“I’m sure you’re all wondering what restoration ideas I have in mind.”
Lindsay narrowed her gaze. Not only was the woman perfect in every way imaginable, it now appeared she could read minds too. Lindsay was leaning toward hate again until she caught the scent of freshly baked apple muffins. Yummy.
“You read my mind,” Lindsay piped up, joining Candace and Anna at the long table.
Once they were all seated, Pamina pulled a fresh tray of muffins from the oven and handed them out. “Please enjoy.” Without preamble she picked up her fat black cat, took a seat at the head of the table and got right to the point. “As I mentioned to Anna on the phone, I’m interested in turning this place into an inn.”
Lindsay mulled the idea over again, still certain they’d decline the offer, especially with all the work piling up on their desks. They had quite a few contracted jobs that just could not wait.
Redirecting her focus, Lindsay bit into her delicious muffin and moaned, offering Pamina only half her attention.
“An inn for lovers,” Pamina added, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Lovers?
Lindsay chewed, her interest picking up.
“With fantasy-inspired theme rooms.”
Fantasy-inspired theme rooms?
Lindsay choked. O-kay, now that gained her full concentration.
Was the sweet, angelic woman talking about sexually inspired fantasy theme rooms? Obviously she’d been too busy making love to her muffin to understand correctly.
Before she could ask, Pamina clarified, “Yes, sexually inspired fantasy theme rooms.”
“You’re kidding?” Lindsay sputtered, glancing at her coworkers. Candace leaned forward, grinning, anxiously awaiting the details. Eyes wide, Anna’s mouth gaped open, color creeping up her neck.
“No, I’m not kidding.” Pamina brushed a golden wisp of hair from her eyes. “What I want from you ladies is for each of you to take one of the bedrooms and using your deepest, darkest imagination, design a lover’s fantasy theme room that would appeal to your sensibilities. Your budget is as unlimited as your creativity.”
Lindsay’s mind raced. Leather wrist cuffs, tether restraints, pleasure whips, nipple clamps. What a wickedly delicious idea for an inn.
Candace spoke up. “Our room can be anything we desire?”
Pamina nodded. “Yes.”
Hell yeah!
Lindsay fought a grin. She could hardly believe this woman was going to pay her to create the perfect BDSM room, something she’d always longed to do for herself, but never had the space in her small condo, or the funds needed to purchase the equipment. Not to mention the right man to share it with.
Lindsay arched one brow. This was like her designer dream job come true. “Are you serious?” Surely to God the woman was messing with her mind.
Pamina nodded again. “One hundred percent.”
Hot damn! She was serious. One hundred percent.
That settled it. She loved this woman.
Pamina waited a moment, as though letting them digest the information. “So what do you say, ladies, are you interested in the contract?”
Okay, so maybe the other jobs could wait.
Heck, if she wasn’t getting any hot monkey loving, at least she could live vicariously through her imagination and let other couples enjoy the fruits of her labor.
“Well…?” Pamina asked.
Without consulting with her partners, Lindsay blurted, “We’ll take it.”
2
Hands in her pockets, Lindsay walked the perimeter of the upstairs bedroom and wondered why Pamina had chosen such a small room for her to decorate. How she was going to fit an eclectic mix of bondage equipment in such a tight space, she’d never know. She angled her head, envisioning the design and layout. Damn, it just wasn’t going to work. The king-sized headboard alone would eat up half the space. Not to mention the padded bench and love swing that she’d ordered earlier that morning. Lord, if two people engaged in a little lighthearted sexual play in such cramped quarters, someone was liable to put an eye out.
Just then Pamina’s fat black cat, Abra, sauntered into the room. Purring, he jumped onto the windowsill and with his piercing feline eyes, watched her every movement. His low purr grew louder and louder, as though demanding her undivided attention.
Lindsay stepped up to him. “Okay, okay.” Good Lord, how the heck was she supposed to concentrate while he made such a racket? After a couple of quick strokes of his silky fur, she crossed her arms and turned her attention back to the drab walls, considering her options. Pushing away from the window, she trailed her hand along one papered wall until she came across a tattered seam. Using a long manicured nail, she worked the edge free and ripped, disheartened to find six or more layers underneath. It’d be a bitch to peel, but at least only one of the four walls had paper on it. The other three were painted in a brownish yellow color that reminded her of doggy droppings. Ugh. It had to go. Lindsay envisioned deep, dark earthy tones as a backdrop to soft sconce lighting and mirrored walls and ceilings.
Pondering the task before her, she joined Abra on the windowsill. Although she’d never had an affinity for cats, and this one actually kind of creeped her out with his inquisitive eyes, she scooped him into her arms and sized him up.
Feigning exhaustion after lifting him, she drew a ragged breath. “Good Lord, Abra, I think we’re going to have to talk to Candace about getting you on a regular exercise program. Maybe you could go with her on one of her runs.” Lindsay reached under his belly and grabbed a fistful of fat cat. “Either that or you’re going to have to get out and find yourself a girlfriend and work off some of this extra padding.”
Ignoring her, he nestled his chubby little body into her arms, where he lazily proceeded to groom himself. Lindsay shook her head as he thoroughly disregarded her.
Typical male.
Shifting her thoughts to the task at hand, Lindsay inspected the room once again. Her gaze settled on the only piece of furniture, an ugly, yellow oversized recliner, which practically took up the whole space.
