“We’ll market your jewelry as a C.J. Davis collection, but we need people to recognize you.”
“Why?”
“Because your face as much as anything else, will sell the collections you create.”
Cassie wasn’t sure she liked the idea of being photographed to promote the jewelry, but she kept reading. “Are you sure you only want me to design three collections?”
“It’s all about quality, not quantity. I want my customers waiting in anticipation for your next collection.”
“I hope I don’t disappoint anyone.”
“You couldn’t do that if you tried.”
Noah’s softly spoken words made her sigh. The price Wilson Enterprises was prepared to pay her was only the beginning of the income she could earn. With their marketing team behind her, income from her other jewelry would skyrocket.
She couldn’t have done this without her dad’s support and that, if nothing else, gave her the courage to take the next step. With a trembling hand, she found a pen and turned to the last page of the contract.
“You should ask a lawyer to read the document before you sign it,” Noah said quickly.
“I don’t need a lawyer. I trust you.” And with a flourish, she added her signature to the bottom of the contract.
For better or worse, Noah was now her boss.
Chapter 12
Saturday morning dawned bright and clear, which was just as well considering what was happening later that morning.
Cassie had been working in her studio since five-thirty. When Noah brought her a cup of coffee, she’d grunted her approval before soldering two pieces of silver together.
He could have easily read one of the management reports he’d brought with him. But instead of doing that, he threw on his running gear and left the cottage. By the time he wound his way back to Cassie’s house, she’d finished the bracelet and was working on an engagement ring.
They had a late breakfast together and relaxed for another hour before getting ready for Sam and Caleb’s wedding.
As Noah sat in the church, he wondered if life would always be this easy around Cassie. She didn’t push him to be anything other than himself. It was a refreshing change considering most people wanted something from him.
“Do you like the flowers and ribbons at the end of each row?” Cassie whispered.
He glanced at the seats opposite them and nodded. “They look great.”
“Nora picked the daisies from Mr. Jessop’s garden at The Welcome Center.”
“I didn’t see any flowers when we were there.”
“They were behind a hedge. I think he’s growing the flowers as an extra revenue stream.”
“How would John feel about a commercial flower-growing business in his backyard?”
“I’ve got no idea, but it could provide a few jobs for people.”
Noah liked the way Cassie’s mind worked. He liked the pretty dress she was wearing, and he really liked her.
When the bridal march began and Sam walked down the aisle, Cassie’s bottom lip quivered. “She looks beautiful.”
Noah studied the stunning pearl and diamond necklace Sam wore. “Is she wearing one of your necklaces?” he whispered.
Cassie nodded.
“It’s gorgeous.”
“Thank you.”
Noah settled back in his seat to enjoy the rest of the wedding. He’d only been to a couple of weddings since his engagement ended. Each time, he wondered if his friends were making the right decision. But for some reason, seeing Sam and Caleb get married had restored his faith in humanity.
Their wedding vows were simple and came straight from their hearts. Even last night, as they’d gone through the service at the rehearsal, Noah had seen just how committed they were to each other.
“They look so happy,” Cassie whispered. “Sam’s mom hasn’t stopped crying.”
“She isn’t the only one.” Noah lifted his hand and wiped a tear off Cassie’s cheek. By the time her friends were pronounced husband and wife, she’d used nearly all the tissues in her bag.
Cassie sighed. “It was a lovely wedding. If I ever get married, I want it to be here, surrounded by my family and friends.”
Noah looked into her eyes and felt his world shift. He wanted to be the man who could change her life. The man who would be a loving husband and a good father. The man who would be beside her for the rest of their lives.
But if she ever discovered who had paid the legal costs of the man who had accused her dad of stealing his designs, she wouldn’t speak to him again.
“Are you all right?” Cassie touched his arm. “If you need some fresh air, we can go outside.”
Noah closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After he’d left Tasha, he never expected to fall in love again. But now, as Caleb and Sam signed their marriage license, he knew he wanted to be more than Cassie’s friend.
His hand tightened against the edge of the chair. “I’m fine. Do you know where Willow is taking the bridal party for their wedding photos?”
“A friend of Caleb’s owns a big house not far from Sapphire Bay. It has an incredible view of Flathead Lake and is surrounded by pine and spruce trees. Willow thought it would make a wonderful location for the photos.”
“It sounds perfect.”
Cassie studied his face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
He nodded and looked around the church. With its stained-glass windows and high-pitched ceiling, there was a timeless elegance to its architecture. Generations of families, tied together by love and a belief that was as old as time, had been baptized and married in the old brick building. What happened here was important and could change someone’s life forever.
He took another deep breath and held Cassie’s hand. “I need to tell you something.”
The confusion on her face worried him. He thought she might have realized how he felt about her. He’d come to Sapphire Bay to find the mysterious C.J. Davis and, in her place, he’d found Cassie, an amazing woman who was proud, determined, and so kind it made his heart ache.
“What did you want to tell me?” Cassie asked.
The words stuck in his throat. What if he’d totally misread her feelings about him? It could spoil their friendship and interfere with their working relationship. And Cassie’s future with his company was something he wasn’t prepared to risk. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll tell you later.”
“Are you sure?”
He looked away, embarrassed by the lie. “Sam’s sisters seem to be enjoying themselves.”
Cassie turned toward Bailey and Shelley. They were laughing at something one of the groomsmen had said. “They’re probably feeling a lot happier now that Caleb and Sam are married. Before the wedding, they were worried about their mom. She was so stressed they thought she was going to faint.”
“Because Shelley decided at the last moment not to get married?”
“Exactly. Sam’s mom was convinced the same thing would happen to Sam.”
Noah could sympathize with what had happened to Shelley. Like her, he’d learned the hard way that sometimes you had to follow your head and not your heart. And if he was clever, that’s what he’d do now.
But where Cassie was concerned, his heart would always win. She’d become an important part of his life and, despite his reason for coming to Sapphire Bay, he’d fallen in love with her.
“May I have this dance?”
Cassie looked up into Noah’s warm brown eyes. With the bridal dance finished, everyone was joining the happy couple on the dance floor. “Are you sure you don’t want another drink? I could get you a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.”
Noah grinned. “I know what you’re up to Cassie Harper, and it won’t work. It’s time to put into action what we’ve been practicing.”
She looked at the crowded dance floor. “What if we wait a few minutes? There isn’t much room to move.”
“There’s more than enough. Come on, you’ll feel better once we’re dancing
.” Noah held out his hand.
Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand in his and rose from the table. “I’ll try not to step on your toes.”
“I have complete faith in you.”
It was just as well Noah was feeling confident because Cassie wasn’t. Dancing on the grass in her sneakers was completely different from wearing high-heels on a wooden floor. And then there was the audience factor. Her friends knew Noah had been teaching her to dance. They were expecting great things, only Cassie didn’t know if she was ready to show them what she’d learned.
Noah moved closer to the dance floor. “Sam wasn’t exaggerating when she said her family knows how to waltz.”
Cassie bit her bottom lip. Even Caleb’s friends were dancing like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
“Don’t be intimidated. You’re a good dancer.”
“At least there isn’t much room for half and quarter turns.”
Noah held her in his arms, ready for their first step. “You’d be surprised.”
And before she could ask him what he meant, they were dancing. Cassie gripped his hand and shoulder, praying she didn’t step on the foot of an unsuspecting wedding guest.
Noah’s mouth curved into a smile. “This isn’t so bad, is it?”
“It’s terrifying. I don’t want to bang into anyone.”
“I won’t let that happen.” He dropped his hand to her waist and pulled her closer. “You’re doing great. Tell me about Sam’s sisters. Shelley said she’s thinking about moving to Sapphire Bay.”
Cassie knew he was trying to take her mind off her feet, but she didn’t want to make a mess of what he’d shown her. “She’s already started looking for a job. I don’t know how easy it will be but, if anyone can make the move, she can.”
“What sort of job is she looking for?”
With a heartfelt sigh, Cassie decided to place her trust in the sexiest man in the room. She did her best to relax, to let the music wash across her terrified brain and push all thoughts of disaster out of her head. “Shelley is an accountant, but she’s happy to try something new. Sam told her to start her own business.”
Noah maneuvered them around two couples having a conversation in the middle of the dance floor. “That’s not a bad idea. There are a lot of small businesses in Sapphire Bay and most of them would need financial advice.”
“That’s what I thought, too. I have to drive to Polson to see my accountant. If Shelley started a business from here, I’d become her client straightaway.”
“You didn’t notice, did you?”
Cassie looked into his smiling face. “What do you mean?”
“We just completed our first set of quarter turns.”
She looked either side of them and grinned. “I didn’t trip or step on anyone.”
“All the practice has paid off.”
“I wouldn’t be on the dance floor if it weren’t for you.”
Noah laughed. “Are you thanking me for coming to the wedding or helping you with your quarter turns?”
“Both.” Cassie smiled. Noah made her happy. He laughed with her about the silly things that happened and commiserated when things didn’t go to plan. Even when they sat on her veranda after dinner, not saying or doing very much, the world was a better place.
She leaned into Noah’s shoulder and sighed. As soon as the wedding was over, he would go back to Manhattan. They’d speak occasionally, maybe even text each other. But it wouldn’t be the same.
“Hi, guys. Are you ready to have your photo taken?” Willow stood beside them with her camera poised.
Cassie squinted as the flash blinded her.
“Thanks. I’ll see you later.”
Noah laughed. “Were you smiling?”
“I don’t know. The last thing I remember is being blinded by the flash.”
“Me, too.” He changed direction, spinning them to the right. “Willow’s busy.”
“She knows what she’s doing. The photos she took for Megan’s wedding were beautiful. I’ll call her on Monday and ask her to send me a copy of the photo. I could forward it onto you.”
Noah pulled her closer. “That would be great. I’ll send it to my brother. He’ll be happy I haven’t been working.”
“Let me guess,” Cassie said. “He thinks you’re a workaholic.”
“How did you know?”
“Dad says the same thing about me.”
Noah’s dry chuckle sent goosebumps skittering along her skin. “I’m glad I found you, Cassie.”
Her heart pounded. She half expected Noah’s mouth to be tilted into a teasing smile, but it wasn’t.
He studied her face with a longing so strong and sure that it shook her from the inside out. She wanted Noah with an intensity that stunned her. He’d crept into her life and marked her heart with a thousand love-struck arrows.
His hand gently brushed her cheek. “Before I came to Sapphire Bay, I thought my business couldn’t do without me. But while I was here nothing burned down, there were no emergencies, and my house plants didn’t die.”
The huskiness in his voice made Cassie sigh. “You’ll have to come to Sapphire Bay more often.”
Noah’s hand rested on her waist “I’d like to visit you. Manhattan isn’t too far away.”
“It’s a seven-hour flight.”
“I can work on the plane.”
Cassie looked into his eyes and sighed. “You’re my boss. It won’t work.”
Instead of looking disappointed, Noah smiled. “Everything will be okay. I’ve got a plan.”
She hoped it was better than hers. She’d done a lot of foolish things in her life, but falling in love with a man who lived thousands of miles away was one of the worst.
Later that night, Cassie stood at the bar with Megan and Brooke, waiting for refills of their drinks.
Sam and Caleb’s wedding couldn’t have been more perfect. Even though it was well after ten o’clock, everyone was having a wonderful time.
“Is it me or has the temperature in the room hit boiling point?”
Cassie turned toward Megan. “What are you talking about.”
Brooke made a choking sound. “Noah hasn’t taken his eyes off you all night. Is there something you forgot to tell us?”
Cassie took the two glasses the bartender handed her. “No.”
Megan grinned. “I think the love bug has bitten its next victim.”
“It’s not like that.” Cassie didn’t say another word until Brooke and Megan had their drinks. “It’s complicated.”
Brooke sighed. “Why isn’t falling in love ever easy?”
“I’ve got no idea,” Megan said. “But maybe if it was, we wouldn’t appreciate it when we found it.”
Cassie studied the thoughtful expression on her friends’ faces. “Before you get too philosophical, we need to talk.”
Brooke took a sip from one of the drinks she was holding. “William and Levi are sitting at our table with Noah. Let’s leave our drinks with them, then find somewhere quiet to talk.”
Cassie followed her friends. Brooke was only partially right about Noah not taking his eyes off her. One of the reasons he hadn’t left her side all night was because he didn’t know many people. The other part was why she wanted to talk to her friends.
As they approached their table, William, Megan’s husband, smiled. “Noah has been telling us about the tiny home project.”
Cassie smiled. “Everyone’s excited. Pastor John is hoping the first tenants will be in their new home by next April.”
Levi frowned. “That’s not too far away.”
“It can’t come soon enough. The bunks at the Welcome Center are already full most nights.”
Brooke handed Levi his drink. “Megan, Cassie, and I are going to find somewhere quiet to talk. If you think of any amazing fundraising ideas for the tiny home project, tell us when we get back.”
“Sam’s tossing her bouquet in a few minutes,” Levi reminded his fiancée. “Don’t be too long.”
Brooke smiled. “I’ve already found the man of my dreams, so I don’t need to be there.” She grinned at Cassie. “But someone else might need a little help.”
Cassie’s eyebrows rose. “Yesterday you told me the tossing of the bouquet is an archaic ritual.”
“But what if it works for you?”
“A bunch of flowers won’t make Mr. Right appear.”
Noah cleared his throat. “What if he’s already here?”
It was just as well Cassie’s glass was sitting on the table. Otherwise, fresh orange juice would be running down Noah’s white cotton shirt.
Megan linked her arm through Cassie’s. “If we’re really clever, we’ll miss the entire bouquet toss. Let’s go.”
And before Cassie could ask Noah if he thought he could be Mr. Right, Megan pulled her across the room.
Megan found some chairs in the corner of the main reception area and sat down. “Okay, Cassie. Spill the beans.”
“There isn’t much to spill. Noah is going back to Manhattan tomorrow. I don’t know when I’ll see him again.” The thought was so depressing that she sank into a chair beside her friend. “What am I going to do?”
Brooke sighed. “Living apart is never easy. If you want to make things work between you and Noah, someone will have to move.”
“Or you could spend one week in Manhattan and the other in Sapphire Bay,” Megan suggested. “People live in two towns all the time.”
“But it’s so far away.” Cassie dropped her head to her chest. “I don’t like big cities. Even if I didn’t mind traveling, it would be difficult to take my work with me. The only way it could happen is if I had two studios.”
“Have you told Noah how you feel about him?” Brooke asked.
“I told him I liked him.”
Megan’s eyebrows shot up. “You like Brooke’s chocolate fudge, too. Maybe you need to be more direct? Noah is probably as confused as we are.”
That’s what was worrying Cassie. She just hoped Noah still wanted her to work for his company after he realized how much she cared about him. “I’ve never told a man I love him. Especially when he’s my boss.”
The Sweetest Thing Page 14
