The Sweetest Thing

by Leeanna Morgan

  Pastor John placed the gavel in a wooden box. “Everyone who wanted to bid at the auction had to pre-register. We’ll have the bidder’s name on our database, but I can’t tell you who it was.”

  “Could you send them a copy of Cassie’s latest catalog? They might decide to buy another piece of jewelry.”

  Cassie appreciated Sam’s suggestion, but she wasn’t sure it was a good idea. “If they want another necklace, they’ll contact me. There must have been something about that piece of jewelry that drew them to it.”

  “Maybe it was because a supermodel had worn it on the cover of a magazine,” Megan suggested.

  John smiled. “Or they could like pearl necklaces.”

  Sam carried two chairs across the room. “At least it was sold to someone Cassie knows. I wonder why Noah bought it?”

  Cassie was thinking the same thing. The necklace was an expensive piece of jewelry—the type you’d give to someone who meant a lot to you. Noah wasn’t married, but maybe he had a special woman in his life?

  She hoped he’d bought it as an investment. Just thinking about him with another woman made her feel depressed.

  Noah walked into the meeting room. “The kitchen is ready for the café staff. Would you like a hand to stack the rest of the chairs?”

  Before Cassie could tell him they were okay, John handed him two chairs.

  “Thanks. You can put these on the far side of the room. Normally, we would have left everything where it was, but we have a jumping jellybean program in here tomorrow.”

  Noah’s eyebrows rose. “Jumping jellybeans?”

  “It’s like a junior gymnastics class,” John explained. “While the parents are enjoying church, a team of volunteers keep the preschoolers busy. You’ll have to come along one Sunday. The team is always looking for people who can help.”

  The thought of Noah helping little children do cartwheels and forward rolls made Cassie smile.

  Noah didn’t look as enthusiastic as John did. “Maybe on my next visit to Sapphire Bay.”

  As far as Cassie knew, that wouldn’t be happening any time soon.

  “Congratulations on winning the necklace,” Megan said. “Who’s the lucky woman who gets to wear it?”

  A hot blush scorched Cassie’s face. Thankfully, Noah was too busy stacking the chairs on top of the others to notice.

  “I didn’t have anyone in mind when I bought it. I’m hoping Cassie might change her mind and come to Manhattan. She could wear it when I present her with the award she won.”

  John frowned. “You never told me about an award, Cassie. Congratulations.”

  “It’s not just any award, either,” Sam said proudly. “It’s the most sought-after jewelry award in America.”

  Cassie picked up another chair. “I’m not going to the presentation.”

  John frowned. “Why not?”

  “I like to keep a low profile. I’ll pop this away, then head home. I’ve got a big day planned for tomorrow.”

  “Please tell me you’re doing something exciting,” Sam sighed.

  “It is exciting,” Cassie assured her. “I’m finishing a necklace I started three months ago.”

  “That’s not exciting. Why don’t you take Noah sightseeing? There’s a regatta in Bigfork tomorrow. There’ll be markets as well as the boat races.”

  “Noah has already been to the market in Sapphire Bay. He won’t want to—”

  “It sounds like a great idea,” Noah said. “It’s my brother’s birthday next week. Apart from some candy, I haven’t bought him anything. I might find something in Bigfork.”

  Sam and Megan smiled at each other before turning to Cassie.

  If they had any romantic notions about her and Noah, they would be disappointed. In a few days, he was going back to New York City. And Cassie was one hundred percent positive he wouldn’t be coming back.

  “Well?” Sam asked Cassie. “Is that a yes, no, or maybe to sightseeing?”

  Noah took the chair out of her hands. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

  “Are you sure you want to go to Bigfork?” Cassie asked. “There are lots of other things to do.”

  “I’d like to see the regatta. Besides, sightseeing is more fun when you’re with someone else. What time do you want to leave?”

  Cassie sighed. “Is eight o’clock too early?”

  Noah sent her a heart-melting smile. “Eight o’clock is perfect. I’ll buy lunch as a thank you.”

  Before Cassie could tell him it wasn’t necessary, he took the chair to the other side of the room.

  By twelve-thirty the next day, Noah was ready for lunch. For the last four hours, he’d been watching the boat races with Cassie and walking around the market at Bigfork. It had been a relaxed morning in the sun, even if they’d had to maneuver around lots of people enjoying picnics and barbecues.

  Cassie bought an apron from one of the stall holders and placed it inside her bag. “I’ll add this to Megan’s Christmas present. What would you like to do next?”

  Noah looked at her smiling face. “Lunch sounds like a good option.”

  “Do you want to get something here and eat it beside the lake?”

  “I’m happy with whatever you want to do.” He followed Cassie toward the food stalls. There were long lines of people, all waiting to order their lunch.

  Cassie looked around the crowded area. “What if we buy a snack here, but drive back to Sapphire Bay for lunch? There isn’t much room left around the lake now. Once these people have bought their lunch, it will be worse.”

  Noah held up a basket. “If you’re happy to share some of the fresh bread I bought, we could head back straightaway.”

  With one last look at the crowds surrounding the food stalls, Cassie nodded. “That’s a great idea.”

  When they got back to Noah’s SUV, he placed the basket of bread and the wooden chopping blocks he’d bought on the back seat. “There’s a picnic area on the edge of town. We can have something to eat there.”

  Cassie placed her shopping beside his. “What did you think of the regatta?”

  “It was great. Where did all the boats come from?”

  “Most of them are owned by people who live around the lake. But there’s also a lot of people who come from farther away. They stay for a few of the regattas around Flathead Lake, then go home. As we get closer to summer, the number of boats increases.”

  As Noah drove out of Bigfork, he couldn’t help but be impressed by what he’d seen. Between the boat races and the craft and food stalls, there was something for everyone. “Does every town around the lake have a weekend market?”

  Cassie smiled. “Not all of them. Bigfork’s market is usually on a Wednesday night, but they changed it to coincide with the regatta. Whitefish and Missoula have theirs on a Tuesday, and I think Alberton and Lilly have theirs on a Thursday. I haven’t been to any of the other markets, but there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy.”

  Noah pulled into a gas station. “I’ll be back soon.” A picnic wasn’t the same without something to drink. He wanted to talk to Cassie about the jewelry award. The longer they stayed at the picnic area, the more time he would have to convince her to come to Manhattan—even if it was the last thing she wanted to do.

  When he got back to the SUV, Cassie was standing beside his vehicle, looking toward the lake.

  “Is everything all right?”

  She looked over her shoulder and smiled. “I saw a bear. He’s enjoying the sunshine like everyone else.”

  Noah left the drinks inside the vehicle. “Is he still there?”

  She nodded and pointed to her left. “Over there. You can just see his brown fur.”

  He followed her hand and squinted into the distance. “You’ve got better eyesight than I do.”

  Cassie stood in front of him and pointed straight ahead. “Can you see the bear now?”

  He leaned forward until his head was beside hers. A warmth that had nothing to do with their body heat made Noah sigh. If
he wanted Cassie to come to Manhattan, thinking about her in any way other than professionally wasn’t going to work. So instead of enjoying the delicate floral scent of her skin or the way her hair brushed against his shirt, he focused on the lake, searching for anything that looked like a bear.

  “Over there,” she whispered. “Under the tree.”

  Noah tried to see the bear. Just when he was about to give up, a quick movement drew his attention and he smiled. “I see him.”

  With more grace than most people he knew, the dark brown bear ambled farther around the lake. It wasn’t until he disappeared that Noah realized he was holding Cassie’s waist.

  He stepped away. “Sorry.”

  “That’s okay. I don’t mind if you use me as a leaning post.”

  Noah didn’t know if he was relieved or worried by Cassie’s wide smile. Was he the only person who felt as though his life was shifting? That each day he spent with her pulled him farther into her world. A week ago he’d never been to Montana, let alone to a small town on the edge of Flathead Lake. Now, he couldn’t imagine going back to Manhattan without her.

  “Do you need anything else before we drive to the picnic area?”

  Noah shook his head. If talking to Cassie about New York didn’t change her mind, he could always drive his SUV until they ran out of gas. At least that way he’d have her undivided attention—until they saw another bear.

  Cassie was glad Noah had suggested stopping at the picnic area for something to eat. It was so much better than sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with the people who were watching the regatta.

  The picnic spot had a great view of Bigfork. It was similar to Sapphire Bay except that, with four times more people living there, the town looked like a modern-day metropolis.

  The spires of at least three churches rose into the air. Instead of one main street, Bigfork had a series of roads linking different parts of the town to Flathead Lake.

  Cassie wondered if Sapphire Bay would look like this in ten years. The number of antique stores and galleries had already increased, along with the cafés and restaurants. All Sapphire Bay needed was a health clinic and a pet store and they’d be able to offer the same services as towns like Bigfork.

  “Smile!”

  She turned around and frowned. Noah was holding his cell phone, snapping random photos. “Whatever you do, don’t post any photos of me on Facebook.”

  Noah smiled. “You’re not wanted by the FBI, are you?”

  “Not quite,” Cassie muttered. Although the reporters who’d followed her dad were probably worse than any law enforcement agency. “I don’t like people knowing about my personal life.”

  “You’ve said that a few times. Why?”

  Cassie wrapped her arms around her waist. “I’ve had a bad experience with the media. They can be ruthless.”

  Noah slid his cell phone into his pocket. “What happened?”

  She couldn’t tell Noah about her dad, but she had to say something. “A friend was accused of copying another artist’s work. He had to sell his house and move to another city to get away from the media.”

  “What happened to your friend?”

  “His life changed, but he’s okay now.” Cassie forced a smile. “Are you ready to have something to eat?”

  Noah pointed to the picnic table behind him. “Everything is waiting.”

  Gratefully, she sat down. After they left the gas station, they’d found a relatively quiet bakery. They’d bought a little bit of everything before jumping back into Noah’s SUV and heading out of town.

  She picked up one of the bacon and cheese rolls. As the peace of the picnic area seeped into her bones, Cassie relaxed and forgot about the media frenzy that had surrounded her dad. Life was too short to dwell on the negative things. And that time in her life was one of the hardest she’d endured.

  Noah handed her a water bottle. “Is this better than working in your studio?”

  She didn’t have to think too hard about her answer. “Much better. Sam was right. I can finish the necklace tomorrow.”

  “What’s it like?”

  She closed her eyes and saw the delicate necklace sitting on her workbench. “It’s made from finely spun gold and tiny rubies.” She looked at Noah and smiled. “My dad calls it my bird’s nest creation.”

  “What inspired you to make it?”

  Cassie grinned. “A bird’s nest. While I was remodeling Acorn Cottage, a bird was nesting in the oak tree. I’m sure it was watching what I was doing. One day, I saw the baby chicks and I knew I had to do something to celebrate their birth. So I sat down that night and sketched the design. Making the necklace is more challenging than I thought it would be, but I’m almost finished.”

  “Can I see it when we get back?”

  “Wouldn’t you prefer to look at it when it’s finished?”

  “I might not be here.”

  The thought of Noah leaving Sapphire Bay was a little depressing. “If you don’t mind coming into my messy studio, you’re more than welcome to look at it.” Cassie studied the serious expression on Noah’s face. “Why are you so interested in my jewelry?”

  He picked up his water bottle. “What do you mean?”

  Her eyes narrowed. Noah knew exactly what she meant. “There are lots of talented jewelers in America. Why are you so interested in my work?”

  “Because it’s unique. You create jewelry that complements rather than dominates the person who wears it.”

  “How many pieces have you seen?”

  Noah pulled out his phone. When he found what he was looking for, he handed it to her. “I’ve only seen four, but I have photos of twenty-five pieces.”

  Cassie flicked through the images. All of them were from the collections she’d launched as C.J. Davis. “Have you been stalking me?”

  Noah didn’t smile. “I have a proposition for you.”

  Cassie’s eyebrows rose. “I’m not coming to New York City for the award ceremony.”

  “You might change your mind after you hear what I have to say.”

  “I doubt it.”

  Noah didn’t let her less-than-enthusiastic comment stop him. “For two years, I want the exclusive rights to sell your jewelry. During that time, Wilson Enterprises will commission three collections from you. We’ll add the collections to our prestige gallery. Only the most wealthy and influential customers can shop with us. In return, we’ll provide brand and PR services free of charge. We’ll handle all sales and distribution of your jewelry and manage your client accounts. You’ll earn more than you ever imagined and have a waiting list of high-profile clients.”

  Cassie’s eyes widened. Four years ago, she would have jumped at the chance of working with Noah’s company. She knew how much his offer could change her life, but nothing was worth the pain and humiliation it could cause her father.

  If the media discovered her connection to Tony Harper, everyone’s career could end abruptly—and the impact on Noah’s company could be huge.

  So Cassie did what she always did. She slapped a smile on her face and pretended Noah hadn’t offered her everything she’d ever wanted. “My answer is the same as last time. Thank you, but I’m perfectly happy with the way I’m managing my business.”

  “My offer is something most people only dream about.”

  “I know, but I’m not interested.”

  “What more do you want?”

  He sounded as frustrated as Cassie felt. “I don’t want anything from you.”

  Noah stared at her as if she was crazy. When she didn’t say anything, he took a deep breath. “Pastor John has been talking to the owners of five properties not far from the church. If they agree to sell him their land, he’ll have enough room to create the tiny home village.”

  Cassie’s stomach churned. She knew what Noah was going to say next—and she didn’t like it.

  “If you sign an exclusive contract with my company, our trust will buy the properties and donate the land to the church.”

>   Her palms were sweating. “That’s blackmail.”

  “It’s a business transaction.”

  “Fiddlesticks. That’s not business; it’s extortion.”

  “Fiddlesticks?”

  Cassie snatched her water bottle off the table. “I thought you were a good person, but I was wrong.” She took a deep breath, barely managing to control her temper. “You don’t care about helping homeless people. All you want is the exclusive rights to sell my jewelry. I don’t know why you think you can manipulate people like that, but it stinks.” Without looking at him, Cassie started walking toward Bigfork.

  She was angry with Noah for trying to blackmail her, angry with the man who had accused her dad of something he didn’t do, and angry with the media who’d made it ten times worse.

  “Where are you going?” Noah yelled.

  “Home. I’ll take a bus from Bigfork.”

  Noah’s footsteps crunched against the gravel. “It’s Sunday. There might not be a bus.”

  Cassie ignored him. If there was no bus, she’d call her friends. If they couldn’t pick her up, she’d catch a bus tomorrow.

  “Come on, Cassie. Look, I’m sorry if I offended you, but this is important.”

  She stopped and spun around. “You think money can get you everything you want. Well, I’m telling you right now—you’re wrong. If your trust wants to buy the land for the village, then buy it. But don’t use it as a bargaining chip to get what you want.”

  “Fine. We’ll consider buying the properties regardless of what you decide to do.”

  “You know what I’m going to do.” She turned around and kept moving.

  “You can’t walk back to Bigfork.”

  Cassie could do anything she wanted, including being angry at the Neanderthal standing behind her.

  “This is ridiculous,” Noah yelled.

  Cassie kept walking.

  “Let me drive you to Sapphire Bay. You can sit in the back seat. We don’t have to say anything to each other.”

  When Cassie stepped onto the road, Noah ran back toward the parking area.

  Within seconds, his SUV appeared beside her.

  “Think of me as a free taxi. Come on, Cassie. I’m not leaving you here.”