She stared at him in surprise. He had never used the nickname - always before it had been Cynthia. Maybe hearing Mary say it so often had burned it into his brain.
"Me?" She asked.
He quirked a brow. "Is there another Cindy in the house?"
"But I don't know anything about...I mean, I don't have any training in interior decorating."
The lip twitched. "You seemed pretty sure of yourself a while ago."
Her face flamed. "I didn't mean to sound like some kind of authority on the subject. I was merely expressing a personal opinion."
He dropped his arms and turned to face her. "Then let me express a personal opinion as well. I think you have impeccable taste. You don't need training - especially not from the people who come up with this fashionable cluttered look. You have a natural instinct for the simple but elegant. For me everything is functional, but you have style."
She stared at him, too surprised to respond immediately. Never in her wildest dreams would she have considered her taste stylish or elegant. Of course, she had never given it much thought, either. She knew what she liked, and it rarely had anything to do with what was in style. But then, he didn't say her taste was stylish - he said it had style. Obviously his taste was compatible with hers. But redecorating the family room? What if he didn't like it after she was done? He was still watching her expectantly.
"I don't know if you realize how expensive it would be. I mean, there would be the cost of drapes, rugs, pictures and other things. I..."
"Make me a list of the things we would need and I'll take you into town. We're not talking over a thousand dollars, are we?"
She shook her head in mute silence.
"Then go ahead."
"But what if you don't like it?"
He sauntered to the stove and poured himself another cup of steaming coffee. "I'll like it." He sipped the hot liquid and winced. "Of course, if you think it would be too much work...you'll only have two weeks."
"No, that should be plenty of time." She moved to the sink and turned on the water. As she watched the sink fill, she considered his proposal - and that other thing. This might be a good time to ask.
"I think it would be a good idea if I moved upstairs." She glanced up as she spoke, and his expression became wary.
"Why? If there was anything going on in this house, it's not like your rooming upstairs would make it look any different."