Love by Design (Crystal Falls Book 1)

by Lee, Lynette

  “Oh, come on. You’re staying for a few hours still. You’ll have plenty of time to sober up.”

  Most children would kill to hear such words from their parents. Lily thought about protesting but only sighed as she went the the cupboard and pulled out a chianti.

  “Did your meeting go well?” her mom asked, stirring a bubbling pot on the stove.

  She popped the cork and found a couple of glasses.

  “It did. It was the last thing I needed to take care of for the cabin, so it feels really good to get it done.”

  Handing her mother a glass of deep red wine, she leaned against the counter beside her, sipping her own. “Can I help you with anything?”

  Her mother gave her a smile as she began ladling the hot sauce over noodles and ricotta cheese. “Can you get me the Parmesan? It’s in the door of the fridge.”

  Lily brought her the cheese and watched as she expertly finished putting together the casserole. Slipping it into the oven and then standing to place hands on her back, her mother stretched and then grabbed her glass of wine. “Let’s sit,” she told her daughter and moved to the kitchen table.

  “I don’t want to talk about Noah, mom,” Lily warned her as she slid into her own seat.

  “I know you don’t. But I have a few things to say and I want you to listen. It won’t kill you to listen,” she said, sipping the rest of her wine and tapping the glass, signaling for Lily to pour her more.

  “You know I’ve always loved that boy,” she said, holding up her hand as Lily frowned at her. “And I’ve never seen you happier than when the two of you were together. I know you have your reasons, and I know it’s none of my business, but it kills me that you two aren’t together any longer.”

  Lily had to stand and she began to pace the small kitchen. It was all too much.

  “Sit your butt back down here and listen to me. You may be all grown up but I am still your mother.”

  Lily sat back down and gulped her wine.

  “I don’t know what’s going on with you and him. But if there’s any chance at all of the two of you getting back together, I hope you’ll consider it. True love is hard to find. A good man is even harder. And I think that’s what you had with Noah. You may not get a chance like him again.” She reached over the table and rubbed Lily’s cheek, forcing her to turn toward her mother. “I know I can be nosy. And you girls get tired of my opinions. But I’m telling you this because I love you. Because what I want more than anything in this world is happiness for you and your sister.”

  Lily couldn’t help but smile. She felt suddenly like telling her mother everything. But she knew she needed to keep it to herself, for a little while longer at least. Not only would it unleash another flood of advice, Lily still wasn’t sure they really were together again. It would be horrible to get her mother’s hopes up over nothing.

  “Thanks, mom. I’ll think about what you said.”

  “You’re a good girl, Lily. Now, pour us some more wine and bring that loaf of bread over here. We’ve got some garlic bread to make before your father gets home.”

  Once Lily’s mom finally dropped the topic of Noah, Lily’s visit had become much more pleasant. Her dad coming home was a big help - he’d always been of the mind that his girls should make their own decisions and didn’t approve of his wife’s meddling, especially in the girls’ love lives. During dinner he kept the conversation firmly on the Broncos and on Lily’s job.

  Now, driving back to Crystal Falls with a full stomach and a contract for the stone headboard, Lily felt light as air. She even found a good radio station and sang along as she drove the mostly empty highway toward the mountains. Letting the worries of the cabin job and the confusion about Noah slip away for a while, she let her mind wander where it would.

  Her phone ringing through the speakers pulled her out of her daze. She looked quickly at her phone and saw it was Noah. She frowned, not really sure she wanted to talk to him yet, but pushed the talk button right before it went to voicemail.

  “Hey, Noah,” she answered.

  “Hey yourself,” his rich voice came loud over the speakers and she felt desire pull at her core.

  “What’s up?” She tried to keep her voice level, not wanting him to know how excited she was to hear his voice.

  “You busy? I was hoping you’d come over again.”

  Oh, boy. She’d spent the night just last night and already he wanted her there again?

  When she hesitated he continued. “You don’t have to stay the night. But it’s beautiful out right now and I haven’t had a chance to try out my jacuzzi. We could open a bottle of wine, put some good music on the stereo, sit in the hot tub and look at the stars. What do you think?”

  “I’m driving back from Denver right now.”

  “You visit your parents?” He’d always had a good relationship with both of her parents and when they’d been a couple they’d spent many hours on the road going to and from visiting them.

  “I had to track down the artist for that headboard. But I visited mom and dad too.”

  “I can wait, it’s early still.”

  “I don’t know, Noah. I’ve got to work tomorrow. It’s getting close to the deadline for this project and there’s still a ton I have to do before I’m finished.”

  “I’ve got to work too. You don’t have to stay over all night, or even late. It won’t take you more than an hour to get home, will it? Just swing on by your apartment and pick up your suit.” His voice grew lower, sexier. “Or not. I’m so secluded out here, you could walk around in the front yard naked and nobody would see you.”

  Her belly tightened at the thought of being naked in Noah’s hot tub, the starlight and the mountain air the only thing for miles around. It did sound relaxing. And another evening wrapped in Noah’s arms, especially in a hot tub, sounded better than she’d expected it to. Although she’d barely been home the last few days. She was torn between wanting him again and wanting some time to herself, to really think things through.

  “I’ll come for a while. But I really need to make it an early night, so don’t get your hopes up.”

  “My hopes are already up, darlin’. I’ve been waiting all day to see you. Hurry up and get over here. I’ll leave the door unlocked. Just come in.”

  She couldn’t believe she was agreeing to see him so soon. But her body wanted what it wanted. Her heart would just have to follow along.

  Chapter Eleven

  Noah raised the lights outside and then dimmed them again. He couldn’t decide how he liked them best and growled as he raised them again. He’d checked the temperature of the water as soon as he’d gotten off the phone with Lily and placed a stack of fluffy terry towels and two robes on wooden deck chairs beside the pool. It was chilly out but he knew the hot water would make the crisp air feel good. And probably keep them in the hot tub longer. Which was perfect, in his opinion.

  It embarrassed him to be so nervous about Lily coming over. Where was that cool, sexy man who’d appeared on the front of Design Today just a few months ago? Could that really be him? He felt like a teenager as he went to his closet and changed his shirt for the third time.

  She had him completely lost. He couldn’t focus on work. He couldn’t eat. All he wanted was to be with her again. To be inside her. Waking up to her had been like a dream and he wanted more. She’d said she had to leave early but he was hoping to ply her with enough high-end champagne to convince her to stay the night again. It felt a little bit deceptive since he’d promised her not to keep her. But it was a small deception and he could live with it.

  After checking his watch for the third time he grabbed his phone and a beer and headed to the couch. He started programming a playlist for them to keep himself busy and more than once had to delete something because it seemed too sappy. He felt like he was turning into a hopeless romantic. Part of him wanted to fight it, but part of him just wanted to give in. What could he do? He was in love.

  Finally, after he’d shuffl
ed through over a hundred songs he heard the delicate swoosh of his front door opening. His heart raced and he stood quickly, trying to decide where he wanted to be when she came in. He moved to the fireplace and stooped to light it, feeling his entire body tense as the click of her heels grew closer.

  “Noah?” she called from the hall, looking for him.

  He stood and turned to her, a smile playing on his lips.

  “How was the rest of your drive?” he asked as she unbuckled her coat and threw her purse down on the couch. She wore a simple red wrap dress, one that accentuated all her curves. He wanted more than anything to go to her and run his hands over every one. Instead, he tilted back his bottle and finished his beer.

  “Fine, easy. Although coming up here in the dark was a little more challenging. You’re going to need snow tires once the season starts.”

  “Luckily my truck’s already equipped for that. You, on the other hand. Your little Mini is definitely going to struggle.”

  She moved to him and laced her hands behind his neck, pulling his mouth down for a deep kiss. She tasted of mint and cinnamon and he let his tongue slide into her moist mouth a minute, feeling his body tense and harden in response to her own tongue exploring his mouth, before she gently pulled away.

  “I missed you,” he told her.

  “It’s only been a few hours since I saw you last.”

  “I still missed you.” He couldn’t help it. He pulled her into him again and gave her another passionate kiss, letting his hands roam over her delicate side and graze the roundness of her breast. She moaned in his mouth and put a hand on his hip, pulling his body into hers so his hardness pressed against her.

  “Can I get you a drink?” he asked when he finally pulled away. “I’ve got some really good champagne chilling, if that sounds good.”

  “Sure,” she told him. “I’m going to go change really quick.” She laughed when he pouted. “Just because I’m putting it on, doesn’t mean it needs to stay on. We want to leave something to the imagination, don’t we? Make you work for it a little bit, at least?” she said, one eyebrow playfully raised.

  He laughed and shrugged. “A guy can hope.”

  “I’ll just be a minute.”

  He popped the cork on the champagne and pulled two flutes out for them, taking it all outside and placing it between the two chairs where their towels waited. He figured it made sense for him to weart a suit too, since she was going to torture him with one. Unbuttoning the shirt he’d worked so hard to pick out, he slid the glass door to his bedroom open and started to walk toward his closet.

  She’d left the bathroom door open and as he passed he saw her naked, slipping the bottom part of her blue bikini up her legs. It almost took his breath away. He stayed where he was and shrugged out of his shirt without taking his eyes from her beautiful body.

  It was almost too good to be true, having her here with him again. He’d imagined her here so many times and now that she was finally here, undressing in his bathroom, it threatened to undo him. All his plans and strength dissolved when it came to her and he wondered again if he shouldn’t just propose right then and there, keep her from ever leaving him again. But she’d freaked out when he’d even told her about designing the house for her. How would she handle a marriage proposal?

  Of course, it was too soon. He would have to be patient. Have to live with the possibility of her walking out of his life once again.

  “Oh!” she cried when she turned around and found him unbuttoning his pants, staring at her.

  “Sorry,” he said, a sheepish grin spreading over his face. “I just came in here to change.”

  “And do a little spying,” she replied, sliding over to him and winding her arms around his naked back, sending chills up his spine.

  “Hey, I’m not the one who left the bathroom door open.”

  It was her turn to look sheepish. “I was only in there a second.”

  “And that’s all it took,” he told her, taking her hand and guiding it over the bulge in his pants that were unbuttoned and hanging halfway off his hips.

  She flushed as her hand moved over him, letting her fingernails run up and down the length a couple of times. He could feel her breathing growing heavier against his chest.

  “We better get out to the hot tub, or we’ll never make it,” he whispered into her hair, trying to settle himself as he slipped out of her grasp.

  She grinned. “Towels?”

  “Out by the pool. So’s the champagne.” He slid his pants down, springing himself free while she watched and gave her a grin. “I’ll see you out there in a minute.” She let her eyes linger on his length a moment before giving him anther sly smile and walking out the sliding door to the pool.

  His heart beat wildly in his chest and he sighed deeply. God, he wanted her. He wanted to take her right there, on the cold stone floor as she’d eyed him seconds before. He wanted to take her in the pool and on the sofa and in the kitchen and everywhere else in the big house. He couldn’t get enough of her and it was making him wild. He slid on a pair of swim trunks and stood a minute longer, trying to get a hold of his desire before joining her in the water.

  Lily eased into the water slowly, holding her champagne flute carefully as her skin adjusted to the bubbling water. It was cold outside, cold enough to give her goosebumps, but the water felt great once she slipped all the way in.

  It was an oversized hot tub and could seat at least six comfortably. It sat slightly above the rest of the pool and gently spilled over the edge as the jets bubbled. The house’s gray and white stone was illuminated with outdoor lights and a full bar and outdoor grill stood along one wall, backlit from under its cabinets. The house truly was beautiful, built for a luxury and ease that Lily could only dream about back at her cramped and dirty apartment.

  It needed a decorator’s touch, that was for certain. The furniture was sparse, the decor non-existent. She supposed his plan had been for her to take care of that part of things, if they had stayed together. She sipped the champagne, crinkling her nose as the bubbles tickled the back of her throat. The idea of living in the gorgeous house with him started to ease its way into her mind as the spray of the jets eased away the tension in her back. What had seemed unthinkable, an added burden she wasn’t ready to carry earlier in the day, now began to feel like something she could get used to.

  She let herself fantasize, just for a moment. A thriving design business. Noah and this house to come home to every night. No longer needing to fret constantly about every penny she spent. It was almost too much. She wasn’t sure if she was strong enough to resist the temptation.

  Speaking of temptation, Noah came out at just that moment, dark board shorts hanging low on his hips, the line of soft hairs from his navel to his groin as clearly visible as the muscles of his chest. His dark nipples stood out in the cold and he poured himself a glass of champagne quickly before slipping into the water beside her.

  “Hey beautiful,” he said and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Nice night, isn’t it?”

  “Mm hmm,” she replied and sank her hand down to rest on his leg.

  “How are your parents?” he asked, moving a big palm up her calf.

  “They’re good. Same as ever. Mom’s a busybody, dad’s obsessed with golf.”

  He laughed and slid closer to her, the rub of their bare arms torturing her deliciously.

  “Your mom isn’t a busybody. She just cares,” he told her. She met his eyes and saw he was sincere. It made her heart thud in her chest. How could this guy be so sexy and so sweet at the same time? Maybe her mother was right. Maybe she was making a big mistake not scooping him up as fast as she could.

  She set her glass down and leaned over to place a kiss first on his shoulder, then on his neck. When he moaned and set his own glass down, she continued to place kisses along his neck until she got to the dip near his throat. She ran her tongue along the skin and smiled at him when he shivered.

  He pulled her up to sit
on his lap, taking her head in his hands and grazing her lips with his own. The kiss deepened and she felt him hard beneath her. She fought for breath and had to pull away, overcome by the hot water and her desire.

  She moved from his lap and stepped down from the hot tub into the swimming pool, throwing him a smile over her shoulder as she went.

  “You’re crazy,” he said and laughed, watching her squirm in the frigid water.

  “I dare you to come in here with me.” She laughed and drained her champagne, moving to the side of the pool to set her empty glass down.

  “No way. I’m just fine in here, thank you.”

  “You don’t know what you’re missing,” she told him, a glint in her eye. She reached behind her back and undid the knot that held her bikini top on. It fell free, exposing the swell of her naked breasts beneath the fabric, bobbing in the water. “Don’t you want to come get me?”

  She loosened the straps around her neck and the thin piece of fabric fell from her shoulders, exposing her completely. He’d been hard already but her tight nipples in the cold night air made him want to explode. It was almost worth braving the cold pool for. Almost.

  She ran her fingers over her breasts, tempting him.

  “Not fair,” he called to her. She laughed and slid the bottom half of the suit down her legs too, letting the blue fabric float beside her. When she circled her nipples and began to moan he couldn’t take it any longer.

  He grunted and stood up so quickly she almost flinched. He set his glass down and hopped over the ledge separating the pool from the hot tub.

  He cried out when his hot skin hit the cold water and Lily laughed, continuing to pinch her own nipples and give him a look he couldn’t resist. He growled and threaded through the water, picking her quickly up into his arms and bringing his mouth down on one of the rock hard nipples.

  “You think you can get away with tempting me, little girl?” he said through the nibbles he placed along her flesh.

  Her hands wound through his hair and she arched back against his firm biceps that held her up against him. His hands gripped her bare bottom and she wrapped her legs around his waist, feeling his erection press against her exposed sex. She moved on him, only his suit between them, and he took her mouth hotly, nipping at her lip and circling his tongue around her mouth.