Designing Hearts

  Denny poured wine in Jill’s glass and then his. “After what ye’ve been through, I can imagine it’s nice to relax a bit. But trust me, the pleasure is all mine.”

  “I hope you realize that by having dinner together, we’ve taken a huge step toward creating a potential conflict of interest at Becker, Hennessy and Johnson,” Jill said with a mischievous glint in her eye. “We have to agree that no matter what happens after this, we still have to work together and act nice.”

  “I’m not concerned.” Denny held up his glass. “It’s just dinner, Jill. We haven’t gone to bed together yet, although I imagine that will happen soon enough.”

  Jill sputtered and set her wine glass down on the table. “You are confident, aren’t you?”

  “I’m a man who knows what he wants, and I don’t believe in playing guessing games. And now, I recommend we do something really dangerous and have the Caprese salad. No telling where things will go from there. We might even end up having dessert, and wouldn’t that be scandalous? Now, tell me what on the menu looks good to you.”

  Suddenly Jill was ravenous. “The coconut macadamia-encrusted shrimp looks great.”

  “There’s a lot of heat in that dish, as I remember. I’m thinking of the sea bass. It’s got a nice lemony sauce.”

  “Do you come here often?” She hoped she sounded nonchalant. Denny’s familiarity with the menu led her to wonder how many times he had dined here, and with whom. Stop that, she scolded herself.

  “I come here about once a week. I live not far.” He glanced up in time to see one of the servers blow him a kiss. His face colored deeply as he nodded in her direction. “I like to cook, but by the time I get done on a job site, clean my brushes and rollers, and prepare for the next day, I’m often too tired to fix a decent meal. Do you like to cook?”

  “I love to cook, actually. When the boys lived at home, I made dinner nearly every evening. They complained that their friends got to eat fast food, but I never wanted my career to deprive them of home-cooked meals like I remember from my childhood. Sometimes David was there for dinner, but most of the time, that wasn’t the case. I still thought it was important for us to have family time.”

  “My maw felt the same. Our meals were simple, but all seven of us were expected to use our best table manners and talk nicely with one another.”

  “Seven children, my goodness,” Jill said, shaking her head.

  “Aye, Maw is a saint.”

  “Tell me about your parents, Denny. What did your father do for a living?”

  “Da was a stonemason. He’s not alive anymore, but my mother still lives in the thatch-roof cottage where I grew up in Aberdeen. I get back once a year to visit, sort of like the prodigal son.” He paused and sipped his wine. “When I left, it wasn’t under the best of circumstances.”

  “Horse thief?”

  “Sheep stealer, actually.” He grinned and refilled her glass.

  “What really happened, if you don’t mind the nosy question?”

  While she waited for his response, Jill took a bite of her Caprese salad, which was delicious. The tomatoes were ripened perfectly, and the basil was pungent, the mozzarella creamy and full of flavor. After several weeks of eating meals while standing up at the kitchen counter or in front of the television, she was glad for a leisurely meal in a restaurant. She also hadn’t expected to feel this at ease with a man she barely knew.

  “I was engaged to a girl in Aberdeen,” Denny explained. “I worked for her father’s construction company. When I decided to come to America, I’m afraid no one was very happy about the way I did it. Of course, I wouldn’t have made it here if I’d done it any other way. You see, I was given an incredible opportunity, complete with a generous loan that allowed me to buy a plane ticket to get here. Thanks to my teacher, Maeve, whose brother James lived in Connecticut. She believed in me, you see. I did it fast before I could change my mind. When I told Cara, my fiancée, she made quite a fuss, as well you would expect, since the banns were just weeks away. Her father let it be known that he’d kill me if I didn’t leave. He had quite a temper, Ian did. I said goodbye to my parents and stayed at my teacher’s house until I left Scotland.”

  “That must have been hard to walk away from your fiancée, not to mention your homeland. You obviously loved Cara or you wouldn’t have planned to marry her.”

  Denny sighed. “I did care for Cara, but I didn’t love her the way she deserved. She was verra beautiful and would have made a fine wife and mother. And I doubt our temperaments would have suited in the end. I admit it; I chose my own happiness.” He shrugged. “You might say that was selfish, and you’d be right.”

  “Selfishness is taking care of one’s self, which doesn’t seem so bad, if you think about it,” Jill said. “I’ve been thinking that if I’d been more selfish, David and I might have had a happier life together. If I’d told him I wanted him home more often and insisted that we spend more time together and with our boys, he might not have done what he did.”

  “When a man decides to cheat, there isna much a woman can do to stop him,” Denny said as he offered Jill a bite of fish. “He’s a scoundrel, that’s a fact, and there’ll be no excusin’ David’s behavior. I’m just saying you ought not to blame yourself.”

  Jill accepted the forkful of flaky sea bass, savored it, and swallowed. “Thanks for saying that. Now I want to take my time and make careful decisions. The divorce is in process and will be finalized, I think, after the first of the year. I’m moving in that direction because I can’t imagine ever returning to married life with David. So far, things have gone well in mediation. David has already agreed in principle to most of the usual conditions my attorney wrote into the agreement. I didn’t ask for much.” She gave a rueful laugh.

  “Would he like to be back in your good graces, I suppose?”

  “That’s a sore subject,” Jill said. “Let’s not talk about David anymore. I want to know more about you and your art career. My clients have been thrilled with your paintings. I’m happy to recommend your work.”

  “I appreciate that. By the way, I meant to tell you that the Scottish mountain watercolor you admired for your student’s home can be delivered any day now.”

  “That’s great. I ought to tell them how much you’re asking for it, though, and allow them to decide if it’s in their budget.”

  “I’d consider it my privilege to let them have the painting as a gift. If they hate it, they can give it back. If they love it and the young wife recovers her good health, it’ll be payment enough.”

  “Denny, that’s very generous.” She was deeply touched. “I’d love for you to meet them. Then you’ll understand what a good thing you’re doing.”

  “When you’ve been blessed with as many lucky breaks as I have, it’s important to give back. I haven’t been able to get their story out of my mind since you told it to me.”

  They finished their meal as the dessert cart appeared at the table, and listened as their server provided elaborate descriptions of the five offerings. Jill saw a deep dish caramel-drizzled apple pie, dense chocolate ganache tart, chocolate-cherry cannoli, fresh berry shortcake, and peach cobbler. “Everything looks delicious,” she declared, “but I don’t believe I need anything else tonight.”

  Denny flashed a wide-eyed Are you crazy look and said, “I’d like the cannoli, please, and bring two forks. I’m feeling reckless tonight, and she’s not getting away with being cautious.”

  Jill laughed. “It’s a Monday night. How reckless can we possibly get?”

  “Don’t tempt me or you’ll find out.”

  When dessert came, he offered the plate to Jill first. “You really have to try it,” he said. “These cannoli are a wee bit of heaven on earth.”

  Jill bit into the forkful of sweet mascarpone filling, dark chocolate shavings, and tiny bits of cherry in a crunchy shell dusted with powdered sugar. Denny was right: to hell with her diet. They finished both cannoli in record time, punctuating their oohs an
d aahs with satisfied sighs. When the check came, Denny accepted it from the server and pulled a pair of readers out of his pocket. Jill couldn’t help smiling when she noticed they were decorated in bold primary colors. She knew few men secure enough in their manhood to pull off that look, much less with such panache.

  He waved off her attempt to pay for her own meal. “Don’t be silly. I’m making a small fortune off your company.”

  The sun had already gone down as they made their way through the chilly night air to Denny’s car. Even though the top was up on the car, Jill wrapped her wool sweater tightly around her as he started the engine. She glanced over at his profile, and her heart skipped a beat. She found him every bit as handsome as David—more so.

  “Would you consider coming over to my house for a cup of tea or a nightcap?” he asked. “I promise to behave myself. I’d like to show you my koi.”

  “Now that’s an interesting proposition.” Jill wasn’t sure she had heard him correctly. “Did you say koi, as in goldfish?”

  “Yes, I have four big, beautiful koi: Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter.”

  “Now I know I shouldn’t trust you.”

  “I’m serious. I couldna think of any other names that had quite the same ring to them. And it is no’ like they come when I call, anyway.”

  Jill laughed, shaking her head. The man was adorable. As they parked in front of Denny’s craft-style bungalow, Jill was struck speechless by the rich color of the lapis lazuli blue door on the reddish-orange brick house. The bungalow was exactly as she guessed it would be: stylish yet unpretentious, decorated in a mix of bold color and sophisticated accents. She admired his coastal-style living room with its soft palette of creamy vanilla and cerulean blue hues highlighted by a large globe and atlases. The bookshelves and walls were adorned with seashells and starfish. The combination of an overstuffed, cream-colored sofa, blue cushions, and distressed wood furniture appeared almost feminine in design, yet there was a strong masculine element in the placement of each object.

  A four-season porch attached to the living room was painted a rich hydrangea color that complemented the white and blue décor of the living room. This was Denny’s art studio and included a large table with mason jars filled with paintbrushes and trays of watercolor tubes arranged by hue. Several easels displayed finished paintings. The effect was surprisingly neat and orderly. The dining area was a spectacular mix of autumn colors—shades of muted and burnt orange, pine green, and creamy birch white with a huge pine trestle table and benches. An oversized painting on the wall above the dining room table depicted a peaceful lake with a blue sky and jewel-toned autumn trees reflected on its surface.

  “This is gorgeous!” Jill said in astonishment. “I love all the color.”

  “There’s one more room I want you to see. This is my newest creation.” Denny pushed open the door across the hallway to the master suite.

  Jill’s jaw dropped. Stepping into this room was like walking into a mountain masterpiece with a mixture of serene colors from yellow and dusky violet to the lightest pearl gray. A dark gray stone color accented one entire wall. This room featured spectacular mountain paintings displaying the grandeur of craggy rocks in concert with seasonal trees, spectacular sunrises, and sunsets. It was the headboard of the king-size bed, however, that brought a gasp of admiration from Jill. The bed, which was arranged diagonally in the corner, was topped with a headboard in colors of stone, pearl gray, and dusky violet that Denny had built himself to give the illusion of a mountain range.

  “This is unbelievable!” Jill touched the headboard as if expecting it to be made of real stone. “I don’t know if you realize it, but these colors and the design you’ve chosen for this area of the house are ideal feng shui, because this is your health area. You’ve got lots of earthy tones and that candle garden to represent fire. Even the headboard is ideal. This room is perfect, Denny.”

  As they walked down the hall through the bungalow, their last stop was the kitchen, which was painted a rich tomato red with a sage green ceramic tile floor and charcoal granite countertops. Shelves along the backsplash displayed whimsical hand-blown glass ornaments of various fruits and vegetables. More original paintings by Denny were on display in this room—still life watercolors of wine bottles, wineglasses, fruit, and cheese platters. The overall effect was sophisticated, yet warm and inviting—perfect for the romance area of his house.

  “We’re not quite through yet,” Denny said and drew her out the back door to the red brick patio built on two levels.

  Tucked in the center of vibrant red Japanese maple trees that lined the perimeter was the koi pond, a bamboo table, and four chairs. “Have a seat and enjoy the koi while I get us something to drink,” he said and disappeared into the kitchen.

  The air was too cool to remain outdoors for long. Jill shivered and was surprised moments later to feel delicious, unexpected warmth on her shoulders. Denny had turned on a tall outdoor heater by the table. He stepped outside carrying a bottle of wine and two stem-less wineglasses.

  “I’ve always loved the outdoors and thought it a shame that I couldn’t use this patio earlier in the spring and later into the fall,” he said as he poured her a glass of zinfandel. “The Japanese theme out here pleases me.”

  “It’s heavenly,” Jill said, leaning back on her cushioned chair to gaze up at the moonlit, indigo sky. “This would be where I’d choose to meditate. It’s so serene.”

  “Aye, I’ve spent many a quiet early morning out here, dreamin’ and plannin.’ ”

  They drank their wine and talked, forgetting about the time until Denny glanced at his watch.

  “I ought to be getting you home now.” He took her hands and brought Jill to her feet. “To be continued.”

  Jill allowed Denny to wrap his arms around her for a moment. She shivered again, this time in anticipation, as he tipped her chin toward him and kissed her lightly. The sensation of his lips, so warm and soft, left no doubt about his feelings for her. Suddenly, the kiss deepened, and Jill tasted the sweetness of the wine on his tongue. She returned his kiss with a passion she knew couldn’t be contained for long. Whatever happened now, it was pointless to ignore the deepening attraction she experienced whenever he was near.

  “So much for mere friendship,” she said lightly, when they stepped apart.

  “I can’t say I’m sorry,” he admitted. “I’ve wanted to do that since the first day I saw you at your house, wearing those captivating elbow-length blue cleaning gloves.” He grinned.

  “Not such a good memory for me, I’m afraid,” she said, wincing. “I was mortified that you caught me like that. It is definitely not my best look.”

  “Oh, I thought you looked fine,” he said, lifting his eyebrows. “In fact, I’d like you to wear that outfit again for me someday. Then I’ll get to live out my initial fantasy.”

  She colored deeply, but couldn’t restrain the laugh that escaped her lips. “And with that comment, I think you ought to take me home. It’s a school night, after all.”

  “Aye, it is,” he said, laughing.

  Later at home, as she removed her makeup and patted moisturizer on her face, she noticed the rosy glow emanating from her skin and thought of the way she had looked as a young bride, happily in love, with nothing but high hopes for the future. She removed her wedding rings to apply lotion to her hands and then, humming to herself, placed them in the jewelry box on her dressing table. Then she opened the hall closet and rummaged through several boxes. She retrieved a velvet red heart-shaped box and placed it symbolically in the relationship corner of the house.

  “Let this serve as my intention for love,” she said with a satisfied smile, as Chris’s lyrics “Love is always new” ran through her head.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Family was the subject of Tuesday evening’s feng shui class. To everyone’s delight, Joel arrived, looking tired but happy. He reported that Diana was home again and starting to eat a little. Jill couldn’t wait to te
ll him about Denny’s generous offer of a painting. She walked over and began explaining the colors in the painting, how the scene depicted a Scottish mountain range, and how nice it would look in his stairway. She finished by telling him that the artist wanted to give them the painting so that Diana could regain her health.

  “Joel, this painting is perfect for your health area,” she said. “You’ll love it.”

  “Wow, I don’t know what to say.” Joel raked his lower teeth over his upper lip, looking as if he might decline the gift. “Why would he do something that nice for people he doesn’t even know?”

  “I think he’s paying it forward in thanks for his own good fortune. Trust me, he really wants you to have it.”

  “I hope we can thank him personally,” Joel said.

  “Actually, I’m pretty sure he’ll insist on hanging the painting himself to make sure it’s displayed to best advantage.” They headed into the classroom. “Let’s aim for this weekend, if that works for the two of you.”

  As she began her remarks for tonight’s talk on the family square of the bagua, she remembered her student Joni’s earlier comment that the family area was what she most wanted to enhance in her home. Jill knew from a quick conversation in the parking lot one evening that Joni’s parents had divorced and remarried, and were now divorced again. Joni had alluded to substance abuse issues with one of her parents, as well. In addition, an elderly, wealthy uncle created havoc in the family with his constant threats of cutting family members out of his will if they didn’t abide by his wishes or agree with his ultra-liberal politics.

  “For most of us, family is the source of our greatest joys, but also some of our most painful moments,” Jill began. “Family is supposed to mean security and unconditional love. That’s what we believe and what we want, but it’s not always the reality.”

  She held up the bagua and pointed to the family area, which was located in the middle left hand square. “The family area in feng shui borders knowledge and skills, prosperity, and health. Remember, these areas all overlap in important ways. If you’re trying to learn something, family members are often willing and able to help. We need to learn about one another so that we can interact most effectively. When we’re in trouble financially, family members often come to our rescue. When we hit the jackpot, we usually take care of family first. When stress occurs within the family, we can become sick. We suffer when a family member is ill. You get the picture.”