That doesn’t seem right,” I said, watching the flush of color run over her.
Serena had never struck me as the shy type, but it was obvious that she wasn’t used to parting with her work. That it meant more to her than a sale, and I could totally relate to that.
I stared at her a little longer than was probably socially acceptable, but, damn, the woman was always unrealistically gorgeous, and the way she looked now, vulnerable and unsure, made her look almost otherworldly.
She was breathtaking.
Serena averted her eyes and took another drink of her tea, and I hoped I hadn’t made her uncomfortable. I could only image the way guys threw themselves at her wherever she went, or more likely, just stared because they were too intimidated by her beauty to actually approach.
I didn’t want her to think I was some asshole or creeper. I really wanted that painting.
“How about, you take the table, and if it sells, you let me give you a percentage of the commission and that will cover the cost of the painting?” I suggested, because even though I knew where she was coming from, she needed to be paid for her work. It was too good to giveaway.
Serena nodded, her vulnerability still showing, and I had this sudden, unexpected desire to kiss her. To cover her lips with mine, to gently, thoroughly, kiss her, until the only thing either of us could do was feel.
I blinked and shook my head, unsure where that had come from, and decided it was time to change the subject and get that enchanting look off her face.
“So, you, uh, moved away when you were a kid, right, and just now moved back … What made you come back to Cherry Springs?” I asked, thinking that was a good, neutral subject.
Serena sat up and her face kind of shuttered, all evidence of the blushing, shy woman now gone.
“Yes, my parents moved us away, but I was able to come back for summers and stay with my cousins when I was little, then, when we got older, I’d come back for holidays, and whenever I could. I always knew I wanted to come back here, I just needed the right opportunity. When I found out about the gallery opening, I knew that was it, so I quit my job and let the lease on my apartment run out.”
“And your parents, did they move back as well?”
“No,” Serena said. She picked up her napkin and began tearing pieces off. “They like it where they are, they have no plans to come back.”
Before I could ask anything else, Serena looked up and turned the tables.
“What about you? Where’s your family? What made you choose Cherry Springs?”
I was always uncomfortable talking about my past, but the rest of the Lewis cousins already knew my story, and there was really no reason for me not to share it with Serena, so I took a deep breath and looked right in those big brown eyes.
“I’m from Michigan. My mom died when I was little, too young to remember her, so it was just me and my dad. He worked a lot, so I was mostly on my own, but when he had time, he taught me about woodworking and carpentry. When I got older, I’d go to work with him, help him out, and eventually, I got a job doing construction with him.” I paused, thinking about my dad. His face, which had always been sun-kissed and weathered, and his big, booming laugh. “When I was nineteen he was killed on one of our sites … a freak accident. Once he was gone, I didn’t want to be there anymore … too many memories, and nothing to hold me there, so I packed up and left. I worked odd jobs in different cities, moving when I got bored or I realized it wasn’t where I wanted to be. Once I got to Cherry Springs, it was like something just clicked. I started out working for a company, then started taking odd jobs on my own. When Gabe hired me, I knew I was where I wanted to stay, so I bought the house and set up shop.”
“Wow,” Serena said, her eyes filled with sympathy, and something else I couldn’t place. “You’re so brave. I couldn’t imagine setting off on my own like that. I’m so sorry about your parents. Are you an only child?”
“Yup.”
“Me, too,” she replied softly. “No other family back in Michigan?”
I shook my head. “No, I didn’t have the big family with cousins and stuff like you do. I’ve never seen anything like the way you Lewises are together. It’s pretty amazing, you guys are lucky.”
With a small smile, Serena nodded, “Yeah, I know. Being away from them really made me appreciate what we have together, and I cherished every vacation I had.”
“I bet,” I said, downing the last of my coffee. I noticed that Serena was finished as well and wondered if I should ask if she wanted something else. I was actually really enjoying getting to know her better and wasn’t ready to leave yet.
Before I could say anything, Serena beat me to it.
“Well, I really do need to get to the gallery and get some work done, but thanks for asking me to coffee. I had a nice time.”
“Me, too,” I admitted, then, figuring why not, I asked, “Would you like to grab dinner sometime?”
Serena’s big eyes blinked slowly, and I could tell I’d surprised her. What I didn’t know was if it was a good surprise, or bad surprise.
“Oh, well, the next few weeks are going to be pretty crazy, with the gallery and the show,” she began, and although it wasn’t a definitive no, my stomach still plummeted, until Serena added, “But, maybe we could play it by ear?”
I gave her a small smile and stood up as she did the same.
“Sure thing,” I said, then pulled my phone out. “Maybe we should exchange numbers. I mean, I know where you live, and I’ll be seeing you at the shoot, but … just in case.”
“Yeah, sure,” she said, and we logged each other in our phones.
We walked out and paused on the sidewalk.
“Don’t work too hard,” I told her gently, reaching out to take her hand in mine and run my thumb lightly over her knuckles.
She looked down at our hands, and I did the same, wondering why I’d done that, but liking the feel of her smooth skin.
I released her hand and she looked back up at me.
“I won’t,” Serena replied softly. “Have a good night.”
I watched her walk to the gallery, unlock the door, and go inside, before turning to head back to my truck. There was a grin on my lips, and possibilities in my mind, as I pulled away from the curb and headed home.
Chapter Thirteen
Serena
It’s time!”
That’s what was shouted in my ear when I picked up the phone at two in the morning, before the call was immediately disconnected. I sat up on my bed, disoriented and confused, still holding my phone up to my ear as my brain tried to catch up.
After a few moments, it clicked.
Reardon … Chloe … the baby. It’s time!
I shot out of bed and opened my drawer to pull on some shorts, then ran to the bathroom to splash some cold water on my face and brush my teeth, before noticing my top half was still naked.
I hurried back to my dresser, pulled out a T-shirt and threw it over my head, not caring if it was inside out, backwards, or whatever, then ran down the stairs, shoved my feet in my flip-flops, and grabbed my purse as I headed out the door.
Once in the hospital, I took the elevator to the labor and delivery floor, then got off and rushed toward the room we’d all waited in when Zoey had Evie. Sure enough, when I rounded the corner, the Lewis cousins were out in full force.
Laurel was laid out across a row of chairs, her head in Dillon’s lap as she slept, while Dillon, Gabe, Chris, and Jazzy talked softly around her. I figured Zoey was at home with the baby, and Reardon was back with Chloe, going through the stages of labor.
“How did you guys beat me?” I asked, a little breathless as I sat down next to Jazzy, then added, “You ready for a long night?”
I don’t know why I was excited about the prospect. Something about staying up all night with my cousins, like we had when we were younger, had me grinning at them.
“Chloe’s already pushing,” Gabe said. “It won’t be such a long one.”
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“What?” I asked, confused, my eyes darting to the clock. “Didn’t Reardon just call me, like, forty minutes ago?”
Jasmine nodded and said, “Yeah, but apparently Chloe didn’t tell him she was having contractions until they were only a few minutes apart. By the time they got here, she was already eight centimeters dilated.”
“Wow!” I exclaimed, excited to meet the baby, but kind of sad not to get the all-nighter with my cousins.
“Benjamin Lukas Lewis came in at eight pounds two ounces, and is twenty-one inches long,” Reardon said excitedly as he stepped into the waiting room.
Jazzy and I rushed to him, pulling him in for a group hug, while Gabe stood behind us waiting for his turn.
“Oh my gosh, you’re a daddy,” Jazzy said, her body practically vibrating with excitement.
“I know, can you believe it?” Rear replied, his voice thick with emotion.
I leaned back to look up into his handsome, ecstatically happy face.
“Tell me you did not name your son after Star Wars characters,” I said.
He didn’t even look guilty when he replied, “Sure did!”
Gabe chuckled behind us and said, “Only you,” and when we moved aside to give him room, he pulled Reardon into a hug and said, “Congrats, man.”
“Thanks, I can’t wait for you all to see him.”
“How’s Chloe doing?” Laurel asked, sitting up.
“She’s great,” Reardon said proudly. “She had Ben in no time and was already nursing him while they were finishing up. You can’t even tell she just had a baby.”
“So, we can see her soon?” I asked.
“Once they move her to her permanent room. I’ll let you know as soon as that happens,” he said, then left us to go spend time with his family.
“Benjamin Lukas,” Dillon said with a chuckle.
“Chloe is a saint,” Jazzy added.
After about thirty minutes, a nurse came out and said we could go in and see Chloe and the baby two at a time, “Even though it wasn’t normal visiting hours.”
Gabe and Chris went first, since Zoey wasn’t there, or she totally would have already been back there. When they came back, Dillon said Jazzy and I should go next, so we walked down the hall, arms locked together, and chattered excitedly at the prospect of meeting little Ben.
“Hi,” we said as we walked in, then giggled as we moved together toward the bed, and the bundle Chloe was holding in her arms.
“You look great,” Jasmine said, before her eyes locked on the baby.
“You really do,” I agreed, giving Chloe a smile before I looked at Ben and started awwwwwing.
“He’s so sweet,” Jazzy gushed.
“Isn’t he a handsome guy?” Rear asked, startling me. I’d forgotten he was in the room.
“He sure is,” I replied, then asked, “Can I hold him?”
“Yeah, of course,” Chloe said.
I separated myself from Jazzy and took the offered bundle from Chloe’s arms, then tucked Ben in close to my side and looked down at him in adoration.
“Hello, Ben, welcome to the world,” I cooed, swaying my body as I reveled in the feel of him.
“I can’t believe how fast you had him, you must be relieved,” I heard Jazzy say.
“Actually, the birth is the easy part. It’s the recovery that sucks, if I remember correctly.”
“Huh?” Jasmine asked.
“Well, you know, the birth hurts and all, but then you get your baby and you’re happy … then the afterbirth comes. Then, depending on whether you ripped or tore, you have to be sewn up. The days in the hospital are the worst. Every time you pee it hurts like hell, and the nurses are always harping on you to try and go number two, but it hurts so bad, and it’s so reminiscent of giving birth, that you’re afraid….”
I looked up to see Jazzy watching Chloe, her face filled with horror.
I couldn’t blame her, I was feeling a little horrified myself.
Afterbirth? Tearing? Number two?
“Then, your milk comes in,” Chloe continues, oblivious to the damage she was doing to our psyche. “Not only does it hurt like hell, but your breasts become so engorged that if you didn’t know to bring a much larger bra than usual, you’re going to have problems, and end up leaking all over the place. Once you finally get home its weeks of recovery, and I already told Reardon, Ben and I won’t be going up those stairs anytime soon … I’m going to make the living room my bedroom for at least the first week.”
“Jesus,” Jasmine muttered.
“Here, why don’t you hold him,” I said to Jasmine, as if holding him might inadvertently cause me some residual birthing pain.
Jazzy shook her head.
I looked over to Reardon, hoping maybe he’d want to take him, but he was looking a little green around the gills himself.
Chloe took in all of our expressions and laughed.
“It really is worth it, though, you guys,” she assured us, but I wasn’t positive I believed her. “Just look at him … I’d go through anything for that little face.”
Just then, the door opened and Aunt Annabeth stuck her head in.
“Hey, ladies, there’s more of us waiting to see the baby, you know, quit being hogs.”
I hadn’t realized my aunts and uncles had arrived, but I was sure Reardon’s parents were dying to get in there, so I gently gave the baby back to Chloe, told her congratulations, then followed Jasmine out the door.
When we got in the hall, Aunt Annabeth looked at us and asked, “So, which one of you is next?”
“Not it,” Jasmine and I said in unison.
Chapter Fourteen
Jed
Morning, Jed, thanks so much for coming in and agreeing to help us out. Hopefully, this will be a mutually beneficial relationship.”
I was being led through the Camu house on the first day of production. I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness and was interested to see how this would all work out. The Camu place was an old farmhouse, with great bones and a lot of potential.
I couldn’t help but think how I’d love to be restoring this place on my own, but those dreams would have to be realized later, which was one of the reasons I’d agreed to this project.
“Jed, this is Kylie, our beautiful host and the face of Fix it Up.”
A beautiful, but very made-up blonde turned to me with a smile. Once her gaze landed on me, that smile turned up a few notches, and I knew she was the kind of woman who was used to getting what she wanted from men.
Kylie stepped closer and extended her hand, palm down, as if she wanted me to kiss it, rather than shake it.
Obliging, I took her hand and bent my head to kiss the top of her fingers, then shot her a grin as I rose and released it.
“Ohhh, a gentleman,” Kylie cooed, and although I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, she struck me as being completely fake.
That was okay, I could fake it right along with her.
“Only for beautiful women,” I replied, then lowered my voice and said, “Nice to meet you, Kylie.”
Her eyelids fluttered, and that wasn’t fake, but she quickly composed herself and said, “Welcome to Fix it Up. I look forward to working with you.”
The last she said with an invitation in her tone and a wink, then turned to go back to what she’d been doing.
“Be careful of that one, she’s a bit of a man eater.”
We continued through the house, then stepped out back where a barn sat with a bunch of people milling about. I could see the table saws set up, lots of materials, and plenty of tool belts, and knew this was where I’d be spending most of my time.
“The redhead over there, that’s Sadie, our head of design, but right this way is where you’ll be working, with Jose, our lead carpenter. Let me introduce you, and then I’ll leave you to it.”
We walked over to the hustle and I noticed a tall, dark-skinned man with a friendly grin and a commanding presence. I recognized Jose from the
show and was excited to work with him during the filming.
Once we’d been introduced, the producer in the suit who’d been showing me around left to go do whatever producer’s do.
“So, I looked over your resume, and then popped on Instagram to see some of your stuff. You do great work, I’m excited to get your input on this project,” Jose said once we were alone.
“Thanks man, that means a lot coming from you. I love the ideas you come up with to make each property unique.”
After our little lovefest was over, Jose introduced me to the other guys, and then explained the course of events.
“So, today for filming, it’ll be just Kylie and the family, going over their must-haves, wants, and dreams for this place. Tonight, Kylie will sit down with me and Sadie to let us know what the family said, then Sadie and I will spend most of tonight and tomorrow spit-balling ideas and finalizing plans. That’s when you guys come in and we’ll get started on the demo, refurbishing, and building. That usually lasts a full forty-eight hours. While we’re doing that, Sadie and her team will be finding what they need to pull it all together and decorate the house of the Camus’ dreams. All in all, we’ll have six days to finish everything, and on the seventh day they will film the big reveal.”
Jose looked around at us, his crew, and added, “They’ll film us throughout the day and night, sometimes with stationary cameras, and others with a cameraman. Just pretend they aren’t there unless you’re asked a question. All right?” When we all concurred, he grinned and said, “Well, you’re free for now, but you may want to rest up, cause once we have a plan in place, things will get pretty crazy around here. I want you all back tomorrow at noon, ready to rock.”
I decided to walk around the house, rather than through it, and as I rounded the corner, I almost smacked right into Serena.
“Whoa,” I said, my hands coming to her shoulders to steady her.
I saw her blink, then look up. When she realized it was me, a shy smile flitted across her lips, causing me to grin in reaction.
Too Enchanting Page 5
