by Erica Penrod
Romance & Renovation
A MyHeartChannel Romance
Erica Penrod
Copyright © 2018 by Erica Penrod
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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Romance & Renovation
Tori Lee walked away from her career as a successful lawyer to pursue her passion for design and decorating, much to the dismay of her family. Starring in her own MyHeartChannel, remodeling and renovating spaces filled her with satisfaction but depleted her savings account. To attract viewers and gain more substantial sponsors, Tori held a contest drawing for a thousand dollar room makeover. When Tori arrives at the home of the grand prize winner, thirteen year old Marcela Santos, the last thing she expected was Kael Santos, the girl’s father or her reaction to the gorgeous, but gruff man in front of her. She was drawn to him, unlike anything she’d ever experienced as if he’d rearranged her heart with just one glance.
Kael Santos is an overwhelmed single father of a teenage girl and owner of a local sporting goods store. His life is complicated enough and when Tori Lee shows up on his doorstep, ready to remodel his daughter’s room, he wants nothing more than to tell her to go back to wherever she came from. But he can’t and it’s not just because he doesn’t want to disappoint Marcela, there’s something about the little blonde woman and her piercing green eyes that seeps into his soul. She’s stirred up feelings he never believed he was capable of and somehow managed to add one more piece of chaos into the already crowded room in his head. Kael is determined to let Tori renovate his daughter’s room and keep her from redesigning his heart at the same time.
Tori and Kael try to deny their attraction to each other. Besides, with Tori’s meddling mother and Kael’s ex-wife, even if they both gave in and tried to create a life together, the color they chose would be vandalized by the fluorescent marks of opposing forces. There’s every reason to ignore the heart pounding and fevered rush between them. Kael’s busy raising a daughter and Tori’s trying to build a business, but what if fate becomes the designer? Does that guarantee the finished project is a love strong enough to conquer anything or anyone?
Chapter One
Design Tip
Set the tone at the front door,
With color, décor, and cleanliness.
You can tell what kind of house you’re walking into
By the way the front door looks.
She couldn’t have disappointed her mother more if she’d dyed her hair green and showed up to the country club in a halter top and a pair of cut-off jeans. Tori held the phone away from her ear as her successful divorce attorney mother cited the facts and presented evidence as to why her daughter trading in her law degree to pursue some ludicrous dream (her mother’s words) was a tragedy.
Tori lifted her index finger to her cameraman, miming she’d need one more minute before they could wrap up the episode. She’d memorized her mother’s deposition and knew she was on the final paragraph.
“And Victoria.” Her mother’s voice hit the crescendo and rose an octave. Her parents were the only people who used her full name. “You know it’s not too late to give up this MyHeartChannel thing and come back to work.”
Tori mouthed the words right along with her mother. Blake laughed as he set the camera down and took a swig from his water bottle.
“Mom, I appreciate your concern, as always.” Tori drew in a breath. “And as always, I decline your offer.”
“Victoria, you’ll be scraping the bottom of the barrel before too long. Your savings can’t last you forever, and then you’ll be hightailing it home.”
Tori grinned. She loved to hear her mom’s rural upbringing come bubbling out despite being tight-lipped about her farm-girl roots and outspoken about her high-class career. “Mom, I’m fine. I’ve got several sponsors now. and it’s only a matter of time until I see a profit.”
If her mother’s frustration could transmit through her cell phone and shake her by the shoulders, Tori knew she’d be in trouble. She didn’t regret her decision to leave the family practice to pursue her passion for design and decorating, but she didn’t relish the strain she’d put on her parents because of the move. Mom worried that by the time her only daughter passed through this phase she was going through, Tori’s law career would be unsalvageable, unable to explain away as a two-year sabbatical. Her father was concerned more about her monetary future than anything else. Even though Phillip Lee was married to an independent woman, he was traditional in his belief that his role as a father was to provide for his family, and that meant raising his two children to be self-sufficient long after he was gone.
He did not consider owning a show on the MyHeartChannel site as a viable future. And since Tori was very single—hadn’t had a date since she began this journey—he couldn’t count on another man to take care of his little girl. But she was twenty-nine years old, for heaven’s sake. This wasn’t some whim she just happened upon, and if she spent her life doing something her heart wasn’t into just for the sake of her parents, she’d regret that more than giving up her BMW for a Subaru hatchback. Not to mention she’d resent them for holding her back.
Cadence Lee sighed at her daughter. “We’ll talk about this later. You’re still coming for brunch on Sunday, right?”
Tori pressed the back of her head against the wall and stared up at the ceiling where two wood beams she’d installed reminded her she was doing what she loved. “Yes, I’ll be there. I’ve got to go. I’ll see you this weekend.”
She hung up and slid the phone into her back pocket. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. I charge you by the hour.” Blake picked up his camera and smiled. His sandy-beach-colored hair was shorn short, but the curls were still visible. He wasn’t much taller than Tori and was built like a wrestler with a stocky muscular frame. His eyes were his most alluring feature. Tori met Blake on a blind date and spent most of the night trying to interpret their unique color. The words wouldn’t come to mind, but she’d kept hearing Prince singing in her head, and that’s when she decided they were the color of Purple Rain.
“Oh, yeah.” She grinned and pulled her lipstick from her pocket. Sparks didn’t fly on their first date, but a friendship kindled that ultimately led to them working together. Blake was like an older brother, all jokes and good times until another male seemed interested in Tori, and then he got all protective on her. That might be part of the reason she hadn’t gone out for so long—that, and her schedule didn’t really allow for such trivial matters.
They were just finishing up the recap for the Donaldsons’ great room episode. Tori combed her fingers through her shoulder-length shag-cut blonde hair and pulled on the bottom of her denim shirt, which she’d tied in a knot at her waist.
“Maybe we should have you talk to your mom before every shoot.” Blake looked through the lens. “You’ve got some color to your face.” The camera wasn’t a fan of her alabaster skin tone. Tori needed all the color she could get.
She applied a ruddy shade to her lips. “How’s that?” She pursed her lips together and then kissed at Blake.
“Good, but hurry, or else the fire in your cheeks will be gone, and either we’re going to need to break out the blush or call your mom back.”
Tori pinched her cheeks. “No need for that
. Now let’s roll.”
As you can see, this room turned out great. This family needed a space where they could hang out together. The custom-made extra-large sectional and ottomans for additional seating make this space stylish and functional. The window seats with storage below adds a perfect spot to stow the toys and games when not in use, and the large, patterned pillows not only look great but can be used for lounging around watching a movie.
I think we captured the Donaldsons’ spirit for adventure in these canvases on the wall that are made from the family’s vacation photographs, along with the displays of antique skis and other sporting equipment. I hope you enjoyed this remodel as much as I have, and be sure to watch our next episode of Tori’s Taking Over, when we announce the winner of our bedroom makeover contest. Also, check out our sponsors, and thanks so much for watching. See you next time.
* * *
Raindrops scattered across the windshield as Kael Santos strummed his fingers on the dash, waiting for his thirteen-year-old daughter to get out of school. A few hours of paperwork waited for him back at the office, and he wondered what on earth was taking Marcela so long. Many cars were already driving away, and the line to get through the intersection and crosswalk would be backed up a mile long if she didn’t hurry.
Frustration made his heart pump a little harder and rewired his temper to a short fuse. He wasn’t mad at his daughter, just annoyed that he was always running. He was a single father, raising a teenage daughter, and the owner of a local sporting goods store. Kael rubbed his right knee, soothing the ache that acted as a barometer anytime the weather started up, then looked out the passenger window and saw Marcela jogging toward him. Instantly, he felt the sun on his face, and a smile parted the clouds of worry and stress as he watched the love of his life reach for the handle.
“Sorry, Dad.” Marcela climbed into the car. Beads of water clung to her thick black hair and dripped onto her warm-up pants as she sat down and tossed her backpack to the back seat. “I had to ask Miss Martin a question about my science project before I changed into my soccer clothes.” She wiped the moisture from her forehead, then buckled her seat belt. Her skin was a rich caramel brown, courtesy of his Brazilian heritage. The natural arch to her dark brows set off her wide-set hazel eyes. Those she got from her mother, along with her angular cheekbones. His daughter was tall and wiry, but athletic, just like he was as a kid. And he hoped that, just like him, she would grow up to play professional soccer.
He rubbed his knee again, jumping past the “where would we be if I hadn’t been taken out of the game” thoughts. “That’s okay.” He checked the side mirror before he pulled out into the steady crawl of traffic. “Did you decide on a project, then?”
“Not yet, but I’m close.”
“Let me know if I can help you with anything.”
“Well, it would help if I could have my phone back.”
Kael grinned to himself. “Oh, you think so? Is your science project on why thirteen-year-old girls should put their phones away and get their chores done instead of losing their device privileges for a week?” He looked over to see her roll her eyes.
“Nooooo.” Marcela shook her head.
“Since your seven days are up, you can have your phone. It’s in the jockey box.” Kael stopped as a herd of children crossed in front of his car.
Marcela’s hands moved like she’d been gifted with superpowers. In less than the blink of an eye, she was scrolling down the screen. “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!” Marcela screamed, and Kael was glad the car wasn’t in motion.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” He checked her head to toe and then watched her feet bounce up and down on the floorboard.
“I won!” Her smile stretched from the passenger-side window all the way across to the driver’s side. “I can’t believe it. I won!”
Kael’s heart decelerated once he determined his daughter was fine. “What are you talking about?” He eased off the brake and pressed gently on the gas pedal. “What did you win?”
“I won a bedroom makeover.” Her voice squealed, piercing his eardrums.
“A what?”
“A makeover. You know that decorating show on MyHeartChannel that Grandma and I watch, Tori’s Taking Over?”
Kael turned onto Main Street. “No, I don’t.”
“Dad.” Marcela sounded like a reprimanding parent. “I talk to you about it all the time. Don’t you listen?”
“Oh, is that where you get all those crazy ideas about painting the house and stuff?”
“They’re not crazy, and yeah, Grandma Eve and I love the things she does.” Marcela continued to study the screen. “Oh, no.”
“What?”
“Today’s March 14, right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Because Tori is coming to our house tonight.”
Kael pulled over and parked the car. He took the phone from his daughter’s hands. “What do you mean, she’s coming tonight?” He looked at the picture at the top of the screen. A pretty blonde woman was grinning, holding a paint roller in one hand and a hammer in the other.
“You took my phone away, so I didn’t know I’d won.”
“I never gave you permission to enter.” Kael skimmed over the text. “This isn’t legal. You’re not eighteen.”
“Grandma said I could.” Marcela reached for the phone.
“Just a second, young lady.” Kael put his hand up. “I want to read this.”
“Ugghhh.” Marcela slumped down in her seat and rolled her eyes. “We don’t have time for you to read it all. Tori’s coming tonight. You can ask her anything in person. Pleeease … Dad.”
Kael watched his daughter, keenly aware she was on the verge of tears. Her eyes were as big as silver dollars and filled with moisture. One wrong word and the dam would burst. She obviously cared about this contest. But Marcela was right, at least partially. He agreed he didn’t have time for this now, but what she didn’t understand was that later wouldn’t be a good time either. He still needed to get back to the store and finish up payroll once he dropped Marcela off at soccer practice. After that, it was back to the soccer field to pick up his daughter, rush home to make dinner, help her with homework, toss in a load of laundry, and—if he was lucky—collapse into bed before midnight.
“Daddy, please.” Marcela went straight for the heart. Since she’d become a teenager, she hardly ever called him daddy, and she knew how and when to use the term to her advantage. Kael struggled with the fact that his little girl was growing up so quickly.
He handed the phone back to his daughter. “Okay. We’ll talk to her, but I’m still not convinced that I’m going to allow some stranger into our house to paint my daughter’s room and post it all over the internet.”
“You will.” Marcela nodded. She wiped at her eyes and a huge smile spread across her face, revealing her mouthful of metal braces. “Once you meet Tori, I know you’ll let her decorate my room. She’s really funny and seems nice. Plus, she does the coolest things. Grandma and I love it when she takes old stuff and makes it look awesome. One time she took—”
“Okay, okay. You can tell me more about this Tara girl—”
“Tori.”
“I mean, Tori—later. First give me a rundown on how much homework you’ve got for tonight, because I’m pretty sure the house is a mess and we need to clean it up before she gets there.”
“Maybe I can skip soccer. It’s been raining, so maybe we might not have practice anyway.” Marcela jutted her chin out and cocked an eyebrow.
Kael signaled and pulled back onto the road. “I don’t think so. You know Coach Carter. Unless there’s lightning or a flash flood, you’ll be practicing. Plus, your first game of the spring season is coming up. You want to be ready, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but missing once won’t be a big deal.”
“Every practice counts.” Kael pulled up to the field and stopped. The rain had cleared, and the sun was trying to push past the heavy clouds. “Work hard. I
’ll be back at 5:30.”
“Okay.” Marcela sounded defeated. He wished she was as excited about soccer as she seemed to be over this remodel thing.
“You packed your protein bar and Gatorade?” Kael leaned over the seat and kissed her forehead.
“Yeah, and don’t kiss me. Someone might see.”
Kael retreated to his side of the cab. “Sorry. Old habit.”
Marcela got out and waved before she took off toward the huddle of girls on the bleachers. Kael exhaled and let his shoulders fall. He didn’t need another makeover in his life; he’d had plenty of those already. Besides, he was witnessing the biggest transformation right before his eyes as he watched his daughter stretch her wings and take one step closer to leaving the nest and taking his heart with her.
* * *
Tori adjusted the bag on her shoulder and stood on the top step of a modest rambler home. All brick, a vine-red tomato color with white slat shutters on the windows and a plain front door. Evergreen bushes begging for the undivided attention of some hedging shears ran across the front of the house. Before she’d climbed the steps, twenty ways to give this exterior a little face-lift ran through her head. Not that she was here for more than the bedroom remodel, but that was how her mind worked. Blake was below her on the sidewalk, not with his camera, but as security detail.
Tori loved people and hadn’t ever worked for a client she didn’t feel safe around, but after being raised and educated in the legal field, she’d seen for herself that people weren’t always as they seemed, and there were definitely a few crazies out there. Besides, Blake had a little flair for design himself and often helped her with some of the carpentry and heavy lifting. She liked to have his input. He was quick to offer his opinion but respected that this was her show, and she had final say.
