Chapter I

Lily West stormed into the Restoration Specialist Incorporated headquarters determined to confront the scoundrel who had tried to dupe my brother.

While it was true that it had a notable reputation as a company dedicated to adapting historic buildings for modern use, it was no less true that the contract was a scam that he could not accept if he wanted to keep the family farm.

Her heels clicked on the wooden floor as she made her way to the counter of a 19th century bar that was the reception. Along the way, he couldn't help but admire the way the historic cotton mill had been transformed into the company's modern headquarters. A perfect place for plants, but there was not a single one there for a nature-loving person like her, the room seemed bare.

There was no one at the counter and the computer was off, but if the staff had already left to enjoy the long weekend, why was the front door open?

Lily's short nails drummed on the polished surface as she fought her frustration. If in the next 30 minutes she was unable to speak to someone on her staff, her company would be subject to the terms stipulated in that contract. The right of imprisonment ended that same day at 5 in the afternoon. She convicted Trent of hiding the contract from her until it was too late.

As usual, her brother only noticed the generalities and not the small print; with clenched teeth, she examined the three-story building, there was light in the office on the second floor.

Lily climbed the wrought iron spiral staircase, inside the lighted office was a man with broad shoulders and short brown hair. He was leaning over a table covered in files, Lily rapped on the door with her knuckles.

He looked up and she held her breath, a pair of brown eyes pinning her on her spot. He was a wonderful face, from the aristocratic straight nose to the chiseled lips, even the fabulous fine brown beard he wore on his square chin.

— How can I help you? He asked in a deep voice whose vibration ran through Lily's back like the soft caress of a willow branch.

<< Calm down Lily >>

—I'm Lily West from Gemini Lanscaping Landscape Company. I need to speak to someone regarding our contract with Restoration Specialist.

The man came around the table and stopped in front of her, Lily had to raise her head to look at him unusual gesture because she was very tall, the man was as tall as her brother, but his athletic body made her feel small and fragile.

He wore a shirt with the logo embroidered on a breast pocket jeans so worn as hers and work boots. The muscles in her shoulders gave away a man used to manual labor, which meant he was not the bureaucrat she needed.

`` I need to speak to someone from the administration.

"She's talking to the right person," she said as she held out her hand, still noticing her gaze. --I'm Rick Faulkner director of the department of architecture and design.

Her name was familiar and yet she knew she had never seen him before. When her long fingers clasped his, it took her Lily a moment to breathe again and when she did, a fresh woody fragrance filled her nostrils.

He examined her as closely as she had. Before meeting her gaze, her brown eyes shifted from the short dark hair, which they hadn't seen a comb since morning, to the worn high-heeled boots.

Lily herself felt her skin crawl and she was sorry she hadn't put on makeup even though she never did. She even made up she knew that she would never have what it takes to attract a man as fabulous as that.

"Any problem, Mrs. West?"

Her question forced him to notice the fact that her hand still rested on the man's warm, rough hand and that her skin burned. Lily withdrew her with a tingle of arousal on her back.

-This contract stinks like manure. I want it fixed or else it will have to be broken.

<< Very pretty Lily, you're going to impress the guy by talking about manure. It doesn't surprise me that men don't crowd at your door >>.

The man's impressive smile, as he had to grudgingly admit, exposed a row of perfect white teeth and a gleam in his brown eyes jeopardized the stability of his knees.

-Don't you want to deal with us?

-Not if I have to pay bribes.

The man's eyes suddenly turned serious.

-Isn't it a fair contract?

- Not much less

-Is that it? he asked as he pointed to the documents she was clutching in her hand.

Lily developed the papers for her before handing them over.

If I have underlined the debatable parts. The guy who did it added all sorts of little details so that the deal is of no benefit to our company.

Leaning against the desk, the man leaned his head over the documents, and Lily's eyes fell on the supple muscles of his thighs and the faded denim in its noticeable bulge.

"You should be ashamed, Lily." -thought

She immediately turned her attention to more appropriate objects like the drawing board and the shelves full of architecture books. Some exclusive paintings hung on the walls and the furniture was of excellent quality. There was no point of comparison with his modest office.

Why don't you sit down, Mrs. West, and give me a few minutes to study this?.

When she settled into an oak chair by the window, he opened one of the files on the table and pulled out a document. With one long finger he ran down a column of numbers, then paused and scowled and returned to the beginning of the column.

The wide window that took up the entire outer wall attracted the attention of de Lily, used to spending most of the day outdoors. The spectacular view of Chapel Hill (a city in northern California) and the hills that surrounded the small university caused a feeling of freedom for an instant.

It was the last day of August, but the trees were already beginning to turn yellow due to the summer drought. In another month, the hills would be awash in shades of yellow and orange. And if he was lucky, he would soon take care of the tasks that the autumn generated such as raking leaves and pruning trees, since the previous year, after the death of his stepfather, all the jobs were essential, but there were not many contracts with companies such as Restoration Specialists He was starting to get headaches though. What was Trent thinking?

-Did you manipulate this contract?

She turned and her eyes met the architect's disturbing brown gaze, fixed on her.

-Of course not. she replied.

He nodded and returned to the document.

Lily looked away from his silky black hair and read the diploma on the wall, Faulkner. She finally understood why her name was familiar to him.

-Are you the child of the owner of the company? she asked wryly.

-I am 25 years old too old to be a boy, but my father is the CEO of Restoration Specialists Incorporated.