Noah’s lips twitched. “Are you telling me I’m a brown bag kind of guy?”
Cassie grinned. “I bet your grandma told you it’s not what’s on the outside that’s important, but what’s inside.” She handed him a spoon and a slice of the cheesecake. “Having said that, there’s no way you’re a brown bag kind of guy. You’re tall, handsome, and live in New York City. You also have a great sense of humor and you’re kind. If you told people you were looking for a wife, you’d have women lined up waiting to meet you.”
“I should be grateful I didn’t tell Mabel I’d like someone special in my life.”
Cassie was surprised he remembered the owner of the general store. Mabel was a sweetie, but she was also an incurable gossip. “Sapphire Bay doesn’t have the same number of single women as Manhattan, but Mabel has a gift for finding the unexpected. It’s probably just as well you don’t live here. She would make your happiness her number one priority.”
Noah pulled out the stool beside him for Cassie. “If you were looking for someone special, what would he be like?”
She thought about her ideal man, but the only person who kept popping into her mind was Noah. “I’m not sure. I guess he would have to have a good sense of humor and love children and dogs.”
“You don’t have a dog.”
“But I’d like one.”
Noah’s eyebrows rose. “Big or small?”
“Medium.”
“Short or long-haired.”
“Short.”
“Black, white, red, or brown?”
Cassie grinned. “I don’t mind. If he’s adorable and likes lots of cuddles, he’d fit into my life perfectly.”
“What if I…” Noah clamped his mouth shut.
She waited for him to continue, but he remained silent. “What were you going to say?”
“It doesn’t matter. The cheesecake is amazing.” Noah ate another spoonful of the sweet dessert.
The last thing she’d been talking about was her future canine buddy. Her eyes widened. Noah was definitely adorable. Maybe he liked lots of cuddles, too?
Cassie scooped some dessert into her mouth. Just thinking about cuddling Noah made her temperature soar.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” Noah asked.
She swallowed the cheesecake and pretended her cheeks weren’t burning. It was time to show Noah her new designs. “I’m working in my store until midday, then starting a new collection. Would you like to see my drawings?”
“I’d love to.”
Noah followed her into the living room. She’d left her sketchpad in the middle of the coffee table and surrounded it with the things she’d used as inspiration.
“It looks as though you’ve found someone’s treasure chest.”
Cassie’s heart pounded. At least he was close to the theme she’d chosen. “I’ve been collecting costume jewelry for years. The tiara was a present from Dad. The other brooches and necklaces are from estate sales and second-hand stores. The jewelry was a starting point for my designs.”
She sat on the edge of the sofa and handed Noah her sketchpad. “This is my royal collection. I’ve created each piece as a tribute to different members of the royal family. Past and present.”
Noah opened the book and smiled. “Queen Victoria would have been impressed.”
The drawing of the onyx necklace was one of her favorites. “Black stones are a symbol of self-control and resilience. I thought that was appropriate given Victoria’s unhappy childhood and the amount of social and technological change in her reign.” Cassie leaned forward and pointed to the diamonds clustered around each stone. “Albert was the love of her life. I wanted to capture his influence on Victoria’s life, so I added melee diamonds to lighten the feel of the onyx and balance the design.”
Noah turned the page.
His low, drawn-out whistle made Cassie smile. “Do you like it?”
“It’s incredible.”
Cassie had thought about the Princess Diana necklace for days. Regardless of what had happened in her personal life, Diana had changed the world’s perception of the royal family.
She wanted to design something that represented Diana’s simple yet elegant fashion style, the way she could captivate the world with a single smile. “Her eyes were a beautiful shade of blue, so I chose a stunning sapphire for the pendant. Thirty-six diamonds will be woven through the chain, representing each year of her life. The silver setting is more delicate than the Victoria necklace, but that’s because I wanted the gemstones to be the showstopper, not the setting.”
Noah studied the drawing. “This collection is more expensive than some of your other pieces.”
Cassie nodded. “It is. But, for the right people, it will be irresistible.”
Noah looked at the next four pages.
When he lifted his gaze, she knew he was hooked.
“Where have you been hiding?”
She grinned at the disbelief on his face. “In a little town called Sapphire Bay.”
“You need to work for me.”
“I know.”
“If you want to create jewelry for your store, we could…” His eyes widened. “You know?”
“I’ve known for the last week, but I had to think about how it could work.”
“You wouldn’t need to live in New York City.”
“Good, because I’m staying here. But I’m happy to visit whoever I’m working with to discuss my designs.”
Noah closed the sketchpad. “We could debut your work with this collection.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. Wait here.” Cassie rushed into the kitchen and took a bottle of apple cider out of the refrigerator. With two glasses in her hands, she returned to the living room. “It isn’t champagne, but it’s bubbly.”
Noah face relaxed into a smile. “It’s perfect.”
She poured the cider and raised her glass toward Noah’s. “To new beginnings and a successful partnership.”
He tapped his glass against hers. “And to happy endings.”
Cassie looked into his eyes and hoped their toast came true. She was putting her career and her life in Noah’s hands.
And whether he knew it or not, one wrong decision could have terrible consequences. For everyone.
Chapter 11
Cassie stepped out of Sam’s kitchen and into the living room. She smiled at the chaos surrounding the bride-to-be and her two sisters. With three days left until the wedding, they were here to create centerpieces for each of the reception tables.
Shelley was super-organized and trying to run the evening like a military exercise. Bailey was more relaxed. She kept rolling her eyes when Shelley opened her laptop and referred to Sam’s wedding planner.
“I’ve got chocolate chip cookies if anyone is interested.” Cassie grinned at Sam’s grateful sigh. “There’s hot coffee, too.”
“You’re a lifesaver.” Sam hauled herself to her feet. “I’ve got pins and needles from kneeling on the floor for so long.”
Bailey jumped to her feet. “Not me. The cookies look delicious. Who baked them?”
“Megan Parker. She shares Brooke’s kitchen at Sweet Treats.”
“Is she making the wedding cake, too?”
Shelley nibbled on a cookie while she consulted the wedding planner. “She is. I can’t wait to see what it looks like.”
Sam’s face broke into a smile. “It’s gorgeous. I’ll take you to Sweet Treats tomorrow and you can have a look.”
While Sam and her sisters ate cookies, Cassie returned to the kitchen. For the last hour, they’d been placing artificial roses and foliage into vases, then finishing each design with a strand of fairy lights. Even though no one had made the small posies before, they were gorgeous.
She poured four cups of coffee and carefully placed the cups on a tray. Sam and her sisters were all so different, but it was obvious they loved each other. When she was younger, Cassie had dreamed about having a younger brother or sister, someone to share the
ups and downs of life with, but it had never happened.
“There you are,” Sam said from the doorway. “I thought I’d give you a hand to bring out the coffee.”
“You didn’t have to do that. I found a tray in the cupboard.”
“I’ll carry it through to the living room. I hope Shelley’s not too bossy. She has a habit of wanting to take over.”
Cassie smiled. “She’s fine. It’s good to have another person around who likes to cross things off a list. At least that way we won’t forget anything.”
“That’s one advantage. Have you heard from Noah?”
“He’s called me each day. If everything goes to plan, he’ll catch a flight to Polson on Friday morning.” Cassie walked toward the living room. Noah hadn’t been able to stay for the entire week. He’d returned to New York City on Tuesday afternoon with a briefcase full of Cassie’s sketches.
“Did he tell you how long it will take for your new collection to be approved?”
“It could take three or four weeks. The design team wants to find the perfect gemstones and calculate the full price before they decide whether to approve everything. In the meantime, I’ve started another project. Between that and my commissions, I don’t have a lot of time to think about what’s happening in Manhattan.”
Which, as far as Cassie was concerned, was a good thing. It wasn’t only the new collection that was making her nervous. Noah had made more of an impact on her life than she thought. He’d stayed in her spare bedroom on Monday night, leaving Acorn Cottage for the new guests. It had been wonderful having someone to talk to after dinner, even if it meant not doing as much work in her studio.
She opened the living room door a little wider for Sam. “How’s Caleb?”
“Better than I am. He’s finished all the pre-wedding jobs he was supposed to do. Why is it so much easier for him?”
“Probably because Megan helped him.”
Sam sighed. “Wait until Mom and Dad arrive. Anything that isn’t ready will be whipped into shape faster than I can blink.”
Cassie had met Sam’s parents and she loved them. They were the type of people who would do anything for you. “Your Mom and Dad are amazing.”
“They have their moments. You’d better bring Noah to the wedding rehearsal and dinner on Friday night. I’ll need all the support I can get.”
“Why do you need more support?”
Bailey wiped her hands on the seat of her jeans and took the tray out of her sister’s hands. “Because Mom’s already had one daughter who hasn’t made it beyond the wedding rehearsal dinner. She doesn’t want the same thing happening to Sam.”
Shelley groaned. “I wish everyone would move on and forget I almost got married. Besides, I don’t know what Mom is worried about. Caleb and Sam don’t like being separated for more than a day. There’s no way they aren’t getting married.”
Sam sat beside Shelley. “One day you’ll find the right man. It just takes time.”
Shelley poked a red rose in a vase. “I don’t think I’ll ever find the right man. I’ve resigned myself to being able to do what I want and going on lots of overseas travel. I might even move to Sapphire Bay.”
Bailey handed everyone a cup of coffee. “I could join you. Imagine all of us living within walking distance of each other. It would be perfect.”
Cassie smiled at the stunned expression on Sam’s face.
“Are you serious?” Sam asked. “Or are you throwing an idea into the universe to see what happens?”
Shelley grinned. “I’m serious. I like Sapphire Bay. My job in Bozeman is getting boring. It would be nice to have a change.”
“Me, too,” Bailey added. “But what about Mom and Dad? They’ll be devastated if we all move here.”
Sam sighed. “We could visit them or they could come here. Caleb and I will have an extra bedroom.”
Cassie had a feeling Sam’s parents might do more than visit, but that might be too much for everyone to consider. As Sam and her sisters talked about being closer to each other, Cassie thought about Noah.
There was no way he’d ever move to Montana. If there were any hope for them, she would have to consider leaving Sapphire Bay. But after living in two big cities, Manhattan was the last place she wanted to be.
Cassie’s cell phone rang. With her mind still on Noah, she answered the call. “Cassie speaking.”
“It’s John. I’ve got great news.” The excitement in Pastor John’s voice vibrated down the phone.
“Is it about the tiny home project?” She held her breath, waiting for his answer.
“I had a call from the chairperson of the Wilson Enterprise Trust. They’re purchasing the properties! By the end of next week, we’ll have the start of our tiny home village.”
Cassie grinned. “That’s wonderful. I can’t believe they made their decision so quickly.”
“Neither can I, but I’m thrilled. Once the offer has gone unconditional, Noah’s grandfather will transfer ownership of the land to the Connect Church. By next April, our first homes could be available.”
“That’s the best news I’ve had all week. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Not at the moment. I’ll call everyone on the fundraising committee and let them know the good news. We can discuss our project plan at the next meeting.”
“That sounds great. I’ll see you on Friday at the wedding rehearsal.” After Cassie ended the call, she looked at Sam and her sisters. “Guess what?”
Sam smiled. “Noah’s trust bought the properties?”
Cassie nodded. “It’s really going to happen.”
“That’s amazing. Congratulations.”
“What’s the tiny home village?” Bailey asked.
Cassie sighed. “It will be the best building project Sapphire Bay has ever seen.”
Two days later, Noah opened the door to Cassie’s jewelry store.
Even though she knew he was coming, she wasn’t prepared for the sudden surge of adrenaline rushing through her body. Anyone would think she were a love-struck teenager instead of an intelligent, focused woman.
Noah smiled. “Close your eyes.”
She leaned against the sales counter and tried to control her breathing.
“I promise not to drop a hairy black spider on you.” His deep voice sent goosebumps down her spine.
For someone who had just spent more than eight hours traveling to Sapphire Bay, he was looking remarkably relaxed. “What if I like spiders?”
“Then I’ll take you for a walk after dinner. There’ll be hundreds of them around Flathead Lake. Close your eyes, Cassie. I have a surprise for you.”
With a resigned sigh, she closed her eyes. “If anyone comes into the store, I’ll have to help them.”
“This won’t take long.”
She heard the rustle of paper and frowned. The store didn’t smell like chocolate, so Noah hadn’t been to Sweet Treats. Whatever he was doing didn’t involve a puppy, either. Unless he had a contract for her exclusive jewelry collection, she had no idea what he’d brought to Sapphire Bay.
“You can open your eyes now.”
Cassie dropped her gaze to the counter. A Macy’s bag sat in front of her.
“I saw it yesterday and thought of you.”
She picked up the bag and squeezed it. Whatever was inside was soft and squishy. “I can’t imagine you shopping in a department store.”
Noah’s eyebrows rose. “Why not?”
Cassie pointed to his suit. “Most of the time you wear custom-made suits and designer shoes. Hunting through racks of clothes doesn’t fit your corporate image.”
“My image is evolving. I now own at least two pairs of jeans and four T-shirts.”
“Did you or your brother buy them?”
Noah smiled. “Jack might have had something to do with them. What do you think of your surprise?”
Cassie pulled a black T-shirt out of the bag and grinned. Across the front, in big, sparkly writing, were the words, Wa
ltzing Queen. “Thank you, although I couldn’t have mastered the steps without your help.”
“We’re a good team.”
Their last dance lesson had gone without a hitch. The quarter and half turns that had given Cassie so much trouble were perfect. It was just a pity that, once Noah left, she wouldn’t have a dance partner.
“I’ve got something else for you.” He handed her an envelope. “I hope it meets your expectations.”
Cassie frowned. “What is it?”
“A two-year contract for creating exclusive jewelry for Wilson Enterprises.”
She pulled out the sheets of paper and skimmed through the first page. Her eyes froze when she saw the amount of money Noah’s company was prepared to pay her. “It’s too much.”
“Two years isn’t that long. We want to build brand loyalty and that takes time.”
“No, I didn’t mean the length of the contract. It’s the money. It’s far too much for what you want me to do.”
Noah leaned against the counter. “Do you know why a lot of people fail in business?”
“They have too much debt?”
“Yes, but there’s another reason. They undervalue what they do. Perception is everything in business. If you give products away for next to nothing, you’d better have a good reason.”
“But this is ridiculous.” Cassie had never had this much money in her life. Three hundred thousand dollars would pay off her mortgage. She could help her dad clear his debt and donate what was left to the tiny home project.
“My senior team looked carefully at what price they were prepared to pay you. Given the quality of the jewelry and the unique designs they expect, this was a reasonable offer.”
Cassie’s mouth dropped open. “Does that mean they’re prepared to pay more?”
“If that’s what you want, you can negotiate the contract price.”
“No, that won’t be necessary. I still think it’s too high, but I appreciate the offer.” She read the terms of the contract and frowned. “I’d need to come to Manhattan for the award ceremony?”
Noah nodded.
“I don’t want anyone to know who I am.”
The Sweetest Thing Page 13