GT: I’m finishing up my interior design degree at California Polytechnic. I’ve always been interested in design. This is my first professional gig but I’ve planned some significant projects through school.
ES: It’s a big risk, Noah. You have a reputation for closing wicked deals and turning places over. You were part of a Brooklyn development project that altered the landscape of the neighborhood. How do you know Grace is the right fit for this project?
NJ: There are lots of moments in your life, especially in business, where you have to go with your gut. You hope that your experience and history are enough to make the follow-through worth it. Listening to Grace’s ideas . . . it’s like seeing a young, naturally inclined athlete. You watch them play and you say to yourself, they’re going all the way. I saw that in Grace.