Love by Design (Crystal Falls Book 1) Read online

  It did need a few upgrades though.

  The carpet, to start with, was a horrible shag monstrosity. Lily did a slow circle, imagining a room with plush cream carpets and deep red bedding with accent pillows and artwork in shades of orange warming the room even more. She jotted a few notes to herself and then stuck her head into the small adjoining bathroom. Avocado tiles and an old pink toilet greeted her. She tried not to cringe at the puffy seat cover and cracked tile. She was thinking more white and grays, small shimmering tiles. But who was she kidding? The space needed to be totally rebuilt. It felt pointless to even look at it before she knew what Noah would be doing to remodel the place.

  She imagined he would have some updated plans going within a week or two which would help her out considerably. And she would have to wait until tomorrow to meet with this Lydia person and figure out exactly what she was supposed to be working on.

  It probably made more sense just to leave and come back tomorrow, but Lily had a real stubborn streak and she felt herself digging her heels in despite knowing it was a waste of her time. She’d be damned if she was going to let the skinny and overly tanned Mrs. Uptight scare her off.

  She felt the frustration tightening in her shoulders and wasn’t sure if it was from this disaster of a first appointment or from seeing him again. Lily made her way back down the hall, looking briefly into each room she passed, wondering where Noah and her client had gone.

  God only knew what those two were up to. She was no fool. She knew how women responded to Noah’s smooth good looks. And she knew how Noah worked, how eager he was to please the client at all costs, no matter what that entailed.

  Her brow furrowed at the thought. His easy friendliness with other women had been a major factor in their awful breakup and despite her absolute hatred of him she felt an old jealousy creep into her gut. Since they’d split she’d been very careful to avoid Noah and she’d successfully kept those old feelings deep inside her where they couldn’t do much damage. And now, here he was with the worst timing in the world, shoved back into her life. She couldn’t believe her horrible luck.

  What was worse, he was looking better than ever. He’d always been fit but she could tell he’d put on some muscle since they’d broken up. His brown hair was a longer now too, giving him a sexy disheveled look. And those eyes. Damn, his dark green eyes with their long long lashes were still a knockout, even behind the new wire-rimmed glasses he was sporting. Glasses that screamed I’m sexy and intelligent. Noah was definitely not an easy man to ignore.

  The sound of a faucet turning on and off caught her attention and she stepped into what seemed to be the master bedroom. The ceiling was just as high here as it was in the common area. A dirty old fireplace took up most of one corner and Lily imagined how beautiful it must be, lying in a big four poster bed, watching the snowflakes fall, a fire crackling away. Her design senses kicked in and she made notes to herself about the type of furniture and fabrics she would use in the space. She knew she’d probably have to adjust everything once she learned more about what Mrs. Upton wanted, but this dreaming phase was her favorite part and she let her mind wander to overstuffed chairs and plush carpets.

  Noah came into the room from a door leading to the master bath a few seconds later, breaking her concentration.

  “So much for staying out of the way, I guess,” he said as he stooped in front of her to measure a floorboard, a little too close for her liking. She took a step back and shrugged.

  “I’m just trying to do my job. If I’m in your way I’ll leave.”

  He twisted up to look at her and she felt her legs go weak. “No problem, I’m almost finished in here anyway.”

  She ran a hand absently over the wood and then the stone fireplace.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Noah said as he passed her and headed back into the attached master bathroom.

  She closed her eyes for a second as his deep voice dripped like honey through her memory. He’d broken her heart, there was no doubt about that, and she could never forgive him. But damn, they’d been good together while their relationship had lasted. She remembered mornings waking up to that voice, and to those hands. She shuddered and pushed the thoughts away before turning to join him in the bathroom. She wasn’t sure what propelled her to follow him, but she couldn’t stop herself.

  Christina stood gazing at Noah with a look of a huntress and Lily couldn’t help but roll her eyes. The woman’s desire was so obvious she was amazed Noah wasn’t on fire from her looks alone. Lily pushed the thought away and concentrated on her job instead.

  The bathroom was dirty and dated but the bones were as exceptional as the rest of the house. She would have to update the tile and the light fixtures at the very least. But the job would be exciting, watching the old cabin come to life again under her designer’s eye.

  “This is a gorgeous cabin. Hardly seems to need any work at all.” She fingered the blue tile countertop in front of her as her eyes wandered over the dated gold specked jacuzzi tub in the corner. What she could see of the wooden walls through the dust and the cobwebs was stunning. The perfect canvas for her to work with.

  “I wouldn’t say that,” Noah said with a frown. “This floor is obviously warped.”

  Christina and Lily watched as he bent down and felt the space where the floorboards met the wooden walls. Try as she might, Lily couldn’t help but stare at his ass, so perfectly sculpted in the dark designer jeans he wore. He always did have a nice backside.

  She blushed as he turned around and caught her staring. She turned to Mrs. Upton quickly, hoping he hadn’t seen the color rise in her cheeks.

  “Did you have any colors in mind for this space? Or any particular pieces you’d like me to incorporate in my design?”

  She knew she was probably pushing too far, but she just couldn’t help herself.

  She was dismissed with a wave of an inch-long fingernail red and a steely look. “Like I told you before,” Christina said, barely concealing her contempt at being so pointlessly bothered again, “Lydia will take care of all that. She really is the only one you need to speak to.”

  Lily tried not to frown as the woman turned back to Noah, snubbing her once again. She shrugged and felt a blush creep into her cheeks. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to cry or hit the woman. Noah looked at her, sympathy in his eyes and she scowled at him before turning away. The last thing she wanted was him feeling sorry for her. She moved out of the room, giving her yoga breathing another shot as she pulled out her notebook and made her way back into the main living area.

  More than an hour later, Noah finally pulled himself away from Christina by begging off for another client meeting. The woman had flirted her way through every room of the house with him and he felt like he needed a stiff drink, despite the fact that it was barely ten o’clock in the morning. It was a delicate balance, trying to make his clients feel taken care of while avoiding their advances. It wore him out.

  “You sure know how to kiss ass. I’ll give you that much,” Lily said as he came down the front steps toward his truck. She was leaning against her car, her arms folded. She watched him a minute and then turned and slung her bag into the passenger seat but didn’t get in.

  “I know how to make a client happy. It certainly hasn’t hurt my business. You should try it sometime.” He couldn’t help but taking a jab at her. The constant heated arguing had always been a weakness in their relationship, but it had led to some pretty amazing sex as well. Looked like some things never changed.

  “You are an asshole Noah Caldwell. And I don’t want anything to do with you. Unfortunately it seems I don’t have a choice right now. But hear me,” she moved toward him, her eyes narrowed and a finger pointed at his chest, “you’d better keep your distance. I have nothing to say to you.” The last words were punctuated against his pecs with the tip of her finger.

  He stood his ground, his eyes hot, willing himself not to grab her. At the moment he wasn’t sure if he wanted to shake her or
kiss her, and he knew neither one would make much sense. The steel gray intensity in her eyes had him all hot and bothered, something he did not like one bit.

  “Fine,” he finally replied and used up the last of his resolve to back down from her and get into his truck.

  She stood still a moment, looking unsure of herself. He’d always taken the bait with her, fought back. But not this time. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. He sure hoped this job was worth all the trouble.

  Chapter Two

  The Blonde Bear, a local bar and restaurant, was only three blocks from Lily’s new apartment. The closeness of the bar was one of the only reasons she’d settled on the aging complex she now called home. Well, that and her pocketbook. She would have otherwise considered the place far beneath her standards. She’d stored up a decent nest egg working for Blackwood but it had dwindled fast over the last few months without a paying job. Lily and her sister Rachel had been coming to the Blonde Bear since they’d moved to Crystal Falls years before. Thankfully it was one of the few places Noah hadn’t liked coming, so she felt fairly safe continuing to go there. In fact, she’d spent many of the nights immediately after the Big Fight in this very bar, drinking cheap wine and eating too many potato skins.

  Lily walked past the small hostess station in the front of the restaurant and into the bar area that was separated from the main restaurant by a big brick wall. The room was dim but cozy with soft overhead lights bouncing off the long mirrored bar. The smell of french fries and grilling steaks made her mouth water. In keeping with the ski resort vibe, a couple of deer heads decorated the walls, along with beautiful oil paintings of the mountain during every season painted by a local artist. Dark brown leather booths took up most of the wall space and cocktail tables dotted the rest of the bar area.

  It didn’t take long for her to spot her sister Rachel at one of the high cocktail tables in the corner. Not only was her sister waving a freckled arm wildly at her but Rachel’s carrot-red hair would have caught her eye even in the most crowded room. It was one of the few ways Lily’s younger sister didn’t resemble her - other than the hair and the freckles, Rachel had almost identical features to Lily, including the signature steel-blue eyes of the Daly brood.

  The only full-time bartender and owner of the Blonde Bear, Jim Stevens, waved to her as she wound her way through mostly empty tables. She gave him a smile and nod before she reached Rachel.

  “Hey, you,” Rachel said and stood up to give Lily a quick hug. “How was the big appointment?”

  “Hellish. Where’s the drink menu? I need something strong and irresponsible.” Lily slung her purse into an empty chair a little more forcefully than necessary.

  Rachel raised her eyebrows and pushed the menu toward her sister. “Want to talk about it?”

  “Not until I’m good and liquored up.”

  “Wow, that bad, huh?”

  Lily’s best friend Angie appeared at their table and placed a bright blue cocktail in front of Rachel. Angie worked as a waitress at the Blonde Bear most nights, another reason the sisters had made the place a second home.

  “Hey babe,” she said and gave Lily’s shoulders a quick squeeze. “How’s my favorite customer tonight?”

  “Lousy,” Lily replied.

  “Job didn’t go so well?”

  “You could say that. Actually, I’m not sure it could have gone any worse.”

  “So the usual then, or do you want something a little stronger? Jim’s created something new, if you want to try it. It’s pink and foamy and has enough alcohol in it to drown even the worst of your sorrows.”

  Jim liked to make up his own concoctions and brought them out as specials at least once a week. Every once in a while he would hit on something fantastic. But most of the time they were downright awful.

  “The usual,” Lily said and put the menu away.

  “I’ll be right back with it,” Angie replied. “And then I want the details.”

  “So the meeting wasn’t so good?” Rachel asked, sipping her drink carefully from a straw.

  “I don’t think you’re supposed to drink a cocktail with a straw.”

  “You see the color of this thing? I don’t want to dye my teeth.”

  Angie came back and set a glass of chardonnay in front of Lily, then slid onto the stool next to her.

  “Want a sip?” Lily asked her, scooting the glass toward Angie.

  “Na, I get off in half an hour anyway. I’ll join you guys then.”

  “Well, go ahead,” Rachel prodded her. “Let’s hear it.”

  Rachel and Angie had been her biggest support during the hard months of starting her business. She didn’t think she would have gotten through without them. They knew every dirty detail, from the “pro bono” work she’d done in her mom’s bathroom to the surprise call from Mrs. Upton’s assistant last week. They’d been so excited for her, so supportive, that she almost didn’t want to tell them about her morning from hell.

  Lily took a drink and sighed. “I was running late, of course. I thought I’d left myself enough time but,” she shrugged her shoulders, “you know how it is.”

  Rachel and Angie both nodded sadly and Lily continued. “I got there late, only to find - wait for it!” she held up her hand and feigned astonishment, “Who else but he-who-shall-not-be-named, already there.”

  “No.” Rachel grabbed her hand and Angie leaned back with a look of horror on her face. “What was he doing there?”

  “Working, of course. Looks like he’s been hired to do the remodel and I’ll be doing the interior design. Isn’t that fabulous?”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Angie said and squeezed her hand. Lily drank the yellow wine deeply, only cringing a little bit at the bitterness of the cheap stuff, her go-to wine for the last three months.

  “Oh, Angie. I wish I was. I walked in and he was already sucking up so hard to Mrs. Uptight I’m surprised he wasn’t in bed with her. That woman was all over him.”

  “You’re gonna need another of these, I think,” Angie said and stood. She grabbed Lily’s already empty glass and took it to the bar for a refill.

  Not only had Rachel and Angie been Lily’s support after the breakup Noah, they’d been witness to the actual Big Fight themselves. Along with about a hundred other people who’d happened to be enjoying themselves nearby and who’d overheard the fight. Noah and Lily had gone with Noah’s friend Rick to stay on Rick’s boat at Lake Mead for spring break and they’d invited Angie and Rachel along with a few other friends. The first few days had been relaxing for everybody, but when Lily accused Noah of sleeping with another woman who was on the boat with them it had gone downhill very fast. Of course all the sun and drinking hadn’t helped, but Lily still swore that she hadn’t overreacted. To Angie and Rachel’s credit, they never doubted her. At least not to her face.

  Angie returned with another chardonnay and leaned against the table, ready to hear more. Lily took a careful sip, promising herself to switch to water next.

  “So did he talk to you?” Rachel asked.

  “He tried. I put him in his place though. I told him to stay away from me.” Lily frowned and fiddled with the bar menu. “Of course he’s looking better than ever. The bastard.”

  “Oh, no you don’t. Don’t you dare fall for him again! Not after everything-” Rachel began.

  “Ha! No worries there. I’m never going to forgive him, no matter how gorgeous he is.”

  “And the job? What happened with that new client?” Angie asked.

  “The unbearable woman proceeded to act like I wasn’t supposed to be there and completely ignored me.” Lily felt tears welling up suddenly and took another drink. “She had the nerve to tell me to come back tomorrow and meet with her assistant. So, basically the whole thing was a waste. I could have slept in and gotten my nails done.”

  An older couple wandered into the bar and Angie gave her a worried look before squeezing her hand. “Things will get better. Tomorrow you can get to work.
It’s going to feel so good when you get this job done. Just think of the pictures you can add to your portfolio.”

  “Thanks, Ange.”

  Angie left to help the new table and Lily gazed absently around the room, starting to feel the wine relax the knots that had troubled her shoulders all day.

  Rachel gave her a smile and Lily tried not to laugh. Seems the straw wasn’t all that effective after all.

  “You’ve got a little something,” she pointed to her own teeth and couldn’t keep the laugh in any longer. Rachel scowled.

  “You’re more trouble than you’re worth sometimes, you know that?”

  Lily laughed again and tried to dodge away from Rachel’s foot that was jabbing at her from under the table.

  “Speaking of trouble, mom wanted to talk to me about your new piercing,” Lily said, hoping to distract her sister from revenge.

  “Uh oh.”

  “Why did you tell her?”

  “You know how mom is. She pried so hard I thought my teeth were going to fall out.”

  Lily laughed and then frowned.

  “Don’t you dare tell mom about Noah. You know how she is about him.”

  “I’m not going to tell mom.”

  Lily scowled at her. “You are going to tell, I know you. You have the backbone of a jellyfish. The last thing I need right now is mom calling me, trying to get me back together with him.”

  Their mother had been crushed when Lily had finally had the courage to tell her that she and Noah broke up. She’d adored Noah and thought the two of them were perfect together, hinting more than once, to both him and her, that she expected them to get married and give her grand-babies. She refused to believe that Noah could be in the wrong, even when Lily explained what happened between them. It took weeks for her to move on to another topic of conversation during their phone calls. Lily couldn’t imagine opening that can of worms again.

  “So, what’s going on with you,” Lily asked, feeling only a little guilty for making the conversation all about her. “How are things in the land of animals?”