Because as I looked up, I found myself staring directly into the eyes of the one woman I thought I’d never see again.
The one who had gotten away herself, Larisa whose last name I just realized I don’t even know.
I gaped at her, completely bowled over for what had to be the first time in my life. “You.”
Surprise flickered across her features, and I realized then that she hadn’t realized I hadn’t known who I’d hired until this very moment. “Me. Surprise?”
“You can say that again.” I stared at her and glanced down at my phone to see Mrs. Michael had sent another message, but I’d get back to her in a few. Sliding my phone into my back pocket, I looked at her again, still not quite trusting that she was really here and really her. “You’re L. Ford from L. Ford Designs?”
She shrugged. “Larisa Ford, at your service. You really didn’t know?”
“Didn’t have a clue,” I admitted, shutting the door behind me. My phone was still going nuts, but I knew it was just Mrs. Michael sending me links for care homes she knew about. We’d discussed it before, but I’d just asked her to send them on if she had them.
I was seriously going to have to start looking into it, but for now, I turned my focus on Larisa. It wasn’t like I was going to choose a home based on a quick look at a link anyway. It would be a long intense process, and it wasn’t one I could start right that minute. “Your website only has pictures of the houses you’ve worked on. There aren’t any of you.”
Realization dawned on her features. “We’ve only communicated using my business email, and my signature just says L. Ford. You never knew my last name, did you?”
I shook my head, but I had the weirdest feeling that this might have been what Mrs. Ramirez had been talking about when she’d told Shawn that love had a way of finding you and not the other way around.
“No, I didn’t know your last name. You also neglected to tell me what you do for a living. You, Ms. Ford, were a much bigger mystery to me than you may have realized. Did you honestly think I’d have hired you without saying anything about it if I’d known who you were?”
The smile melted away from her face and it looked like she was suddenly profoundly sad about something. “If you would rather find another interior designer, I understand. I honestly thought when you reached out to me that you knew who I was, even if we hadn’t discussed it. It’s okay, though. It was lovely seeing your house. If you’d like, I can recommend some other people for you to work with.”
“Why would I want that?” I frowned. “I’d very much like for you to do this if you want to. You came incredibly highly recommended, but now that I know you’re you, I actually want you on this even more. Will you stay? Please?”
A light lit behind her eyes, and it was followed shortly by a massive, bright, beautiful grin. “I’d love to. Do you want to give me the official tour? Just to warn you, I might start rambling again but this time it won’t be because I’m nervous. It’ll be because I’m excited. Have you seen this freaking place? I mean, you have, obviously. You bought it, but seriously, have you fucking seen it? It’s incredible.”
Just like that, even though I really wouldn’t have thought it was possible, my day finally started turning around. And fast. I’d let her go, and she’d come back to me.
Isn’t that how I’m supposed to know?