How to Design Love

by Cami Checketts

  “What are you laughing at?” Cally asked breathlessly.

  “You. That kiss.” That joke of a kiss, but what he had to say next would be hurtful enough without him explaining how little he felt for her now.

  “You’re so happy you’re laughing.” She laughed too, and then she was kissing him again.

  Colt managed to free his lips and then pry her arms off of his neck. He shook his head. “Cally. I listened to you; now it’s time you listened to me.”

  “Okay.” The fire had gone out of her. Her blue eyes dimmed and she bit at her lip.

  “Why don’t we sit down?” Now that they were both more relaxed, hopefully they could talk like adults and then he could go and find Brikelle, tell Emma the truth, and date his beautiful wife properly. He smiled to himself and glanced back through the dining room windows, but didn’t see Brikelle or Emma. Ezra’s wife waved to him and he waved back.

  He and Cally sat in the soft patio chairs and he angled toward her. “I was shattered when you left, and especially when I followed you to Chicago and you didn’t want me.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  He held up a hand. “It’s okay, Cally. I am very proud of you for succeeding, but it was a hard time. I didn’t date much for years, honestly. Then Momma cussed me up one side and down the other that I was getting old and needed to move on and make her grandbabies.”

  “Sounds like Momma.” She smiled. Cally had always loved his mom.

  Colt thought about his parents. Brikelle had been great with his mom, and his dad had basically given the two of them his blessing. Though both of them had loved Cally, and treated her like their own daughter, they’d also both expressed concern that he and Cally weren’t a great fit and hoped he wasn’t just taking the easy, familiar route.

  “So I tried,” he said. “I forced myself to go on a date every weekend. I let people set me up. I even tried some online sites.”

  “Yikes.”

  “Yeah, it was miserable. But you know what it did?”

  “Made you miss me?” She winked.

  “I did miss you, horribly. But I had to harden my heart to you. After a couple of years, you were pretty much dead to me, Cally.”

  “Ouch.” She swallowed and looked out at the lake.

  “Sorry, but after Chicago I had to find a way to shut you out of my heart.” He didn’t want to hurt her, but she deserved the truth. “My dog helped.” He grinned, thinking about Ike and how proud he was when Brikelle had patted his head. “Then I dated … a lot. Getting to know a lot of different women made me appreciate when I did find the right one.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “That girl?”

  “Brikelle,” he corrected. “She’s funny, kind, caring, talented, beautiful. Our marriage is a hoax, but I’ve fallen in love with her through it.” He thought about last night and how he’d ached for her. He could hardly wait to date her properly and hopefully, someday soon, make their marriage real.

  Cally grabbed his arm. “Please, Colt. We have so much history, so much love. You … you can’t do this to me.”

  Colt laughed at that. “I can’t do this to you? You ruined us five years ago by not sharing your dreams with me and working through it together. I didn’t do this; you did.” He stood. “And it’s past time that I get back to my wife.”

  He ignored her sputters and strode to the dining room patio door. Emma stood by it, glowering at him. “Emma, where’s Brikelle?”

  “She left.”

  “What? Why?”

  “When she saw you kissing that … blonde, she asked me if someone could drive her home. Ezra took her home ten minutes ago.”

  “No.” Ice ran down his spine. Brikelle was gone?

  Cally appeared at the door. Her eyes were cold and sad at the same time. Colt nodded to her, then focused on Emma.

  “You’d better figure out what it is you want,” Emma said.

  “I know what I want,” Colt told her.

  “Then go after her!”

  Colt took off for the stairs.

  “Don’t worry about your clothes. I’ll get them to you,” Emma called.

  “I’m not worrying about my clothes, but I do need my truck keys.”

  “Run faster!” she urged.

  Colt pounded up the stairs two at a time, grabbed his keys off the dresser, and ran back down the stairs and out the front door.

  “No,” he groaned as he reached his truck. He was pinned in by an Escalade, a Porsche, and a flowerbed. Aw, crap. Would Brikelle just go to her apartment? What if she left and went straight back to Idaho or something? He’d find her, but he didn’t want any more distance between them. He had to find her quick.

  He pivoted back toward the house. Emma and Cally were on the porch. “Go!” Emma yelled.

  Cally didn’t say anything, just watched him.

  “I need the Porsche or the Escalade to move,” he hollered at Emma.

  “Go over the flowerbed, they can fix it.”

  He grinned at her. He loved that lady. Running back to his truck, he hopped in and drove straight through the flowerbed, leaving deep, muddy gouges in the expensive landscaping. He glanced in the rearview mirror to see Emma waving happily. Cally gave him a sad smile.

  He drove twenty miles over the speed limit toward Brikelle’s house. Slamming his truck to a stop in her driveway, his breath rushed out of him. Her car was here. She was here. He could talk to her. He could explain and she would forgive him. Hopefully.

  Pounding on the door a few seconds later, he waited and waited and waited. Finally, he tried the door, but it was locked up tight. Was she just ignoring him? He called her number and waited until her voice mail picked up. He called again and listened, not on his phone, but with his ear to the door. Either she had her phone turned off or she wasn’t in there. Had Ezra not brought her home? Where else would she go? He was so frantic to find her, he couldn’t think straight.

  Chapter Twelve

  Brikelle walked back into the dining room with Emma and stuttered to a stop. Colt and Cally were just outside the back window on the patio and their lips were stuck together. She blinked, but the horrible image didn’t change. Her stomach rolled and she was certain she was going to be sick. The entire dining room was watching the action, though some of them turned to look at her in pity.

  Colt stopped the kiss and Brikelle knew a moment of hope. Maybe Cally had just kissed him. Maybe Colt hadn’t welcomed her advances. Then they both laughed and they looked so perfect together Brikelle could hardly stand it. Cally threw her arms around Colt’s neck, pressed her lips to his again, and there was no indication of him stopping her.

  “Could someone please take me home?” she asked the room in general.

  “I can,” Ezra said, standing. His wife looked on compassionately.

  “Thank you.” She couldn’t help herself from glancing out the window again. They weren’t kissing, but they were still standing close and talking, and it didn’t look like Colt had any intention of pushing Cally back out of his life and chasing after Brikelle.

  Emma took her arm and walked Brikelle and Ezra to the door. She assured her that she’d have her clothes brought to her house. The clothes Colt had so thoughtfully bought for her. She shouldn’t want them, but she did. She glanced down at the diamond on her finger. Would Cally be wearing it soon? She clasped her hands together, covering the ring with her right hand. This ring was hers. Cally had no right to it. She glanced back at Colt, but couldn’t see him anymore. She’d thought he was hers, but Cally was obviously stepping in and taking over. Brikelle rolled the ring on her finger. She should probably leave it with Emma, but she couldn’t bring herself to pull it off her finger.

  Emma gave Brikelle a hug and told her she’d be in contact soon about more work. Sadly, she didn’t offer her previous reassurances that Brikelle and Colt were meant to be. She’d seen the kisses as well as Brikelle had. The past with Cally was much stronger than any hold Brikelle had on Colt.

  She couldn’t think o
f anything to say on the drive to her house, and thankfully Ezra didn’t seem to mind. She thanked him when they got there and walked sadly into her shabby, dank apartment. The fairytale was over, and real life descended on her like a heavy cloud. Her handsome prince wasn’t coming to her rescue. She’d have to face that sooner or later.

  Unable to stand waiting here, she debated if she should head home to Idaho, at least for tonight and Sunday, but she couldn’t stand the thought of driving three hours right now. Her eyes were gritty and exhausted from withheld tears. Maybe some exercise, then copious amounts of chocolate and watching Princess Bride for the hundredth time would help. Maybe if she begged, Kaimbrey would come visit or meet her in Ogden for dinner or shopping. She looked down at her outfit, knowing it was more expensive than anything she’d worn in her life. Running her hand over the silky shirt, she could only think of Colt. He’d been so good to her. Cally was the luckiest woman she knew. Bitterness rose in her throat. Life bit the big one sometimes.

  Brikelle changed quickly into her running clothes and was back out the door. Her feet pounded out their usual pattern, and before she knew it she was running past Colt’s house. Dang, she loved that house. She loved the man who’d built it even more. The tears she’d been fighting streaked down her face. She let them come.

  A loud, obnoxious bark jerked her from her sadness, and she let out a little squeal before recognizing Ike. She stopped and took a couple of deep breaths. Ike wouldn’t hurt her. Everyone had reaffirmed that he wasn’t that type of dog. He loped up to her. Brikelle slowly extended her hand, then forced herself to tentatively pat him on the head. “Hey, boy.”

  Ike ruffed again, wagging his tail and pushing his nose into her thigh. She flinched, then realized his teeth weren’t sinking into her; he was just trying to get closer.

  “Maybe Emma’s right and you are an old teddy bear.” She found herself scratching behind his ears and smiling at the huge dog.

  He snuggled up into her. Brikelle remembered Colt saying Ike had gotten him through some tough times, and now she understood. This dog knew how to give comfort and she really needed that right now. A gradual feeling of peace pervaded the moment, but then a sharp ache reminded her of Colt. How awful that she had to be without him while she petted his dog. He’d been so proud when she’d touched Ike’s head. Colt had been with her every step of that interaction. Now she was alone.

  She forced herself to stop thinking about Colt and said to Ike, “You want to go run with me, boy?”

  He woofed happily. She took off at a jog and Ike trotted obediently at her side. It was no substitute for Colt, but this beastly dog that she used to fear was making her happier. If nothing else, her relationship with Colt had helped her overcome her fear a little bit.

  They kept a good pace, and before she knew it they were approaching Powder Mountain’s lower lift for the ski school. Everything was green and quiet at the moment, no vehicles or crowds and the warm sun touching her shoulders. She wondered if she’d be here in the winter to try out the slopes. Sadness swept over her again. Probably not.

  Ike darted off down the bank to the river to chase something. Brikelle stopped to catch her breath and watch him splash through the river. He looked back up to make sure she was still there, then barked and chased around in the water again.

  Her thoughts swung to the dog’s owner, as they had constantly over the past two weeks. She couldn’t believe how fabulous yesterday had been and how today stunk. Was Colt still “talking” with Cally? Had they resolved all their issues? Brikelle wondered if he’d be upset that she left without talking to him, or if he’d be relieved that he didn’t have to face her and could spend more time with Cally. It didn’t matter now.

  The sound of a large vehicle approaching brought her head around. It was a white four-door truck. Could it be Colt? Was his a Chevy or a Ford? This truck looked like his, but she couldn’t see the driver clearly or the side panel with the Jepson Cabinetry logo.

  If he’d come for her, maybe he’d ditched Cally and there was a chance for them. He’d be so proud of her for patting Ike and bringing him on a run, instead of yelling at him to go home. She was proud of herself.

  She pasted on a brave smile and waved as the truck rolled to a stop beside her. She peered in and saw dark hair, but … oh, shoot, no. It definitely wasn’t Colt.

  Disappointment surged through her just as the door popped open and a tall, lanky man climbed out. He grinned at her. “Hi, sweetheart. You looking for some fun?”

  She shook her head and backed away. “No.”

  “Your pretty smile says you are.”

  “I’m definitely not.”

  He kept approaching, the leer in his eyes turning her stomach to ice. She kept creeping backward, trying to distance herself from him. There had been hardly any vehicles passing her as she ran. There was little hope that someone would come along.

  She tripped on some rocks and stumbled backwards. The man was on her in a second, grabbing her arm and hauling her up to her feet. “Whoa. You okay?”

  “No. Get away from me!”

  “Come on.” A frown cast furrows in his forehead. “I’m not gonna hurt you or anything. You were waving at me and smiling and I thought, hey, why not have a good time with a gorgeous brunette?”

  “I’m not looking for a good time.”

  “You would like me. I promise.” He tugged her closer to him.

  Brikelle’s heart was thumping out of control. “No!” she screamed, clawing at his arm to release her.

  A ferocious barking sounded behind her, and though her heart beat harder and her palms grew clammy, her rational side cheered. Ike! He knocked into the man, barked loudly, and sank his teeth into the guy’s leg.

  The guy yelped and cursed, kicking at Ike, then leaping away. “Get your dog away from me!”

  “Get yourself away from me!” she yelled back.

  The guy limped to his truck as fast as he could, Ike barking on his heels every step of the way. He jumped in, slammed his door, and the engine roared.

  Ike darted back to her side as the truck sped off up the mountain road. Brikelle sagged with relief and wrapped her arms around Ike’s neck. He licked her cheek, and she managed a shaky laugh. “You might be a beastly dog, but I love you, Ike.” He woofed and nuzzled his nose against her cheek. “Let’s get you home, boy.”

  Ike barked again. Brikelle’s legs were shaky, and even though they were going downhill, they didn’t progress very quickly. When they finally reached the bottom of the canyon, Ike gave her one more nuzzle and a bark and then ran up his driveway. Brikelle wished she could follow him, but it wasn’t her place and she wasn’t going to pursue Colt with Cally back in the picture. Colt probably wasn’t home anyway. He and Cally were probably still at Emma’s.

  She slowly made her way back toward her apartment. The roar of an engine coming from behind her made her freeze. It sounded exactly like that guy’s truck. She whirled around to look and ice ran through her veins. It was the same white four-door truck. Ike was gone. She wasn’t quite sure how she’d defend herself, but she wasn’t going to let that guy come after her again. She sprinted away from the truck, hoping for some sign of help. She was in a rural spot, but there was a house about a hundred yards away. Did she dare run there for help? What if they weren’t home? The guy could pin her in. But maybe he would think this was her house and would bug out.

  Before she reached the driveway, the truck rolled up behind her and jerked to a stop. She heard the door pop open as she sprinted with all she had. If his truck was stopped, she could maybe get away. She could hardly breathe and she’d pushed her legs too hard, they felt like limp noodles. She prayed over and over again in her head, simply begging for help.

  She could hear the man’s boots thud to the ground and then, “Bri!”

  She whipped around so fast, she tripped herself and rolled on the pavement, scraping up her elbows, hands, and knees. “Ouch,” she muttered as she skidded to a stop.

  Foo
tsteps pounded up to her. Colt knelt down and gently touched her back. “Oh, Bri. I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

  She glanced up at him, tears springing to her eyes. It was him. He was here. Was it possible he had been looking for her? She brushed off the pebbles and tried to struggle to her feet.

  “Be careful, sweetheart. You’re hurt. Why were you running from me? I’m sorry you saw Cally kissing me. It meant nothing, I promise.” He helped her to her feet and placed that warm arm around her waist that she had grown to crave.

  “It wasn’t Cally.” She shook her head. “Well, that was why I went running, but I was running from your truck because I thought it was this other guy who came after me up the canyon.”

  “Bri,” he muttered. “I should’ve been there.”

  “Ike protected me.”

  “Ike?” His eyebrows shot up. “That old guy?”

  “Yeah. He was so brave and he knocked into the guy, then bit him. I love that dog.”

  “Thank the good Lord he was there.” Colt blinked at her. “Do you think there’s any way you could love Ike’s owner too?”

  Brikelle swallowed hard. “But Cally?”

  Colt shook his head. “Is in the past. She could never mean to me what you mean to me.”

  “Colt, that’s crazy talk. You have years of history with her and you loved her so much. Now she’s back and you have to give her a chance.”

  “I thought I loved her, until I met you.” He glanced over her. “Where are you hurting, love?”

  “I’m really okay. A few scrapes on my elbows and knees.” She held up her hands. They were scraped too, but not bleeding.

  “So your lips are feeling fine?”

  “Colt!” Her stomach lifted with excitement, but she tried to remain logical and pushed at his chest. “Get serious. We need to talk this through about Cally.”