Unexpected Rush (Play-By-Play #11)(10)

Technically, she should bring a contractor with her tonight, but she wanted to make Barrett uncomfortable. What better way to do that than to come alone?

It would serve him right for not thinking of her in the first place. Did the man not know anything about her?

He was going to find out.

She handled her appointments, which lasted until after five. She still had time to head back to her town house and freshen up before she had to meet Barrett.

She looked in the bathroom mirror. Yes, and maybe change clothes, too, she thought with a wicked smile.

She went into her bedroom and opened the closet, choosing . . .

Oh yeah. Definitely the red dress. Professional, but still one that would make Barrett take notice.

She’d make sure he wouldn’t ignore her anymore.

She programmed the address of his house into the GPS in her car and headed out. The house was located near the west side of the bay, on the water. It was a gated community, so she gave her name to the attendant at the gate, who let her in.

The streets were well maintained with beautiful mature shade trees and well-manicured lawns. She drove down a few streets, made a left and found Barrett’s house. She parked, got out and looked at the exterior of his home.

Incredible on the outside. It had a white stucco exterior and gray tile roof. The front landscaping was perfect—not overbearing yet not sparse, either, with a sizable front yard.

So far, so good.

She walked up the well-tiled path leading to the front door and rang the bell. Since there was a black Escalade in the driveway, she knew Barrett was already there.

He answered the door looking utterly delicious in brown cargo pants and a tight white T-shirt. She’d barely noticed him the other night when he’d come over with Drake, mainly because she’d been in panic mode and her focus had been entirely on her brother and his idiot move with her ex-boyfriend. Now, though, her attention was fully on Barrett.

It had to be a sin to look that damn fine.

“Hey,” he said. “Thanks for coming.” He held the door wide and she stepped in.

“It’s my pleasure.” She took a look around, tilting her head back to note the tall ceilings in the entry and formal living room.

“How are you doing after the other night?”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t even want to talk about my brother right now. Or possibly ever.”

“Okay, then. I’d offer you something to drink, but I don’t actually live here yet, so I’ve got . . . nothing—including a refrigerator.”

She laughed. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”

She looked around the living room. “This is nice. Dated, but nice.”

“Why don’t you just walk through and do . . . whatever it is you do?” he asked.

Her lips quirked. “I’ll do that. Thanks.”

She made her way into the kitchen, which was spacious, but also had white laminate countertops and faded oak cabinets. And white appliances.

She grimaced. “The only thing this room has going for it is space. It needs to be gutted.”

“Yeah, I’m not really happy with it, but the one thing I liked about it was the size.”

She took photos and made notes on her tablet. “Do you cook?”

“I can cook. I’m not a great cook, but I know my way around a kitchen.”

“Enough to know the difference between a gas stove, electric and an induction cooktop?”

“I’d rather have a gas stove. With six burners. And double ovens. If my mom comes to visit, she’s going to want to do some serious cooking. I want to make sure she has the kitchen to do it in.”

“Or that you might get lucky some day and have a woman come cook for you in your fancy new kitchen?”

“I would never insist a woman cook for me. My mom just loves to cook. And if a woman I was dating came to my place, I’d share in the cooking duties.”

She gave him a dubious look. “Sure you would.”

He looked exasperated with her. “I told you I can cook.”

“Many a man has uttered those words and failed me, Barrett.”

“I’m not that guy.”

Again that look. “Now you’re challenging me.”

She waved her hand at him in dismissal and walked away.

He followed. “Fine. I’ll cook for you. But if you’re going to gut my kitchen, it won’t be here.”

She enjoyed the fact he was pissed off about the whole cooking thing when it had been nothing more than a throwaway comment.

“I’ll invite you to my place, Barrett. You can cook for me there.”

“Wait. What? How did this conversation turn into a me cooking for you at your place event?”

She turned around. “I don’t know. How did it?” Deciding to let him think on that one for a while, she asked, “Tell me what you like in terms of countertop surfaces. Granite? Quartz? Marble? Concrete, or something else?”

“Granite. Dark. Solid wood cabinets. Also dark.”

She made notes, then motioned to the wall separating the kitchen from the other rooms. “We’ll also take down this wall to open the space into the living room.”

“You know best,” he said.

With a smirk, she nodded and made a note as they made their way into the family room.