“What is wrong with you?” Alexis whispered to the empty room. She was acting as if she didn’t know why she was edgy. But she knew.
Toussaint checked his look in the rearview mirror before getting out of the car. He didn’t know which had him more excited—seeing his new living/dining showcase or seeing Alexis. As he turned his elevator key and pressed the penthouse button, he decided it was the latter. The elevator reached his floor, and he strode purposefully to the new, cherry-red door Alexis had had installed. Something about feng shui, Toussaint remembered. He opened the door, and his heart stopped. Before him was one of the most beautiful sights he’d ever seen. And the remodel he’d spent ninety thousand dollars on looked good too.
“Hello, Toussaint.”
Toussaint stared at Alexis another moment before stepping farther into the room and looking around. The living/dining masterpiece he’d requested had been delivered, and then some. His home now looked like a spread right out of Architectural Digest. “Alexis, this is fabulous.”
Alexis smiled and walked to where he was standing in front of the living room’s best feature—the fireplace. “I just love how this turned out and am glad you trusted my judgment on the color of the mosaic inlay.” The traditional red brick had been replaced by a sleek wall of marble in warm earth tones. The raised fireplace was now surrounded by a water feature that cascaded from the ceiling and disappeared into grooves on the floor base. Colorful mosaic tiles were inlaid just above this base and matched the floor-to-ceiling, large glass blocks that now served to separate the living and dining areas. Their vibrant shades, which included burgundy, gold, and turquoise, provided a punch of color to the subdued gray / navy blue / black color scheme and brought Alexis’s whimsical signature style to the room.
“The controls have all been stored here,” Alexis said, pushing a panel hidden in the heavy black steel mantel. She turned to the wall opposite the fireplace and pushed a button, and an Afrocentric picture, designed by local Atlanta artist Stuart McClean, receded into the wall to reveal a sixty-inch flat-screen television. She continued to point various details out to Toussaint as they walked around the room. Recessed lighting abounded and emphasized Alexis’s smart use of wood, stainless steel, leather, and textured fabrics to design a look that was at once sophisticated and inviting. The dining room, with its expandable table that could seat up to ten people, reflected the living room’s colors and textures, and the modern, square chandelier, gleaming with Swarovski crystals, rivaled the living room fireplace for wow and pizzazz. The curtains and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that shielded the patio now opened electronically,and the patio, filled with hearty plants and seasonal flowers, was now a true outdoor living space. “These vines will fill in and eventually give you complete privacy.” Alexis motioned to the English ivy growing at the base of the four-foot trellis. Her tour of the new living and dining areas was complete. “However, if you want to take in the view, this entire fence is on a pulley and can be pulled to each side of the balcony.”
“Beautiful,” Toussaint whispered again. But he wasn’t looking at the furnishings or the beautiful downtown skyline clearly visible from his balcony. He wasn’t even commenting on the deep blue September sky or the leaves tinged with yellow, hinting at autumn’s imminent arrival. He was looking at Alexis.
“I’m glad you like it,” Alexis said. She turned, and her heart jumped. Toussaint’s eyes were boring into hers, and when he unconsciously licked his lips, her eyes were drawn to them like moths to a flame. Was he always this handsome? Did he have that slight mustache the last time I saw him, and were his lips this full and succulent-looking? Of course he was! Suddenly she was all too aware of how
Toussaint checked his look in the rearview mirror before getting out of the car. He didn’t know which had him more excited—seeing his new living/dining showcase or seeing Alexis. As he turned his elevator key and pressed the penthouse button, he decided it was the latter. The elevator reached his floor, and he strode purposefully to the new, cherry-red door Alexis had had installed. Something about feng shui, Toussaint remembered. He opened the door, and his heart stopped. Before him was one of the most beautiful sights he’d ever seen. And the remodel he’d spent ninety thousand dollars on looked good too.
“Hello, Toussaint.”
Toussaint stared at Alexis another moment before stepping farther into the room and looking around. The living/dining masterpiece he’d requested had been delivered, and then some. His home now looked like a spread right out of Architectural Digest. “Alexis, this is fabulous.”
Alexis smiled and walked to where he was standing in front of the living room’s best feature—the fireplace. “I just love how this turned out and am glad you trusted my judgment on the color of the mosaic inlay.” The traditional red brick had been replaced by a sleek wall of marble in warm earth tones. The raised fireplace was now surrounded by a water feature that cascaded from the ceiling and disappeared into grooves on the floor base. Colorful mosaic tiles were inlaid just above this base and matched the floor-to-ceiling, large glass blocks that now served to separate the living and dining areas. Their vibrant shades, which included burgundy, gold, and turquoise, provided a punch of color to the subdued gray / navy blue / black color scheme and brought Alexis’s whimsical signature style to the room.
“The controls have all been stored here,” Alexis said, pushing a panel hidden in the heavy black steel mantel. She turned to the wall opposite the fireplace and pushed a button, and an Afrocentric picture, designed by local Atlanta artist Stuart McClean, receded into the wall to reveal a sixty-inch flat-screen television. She continued to point various details out to Toussaint as they walked around the room. Recessed lighting abounded and emphasized Alexis’s smart use of wood, stainless steel, leather, and textured fabrics to design a look that was at once sophisticated and inviting. The dining room, with its expandable table that could seat up to ten people, reflected the living room’s colors and textures, and the modern, square chandelier, gleaming with Swarovski crystals, rivaled the living room fireplace for wow and pizzazz. The curtains and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that shielded the patio now opened electronically,and the patio, filled with hearty plants and seasonal flowers, was now a true outdoor living space. “These vines will fill in and eventually give you complete privacy.” Alexis motioned to the English ivy growing at the base of the four-foot trellis. Her tour of the new living and dining areas was complete. “However, if you want to take in the view, this entire fence is on a pulley and can be pulled to each side of the balcony.”
“Beautiful,” Toussaint whispered again. But he wasn’t looking at the furnishings or the beautiful downtown skyline clearly visible from his balcony. He wasn’t even commenting on the deep blue September sky or the leaves tinged with yellow, hinting at autumn’s imminent arrival. He was looking at Alexis.
“I’m glad you like it,” Alexis said. She turned, and her heart jumped. Toussaint’s eyes were boring into hers, and when he unconsciously licked his lips, her eyes were drawn to them like moths to a flame. Was he always this handsome? Did he have that slight mustache the last time I saw him, and were his lips this full and succulent-looking? Of course he was! Suddenly she was all too aware of how
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