“I’m really happy for you. But what about your wedding? You still have a few things to organize.”
“We’ve booked all the main things. As long as we don’t make any changes, we’ll be okay.”
Cassie hoped everything went according to plan. “If you need an extra pair of hands, just ask.”
“You’re even busier than I am. I can’t wait to see your new collection.”
“I’m sending each necklace to Manhattan as soon as it’s finished, but I’ll call you before the next one leaves my studio.”
“That would be great.” Brooke checked her watch. “I’d better get back to the store. Kathleen will want a lunch break soon.”
The doorbell jingled and Brooke looked over her shoulder. “Noah! It’s good to see you. Thanks for everything your company has done for me.”
Noah smiled as Brooke gave him a big hug. “I should come to Sapphire Bay more often.”
“You can come as often as you like,” Brooke told him. “Make sure you visit my store before four o’clock. I’ve made a special box of fudge for you.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did. I’ve got to go. Bye, Cassie.”
“Bye.” As soon as Brooke left, Cassie flicked the “Open” sign to “Closed” and locked the door. When she turned to Noah, he was grinning like a cat who’d found a tasty bowl of cream.
“I like your friends.”
Cassie smiled. “So do I. A hug can change the way you look at the world.”
Noah’s grin faded. “Has it changed the way you look at me?”
The huskiness in his voice was almost her unraveling. After Noah left her cottage last night, she hadn’t done much of anything except think about him, about the way her life had changed since she’d met him. How she had changed.
She gently placed her hands on either side of his face and stared into his eyes. “Everything about the last month has changed the way I look at you. You’re a good man. You care about the people around you and you want to make a difference.”
She rose on tiptoes and placed a soft kiss on his lips. “But the biggest change is what has happened to me. Before I met you, I was angry. Angry at how Dad was treated, angry at the way the media destroyed his life. I was hiding in Sapphire Bay, embarrassed to be Tony Harper’s daughter. Then you came along and made me confront all the things I feared. Because of you, I’ve found the real me.”
The wariness in Noah’s gaze was replaced with a trust so true that it brought tears to Cassie’s eyes.
“I love you, Cassie. I’ve always wanted to live a happy and courageous life with someone who loves me as much as I love her. You’re that person. I can’t imagine my life without you.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. “You’ve changed the way I look at the world.”
She relaxed against his chest and breathed in the essence of the man who had become the most important person in her life. “What am I going to do when you leave?”
“Probably the same thing I’ll be doing—thinking about you all the time and looking forward to our next weekend together.” He kissed the top of her head. “But you might be seeing more of my family than you realize.”
Cassie’s eyebrows rose. “Is your brother coming to Sapphire Bay?”
“Not yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you see him soon. Granddad’s decided to stay in Sapphire Bay for another two weeks. The foreman of the tiny village project is going to Wyoming for a family emergency. Pastor John asked Granddad if he would keep the project on track.”
“That’s a big commitment. Was Patrick happy to stay here?”
“More than happy. Since he sold his company, he’s felt lost. Working with John and the apprentices has given granddad a new lease on life. I’m helping him move his suitcases into the foreman’s home after lunch.”
Cassie knew how addictive living in a small town could become. “Do you think he’ll want to go home afterward?”
“I’m not sure.”
A gentle tapping on the window made them both turn around.
Cassie smiled. Patrick was holding a bag of Brooke’s fudge in his hand and pointing to his watch. “I think your granddad wants to have lunch with us.”
Noah sighed. “I think you’re right. Is that okay?”
“It’s more than okay. What woman wouldn’t want two of the most handsome men in town sitting beside her?”
Noah laughed. “Have I told you how much I love you?”
Cassie unlocked the front door. “A few times, but I’m not complaining.”
The following weekend, Noah took a deep breath and knocked on a gray wooden door. Sweat trickled down his spine as he thought about what he wanted to say to Cassie’s father. For the last few weeks, he’d thought about contacting Tony and apologizing for what had happened. After last weekend, he didn’t have a choice.
When Cassie told him her family had been homeless, he felt ashamed of what he’d done. Apologizing to Cassie’s father would never make up for all the hurt and humiliation his company had caused, but it was the only way Noah could try to make amends.
But how did you apologize to a man whose life you’d destroyed?
The door opened, and Noah stared into the face of the man who had lost so much. For a split second, all he could do was stare into a pair of eyes that were almost identical to Cassie’s.
He cleared his throat and held out his hand. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Mr. Harper.”
“It’s been a long time.” Tony shook Noah’s hand. “Come in. Did you have a good flight?”
“I did.” He followed Tony into a spacious living room. Sunlight poured through the large picture windows overlooking the backyard. “You have a lovely home.”
“Cassie helped me find it last year. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
Noah shook his head. “I don’t want to interrupt your weekend for too long.”
Tony’s eyebrows rose. “A cup of coffee won’t keep me away from much. Would you like cream and sugar?”
“Cream with no sugar would be great.”
“Have a seat. I’ll be back soon.”
While Tony made the coffee, Noah stood in front of one of the windows lost in thought. He’d never spoken to Cassie’s dad, but he’d seen him at the trial. At the time, Noah had been surprised at how calm Tony seemed. It wasn’t until near the end, when the media reports became vicious, that Tony had broken down.
No one, including the attorneys representing Emanuel, knew that Tony’s wife had cancer. Not having any family present at the trial had made Tony more of a target. What person, the media argued, would go through an entire trial without the support of at least one family member? The media had used Cassie and her mom’s absence as a way of belittling Tony’s character. Noah could only imagine how that must have felt.
He picked up a framed picture of Cassie and a woman who must have been her mom. With their arms wrapped around each other, it was easy to see how much alike they were. They had the same oval-shaped face, the same pixie nose, and similar mischievous smiles that would light a room.
“Cassie was fifteen when we took that photo,” Tony said from the doorway. “Ruth wanted to do something special for Cassie’s birthday, so we went to San Francisco for the weekend.”
The noose around Noah’s neck tightened. He took the cup Tony handed him and sat on the edge of a chair. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. You’ve come a long way to see me.”
Noah nodded. “I want to apologize for what happened four years ago. The allegations against you should never have gone to trial.”
Tony placed his cup on a table. “I foolishly thought the case would be dismissed. I’d never met Emanuel Ricardo let alone visited his studio. I was extremely lucky the jury saw through his lies.” Tony sent Noah a piercing stare. “Why are you apologizing now? As you said, it’s been four years since the trial.”
“I didn’t realize the impact it had on your life. Cassie told me about b
eing homeless and losing everything.”
Tony’s eyes narrowed. “It was a difficult time.”
That was the understatement of the year. Noah’s heart pounded. Nothing he’d ever done had been as hard as sitting here, trying to find a way to make up for everything Cassie’s dad had lost.
“Cassie also told me about your wife. I’m sorry for your loss.”
Tony glanced at the photo Noah had been holding. “We had a wonderful life together. She was incredibly proud of Cassie.”
Sweat beaded on Noah’s forehead. “Has Cassie told you anything about us?”
“She said you had visited Sapphire Bay a few times.”
There was no flicker of emotion, nothing that told Noah how much Cassie had said. His heart plummeted. What if she hadn’t told her dad she loved him? What if the most she’d said was that Noah had rented Acorn Cottage?
With a trembling hand, he left his coffee beside Tony’s. “While I was in Sapphire Bay, Cassie and I became friends, and then I fell in love with her.”
“That was quick.”
Noah frowned. Of all the things Cassie’s dad could have said, that wasn’t what he was expecting. “I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love Cassie. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. But I also know how much you mean to her.” Now the hard part, the words that could strip away everything he felt and wanted. “I would never hurt Cassie or stand between the two of you. If you have any concerns about my relationship with her, I’d appreciate hearing them now.”
“What would happen if I said I don’t want Cassie to have anything to do with you?”
Noah thought he was going to be sick. “I’d walk away.” Just saying the words brought tears to his eyes. “It’s the last thing I want to do, but Cassie would be miserable without you in her life.”
“I have a feeling she would be worse if you left.”
A flicker of hope rose in Noah’s chest. “Are you telling me you’re happy for Cassie to be part of my life?”
“It depends on the type of relationship you have in mind.”
Noah wiped his palms on the legs of his trousers. “I was going to ask…” He took a deep breath. “Mr. Harper, I’d like to ask your permission to marry Cassie. I know this is unexpected and you probably think I’m completely crazy. And I am. I’m crazily in love with her. I want to spend the rest of my life showing her how much she means to me.”
Tony leaned forward. “Cassie has already told me she loves you. I wouldn’t stand in the way of her finding happiness, not when her mom and I had a wonderful life together.” Tears filled his eyes. “Just promise me you’ll always take care of her. That no matter what, you’ll be her soft place to fall.”
Relief swept through him, leaving him light-headed. “I can do that, Mr. Harper.”
“And Noah?”
“Yes, sir?”
“You can call me Tony. ‘Mr. Harper’ and ‘sir’ make me feel ancient.”
“Thank you. I’ll do my best to make Cassie happy.”
“You already have,” Tony said as he shook Noah’s hand. “Welcome to our family.”
“I still have to ask Cassie.”
Tony smiled. “I don’t think she’ll say no.”
With all his heart, Noah hoped not.
Chapter 20
Cassie handed Willow a piece of maple fudge. “Does this taste all right to you?”
Willow nibbled one edge. “It tastes fine to me. What were you worried about?”
“I thought it was a little sugary.”
“If you’re worried, check with Brooke. But for me, it’s perfect.”
“Thanks. Just to be safe, I will ask.” Cassie wasn’t going to risk a substandard batch of fudge going to Wilson Enterprises.
For the last week, everyone had been pitching in to make the limited-edition boxes of fudge. Cassie hadn’t been able to help as much as she wanted, but with her jewelry store closed on Sundays, she could finally lend a hand.
Throughout the week, Brooke had divided her time between the commercial kitchen at the church and her own kitchen in her candy store. So far, even with five times the number of people helping, the quality had met all of her expectations. And with more than eight hundred boxes already in Manhattan, they were heading toward the halfway mark.
As soon as Cassie opened the doors into the retail part of the store, she knew no one was there. The lights were off and the only glow came from the streetlights outside. She walked back through the kitchen and into the storage area, but Brooke wasn’t there either. Hopefully, she hadn’t gone back to Pastor John’s church. It was after eight o’clock at night and the church’s commercial kitchen should have closed two hours ago.
“Has anyone seen Brooke?”
Kathleen looked up from the stainless steel counter. “Someone called her about fifteen minutes ago. She had to collect something, but she should be back soon.”
Cassie made her way across to the tray of maple fudge. Instead of cutting it and hoping for the best, she’d leave it on the counter for Brooke to inspect. In the meantime, she’d make another batch and hope it tasted better than the last.
Willow pushed a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter into some spicy orange fudge. “What did you decide to do?”
“I’ll leave it on the counter until Brooke gets back.”
“It might pay to place a note beside it. Everyone’s working so hard that it would be easy to pick it up by mistake.”
“Good idea.” Cassie patted her pockets and found a pen.
“There’s a pile of paper beside the telephone,” Willow said helpfully.
“I’ll be back in a minute.”
She quickly scribbled a message on the paper and tucked it under the edge of the tray. Before Cassie made it back to the counter, her cell phone rang.
She looked at the caller display and smiled. “Hi, Noah. How are you?”
“Tired, but glad to be in Sapphire Bay.”
Cassie stopped walking. “You’re here?”
“I thought I’d surprise you.”
“It’s a wonderful surprise, but is everything okay? You weren’t supposed to be here for another week.”
“Everything’s fine. I missed you, that’s all.”
Cassie smiled. “I’ve missed you, too. I’ll be home in about fifteen minutes.”
“Don’t rush. I know you’re busy making fudge.”
“No one will notice if I leave a few minutes early. Is there anything you need?”
“Just you.”
Her smile widened. “That’s easy. I’ll see you soon.”
“Has Cassie arrived?”
Noah peeked through the lace curtains. “I don’t think so. I haven’t seen her headlights.”
Tony checked his watch. “She shouldn’t be too far away. Did you want to make sure the fairy lights are working?”
“It’s too late. If we put them on now, she’ll see them from the road.” He took a deep breath. “Is everyone ready in Acorn Cottage?”
“As ready as they’ll ever be.”
“And the food and drink?”
“Megan’s got that sorted.” Tony studied Noah’s face. “It will be okay. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“She could say no.”
“That’s true.”
A beam of light cut across the room.
Tony leaped away from the window. “She’s here!”
Noah’s blood pressure plummeted. “I’m going to faint.”
“No, you’re not. I’ll be inside ready to turn on the lights.” Tony sent him a worried frown. “If you feel like vomiting, do it in the garden.”
“Are they the best words of wisdom you’ve got?”
Tony chuckled. “Believe me. This is the easy part. Wait until your first child is born.”
Noah didn’t think anything would be as nerve-wracking as tonight. After ten days of planning, he was finally going to ask Cassie to marry him. And if he made it outside without vomiting, he’d die a happy man.
As Cassie stepped out of her car, a cold gust of wind made her shiver. She pulled her jacket close and quickly walked toward her cottage.
She smiled as the front door opened.
Noah walked toward her. It had been two weeks since she’d seen him, but it felt like a lifetime.
Her gaze wandered over his trousers and jacket. “Have I told you how handsome you look in a suit?”
“I wore it especially for you.” He held her in his arms and kissed her until she was breathless. He chuckled when she snuggled into his chest. “I thought you would have asked me if I’d forgotten to pack my jeans.”
“You don’t forget very much,” she said with a smile.
“Not usually. Come with me.” He held onto Cassie’s waist and led her around the corner of the house.
Another gust of wind lifted her hair off her shoulders. “Isn’t it too cold to be going for a walk?”
“We’re not going far.”
“That’s what you said the last time we went for a hike.” Cassie looked around the backyard. At some stage over the next few days she’d need to weed the garden and maybe trim the hedge. But if they didn’t go inside soon, she wouldn’t be doing any gardening. They would both catch a nasty cold. “Okay, Noah. Where are we going and why aren’t you negotiating the big contract you told me about?”
“We’re walking toward the middle of the backyard. And I have staff who are negotiating the contract.”
Cassie reached up and laid her hand on Noah’s forehead. “Are you feeling all right?”
“Not at the moment, but hopefully I will be in the next few minutes. Close your eyes, Cassie.”
“Are you going to show me the constellations?”
“Not tonight. The only one I remember is Taurus and I don’t know if he’s in the sky at the moment. Close your eyes.”
She closed her eyes. “Sometimes you say the strangest things.”
The Sweetest Thing: Sapphire Bay, Book 5 Page 22
