Out of Bounds by Kris Pearson Read Free Book Online

handed one to
her. “To the future—whatever it holds.”
    She nodded, and took a sip. “Whatever it
holds,” she repeated.
    He walked stiffly round the table and sat,
telling himself it was just the black lace, just those snug
trousers, just the unexpected sparkle in her big eyes... “What
would you like your future to hold?” he asked, by way of
distraction.
    Jetta tipped her head on one side and half
closed those same big dark eyes that attracted him against his
will. “A trip to New York first of all. There’s a design school
there with an impressive reputation. With a qualification from
them, I’ll be much closer to achieving what I want. My own
decorating studio. ”
    “Back here in New Zealand?”
    “Absolutely. Specializing in heritage work
for people who want to restore older houses. Not necessarily homes
on the Historic Places Register—but maybe some of the big turn of
the century mansions in Thorndon and Kelburn. And the pretty
Edwardian houses, and twenties and thirties bungalows like
Gran’s.”
    “Like ours .”
    “Whatever.” The expression in her eyes
switched from dreamy to exasperated, and she set down her glass too
hard and turned her attention to the selection of deli goodies.
Anton felt dismissed, and didn’t like it.
    After a too-long silence she asked, “What are
your plans?”
    He watched her across the table as she picked
up morsels of food and set them on her plate. Even before he tasted
his champagne, his reality seemed to have shifted. The morning’s
dusty and shocked caterpillar had transformed herself into a
self-possessed and beautiful butterfly. And his body assured him it
liked the change. Would be happy to get to know the pretty
butterfly who fluttered just out of reach, but temptingly
close.
    He brought his glass to his nose and savored
the wine’s bouquet to buy more time. Took a gulp. Swallowed deeply.
“Ten years ago I’d have said ‘to be a partner in a really good
architectural practice’ but things change. I’ve achieved that, and
now I find my heart’s in property development. More risk, more
money, but I get to build more of what I want. Clean modern
buildings. Right at the cutting edge of style.”
    “Cold and faceless, you mean?”
    He wouldn’t let her get away with that.
“Innovative. Aesthetically right for the twenty-first century. Eco
efficient. Vigorous functional designs that are
people-friendly.”
    “People-friendly!” Jetta scoffed. “Brutal,
ugly, dehumanizing buildings, if you ask me.”
    “What’s ‘dehumanizing’ about Ballentine Park
Mews? I’m making ideal use of the land.”
    “Everyone jammed so tightly together...”
    “You need never see your neighbors if you
don’t want to; I’ve planned total privacy. The apartments will be
double-glazed, properly insulated, and thermal efficiency will keep
the need for artificial heating to a minimum. More than you can say
for some of those drafty old rabbit warrens you seem so fond
of.”
    Her eyebrows winged up. “But they’re
beautiful,” she insisted. “The high ceilings and deep cornices, the
wide stairways with their carved banisters, the generous
spaces...”
    “All of which are wasteful.”
    “So you think everyone should live in white
painted, hard surfaced, glass fronted, square-stopped boxes?”
    He caught the twitch of her mouth and the
glimmer of mirth in her eyes just in time. “Stop winding me up,” he
said, enjoying the thrust and parry of their argument more than he
should be. She was the enemy. She was the one who just hours ago
had treated him as though he was a loathsome liar trying to steal
her home.
    Now she sat at his table, eating food and
drinking wine that he’d provided, looking pretty damn edible
herself. And he wondered how else he could impress her.
    God—if she could see what was refusing to die down in
his pants she’d be impressed...
    Jetta searched her addled brain for some sort
of equilibrium. Her head felt full of unraveling