Noah frowned. Something about her story wasn’t making sense. After Cassie told him she was C.J. Davis, he’d called his brother and asked him to do a background check on Cassie. Jack had found some interesting information.
After she left high school, Cassie was a student at a creative design studio in Los Angeles. By the time she was twenty, she was holding successful exhibitions and making a name for herself. When she turned twenty-five, her jewelry featured in several high-profile magazines. Then, when she was twenty-seven, Cassie moved to San Francisco and disappeared off everyone’s radar.
Last year, C.J. Davis hit the arts scene with a splash, showcasing her jewelry on the cover of a top women’s fashion magazine. And now, she’d won the prestigious Wilson Award.
He studied Cassie’s face, searching for any chink in her armor. “Wouldn’t a larger city have given you a lot more opportunity to grow your business?”
“Definitely, but living in a city is expensive. I wouldn’t have been able to afford my own store or purchase a home. Sapphire Bay has everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“How did your family feel about you moving here?”
Cassie looked down at her coffee. “Dad understood why I needed to live somewhere else.”
Noah wanted to ask her a lot more questions, but the wariness on her face worried him. Perhaps she was right to be careful. He wanted her to accept the award, but that was only the beginning of what she could do for Wilson Enterprises.
He didn’t like manipulating anyone but, as chief executive, he’d done his fair share of changing people’s minds. Only this time, he wasn’t playing for shareholder loyalty; he was fighting for his future.
He wanted to know what Cassie was passionate about, why she wanted to stay in Sapphire Bay and not fast-track her career. “Your friends are excited about the auction for The Welcome Center. Why did you get involved?”
If anything, she became even more guarded. “I knew some homeless people. If it weren’t for the kindness of strangers, they would have stayed on the street for a lot longer than they did. When I moved to Sapphire Bay, I read an article about The Welcome Center. The church helps people who need a safe, warm place to stay. I contacted Pastor John and began volunteering. Before I knew it, I was helping to organize different fundraising events, including the auction.”
“Do you need more donations?”
“We wouldn’t say no. Everything will sell no matter how big or small. If you want to donate something, all you need to do is take it into the church. Pastor John will make sure it’s added to the list of items to be auctioned.”
“I’ll organize something tomorrow.” He had to look away when Cassie smiled. For the first time in years, he was finding it hard to justify what he was doing.
Cassie trusted him, and he was doing everything he could to make her do something she didn’t want to do.
On Monday morning, as Cassie was getting her jewelry store ready for the day, Megan knocked on the front door.
She flicked open the deadbolt and smiled. “You’re here early.”
“You didn’t tell me Noah looks like an NBA basketball player. He’s gorgeous.”
The heat of a blush hit Cassie’s face. “Looks aren’t everything,” she mumbled.
“Maybe not, but they don’t hurt. If he was offering me an all-expenses-paid flight to Manhattan, you wouldn’t be able to stop me.”
Cassie opened a display case and took out a necklace. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“I know you don’t want the publicity, but accepting the award could make a huge difference to your career.”
“I’m happy with how everything is going.” She carefully placed the necklace in the front window. Cassie knew Megan cared about her, but she didn’t know what had happened after her family went to Los Angeles. “Nora enjoyed meeting Noah. She didn’t leave his side all evening.”
Megan grinned. “She asked questions that no one else would. Noah was wonderful with her.”
Cassie knew the tone in Megan’s voice. “You don’t need to tell me he’d make a great dad. When I saw them walking toward my cottage, they looked as though they were already best buddies.”
“There must be something wrong with him.”
Cassie’s eyebrows rose. “Why?”
“He’s thirty-eight years old and still single. I can’t believe someone hasn’t snapped him up and marched him down the aisle.”
“Maybe he decided not to date anyone after his engagement ended. I can’t say I blame him.”
Megan took the glass cleaner and cloth out of Cassie’s hand and wiped the counter. “Neither can I. But that was a few years ago. He needs to expand his social circle and date a jeweler from Sapphire Bay.”
Cassie burst out laughing. “Noah lives in Manhattan. He works long hours and is more interested in acquiring new products for his company than dating. The chance of anything happening between us is practically zilch.”
“Do you want something to happen between you?”
“I’m not sure.” Last night, Cassie had tossed and turned, wondering the same thing. She was attracted to Noah. He had a great sense of humor. He cared about his company and was determined to make it a success. But above everything else, he seemed like a genuinely nice person.
Megan squirted glass cleaner on the display case. “He’s staying here for the full two weeks, even though you won’t accept the award. That must tell you something.”
Cassie smiled. “The only thing it tells me is that he desperately needs a vacation.”
Megan stopped cleaning. “Do you want me to ask William if he can investigate our New York executive?”
“He can’t do that,” Cassie spluttered. “William works for the FBI. If he uses their databases to screen potential boyfriends for me, he’ll get fired.”
Megan pulled back her shoulders. “You’re right. There’s only one thing we can do.” She handed Cassie the glass cleaner. “I’m going to bake Noah a cake and we’ll take it to him. If he doesn't answer our questions about why he’s single, we’ll know he’s a phony.”
“There’s only one problem with your idea. Noah values his privacy as much as I do. Even your triple layer chocolate cake won’t make him talk.”
“It worked with William.”
“But he was already in love with you. He just didn’t know it.”
Megan glanced at her watch. “Maybe that’s Noah’s problem, too. If I’m going to add another cake to today’s baking list, I’ll need to get back to work. Let me know if Noah comes to see you.”
Cassie sighed. “You’ve been married for a few months now. I thought it was supposed to be a calming influence on a person’s life?”
“I don’t know where you heard that.” Megan opened the front door and smiled at a person walking along the sidewalk. “Remember to lock the door behind me. I’ll give you a call once the cake is ready.”
Before she could remind Megan about their meeting with Pastor John, her friend dashed next door to the candy shop.
Cassie looked at the cuckoo clock on the wall and rushed into her workroom. One of her customers would be arriving soon to collect a necklace for his wife’s birthday. If Cassie didn’t gift wrap it now, she wouldn’t have time once the store opened.
Thinking about Noah Devlin, his sexy brown eyes, and his boyish charm would have to wait—at least until Megan’s cake was ready.
“I can’t believe how many items have been donated for the auction.” Pastor John looked around the meeting room in awe. “You’ve done a wonderful job.”
Boxes and baskets in all shapes and sizes filled every available space.
Cassie smiled at her friends. None of this would have been possible without everyone doing their best to make the auction a success. “We sold the last auction ticket this afternoon. This could be one of the biggest fundraisers Sapphire Bay has ever seen.”
“Everyone has been so supportive,” Brooke said. “Especially Mabel. The community Facebook page is full
of pictures of items that will be auctioned. She even organized a countdown for ticket sales.”
Sam turned her laptop around. “Look at this. Her latest post has more than two thousand likes. A lot of people are supporting us, even if they don’t live in Sapphire Bay.”
Brooke stared at the figures. “I should ask her if she wants to do some publicity for Sweet Treats.”
A soft knock made everyone turn toward the door.
Noah?
Cassie looked at Megan, wondering if she’d invited him to the church. But she looked just as surprised as everyone else.
“I hope I’m not interrupting.”
Brooke waved away his concerns. “Come in. We were just saying how amazing the support has been for Saturday’s auction.”
Noah looked around the room. “Are all these items going to be auctioned?”
Pastor John nodded. “These are only some of the donations. There’ll be at least another ten deliveries before auction day.” He held out his hand. “I’m John, the local pastor in Sapphire Bay.”
Noah returned John’s handshake. “Noah Devlin. I’m staying in Acorn Cottage.”
“You must be the chief executive of Wilson Enterprises.”
“News travels fast.”
“You’ve got no idea,” John said with a smile. “I was talking to Mabel and she mentioned she’d seen you.”
“I visited the market on Saturday but got sidetracked by Brooke’s candy store. For such a small town, there’s plenty to see.”
“We try to provide something for everyone.”
“You’ve certainly done that. I came to tell you that Wilson Enterprises would like to donate some gifts for the auction, but they won’t arrive until Friday. Will that be a problem?”
John shook his head. “That will be fine. Cassie has created a master list of the items going under the hammer. Whether they arrive here or at one of our drop-off locations, the list will be updated straightaway. Are you coming to the auction?”
Noah reached into his pocket and showed them a silver piece of paper. “Mabel sold me the last ticket this afternoon. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Megan winked at Cassie.
The mysterious executive from Manhattan had just gone up a notch or two in Megan’s books.
“We’re almost finished here.” Pastor John looked at Cassie. “Why don’t you show Noah The Welcome Center? It will give him an idea of what we need to keep everything running. You could even tell him about the tiny home project.”
John was every bit as savvy as Noah when it came to gathering support for a project. He needed more than their community’s involvement if the tiny house project was to happen. And in Noah, he could see a way to promote the concept of affordable community housing to the world.
Noah smiled. He looked as though he knew what John was doing. “I’d love to hear more about the projects you’re developing.”
Cassie handed Sam the project plan for the auction. “Would you be able to update the electronic copy of the plan?”
“No problem. I’ll send everyone an update, too.” She looked over Cassie’s shoulder at Noah and grinned. “It’s great seeing you again.”
“You too, Sam.”
Before everyone started reminiscing about her birthday dinner, Cassie moved toward the door. “We’d better have a look at The Welcome Center before they serve dinner.”
Noah smiled at Pastor John. “It was nice meeting you. I’ll see everyone else later.”
“It could be sooner than you think,” Megan said cryptically.
Cassie grabbed Noah’s hand and pulled him out of the room. She wasn’t sure he would appreciate a freshly baked cake once he realized why Megan had made it.
“Is there something I should know?”
When they were halfway down the corridor, Cassie let go of his hand, then looked behind them. “Megan baked you a cake, but it comes with a catch.”
“Let me guess. She wants to know more about me before I whisk you away to Manhattan?”
“Not quite,” Cassie said with a smile. “She wants to know why you’re still single.”
Noah laughed. “Tell her I’ve been waiting for the right person to come along. Do I still get the cake?”
“Only if you promise to share it with me.”
“You’ve got a deal.”
“And just so we’re clear, whisking me away to Manhattan isn’t going to happen.”
Noah grinned and tapped the end of her nose. “We’ll see. I’ve still got more than a week to change your mind. Where’s The Welcome Center?”
“It’s this way.” Before Noah saw the heat building in her cheeks, she opened the door and strode across the yard.
Cassie hoped he knew she was serious about not going to Manhattan. And she prayed she would never have to tell him why.
Chapter 6
Cassie opened a double set of bright blue doors. “This is it. Our very own Welcome Center.” She was incredibly proud of what Pastor John and the community had achieved in this small, red-brick building.
She waved at Antoinette, the volunteer who looked after the center from three in the afternoon until seven each evening. “This is our main reception area. When people arrive, Antoinette welcomes them to the center and finds out what they need.”
“What do people usually want?”
Cassie shrugged. “It depends on their circumstances. Some families arrive with literally nothing. Other people need budgeting advice or some sort of counseling. We have a doctor who has a free clinic twice a week, and a dentist who comes once a week. If people need a food package, we send them to the kitchen. If they need somewhere to sleep, we provide them with a bed in one of our bunk rooms.”
Noah looked surprised. “And it’s all free?”
“People pay what they can afford. If someone is on a limited budget, we ask them to pay their kindness forward instead of giving us money. That’s how we painted the church.” Cassie walked across to a row of meeting rooms. “Once we’ve met our guests’ immediate needs, we have another discussion with them in these rooms. This is where we match them with people who can help in the long term.”
“That sounds like a big job.”
“It can be. No one wants to be homeless or unemployed or hungry. For one reason or another, their lives have taken a different path to what they expected. If they’re willing to work with us, we do everything we can to make their lives less stressful.”
“Cassie!” Willow walked toward her with a big grin on her face. “You aren’t supposed to be here for another two hours.”
“I’m showing Noah around. Willow Clarke, this is Noah Devlin.”
Willow held out her hand. “Welcome to The Welcome Center. I enjoy saying that.”
Noah smiled. “It’s good to be here. Are you a volunteer?”
“I am. Tonight I’m on kitchen duty, so if you’d like a yummy beef casserole with new potatoes, carrots, and beans, come and see me.”
“I thought your meals would only be available to people who couldn’t afford to buy food.”
Willow shook her head. “That’s where The Welcome Center is different from a lot of other organizations. We’re here for all our community. The last thing we want is for people to feel as though they can’t enjoy a home-cooked meal.”
“And someone’s ability to pay for a meal might not be the issue,” Cassie added. “For some people, having another person to talk to, and laugh with, is more important than all the money in the world.”
Willow held up the bucket in her hand. “I’m going to the community garden to pick some beans. Do you want to come with me?”
Cassie looked at Noah. “Do you have the time?”
“All the time in the world.”
The warmth in his eyes made Cassie’s toes curl. If this was Noah in his interested mode, she’d love to see him when he was really trying to impress someone.
Willow cleared her throat. “Let’s go. But be warned, Mr. Jessop isn’t happy. A family
of rabbits has been eating his carrots.”
“Mr. Jessop is our honorary head gardener,” Cassie explained. “He used to own a ranch in Billings. When he retired, he moved to Sapphire Bay.”
Willow held open a door. “He showed us how to grow our own vegetables. One thing led to another and, before we knew it, he’d created our first community garden. We grow enough fruit and vegetables for our kitchen as well as our food packages.”
This was Cassie’s favorite part of The Welcome Center. In the evenings, after she’d finished her shift, she’d often come here and sit on a wooden bench to unwind. There was something therapeutic about being outside, away from the hustle and bustle of what was happening in the center.
A gray-haired man in his seventies hobbled toward them.
“What have you done to yourself?” Cassie asked.
“Darn rabbits. I chased them across the garden and fell over a rake. There’s got to be some way of catching them.”
Noah smiled at Mr. Jessop. “My dad used to dip a carrot in honey and leave it in a hutch. If you put a self-closing hinge on the door, they won’t be able to get out.”
Mr. Jessop scratched the side of his head. “I’ve never tried honey with a carrot. We used to poison the critters. But with all the little ones who come out here, I figured it wouldn’t be a good idea.”
Cassie was relieved he’d come to that conclusion on his own. Sometimes he had a unique way of solving problems. “Do you have a hutch you could use?”
Mr. Jessop nodded. “The woodworking group made me one last week, but the rabbits haven’t been eager to go inside. But honey…”
While he was contemplating the addition of honey to his rabbit-catching arsenal, Willow held her bucket in the air.
“Is it okay if I pick some green beans for dinner?”
“Of course it is. The beans in the first row are ready.” Mr. Jessop ambled through the garden, followed by Willow, Cassie, and Noah.
The Sweetest Thing Page 6
