The plan was to turn the cabin into a main office. She reached inside another bag for a tube and rolled out the architectural designs across the desk. The living room would be the main entrance with a reception by the window and filing cabinets along the back. The kitchen could remain as a small kitchenette for tea and coffee sampling. The back of the cabin needed a complete overhaul. A bathroom renovation and the current bedroom removed to construct two large offices. Both offices would have large windows for breathtaking views of the lake. The plans were ready. All she required was to hire a contractor.
Katrina rolled the plans and placed them into the tube. She couldn’t wait a moment longer to view the main house. Following the light created by the solar lamps installed along the paved driveway, she approached the back of the house. Katrina unlocked the door and stepped inside. The completed kitchen design stole her breath.
The kitchen nook presented a spectacular view of the descending orange fireball casting a reflection across the lake. She then entered the dining room and found a large mahogany table awaiting her first dinner party. Before Katrina went into the living room, she checked the laundry room and main bathroom, which led to the den. She decided the den would make a perfect guest room for Samuel and Paulina’s upcoming visit. They had even discussed the possibly of Jenny moving to Montreal to continue her schooling and to work for Katrina part-time.
The cozy and inviting living room was the vision Nick had taught her to imagine. A chocolate-brown sofa, matching loveseat, and reclining chair circled a huge flat-screen television. But the main focal point in this room was the natural stone veneer fireplace. Absolutely exquisite in a Tuscan design.
She suddenly realized that every décor decision she’d made, had been done with her own tastes in mind. I created the home of my dreams.
Katrina headed toward the stairs. She hadn’t been on the second level since the day they found her mother’s memory box. She stepped onto the first step and then hesitated when she heard a noise from the kitchen. Her pulse accelerated.
I’m sure I locked the door behind me.
Looking for something for protection, she spotted a large hand-blown glass vase sitting on the table in the entry. Katrina clutched the vase in her hands and turned toward the kitchen. Her breaths faltered as she tiptoed down the hallway.
A shadow appeared on the floor by the fridge.
She lifted the vase over her head and threw it, but the intruder turned and ducked. The vase shattered against the floor, smashing into thousands of glass thorns around the man’s feet. “Nick!”
“I’m getting a sense of déjà vu, and I didn’t like the outcome the first time around.” He stood straight, legs apart and arms crossed over his chest.
Katrina’s heart pounded a steady beat. “What are you doing here?”
“Final inspection.”
She smiled, checking her watch. “At ten o’clock at night?”
“I hope that vase wasn’t too expensive.” Nick glanced at the glass surrounding his feet. “What are you doing here?”
Acting nonchalant, she went to the closet for a broom. “I don’t need a reason. This is my home.”
Nick held the dustpan as she swept the shattered glass. She tossed the slivers into the garbage can and then knelt to wipe the floor with a damp cloth.
“Did you return to put the house on the market?”
“Not really.” She suppressed the giggle at the back of her throat. A flutter of butterflies assaulted her stomach.
He shrugged. “So, if you’re not here to sell the house, why are you here?”
“The renovation isn’t done.” Katrina enjoyed teasing him. “There’s more work.”
Nick shrugged, his brows drawn downward. “What are you talking about? Everything on the plans has been completed—including extras.”
“Dean didn’t tell you? Wait, maybe I forgot to mention the extra project.” She pretended to be in deep thought, narrowing her gaze, she placed a fingertip against her chin.
“Katrina, what’s going on? You don’t like the renovation?”
“Oh no, the house is perfect.” In fact, now that she’d seen the finished project, she couldn’t wait to move in. “The cabin requires a complete do-over. I’ll need a reception area and an office.”
Nick stared wide. “An office in the cabin?”
“Two to be precise, and a boardroom.” She pressed her lips together, stifling a laugh.
After a brief hesitation, he walked toward her, lifted her left hand, and smiled. “No ring.”
“I gave Pierre a demotion and a promotion. I broke our engagement and made him executive manager.” She wanted to wrap her arms around the man she loved and never let him go, but the next move had to be Nick’s. “We’ve never had a relationship other than work and friends. We promised Gram we’d take care of each other. Pierre thought our engagement would comfort her, but I can’t marry a man I don’t love, and who doesn’t love me.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Besides, Gram had a scheme of her own.”
Nick squeezed Katrina’s hand.
That small gesture returned the warmth she had missed every day she was in Paris. “Glen gave me a letter my grandmother wrote before she passed. She explained everything—the past, Samuel, and meeting you. She did what she did out of love for her family.” Tears burned at the back of her eyes. Katrina was overcome by her grandmother’s love.
“What’s next?”
She walked under the skylight and gazed at the stars. They twinkled against a background of the dark. “I’m expanding the business to Montreal and converting the cabin into the head office.” Katrina glanced over her shoulder. “This venture will require the best contractor in town. He and I will be working closely together. You wouldn’t happen to know someone I could contact?”
Grinning, Nick stepped behind her, slipped his arms around her waist, and pulled her against him.
“I think I know someone.” He kissed the side of her neck and tightened his hold. “My duffle bag is packed. I intended to book a flight for Paris as soon as your house was done.”
He was coming to take me home! She turned in his arms and gazed into his handsome face, one that had haunted her dreams. “I never meant to hurt you. I promise to be completely honest from here on.”
“You wanted to tell me about Pierre. I’m as much to blame.” Nick cupped her face with his palms and leaned forward.
Tears stung her eyes. He touched his lips to hers, and her knees went weak. She laid her head on his chest, loving the sound of his beating heart. “I was scared to let in anyone, but you made me want to take a chance.” Gazing into his dreamy brown eyes gave her strength. “I love you, Nick Porter. More than I ever thought possible.” He kissed her until her toes tingled.
“I fell in love with you that first night when you lunged with your wooden weapon.”
She laughed at the proof her dreams had come true. Nick loves me!
“Have you been upstairs yet?”
“I was headed there when I heard a prowler in the kitchen.” She shoved at his chest.
Nick snatched her hand and guided her to the second level. They toured the two spare bedrooms and a bathroom at the end of the hall before stopping at the master bedroom.
“This was my secret project.” Nick turned the brass handle and pushed the door open.
Katrina gasped and her eyes widened. She stepped inside the room. The small master bedroom had been transformed into a huge master suite. A king-size sleigh bed sat against the far wall. A distressed pine dresser, matching chest of drawers, and dressing table also accented the room. Two armchairs sat to the right of the room beside glass patio doors leading to a balcony overlooking the lake. “This is amazing!” She could fall asleep each night and have the moon shining into the room. Katrina turned to Nick, who wore a devilish grin. “You did all this?”
“There’s more.” He placed his hands on her shoulders, turned her to the left, and opened a door.
“A master bath!” Katri
na ran into the room. She smoothed a hand over the double sink counter. A jet tub and separate shower completed the light blue room. “I’m speechless.”
“There’s a first.” Nick laughed and led her to another door.
She opened the door to a large walk-in closet. Stepping inside, she stretched her arms straight from her sides and twirled in a circle. Tears dripped down her cheeks. “Nick, this is incredible.”
“I thought your wardrobe would require its own space.” He winked.
Katrina went to the bed and sat, caressing the soft maroon bedspread with her fingertips.
Nick sat beside her and took her hand in his. “I hoped you’d change your mind about selling. This room already had a special place in your heart, but I wanted to design a room that screamed Katrina. Your own little get-away. A retreat where you’d want to go after a long day at work.”
“I can’t believe you did this.” She couldn’t love this man any more than she did this very moment.
With his fingertips, Nick wiped the tears from her cheek. “I had some help. There were a lot of late nights and my crew probably deserves a raise.”
“Done!”
“Katrina—”
“Don’t waste your breath. You know I won’t listen.” She ran a hand through his thick hair, loving the feel as the softness slid between her fingers. “I have plans for us, Mr. Porter.”
“Oh no, now you sound like your grandmother.” He raised one brow. “Should I be worried?”
“Thank you for the compliment.” Katrina laughed. “And no worries. Once you start designing With-Her-Spoon Cafés, your design and contracting business will be known internationally. You’ll need new business cards and an office. I thought maybe the one across from mine in the cabin-slash-new office.”
Nick pulled her snug against his chest. “Je t’aime mon amour, Katrina Witherspoon.”
She tilted her head and welcomed his approaching lips, blinking back the tears that filled her eyes. Katrina couldn’t wait to begin the new business adventure and a future with the man she loved.
****
Six months later, in the backyard of their home, and attended by family and friends, Nick married the owner of his heart. Samuel walked Katrina down the aisle, beaming like the proudest father ever. The more time father and daughter spent together allowed them to develop a stronger bond.
Frankie stood next to Katrina and Thomas beside Nick. The guests consisted of Nick’s crew, as well as Glen, and Pierre—who Nick slowly tolerated. Katrina’s family sat in the first row and Nick’s parents were next. His brother had been surprised to learn of Katrina’s connection to Faith and was overjoyed by their union.
The lake and sunset made a stunning backdrop. As the sun set and twilight arrived, thousands of white lights dangling from the tree branches glimmered and twinkled throughout the yard. As the water grew golden in the horizon, a family of geese honked as they swam past.
The new couple danced under the light of the full moon, wrapped in each other’s arms. Because their opening of the downtown With-Her-Spoon Café was only a month away, their honeymoon in Paris had been postponed until Christmas.
Nick traced his wife’s lips with his finger. Her gaze locked onto his, leaping his heart to his throat. Her wavy hair was loose and cascaded over bare shoulders. Katrina stole his breath wearing a sweetheart neckline, mermaid wedding dress. “There’s a bottle of wine chilling in our bedroom,” he whispered in her ear. Tonight would be their first night together in their home. To keep his promise to wait until the wedding night, Nick had slept in one of the spare bedrooms, while Katrina slept in the master.
“I’m so happy.” She placed a hand on his cheek. “I don’t believe in fate, but how else would I explain finding my soul mate over three thousand miles away?”
“Oh, fate has nothing to do in our connection. We have one person to thank for leading us to each other.” He placed a kiss on the palm of her hand and then held it tight to his chest. “A twist of Faith Witherspoon mapped our paths. Your devious and wise grandmother knew we were meant to be.”
Katrina clinked her champagne glass to Nick’s. “To Gram.”
A word about the author…
An avid reader since childhood, Darlene loved to put a pencil to paper and plot out stories of her own. She writes heartwarming contemporary romances with a focus on plot-driven page-turners. When Darlene isn’t writing, editing, or reading, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and Yellow Lab.
http://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com
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available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
LAW OF ATTRACTION
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Twist Of Faith Page 20