Skyscrapers & Camelot (Renovate Book 1) (2 page)

“Hello, ladies, I’m Gretchen, Mr. James’s personal assistant. Welcome. Mr. James is on a call right now and will be out shortly,” she says.

“Thanks for having us.” My lips curve into a sweet smile before I introduce Reese and myself to Long Legs.

She immediately informs Reese that she will be escorting her downstairs to start photographing their operation.

“That’s what I’m her for,” Reese says.

Gretchen looks at Reese blankly, not getting her humor whatsoever, and then continues to tell her that she will start at the other Mr. James’s office.

Reese perks up a little at that announcement. Yes, she has seen pictures of the older sibling, and there is no doubt good looks run in the family.

Keegan’s older brother Kaleb was my friend, too, and I have missed him. He was always there for me when Keegan couldn’t be.

I decide I’m going to try riding without hands.

I slowly release my hands from the handlebars and stretch them out, loving the feeling of the wind in my face. I close my eyes for a moment, but it’s enough to lose my balance and fall with my bike onto the asphalt, and I start to cry. My knee is bleeding and hurts worse than a Charlie horse as I look around to see I’m in the middle of the street. Suddenly, a boy comes running, and it’s Kaleb.

“Aimee, are you okay? I saw you totally just wipe out,” He looks at my knee, horrified. “That’s a real nasty cut,” he tells me.

“You think? Because I couldn’t tell from all the pain,” I bark back. It really hurts, and he’s just looking at me. “Are you going to help me?”

“Oh, yeah, of course.” He moves my bike to the lawn and picks me up. “You weigh like ten pounds, Aimee! You really need to put some meat on your bones.”

“I do not,” I argue.

Keegan always tells me I’m perfect, and I believe him. Plus, I have no aversion to food. I’m constantly teased about how much I eat.

“Sorry, just saying,” Kaleb says.

“Look, Kaleb, I’m sorry for being mean, but this really hurts. And I don’t want my dad to find out, because he will probably ground me when he finds out I was riding my bike in the middle of the street,”

“It’s okay, Aimee. I’ll clean you up just like new, and no one will know what a daredevil you really are. Next, you’ll be shooting yourself out of a cannon.” We both laugh.

“Yep, that’s me, Evel Knievel Aimee Brennan,”

We reach Keegan and Kaleb’s house where he carries me into their downstairs bathroom. After he sits me on the counter and starts to run water over a washcloth, he gently cleans my knee of the blood, dirt, and debris. It doesn’t look so bad right now, even though it still hurts really badly. Then he opens the medicine cabinet and takes out a bottle of peroxide and dabs a cotton ball with the solution.

“This might sting, Aimee.”

I prepare for more pain, and it does hurt, though it doesn’t last but a few seconds.

Kaleb grabs a huge box of Band-Aids and when he finds the largest in the box, he places it on my knee.

“See, good as new,” he tells me

“Thank you, Kaleb. I’m glad you saw me. Who knows what would have happened to me lying in the middle of the street?”

“No problem, sweet Aimee. I’m glad I saw you. If Keegan was here, he would’ve freaked out. If you don’t know already, my brother kind of worships the ground you walk on. He would never forgive me if I let something happen to you.”

Keegan’s protectiveness always makes me feel safe and happy. I like knowing I am special to him. He is my best friend in the whole world.

Kaleb breaks me out of my thoughts. “Hey, you want some ice cream?”

“Yes, sir.” I nod.

I’m wondering if I will get to run into Kaleb while I am here when I realize that Reese and Gretchen have left.

I begin to take in the space. It’s similar to the lobby downstairs with rich and decadent colors and modern, leather furniture. It feels very comforting, but the most amazing thing I notice is the floor to ceiling windows. I can see the entire city. I feel like part of the amazing New York City skyline, reminding me how very beautiful this city really is. For the life of me, I can’t look away.

I should take a picture with my phone
, I think to myself before I’m suddenly startled out of my trance.

“Breathtaking,” a low and soothing voice says.

I know it’s him and can’t help smiling at his close proximity. His scent travels to my nose, smelling divine, all manly and spicy. I turn around and am met with those amazing bluest of blue eyes that I remember.

He is dressed in an expensive looking, navy blue, three-piece suit. His hair has a messy look to it, but it shines in the light coming from the windows. He is as beautiful as ever, and I’m sad to see no recognition in his eyes. He truly doesn’t remember me.

“The view.” He points out the window. “Lovely, isn’t it? It’s the exact reason our offices are located in this spot—we have the most exquisite view of New York.”

“I would have to agree,” my voice comes out nervously.

“Ms. Brennan, I assume.” He holds out his hand, and I shake it. It feels good touching him. I don’t want to let go, but I do.

“Mr. James, it’s a pleasure.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

No, I can say it’s all mine. I feel like a teenager with a crush. Just what he needs— another woman drooling over him.

“Shall we begin?” he asks me.

“Yes, the interview … Please, lead the way.”

Chapter Three

I follow him down a long hall where the walls are adorned with the most beautiful pictures of castle-like structures. I can only assume these are his designs brought to life, and I can’t help hiding a smile at his success.

As we round a corner and are brought to a wide open door, he holds his hand out, directing me inside. “After you.”

I enter, feeling his eyes on me.

His office is so bright with another gorgeous view of the city through a large floor to ceiling window that is directly behind his desk.

He unbuttons his jacket and sits down, and I follow, taking a seat directly across from him. Once I take out my notepad because I’m old school and like to write everything down, I look up to see him staring at me, and it makes a shiver run through me.

I look into his eyes and smile nervously, but just as I’m about to start, Gretchen walks in.

“Keegan, can I get you anything?”

He shakes his head, staring at me without losing eye contact.

“Would you like anything, Ms. Brennan?” he asks.

“No, thank you.”

“That will be all, Gretchen. Please hold my calls until we are finished.”

I can’t help noticing she called him by his first name. This whole situation has me anxious, nervous, and sad all at the same time. I have known this man since I was a child and am jealous that she can call him by his first name, while he can’t even remember me.

“Go ahead, Ms. Brennan.”

“Where were you born?” I figure I should get right to the heart of things, see if it triggers a memory for him that he can connect to me, the person sitting right in front of him with the same first and last name, looking almost the same as I did when he left.

“Indiana, Pennsylvania.” Still, no recognition in his eyes. Damn.

At this point, I decide I should just get some of the interview questions out of the way for my article.

“Why did you decide you wanted to become an architect? Did someone influence your decision, or has it just always been a dream of yours?”

He purses his lips and looks as if he’s remembering something. “I’ve always been fascinated with buildings and structures. I guess the whole thing started when I was little, and my brother and I built forts in my parents’ backyard. It just became an obsession, I guess, and I never quite grew out of it. There wasn’t too much excitement in town, and my mother refused to let my brother and I sit inside all day.”

Yes, I remember playing in his backyard. I was the princess, and he built the forts to protect me from the evil dragon. Keegan played the role of the knight in shining armor, slaying the dragon.

“So you built forts out of sticks?”

“Something like that,” he answers with a smirk.

I smile and snicker. Picturing him as a little boy makes me happy.

“What did you do with the forts after they were built?”

“Usually, my brother and I demolished them and started over, building something bigger and better.”

Still nothing? What is it going to take to jog his memory?

“Would you agree that architecture is a lifestyle more than it is a job?”

“I do think about architecture all the time.” He motions toward the city outside his windows. “How can I not, being surrounded by that skyline? It’s not just the structures, but what surrounds them. Whenever I take a trip, I plan it around the buildings I want to see. It’s about the entirety of the project, the lighting, the materials. Everything that is seen—the sky, the trees, even the people—influence what type of design will be built.”

I look at him in awe, feeling his passion. He’s making me feel things I shouldn’t be feeling in a simple interview. He’s giving me goose bumps by simply talking to me.

“To answer your question, Ms. Brennan, yes, I agree that architecture is a lifestyle. It is part of me, and I honestly can’t imagine being happier doing anything else.”

“So you never wanted to be a baseball player or race car driver?” I ask, trying again to spark his childhood memories.

He immediately answers, “Well, of course. What American boy doesn’t want to do that? Childhood dreams are just fantasies, but once you find what makes you happy, there is no point in those dreams. When you find what you are meant to do, everything else merely becomes a memory.”

Is that what I am, a forgotten memory? I feel like crying, but the last thing I need to do is embarrass myself. Therefore, I pull myself together quickly before he notices and continue.

“So you take great pride in your work?”

“Yes, I absolutely do.”

“Do you share the same vision with Kaleb—I mean, your brother? You started your company with him,” I fumble, unable to believe I just made such a major fumble.

Keegan doesn’t even seem to realize my faux pas, not missing a beat before he answers with, “Yes, but sometimes, we butt heads. He is the eyes and ears of the operation, less artistic and more goal-orientated. Talent runs in the family, but he is more interested in the big A-type buildings and projects. My brother believes in experimentation with the ever-evolving industry.”

I immediately continue, “Did you have any inspiration for Camelot, the design that put you on the map?”

“Yes, Camelot was a vision I’d had for a very long time. It went through rigorous transformations to get it just right. You could say it was like a child to me and one of my accomplishments I’m proudest of.”

“I’ve read your parents are both still happily married and extremely supportive of you and your brother. Is that true?”

“As supportive as any two parents can be,” he answers.

I remember how very much in love his parents were. They were always smiling at one another, and Keegan and I caught them kissing quite a few times. He thought it was gross, but I always thought it was sweet. I would love to be with someone who adored me and kissed me at every opportune moment. I don’t remember a lot about my parents together, but I know they were very much in love. My father never even got close to remarrying.

“Camelot has been described as a modern-day fairytale brought to life. How has that made you perceive happily ever afters?”

“A happily ever after is only something from a children’s story. Real life isn’t as cut and dry. The villain might just be your heroine, and the prince may lose his way, but the story continues with no clear ending.” He pauses, studying me. “You look disappointed in my response. Do you not agree with my philosophy?”

“I’m not disappointed in your answer,” I tell him. “I’ve just believed in happily ever afters since my mother read me fairytales. Nothing you could say would change my mind.”

He smiles at me, and I smile back, hoping this awkward line of questioning from him will end.

“I just have a few more questions, and then you can get on with your day,” I tell him.

“Take your time, Ms. Brennan. No rush.”

I nod my head. “You have been called one of New York’s most eligible bachelors and photographed with beautiful woman; do you date?”

“Do I date? That’s a loaded question. Yes, I go on dates, but I don’t tend to be associated with anyone long term.”

I can’t help interrupting, not knowing how to feel about his wording. “You make dating sound like a business partnership.”