Better Late

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

The Wild Rose Press www.thewildrosepress.com

Copyright ©2007 by Vivienne Lorret

NOTICE: This eBook is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution to any person via email, floppy disk, network, print out, or any other means is a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines and/or imprisonment. This notice overrides the Adobe Reader permissions which are erroneous. This eBook cannot be legally lent or given to others. This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons.

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Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

Better Late by Vivienne Lorret

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Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental. Better Late—Legacy Of The Brooch, Book Six COPYRIGHT © 2007 by Vivienne Lorret All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Contact Information: [email protected] Cover Art by R.J.Morris The Wild Rose Press PO Box 706 Adams Basin, NY 14410-0706 Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com Publishing History First Champagne Rose Edition, 2007 Published in the United States of America

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Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

Welcome to the Legacy of the Celtic Brooch series. The authors of this series were handpicked by our editors at The Wild Rose Press, and asked to write a tale using an heirloom Celtic Brooch as the one constant in each story. Beginning in March, 2007 with English Tea Rose and Tarah Scott's The Pendulum, and ending sometime in early 2008 with Marly Mathews from the Faery Rose Line, we will follow this brooch on its mystical journey from Regency England to modern times. It might show up as part of a dowry or be used to pay a ransom. It might be magical; it might simply be a piece of jewelry. Every author was asked to put her own spin on the brooch's appearance, and they have all done a beautiful job. We welcome your comments on this series and hope that you will enjoy reading the stories as much as our authors enjoyed creating them for you. Enjoy the journey! RJ and Rhonda

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Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

Other books by Vivienne Lorret The Man I Love

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Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

Dedication For Auntie Jean

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Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

Chapter 1 Sienna Logan stared through the open passenger-side window to the lush rolling hills of Kentucky. Early morning sunlight danced across acres of vibrant, dewy blue grass. The sweet scent of it permeated her nostrils and flooded her with poignant memories, some more heartrending than others— especially those concerning the man she would work with for the next two months. "So listen," Gloria said. Her all-too familiar, impendingdoom tone instantly drew Sienna's attention. This couldn't be good. "I think I might have neglected to tell my cousin the full story." Sienna turned off the low classic rock and twisted in the bucket seat to face her friend. "What didn't you tell Rees?" The nerves she'd kept under control so far threatened to unravel. "I may have led him to believe that you're a student willing to work for free just for the experience." "You did tell him it was me, didn't you?" Gloria slowed the car to turn onto a narrow gravel road and kept her unswerving focus straight ahead, as if the earth might suddenly dissolve away. "I did, but he—uh—didn't seem to remember you." Ouch. Sienna felt a sharp twinge in the center of her chest. He didn't remember her? She wasn't sure if it was her ego or her heart that took the worse hit. "I imagine he also doesn't know who I am now, either?" 8

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

"No." The word seemed to fill the car. "I never bothered to explain the details about how you flew in from Florida to guest lecture a semester. He thinks you were in my interior design class, not that you'd taught it. In his defense I'd say he isn't familiar with anyone who works in your field, let alone one of the top names." Dust swirled into the car from outside and her throat constricted on a cough before she pushed the button to raise the window. She felt like she'd had the wind knocked out of her. This was not how she'd planned to see Rees after so long. Of course nothing she'd ever planned with Rees in mind had gone the way she'd imagined. According to the life plan she'd written for herself, at twenty-eight and after three years of marriage, she was supposed to be pregnant with her and Rees' first child. However, since he left shortly after his senior year of high school, following the death of his parents, he hadn't been present for any of the events she'd planned for them. He never took her to prom. He never gave her his class ring. He never made love to her on the night of her graduation. He never helped her move to her college dorm. He wasn't there when she graduated college early, after working so hard to complete her degree. He didn't call to share her excitement over her first magazine spread. He didn't propose the night she went into business for herself. Why? Because she'd obviously meant nothing to him. He didn't even remember who she was. If only she were lucky enough to be stricken by the same memory lapse. 9

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

"You do plan to tell him the truth once we get there, right?" Sienna asked and eyed Gloria out of the corner of her eye. "Actually, since I'm in a bit of a hurry, I was hoping you'd do that for me." In addition to taking a class on interior design, Gloria owned her own realty office. Her passing comment this morning at the airport, about having an open house today, had not bothered Sienna then. But now, she wanted to wring her friend's neck for leaving her in the lurch. "Although, I think it might be better if you didn't mention that you're doing this work pro bono. I'm not sure he'd like being considered a charity case." Great. This ought to be fun. "Maybe I won't have to say anything. Maybe once he sees me, he'll remember." "I hate to break it to you," Gloria said with a laugh. "But you don't look anything like you did in high school. Now, you look like a model. Back then, you looked ... Well, let's just say your natural beauty was well hidden behind your enormous glasses and braces. Not only that, but it's been twelve years since you've seen each other." Dragonflies took flight inside her stomach. The prospect of seeing him again had been the very reason she'd offered to decorate the old estate he'd recently purchased. When Gloria mentioned how he'd spent all the money he had in the world on it, Sienna had agreed to work for free. "Here we are. Isn't it terrific?" Gloria pushed hard enough on the brakes to make Sienna strain against the seatbelt, but made no apologies before she hopped out. She leaned in through the open door, her green eyes bright with 10

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

excitement. "It's going to make a fabulous bed and breakfast. Just wait 'til you see all the work my cousin has done." Sienna looked out the side window. Ivy enshrouded the formidable stone mansion. It crept over the façade and nearly encompassed the arched wooden doorway with dark vines that looked to be undisturbed for centuries. "Why don't I remember this place?" Even though, she'd only lived in this town for three years while her mother was "finding herself" with a new boyfriend, Sienna and Gloria had bicycled all over the countryside of Refuge. "We never came here. No one ever came here. In fact, no one except for the Hogarth family had ever been inside. Even though the mansion has been empty for decades, no one's ever forgotten why this family was ostracized. From what my grandmother told me, the real reason they kept to themselves was because one of the Hogarth's caused the death of a championship thoroughbred, primed for the Derby. Here in horse country, that's unforgivable." Sienna nodded. Most of the people she'd met when she'd lived here had been horse aficionados from birth. Though she liked horses, she wouldn't know a thoroughbred from a quarter horse. "You'll never know how surprised I was when a distant member of the old family called my office wanting to sell." Gloria brushed back the ginger hair that had fallen over one eye, seemingly oblivious to Sienna's reluctance to get out of the car. "The minute I got off the phone, I called Rees. This house was exactly what he needed." 11

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Hesitantly, Sienna opened the door and stepped out. The yellow light by the entryway flickered in the hazy morning light. A sudden gust of wind swirled around her and lifted the sable curls off her shoulders. The air smelled faintly of roses and the smoke from a fire off in the distance, beyond the untended grounds. Though it was spring, last autumn's leaves skittered over the stone drive in miniature tornadoes. They came together at her feet, whirling around her soft leather boots and fluttering the ruffled hem of her sea-green skirt. The wind propelled her forward, closer to the steps, even as she held her arms out and tried to push back against the force. It was as if the breeze knew her anxiety and wanted to dispel it by pushing her to confront Rees. Just the thought made her shiver from her scalp to her toes. She put a hand to her chest. Automatically, her fingers encircled the antique brooch pinned to the underside of her blouse. She wore it religiously, always with the crest closest to her heart. Rees had given this to her on her sixteenth birthday—the last day she ever saw him. The day he and his sister packed up their parents' belongings. He'd been in his room standing in front of the window when she'd walked in and asked if there was any way she could help. When he turned, she saw his red-rimmed eyes and the dampness in the shadowy hollows beneath. The sight of him in so much pain wrenched her heart. "You can take this," he'd said as he tossed a small jewelry box to her. "I don't want to see it anymore." 12

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

Curious, Sienna opened it to find a dazzling brooch, a circle of silver inlaid with gleaming brass. A series of spirals accented one side with intricate knot work on the other, and a decorative arrow-tipped pin crossed the middle. She'd never seen anything so extraordinary in all her life. "You want to give this to me?" "Sure, why not?" He turned back to the window and lifted a hand to his face. She watched him wipe away the tears he hadn't wanted her to see and then looked down again to the box. That was when she'd noticed the small card pressed into the upper recess of the box. It read, simply, "For Mom on Mother's Day. You're the best. I love you, Rees." Sienna had started to cry, so she'd left, taking the brooch with her. The following day, she'd known she had to return it. But when she'd arrived at the house, Rees was gone. He'd enlisted in the Navy. He'd taken all her love with him, and he hadn't even known it. The wind stopped and the leaves fell to the ground in a series of crackly snaps, pulling her from the memory. She shook her head and stared at the old iron hinges attached to the aged, thick-grained door. The knob, an auspicious hunk of tarnished brass, made her wonder what she'd discover on the other side of the door. Not wanting to find out right away, she turned to see Gloria lift the lid of the trunk and reach in for her bags. She walked over to grab the heaviest of her three cases. Gloria looked up at her and laughed. "By the look on your 13

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

face, I'd say you were scared to death. Think the house is haunted or something?" "Is it?" Sienna wondered if the prospect of encountering ghosts would be more of a relief than meeting up with the man whose memory haunted her life. "It would be a shame if a house this old wasn't." Gloria huffed a little as she helped Sienna wrestle the largest case that held her swatches, color palates and few pints of paint over the lip of the trunk. In order to flip it in the right direction, they hefted it up, balanced it on the edge and then clumsily groped the smooth sides to make sure the wheels pointed down as they lowered it. "I just hope Rees finds what he's looking for." Sienna decided to ignore Gloria's pointed look. "You said before that buying this place was exactly what he needed. What did you mean by that?" Once the last suitcase was out, Gloria dusted off her hands and reached up to close the trunk. "Ever since his parents died, he's been running from one thing to another. First the navy, then college, then odd jobs. He hasn't owned a house, or rented an apartment. He refuses to stay put in one place long enough to form attachments. But when he decided to use the money left from his parents' insurance policy on this place, I thought maybe he'd finally realized where he belonged. Refuge is his home." Confused, Sienna looked her friend over. "I thought you said he was turning this into a bed and breakfast?" It was important for her to be on the right train of thought before 14

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she walked through the door. Part of what she did was all about her first impression of a room. "He claims he only wants to fix it up and sell it right away, but I was here when he walked through the place. I haven't seen him this excited about anything in twelve years." Gloria shrugged and adjusted a luggage strap over her shoulder. "But who knows? I could be wrong." Sienna took hold of the handle on the wheeled case, slung one suitcase over her shoulder, picked the other up off the ground, and shuffled her way toward the door. Together they lifted the heavy trunk up the wide, curved stone steps. Before she had the chance to bandage the frayed ends of her nerves, Gloria lifted a key from her pocket and slid it into the lock. "Wait," Sienna said and put her hand on Gloria's arm. "Aren't you going to knock?" "He told me to use this because he can't hear anything when he's running the sander." "But what am I supposed to tell him about the pro bono work?" Gloria blew out a breath that lifted the bangs off her forehead. "Do what you think is best. Just don't kill his ego, okay? I'd like to see him stick around for a while." She unlocked the door and passed the key over to Sienna before she walked down the steps and around to her car. "I'll check in on you in few days. I'm not sure if you'll get a signal out here for your cell, and I don't know if the landlines are hooked up, so I'll just play it by ear." Without another word, Gloria slid into her car, closed the door, and started the engine. In disbelief, Sienna stared at 15

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her friend. She was leaving her here without any contact to the outside world for a few days? Hold on a minute. She raised her hand to call Gloria to a halt, but before she drew her friend's attention, the car peeled out of the driveway and tore off down the long, dirty road, leaving a cloud of golden dust in her wake. Sienna looked down at the key in her hand. What in the world had she been thinking when she'd agreed to Gloria's scheme? Without any further hesitation, she turned the knob. The musty smell she expected the moment she breached the doorway was absent. In fact, the air possessed a clean, subtle fragrance of lemon furniture polish. The two-story foyer was dark, all the connecting doors closed, and the only light source came from the open door behind her and the transom up above the staircase. The glass front of a curio cabinet to her left reflected her wide brown eyes along with her wild hair, the wind having caused it to look as if she'd just tumbled from bed. She set her things down and attempted to set the worst of her errant curls back in place as she moved around the area, noticing how sparsely it was furnished. In fact, the cabinet and a large brass coatrack were the only items in the foyer. There were no pictures, no table, no chair ... and though it didn't appear dusty and abandoned, it also didn't seem as if Rees had kept any of the previous owner's furnishings. This was a good thing. It left room for her imagination to blossom. "Rees—Mr. Garret?" she amended. It was probably best to keep things on a professional level. However, the only 16

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

response she heard was the echo of her own voice. Maybe he wasn't here. After all, she hadn't seen any other vehicles in the drive. She peered into the open doorway off to the right and saw nothing more than a sizeable Persian rug on the hardwood floor, in addition to an iron grate in the fireplace. Other than that, the white walls were unadorned, the leadedglass windows bare, and the ceiling stained brown from water damage. Though she had never spoken directly to Rees throughout this entire business arrangement, Gloria told her he lived here while he was renovating the space. It looked to her that he did not. No man could be this invisible. Even if he kept these rooms empty until they were refurbished, he would surely have a toolbox or blue-prints lying around. There would be pair of work boots kicked off near the door, perhaps. Or a pile of laundry left on the stairs. Most likely, he wasn't here and didn't stay here either. Good. That would make her job all the easier. She didn't want to constantly run into him while she was working, anyway. After she closed the door and flipped the light switch, she grabbed a new sketchbook out of her bag and strode up the stairway. She made notes on the rooms—mainly gutted and unfinished, with pink insulation furred out between bare studs. On each page she marked dimensions and her first impressions of the spaces, color and lighting ideas, and how the rooms should be furnished. One by one, she walked down the hall and through the rooms until she stood in the open 17

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doorway to the last bedroom. Her footsteps faltered and she stopped cold. This one was furnished with what looked to be an inflatable king-sized bed. The walls were painted with white primer and the floor mainly bare with only a rough-edged, tan carpet remnant coming out about two feet from beneath the foot of the mattress. The bed, in the center of the room, was the focal point with wide windows behind it acting as a headboard which framed a garden view that seemed to go on for miles behind it. The rumpled comforter and sheets appeared to be from a bed-in-a-bag, all midnight blue. A simple brass lamp sat on the floor in the corner. Though it was nothing to look at, Sienna knew this was Rees' room. It even smelled like him. Still after twelve years, she could never forget that. Out of the blue, she recalled some of her conversation with Gloria and how Rees hadn't put down any roots since his parents died. Even Sienna had thought he wasn't here because there was nothing tangibly his laying around. The bedroom, the disposable bed, the lack of mementos or photos proved he wasn't here to stay. Sienna wondered if the boy she'd fallen in love with back then had turned into a heart-hardened man. Now, she didn't know what to expect when she finally laid eyes on Rees Garret.

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Chapter 2 Rees closed the front door behind him and scowled up at the bright chandelier. He'd been afraid of this. The student his cousin found to work for free these next two months would end up costing him more than his budget would allow. He'd already accounted for every last dime of his money. There was nothing left over to cover any extravagance. After he turned off the switch, he systematically checked all the rooms one by one for any sign of the student designer and more violations to his budget. When he discovered the lower level vacant, he glared up the stairs. "Ms. Logan?" His voiced echoed back to him from the vaulted foyer ceiling. There was no response. Halfway up the staircase, a loose board groaned loudly beneath his weight. Instead of continuing up, he tested it again and dropped back a step to repeat his motion. He thought he'd finished the staircase a month ago and was sure it made no such noise before he'd left. As he took note of which stair it was and kneeled down to examine the tread, he heard the click of a door closing at the end of the hallway on the second floor. When he didn't hear her approach or see her emerge on the landing, he imagined she had been frightened by the noise on the stairs and hadn't heard him announce himself. "Ms. Logan?" He waited a second or two for a response, and when he didn't hear one, he resumed his trek upstairs. The tread groaned loudly again and he felt prickles of irritation rise up 19

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the back of his neck and tighten his muscles. One of the things he despised was having to go over something he'd already finished. A complete waste of time, of which he had little. Only two more months. On August first, this old beauty would be filled with the business investors Rees had invited to the unveiling. He'd scheduled the auction for the following morning. A short time from now he'd have a sizeable profit from this place and be well on his way to his next venture. More importantly, he'd be gone from Refuge. This time for good. As it was, he'd already spent too long here in a place where there were far too many memories. "Ms. Logan?" A hard and sharp-edged, but feminine, voice answered him. "What time is it, Mr. Garret?" He checked the large blue face of his watch even when he already knew it was somewhere near two in the afternoon. Certainly no time to have the lights on. "Two twelve." The shuffling sound of paper came from her direction. "Did you forget I was due to arrive this morning? Or perhaps misunderstand the time your cousin planned to drop me off? As far as I'm aware, time is of the essence in this project. So, it would seem getting started immediately would have been the best course of action." For some strange reason, her ire amused him. Maybe because she seemed set on a strict schedule, too. At least that was one thing he wouldn't have to worry about. "I apologize for not being around to greet you and to advise you 20

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

of your purpose here. I assumed my cousin told you I needed someone to decorate this place." She emerged from the hall and stepped into the light beneath the arch. Rees' foot halted on the tread and his hand reflexively gripped the rail. From Gloria's glowing description of "the creative woman genius in her class," he expected Ms. Logan to be older, an eccentric middle-aged woman wearing a gaudy silk caftan, her arms loaded with tiny gold bracelets and a scarf around her head. Instead he saw a lovely young woman with wild sable hair and wide, exotic brown eyes. From the neck down, she appeared more conservative with her slim figure wrapped in a jacket and a green skirt that came just below her knees. The sight of a pair of high-heeled brown leather boots caused an involuntary leap of his pulse, but he decided to ignore it. "I'm fully aware why I'm here. However, it would have been nice to have an initial meeting to go over the ideas you have for this house." "First of all, it isn't a house. It's a business, a bed and breakfast. My plan is to sell it to investors who will see its worth—no, it's profit capability." Then he'd have enough to start his own company—fine carpentry. She opened her sketchbook and jotted something down. "As for the style you're going for, do you have anything particular in mind? Or will you leave that up to me?" "I'd like to reserve comment until I see some of your ideas, if you don't mind." She gave him a cursory glance and offered a succinct nod. "Very well." With her pencil she pointed over her shoulder. 21

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"The room at the top of the stairs needs your immediate attention so I can begin my work." "That room isn't ready." "Yes." Her fine dark brows arched. "I know." "There are plenty of rooms downstairs you can start with. That way you can begin immediately." "Don't worry. I have plenty to occupy myself while you finish. You'll have no cause to question my work ethic," she said with a distinctly arrogant smirk and pointed again with the tip of her pencil. "Now, as for the room, I'd like to have it wired with two wall sconces on the west wall. No more than four feet high and spaced at equal distances from the outer walls. Do you think you can manage that?" Rees gritted his teeth. "I think so." "Good. I won't question you about how you do your job if you won't question me about how I do mine. Fair?" She extended her hand and walked down the three steps to the one directly above his. "For a student, you're awfully sure of yourself." He wasn't entirely convinced this was a good idea, but he took her hand anyway. The gut-lurch he'd experienced the moment he first saw her tripled when her fingers curled around his palm. Like freshly sanded wood, her warm skin felt remarkably silken. Beneath the softness lay the sinewy strength of a woman who knew how to work. He liked that. "Actually, I'm no—" She stopped, her eyes lifted to his, searching. There was something strangely familiar about her, but before he could figure it out, she released his hand and averted her gaze. "I've already had years of experience. So 22

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

you don't need to wonder if I know what I'm doing. I can guarantee you'll be satisfied with the end result." "I'll hold you to it," he said and turned around to walk down the stairs. The tread beneath his foot groaned again, and this time the sound was accompanied by an additional growl. Confused, he stared down and shifted his weight from one foot to the other, waiting to hear the growl again. However, when he did hear it, the sound did not come from the stair beneath him, but from behind him. He looked back over his shoulder to see Ms. Logan pressing a hand to her stomach. Bright, rosy color infused her cheeks. The spark of familiarity came back, but he still couldn't figure it out. "My flight didn't have a meal." She hadn't eaten today? Of course not. He hadn't been here this morning. Now he felt like a heel. "I hope Gloria told you that even though I'm not paying you a salary, you do have free room and board." After the words were out he remembered the chandelier and decided to amend them. "Excluding expenses that go above and beyond the basic necessities." She stopped behind him. "How basic are we talking?" "I'm working with a very tight budget, Ms. Logan." "Sienna," she interrupted and again searched his eyes. It was almost as if she was waiting for him to recognize her. Sienna Logan. Rees felt he should know that name, but nothing came to him. He shrugged mentally and ignored the tickle at the back of his brain. "Just don't waste. Don't waste 23

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

paint, time, or electricity." He gave a pointed look to the chandelier. She responded with a slow, even, "All right." "Good. Now I'll show you the kitchen. I keep a few staples on hand, bread, bologna, ketchup..." He smiled to himself when he heard her cough behind him. "I hope you're joking." **** Hungry enough to eat just about anything, Sienna choked down her cardiac-arrest sandwich and chased it with a nondiet, generic cola. It didn't take long before she could feel her blood sugar regulate. A sense of calm replaced most of her irritation. When she thanked him afterward, it pleased her to see some of his smugness fade. Of course, nothing could make up for him not remembering her. She'd known right away that he didn't have a clue who she was and it annoyed her. Even after she'd told him her name, he'd remained oblivious. Yet, she couldn't get over seeing him again. He'd changed, aged, but not much. More than anything the hardness she saw in his murky gray eyes and in the taut line of his jaw only made him more handsome. He'd also lost most of his drawl. However, the hint of it now and then was like a sip of cool sweet tea on a muggy afternoon. He possessed a man's build now, broader shoulders, chest and arm muscles that strained against his black T shirt. But they were a working man's muscles, in proportion with his body, not those of a boy who spent hours lifting weights at the gym. 24

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Though still lean, his waist had grown a tad thicker, his legs, too. Because he'd asked her to "Take a look at somethin'," she followed him out across the yard. Though she tried to keep her focus above the waist of his well-worn jeans, the farther she walked, the more her gaze dipped lower. It couldn't be possible that everything got better with age, could it? Yet, the proof moved with powerful strides ahead of her, each step outlining the perfection of his rear, his hamstrings and calves. In the space of just a few feet from the main house, her mouth had gone dry as dust and she wished she had a little sweet tea right now. Not too far beyond him stood a perfectly quaint little cottage covered in cedar shakes and shingles, accented with a freshly painted white door and two box windows. "This is where you'll be staying," Rees tossed over his shoulder. "It's small, but it will give you privacy. And you won't have to worry about small town gossip." The southern gentleman in him made her heart flutter. He was actually worried about her reputation in this day and age. How thoughtful. On the other hand, when she recalled that up until thirty minutes ago he hadn't had any idea who the designer was, she stopped herself from tumbling back into a crush with him. He would have done this for anyone. "So why aren't you staying out here and letting me stay in the house?" At the cottage, Rees paused and shrugged. "I usually work late, sometimes all night. It just seems easier this way." When he opened the door, the scent of fresh paint rushed out. He must have noticed how strong it was, too, because he 25

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

stayed back. "I just finished cleaning up yesterday. Probably should have let the place air out a little more." "I don't mind. I'm used to it." She stepped forward. Unfortunately, with Rees still in the doorway she couldn't make it through without grazing him. "Excuse me," she murmured when her shoulder and upper arm came in contact with his chest and abdomen. She couldn't help but notice how solid he was, just as she'd imagined. When her shy gaze lifted to his, the grin she saw on his lips made her stomach drop to her knees. He'd never looked at her that way when they were younger. He'd never seemed to look past her glasses. "Why don't you let me work those windows? I'm afraid they might be stuck." He grasped her elbow before he squeezed through the small space beside her to walk into the room. Sienna drew in a deep breath to quiet her pulse, but the paint fumes only made her light-headed. In seeing an additional window behind an ocher sofa on the other side of the room, she walked to it, hoping it would lift easily and offer cross ventilation. With a little effort and only minor damage to her manicure, a warm breeze carried fresher air into the cottage. She inhaled and discreetly opened her jacket to cool the slight amount of perspiration that had gathered under her arms and beneath her breasts. Even though she'd like to fault the early June weather for being too warm for a jacket, the truth was, seeing Rees again made her sweat. How utterly embarrassing. She'd be mortified if he knew. Slowly, she buttoned her jacket and turned to face him. 26

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"Well, this is it." Rees brushed his hands together and encompassed the single room in a gesture. Three white walls stood unadorned, with a fourth covered in fieldstone, a fireplace at its center. "It isn't much, but it's wired for electricity and internet. The landlines were put in this week. Gloria said you did most of your work on a laptop. The phone jack is right there." He pointed to the left of her, where a slender chest of drawers sat at the end of the sofa. She looked from it to the only table in the room and wondered if her cord would reach. If the room were any bigger than a dressing room, she might have had to buy an extension cord. But since it wasn't, she only had to worry about how to fit her luggage in here and still have room to walk around. "What was this place used for?" Rees lifted one of the two chairs at the table in order to maneuver around it. Even with only five pieces of furniture, this space appeared crowded. Or perhaps it merely felt that way when she knew that no matter where she stood, she'd only be two steps away from him. "From what I can tell, it was used as a storage room and, at one time, a still. There was about fifteen years of old newspapers stacked all the way to the ceiling and behind it all was an old copper still in the corner." She looked over her shoulder to the place his eyes motioned to and saw what she thought was a closet. Then when she thought about what was missing from the room, a sinking suspicion washed down her limbs. "I kept some of the piping and turned it into a bathroom ... sort of." 27

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Just what she feared. That little space wasn't much bigger than a toilet and it was supposed to be her bathroom? She'd seen bigger outhouses on the old farms around here. "I don't imagine I'll find a claw-foot tub in there." He chuckled. "I don't imagine so." She glanced to the ugly ocher sofa. "And the bed?" "You're looking at it," he said without a hint of remorse for what tortures he'd just revealed. "It pulls out into a bed. I was lucky enough to find it at an estate sale just south of town. It may look a little worse for wear, but I replaced the mattress and adjusted the frame. So it should work just fine for you. Well, as long as you don't move the table out any further from the wall. It's a pretty snug space." Captain Obvious actually had the nerve to smile while he said it. Sienna looked around the cell and grimaced. If his intention was to make sure she'd rather work than come back here and sleep, he'd succeeded. Then again, as she pictured what it would look like without all the yard-sale castoffs, she might be able to make it quite cozy. Of course all this furniture would have to go, the walls needed a cheery color, a few rugs on the concrete floor, and maybe a plant or two ... and as soon as possible. "I'll need to make a trip into town before everything closes." She already knew from speaking with Gloria that Refuge was still as small town as it had ever been. All the shops were locally owned and everyone went home at five o'clock. Absolutely no one worked on Sundays. Since this was Saturday, she didn't have much time to get set up for the entire weekend. 28

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A scowl knitted his brow. "I've already been into town today. It would be a waste of gas and my time to go back. You'll have to make a list and wait 'til Monday." Unprepared for that answer, she just stared at him for a moment. "Excuse me? Did you say you wouldn't drive to town because you've already been there today?" "That's right." He crossed his arms over his chest. "If you wanted to be making all kinds of trips, maybe you should have thought ahead and rented a car at the airport." She had wanted to. Now that Sienna thought about it, it did seem strange that Gloria had been so insistent on driving her from the airport. Yet, at the same time, she'd complained about running late for most of the drive. Was it her friend's plan to leave her stranded here? She wouldn't put it past Gloria to have some underhanded scheme in all this. After all, Gloria was one of two friends who knew about the crush she'd had on Rees. Heaven help her if Gloria had turned matchmaker. Sienna fixed her best smile in place. "You're right. I should have." She'd never been very good at being humble, but hoped this time she managed to act the part. "I'm not looking to inconvenience you. But there are a few things I'd like to pick up. If you don't mind, I could borrow your truck for the afternoon. I promise to have it back in your safekeeping by five thirty." He exhaled through his nostrils in cynical amusement. "If you think I'm going to hand my truck over to a person I just met, think again, Ms. Logan." 29

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Ouch. Did he have to keep reminding her that he had no memory of her? "If you'd have been here when I arrived over five hours ago..." She paused for emphasis. "Then we wouldn't be having this discussion. Surely you knew I'd need some things after I looked over the place?" With a slow shake of his head, he lowered his arms and hooked his thumbs in his front pockets. At last, she saw a chink in his armor. "All right, you win. But I'm driving and I'm approving everything you buy. If doesn't fit in the budget, then it doesn't go in my truck. Clear?" This time she smiled for real. Even such a little victory could make a world of difference in her day. "We'll see, Mr. Garret."

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Chapter 3 Rees sat in the front seat of his pickup, rocking his thumb and fifth finger back and forth on his denim clad thigh to the drumbeat only heard inside his head. He checked his watch and looked up toward the door to the grocery store where Sienna Logan had disappeared more than fifteen minutes ago. When he'd offered to go in with her, she'd insisted on going in alone to pick up a few of her "essentials." As for what that meant, he didn't want to know. He was in no mood to get personal with his new employee, no matter how attractive she was. The most important thing right now was to complete the job, make a decent profit and then move on. Like he always did. He glanced at his watch again, not even registering the time, and then began to shake his leg, lifting the heel of his boot off the floor mat in quick jerky movements. He added a second drum to the impatient beat inside his head, alternating slaps of his palm to the tips of his fingers. Finally, she emerged from the store, four white plastic sacks in her hands. From the bulk of them, and the way she kept her arms locked straight by her sides, they appeared heavy. Out of nothing more than instinct, he opened the door and walked across the street to help her. "Here. Let me take those," he said, part of him expecting an argument. She seemed just the type to demand to do things her own way. She surprised him when she offered a simple "thank you" and allowed him to take the bags. His hand brushed over hers 31

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as they made the switch, but he ignored the tingles that shot up his arm. Instead he focused on the weight of the sacks and how the circulation to his hands ceased almost instantly. "What do you have in here?" "Only water." She gave him a saccharin smile. He shifted his grip and reached with the other hand for the remaining two plastic sacks. "I'm afraid these are equally heavy." This time her fingers tangled a bit with his before she could let go. He was too distracted by the contact to ready himself for the sudden weight and his shoulder nearly popped out of its socket. "More water?" he asked and tried to unlock his elbow and bend his arm. "Soup. I just wanted to make sure I used as little energy as possible to heat up my food." She cast him a sideways glance. "I am allotted microwave use in your budget, aren't I?" "I'll have to check the spreadsheet," he deadpanned and started to walk beside her, across the street. "After I calculate the total number of BTUs you'll use, I'll give you an answer. Until then, I'd say minimal use will be fine. No more than two minutes per bowl of soup." "Of course. More than two minutes would be a ludicrous waste of energy." This time, he couldn't fight the amusement that widened his mouth into a grin. She was certainly something. It surprised him how comfortable he already felt with her. Apparently, she seemed to feel the same way. The more he thought about it, the more he knew they'd had to have known each other before. 32

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He hefted the sacks up and into the bed of his pickup, next to a few of the things she'd insisted on buying at the hardware store. So far, she hadn't cost him more than fifty bucks. Not only that, but she had a very easygoing manner once she'd eaten a little food. He wanted to laugh when he recalled the horror on her face when he actually made her a bologna sandwich. But when she'd finished, she'd thanked him. Now that had taken him off guard. So far, he couldn't seem to peg her "type" down to one thing. One minute she was as polite as a kindergarten teacher, the next she was as sharp-tongued as a viper. "I have one more stop to make," she said and pointed in the direction of Crossing's, the corner furniture store. He watched the way her eyes came back to his, the way her hair swept across cheek and mouth. Yes, there was definitely something familiar about her. He just wished he could figure it out. "Sienna," he said, only he hadn't meant to say it aloud, but more of a means to trigger a memory. She blinked. "Yes ... Rees?" Wait a minute. He almost had it. An image flashed at the back of his mind the moment he heard her say his name. No, not just his name, but the way she said it, almost musical, like an old song he'd forgotten the lyrics to. "Glasses. You used to wear glasses." Spots of pink colored the perfect complexion of her cheeks. "Yes, years ago." It was the blush that cinched it. He remembered how she always blushed when he spoke to her. Sienna Logan, of course! The first time he'd met her was when he'd stood 33

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across from her during a debate. Even at fifteen, she'd had a viper tongue. After he'd convinced her to join the team, she'd inspired some of the best arguments he'd ever made. Also, there was this one time when Gloria had run in a panic all the way to his house from the pond. Sienna had managed to climb up to the middle of the big oak tree before she'd realized she was scared of heights. He'd nearly broken his neck trying to rescue her. "I remember you." She let out a lengthy exhale. "It's about time." **** Thankful to have Rees yards away and adjusting her recent purchases in the bed of the pickup, Sienna managed to make it across the street and into Crossing's before she released a frustrated growl. He finally remembered her, but all he could think about was that she used to wear glasses? That was it? When her whole life had changed because of him? It just figured. Where Rees was concerned, she'd always been too romantic for her own good. Strangely enough, she'd thought she'd worked out all those "issues" long ago. Yet, even now, it was obvious by the way she couldn't stop mooning over him that she'd never really removed him from her heart. Why had she been crazy enough to take this job in the first place? But she already knew. She'd wanted the chance to see him again. From the way she couldn't seem to keep the erratic beating of her heart under control, or still the inner belly flops every time their eyes met, she knew this was a huge mistake. 34

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In order to get him out of her system once these two months were over, she'd have to start all over again. "May I help you?" Sienna turned away from a dark maple escritoire toward the saleswoman beside her. "Oh my gosh! Sienna?" "Nan?" It seemed today was a day to reunite with old friends. Petite Nan Macintyre—one time head cheerleader for the Refuge Wolves, and the only other person who knew her secret—wrapped Sienna in an exuberant embrace. She drew back and clapped her hands. The wispy hairs of her honeyblond pixie cut lifted when she jumped in place. "Uncle Joe just called me on my cell to say he saw you in the grocery store. I'd hoped you'd make your way in here. Gloria said you're staying with Rees. Oh ... my ... gosh! It's finally happening, isn't it? First he came home, and now you're home. At least I hope you're home. You are home, aren't you? I mean, you're staying out there ... with Rees. Fixing up that big old place ... with Rees. Oh my gosh! You must be so happy. How long have you been together? It's just like you planned." "Well, not exactly," Sienna interrupted, having forgotten how chatty Nan could be. She cast a glance over her shoulder to see if Rees was still by his truck or walking across the street. Unfortunately, his long strides brought him up to the sidewalk. The only way she could get the things she needed in order to sleep tonight was to talk fast. Catching Nan up on 35

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what was really going on would have to wait. "Listen, I need a favor. A couple of favors, actually." "Of course! You know there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you." "I realize this is so last minute, but I need a few things delivered today. I'm willing to make it worth your while." Sienna held her breath and waited to see if Nan was following her. Thankfully, she received a perky nod in response. "Great. That grouping over there in the corner, I want it. Along with this secretary. It needs to be delivered to the guest cottage ASAP. Oh, and tell your delivery boys there's a big fat tip if they take everything that's already in there and haul it to the basement." The string of bells hanging from the front door tinkled. Even if they hadn't, Sienna would have known the minute he walked in. He made the air around her sizzle. She leaned in to whisper one final request. "And I don't want to tell Rees anything about it." "Ooh, gotcha. A new bedroom with a cozy little bed. I bet he'll be surprised." Nan's smile lifted her pert cheeks, making half-moons of her eyes. Then her gaze shifted to a space directly behind Sienna. "Hi, Rees. I heard you're really making something out of the old Hogarth place." "Is that right?" Sienna discretely slipped her credit card and two hundreddollar bills out of her wallet and pressed them into Nan's palm. "I'll have to have you out sometime to go over the pieces I'll need you to find for me." 36

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Nan lit up brighter than the sun. "Me? You're going to let me furnish the place? Oh, Sienna, I don't know what to say. I just can't think of anything I'd like better. You have no idea what a boon this will be for my little store. No, more than that, for this community. And to think I was just sitting here today wondering if anything exciting was ever going to happen in Refuge, only to have the two of you walk in and change my world. I just don't know what to say. I guess dreams really do come true, right, Sienna? I mean, you had all these things on your list in high school—" "It isn't like that," Sienna said with a slight squeeze of her fingers over Nan's hand, urging her friend not only to be quiet but to put the money in her pocket. "What list?" Rees asked. Sienna watched Nan's hand disappear inside the pocket of her khaki slacks. "Nothing, really. It was just a few goals I'd jotted down," she said, purposely trying to make it sound inconsequential. The last thing she needed was for Rees to be curious about the list that had had his name all over it. Stupidly, she'd laminated it when she was fifteen and superglued it to the inside of her jewelry box. She still had it. In fact, wherever she was, the list was there to remind her of all her dreams—even the ones left unfulfilled. "Aw, come on." Nan nudged her. "It was much more than that. You had specific dates listed for each event. Your entire life was mapped out. I think all your success came from being so goal oriented. Me..." She shrugged. "I used to plan. But then, so many things didn't go as I'd hoped. Now I just sort 37

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of go with the flow. Anyway, the kids wouldn't want me any more neurotic than I already am." "Kids?" Sienna swallowed. Of course Nan would already have kids. She'd been married for five—no, six years. "Just two. One of each." She laughed. "Nowhere near as many as on your list." "You put kids on your career list?" Rees asked, angling his body to face only her. Inwardly, Sienna squirmed. Leave it to Nan's big mouth to bring undue attention to something that hardly mattered any more. She never even thought about it—well, hardly ever. Okay, so maybe she thought about it a little more now that she was back in Refuge with Rees, but these were special circumstances. "The list encompassed a bit more than just my career goals, but that was a long time ago." With one purpose in mind, she lifted her wrist to check her watch. "And speaking of time, I didn't realize how late it was." Nan checked her watch as well. "Oh my gosh! I still have to run back in the stockroom and try to catch the guys before they ... um." She stopped and pressed her lips together as she looked up. Sienna casually stepped backward, glad to see Rees follow her lead. "Yes, I think it's time to go. Nan, I can't wait to come back next week and look over those catalogs with you." Nan nodded and pressed her finger to the side of her nose. "See ya later, you two." Argh. She couldn't leave fast enough. Before Nan could make any other suggestive comments, she turned, pointing her gaze straight ahead in order to avoid making eye contact 38

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with Rees. The last thing she wanted to do was talk anymore about the stupid list. Up ahead, he held open the door. By mistake she glanced up and saw wry amusement in the arch of his brow and the slight curve of his lips. "How many?" he asked when they were back outside. Sienna glanced down the street before she crossed, taking her time looking in the direction opposite Rees. "How many what?" "Kids." She might as well answer him. After all, she didn't have to tell him who the father was supposed to have been. "Five point five." He was the first to reach the truck and he opened her door. "And where does the point five factor in?" Quickly, she slipped into the cab of the truck and answered him through the open window as he walked around the front and climbed in. "I couldn't decide whether I wanted an even six or if we'd—I mean, my husband and I—would have a dog instead." "That's ambitious." She thought he was laughing at her, thinking her insincere or even childish. "There were other things on the list." "I meant the big family." He turned the key, put the truck in gear and pulled out onto the vacant street. "I guess that's what happens when you're an only child, huh? My sister, Sarah, and her husband, David, are having their first. They just got married last year." 39

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"I know. Unfortunately, I couldn't make the wedding because I was working." The invitation had come while Sienna was in Scotland, decorating a recently renovated castle. "If I'd have known about it a little sooner, I could have rearranged my schedule." "Yeah, it was a surprise to everyone. Even me." "You sound as if you have reservations. Don't you like who she married?" "David? He's actually my best friend. We both served together and then went to college. For years Sarah, David and I always hung out together. Then in the middle of the fireworks last Fourth of July, Sarah blurted out how she had a crush on David. I thought we'd all laugh. But it seemed I was the only one who thought it was funny." He shrugged. "David admitted to feeling the same way. Then before I knew it, they were engaged." "And you were the third wheel." He glanced over at her, his gaze connecting with hers. "Yeah, exactly." "I've been there." Sienna sighed and eased back into the seat, letting the wind muss up her hair while they drove out of town. The sun baked the scent of earth, grass and horses together and the warm air stirred a multitude of memories for her—along with a reluctant uprising of tenderness for the man beside her. "But you can't deny something good has come of Sarah's marriage." "What's that?" A hollow, empty ache engulfed her heart, but as always, she ignored it. "You're going to be an uncle." 40

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Chapter 4 Rees stood out in the early evening air cutting baseboards for the room at the top of the stairs. He'd finished all the wiring, drywall and mudding. By tomorrow the walls and ceiling would be ready for a coat of primer. He imagined Sienna needed a little time to acclimate herself to her new surroundings before she began to work, so he stayed clear of her for the time being. Of course, he had other reasons to leave her alone. She was far too attractive and likable for her own good. Worse yet, he felt comfortable with her, when he should keep his mind solely focused on the job. If he even wasted a minute thinking about her on more intimate terms, he could ruin his chances of completing the renovations on time. And that was not going to happen. He had too much at stake. Better to put her completely out of his mind. With that, he went back to work, drawing his tape measurer down the length of board and marking a line with the pencil he kept behind his ear. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a large white delivery truck far down the lane. He stopped what he was doing and turned to stare as it lumbered toward the house. The moment he saw Crossing's painted above the cab, his anger sparked—by the time he reached the cottage and banged on the door, it was at full flame. "Ms. Logan, I'd like to have a word with you."

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"Are we back to being strangers again, Mr. Garret? Or is this the result of you losing your temper because of the sudden appearance of a delivery truck?" He clenched his jaw. "Why don't you open the door and find out?" "From your tone, I don't think that would be a good idea. I can already tell you've jumped to conclusions, assuming I went behind your back and purchased something without your approval." "And I suppose you're going to tell me there is no furniture in that truck." Seconds ticked by without a response until finally, "Are you asking me to lie to you?" The laughter in her voice didn't sit well with him. "Open this door or I'm coming in." "Door's open." He turned the knob and saw her standing a few feet away with her smaller suitcases stacked up on the sofa. She'd changed into a pink T-shirt, a pair of jeans and sandals—or what his sister had always called flip-flops. Her pink-painted toes wiggled under his scrutiny. When he lifted his gaze, she gave something of a curtsy that set her ponytail in motion. "Does my work attire meet with your approval?" He ignored the question and the hot rush of blood through his veins. The van pulled up behind him. When the engine stopped, Rees hitched a thumb over his shoulder. "I thought I made myself perfectly clear."

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She pursed her lips and clasped her hands in front of her. "You did. In fact, I can almost quote you verbatim: If it doesn't fit in the budget, then it doesn't go in my truck. "Well," she said with a self-satisfied grin. "It isn't in your truck. And before you get all huffy again, I'll tell you that you didn't buy it. I did. I can barely look at this thing, let alone sleep on it." She waved her hand in the air above the sofa. With all the work I'm putting in—for free, I might add—I'd like to be comfortable. Is that too much to ask?" She didn't give him a chance to answer, and even if she had, he wasn't sure if he could think of something to say. "I didn't think so. Now, if you'll let me through, I believe these boys have a few yardsale items to take to the basement while I get to work." Then she picked up two of her suitcases and nudged him out of the door before she walked across the yard and into the house, leaving him to do nothing more than stare after her. **** From the floor of the living room, Sienna checked her watch. Midnight. Although she'd like to say the time flew by, she couldn't. For the last five hours, she'd done nothing more than perfect the paint colors for each room. In order to do this effectively, she'd had to lug her color palate case with her and mix the colors on the spot. The living room alone had taken more than a dozen trial patches on the wall until she'd finally succeeded. She stood slowly, stretching the backs of her legs with her hands on the floor. The tension in her lower back eased as 43

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she straightened and reached her arms over her head. From this vantage point, with the light in the center of the room, her sureness over the color splotch faded. "Hmm. Maybe it'll look different tomorrow." Tonight her eyes needed rest. She turned to put the pots back into her case when, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a pair of familiar work boots attached to an equally familiar length of denim. How long had he been standing there? This was the first she'd seen Rees since their encounter at the cottage. He quickly looked away, lifted his arm and scrubbed a hand over the scruff of his neck. "I wasn't sure you were still here." "Afraid you'd chased me away?" She set her hands on her hips and bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. The memory of how she'd deflated his argument still vivid. He'd even ordered the delivery boys to take all the old furniture to Goodwill. "I'm not that easy to get rid of." "Then I'll consider myself lucky," he said without any indication of teasing. But, of course, she knew he was. "If there's anything you need—sheets, pillows, whatever—there's a linen closet upstairs at your disposal. I want you to be comfortable." All those erratic beats of her heart she'd squelched earlier came back in a rush of quick and happy thu-thumps. "What's the thread count?" she teased. However, once she saw Rees' puzzled amusement and realized he thought she was serious, a blush spread all the way to her ears. "I'm not sure. I think I just picked up whatever was on sale at the time." 44

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"Oh. Right. Well, I bought some sheets up today and threw them in the wash. They should be done by now. In fact, I think I'll check on them and then go to the cottage." She moved toward the archway, expecting Rees to move out of her path. He didn't. "Sienna," he began and paused to exhale. The scent of cinnamon teased her nostrils and made her notice the piece of chewing gum clenched between his teeth. "Lately I tend to get a little obsessive about money issues." "I hadn't noticed." Her gaze lifted to his, but in the back of her mind, she still thought about the flavor of the gum and how warm his mouth must be. "It's just that I have a lot riding on this place. If you think about it, so do you. Who knows, if you play your cards right, you might end up finding a job or two." A clammy wave of guilt washed over her. He assumed he was doing her a favor, and not the other way around. She should tell him the truth before this falsehood went on any further. But she knew it would bring an end to everything. She'd have to say goodbye to Rees and this time it would probably be for good. So instead, all she could say was, "I won't let you down."

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Chapter 5 Thankfully, Sienna finished painting all the rooms before the July humidity set in. For the last two days she'd worked nonstop at her sewing machine, making curtains for each one of the rooms. Even with the fan blowing and her hair tied up into a knot, the sticky heat was really starting to get to her. She knew it would be better to relocate to the cooler climes of the basement instead of in the dining room, but Rees had moved his bed down there in order for her to finish the master bedroom. At the rate they were both moving, the house would be finished two weeks before the August deadline. Of course, she could almost laugh at the reason for her speed. She'd spent so much time trying to avoid him, to avoid telling him the truth—and now she kept even more secrets—there was nothing left to do but work. From dawn to dusk she painted, designed, decorated, sketched, and sewed. Her only distraction had been a weekly visit from Gloria. Each time she and Rees had gone on shopping excursions, it had been like a wonderful day out, instead of business. Rees had rarely mentioned the budget, but shared his ideas on the look of each room. He made her so comfortable that she forgot she was working for him most of the time. It was almost like she was working with him—like they were working on their house together. More and more she found herself not only with a serious crush on him, but on the verge of falling overwhelmingly in love. 46

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Not good. Already she'd stopped decorating this place like a business but more like a home—a home she'd like to have. The worst thing she could do as a professional was to get attached to the person she worked for and to the property. Unfortunately, she'd already stepped way beyond the boundaries on both. Not only that, but her daydreams of what it would be like to live here with Rees sometimes got in the way of her work. Like now. Sienna looked down to the row of stitches only to see a single line of unattached thread. At closer inspection she saw half of the needle pointing down from the machine. As for the other half, who knew? Probably stuck somewhere in the thick navy brocade, or on the glossy hardwood at her feet. In an automatic gesture—this was far from the first needle she'd broken—she reached into her sewing box only to come up empty-handed. She'd put her last needle into the machine yesterday, after breaking another one on the other half of this set of curtains. Ready to find Rees and borrow his truck for a quick trip to town for replacements, she turned off the sewing machine and stood. At the sound of the side door opening in the kitchen, she looked through the arch and saw Rees walk inside. He was wearing a pair of khaki shorts and bright yellow T-shirt with surfboard logo in the center. Even though the weather had been warm enough for shorts and she'd seen him dressed in them nearly every day, she still couldn't get over how sexy he looked with his tanned, thickly muscled legs exposed. 47

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He walked in with a big grin and paused under the arch connecting the two rooms. His gaze roamed below the cuffs of her pastel plaid shorts to her bare feet and then back up to the rounded neckline of her flirty white top. When their eyes met, he quickly veiled a look of blatant desire. Even so, it shot through her. She reached for the back of her chair to steady her suddenly weak knees. "I was just going to look for you." He swaggered into the room. "Oh, yeah?" At the sound of his husky drawl, her stomach dropped all the way down to the floor. It took her a moment to find her voice. "I need to make a trip into town for more needles." "Sorry, no can do." He stopped only an arm's length away. "I can't borrow your truck?" "Nope," he replied with a slow shake of his head. Just when she was about to set her hands on her hips and demand why not, he added, "Everything's closed for the Fourth of July." She visualized the calendar in her mind and realized he was telling the truth. "I can't believe I forgot. Well, I guess that means I'll start to work on hanging the pictures we bought last week." She could begin with a grouping of old farmhouse photos in the den. "Nope," he said again and reached for her hand. The calloused pad of his thumb slid over her palm, sending a shower of sensation all over her body. He didn't give her any time to get used to it before he led her out of the room. "I have something much better in mind." 48

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Sienna nearly melted, wondering if their thoughts were linked. "Like what?" "What else do you do on Independence Day?" Inside her head an image of Rees wearing nothing more than red, white and blue boxers flashed. Yet, when he opened the door leading outside and the aroma of charcoal briquettes and sizzling red meat hit her, she realized he had something far more innocent in mind. "A barbeque." "I thought we deserved the day off." In front of him sat a grouping of two Adirondack chairs and a small wooden table set for two—complete with paper napkins, plates and cups. "What? Is this roadkill or did you actually cave in and buy steaks?" "They were on sale, as was everything else. The corn was a gift from the neighbors," he admitted. She mocked him with a gasp. "What about the budget?" "It stretched." He squeezed her fingers before he let go and shrugged. "Besides, I figured if I worked you too hard without a little break, you'd never want to see me again after all this is over." Somewhat stunned, Sienna stared up at him. He wanted to see her again after this was over? She didn't have time to revel in the moment before the breeze shifted and she drew in a lungful of air saturated with charcoal smoke. Her throat burned and her eyes watered as she tried to fight the need to cough. Unfortunately, she couldn't. Rees reached into the cooler and flipped the top off a bottle. "Here, drink this." 49

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When the fit subsided, she tipped the drink back and swallowed what she could to ease her throat. She hadn't expected him to hand her a hard lemonade and nearly guzzled half the bottle before she realized it. "Oh my," she croaked and examined the label. Normally a lightweight where alcohol was concerned, she wondered if it was such a good idea to ingest so much on an empty stomach. The last thing she wanted to do was get sick in front of Rees. "Sorry, it was the first thing I grabbed." He wrapped his fingers around the bottle's neck. "Would you rather have a soda, beer?" "No. This is fine. It's good. I just wasn't expecting it." She pulled it back and took a sip. "But I might need to eat something right away." With a wink, he chafed his hands together and walked over to a domed grill. "I've got that covered. Rib eye, baked potatoes and corn on the cob." Mmm. Her stomach whimpered when the unique aromas combined and filled her nostrils. It all looked so delicious. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had a backyard barbeque. "I suppose you're going to want me to share, right?" Rees loaded her plate and handed it to her. "Tell you what, if you finish all that, I'll take you out for an ice-cream cone." With her mouth already full of fresh, steamy sweet corn, she nodded. By the time she'd finished her steak and enjoyed a second hard lemonade, Sienna was in no hurry for an ice cream. Instead, she contented herself to sit back and stare up at the 50

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fluffy cotton-white clouds rolling over the indigo sky while she talked with Rees. The day couldn't be more perfect. With her head relaxed, she lifted her arms up and flipped the curling ends of her hair off her nape and over the back of the chair. Her eyes roamed to Rees, only to see him looking back at her. "I've always liked it here. There's a beauty to the Kentucky landscape I haven't seen anywhere else." He drew in a deep breath and kept his gaze locked with hers for a moment before he looked away. "I know what you mean. No matter where I go, I always compare that place to here." "So does that mean you plan to stick around for a while after you sell the house?" Though she tried to sound aloof, she wasn't sure if she succeeded. "Bed and breakfast," he corrected. "This place is nothing more than business to me. The financial aspect of the rest of my life hangs on the amount of profit I can get out of this old beauty." "And then what? Will you stay in this area or go somewhere else?" He shrugged and looked up at the sky, linking his hands behind his head. "I still haven't made up my mind. There is a lot more world out there for me to see and I don't know if I'm ready to plant roots in one place yet." His words sent prickles of irritation through her. Would he ever be ready to settle down to start a real life? Or would he keep running from the memory of his parents? "You already have roots here. I'd give anything to belong somewhere. My mother moved us around so much I never had ties to any one 51

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place. The only constant in my life was having my grandmother here. For the three years I lived with her, I was home." And every day she'd dreamed of one day making a home with Rees and healing his broken heart. But now it was painfully clear she'd never be able to do that. For a long while, Rees was silent. He didn't look at her and soon she, too, rested her head back and stared at the sky. Maybe she was stupid to think he'd see what he'd missed out on all those years ago by leaving and never looking back. Maybe the idea she'd carried with her was nothing more than a girlish fantasy that had no place in real life. "You know what I think we need?" Rees stood up and leaned in just enough to block her view of the sky. "To get away from here for a while. Go someplace cool. This is a holiday, after all." Even though his smile did wonderful things to her heart, she still felt grumpy. "What? Are you going to splurge and turn on the central air so we can work longer into the night?" "Nope. This is much better." **** Rees slid the key into his pocket and closed the door behind them. He'd yet to turn on the switches and only the dim glow of the security lights revealed her furrowed brow and wrinkled nose. This last month of seeing her had tested his will power to its limits. Now, they were standing so close in the dark, the scent of her sun-heated skin filled his nostrils. It took every last ounce of strength to resist kissing her. 52

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He cleared his throat and reluctantly stepped back to reach the switches. "Okay, you can open your eyes now." "The roller rink?" Sienna said, nonplussed. Her voice echoed faintly in the empty, oval room. "It's cool. There are ice-cream cones in the concession stand. And since today's a holiday, it's closed. We have the place to ourselves." With one lift of his finger over the slider switch, colorful lights shined from the center of the rink, bouncing off the mirrored ball. Upbeat music began to play, the constant beat of the drum reverberating through his body. "So, that's why you told me to bring socks." She cocked her head to the side to study him. "How is it that you just happened to have a key?" He stepped behind the counter to grab the skates. In front of her, he set the pristine pair of white skates she'd pointed to and then grabbed a pair of dinged-up black for himself. "Old man Higgins asked me to come in and take a look at a few of the benches. Since he's a little short on cash, he told me to help myself to the concession stand, the rink." He held up a large ring of keys that hung from a hook beneath the cash register. "And look, free pop and video games." She laughed and moved toward one of the benches. "You surprise me. Before today, I thought you might have forgotten how to take a break and have a good time." "I'm a real slave driver," he teased, walking around to sit beside her. "I bet this side of me is scary, huh?"

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Sienna drew her bottom lip between her teeth. "Not at all. But I should warn you, I haven't skated since high school and I wasn't even very good back then." "Don't worry. It's been a few years for me, too." "I remember you were actually quite good." He shrugged and did his best to ignore the swelling of pride he felt just because she'd remembered. "There wasn't much of anything else to do in Refuge between football and track season." However, he had noticed that some of the plaques on the wall still held his name. After a minute, he stood and familiarized his legs to the old sensation of being on skates. He glided out a few feet and turned back to Sienna, his hand extended for her. "See? Nothing to it." Tentatively, she rose, her fingers gripping his. Her skates rolled forward a few inches and the stops bumped into his. "I don't know. Something tells me I'm going to be just as bad at this as if I'd never skated before in my life." "Just stay with me. It'll be fun." Skating backward, he pulled her with him around the benches and onto the oval rink. He guided her around the first bend before he thought she felt secure enough to look up from her feet. When she did, her wide eyes sought his for reassurance. Suddenly he felt nervous, not about skating—he could do that with his eyes closed—but about liking her so much. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this way. "See? What did I tell you?" "I wish your confidence were contagious. I'm not at all sure I won't fall the minute you're not holding me up." 54

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"Then I won't let go." **** It was dark, close to ten o'clock by the time they returned. Sienna stepped out of the truck. Even a half an hour after removing her skates, her legs felt light, like she was walking on the moon. Of course, with Rees by her side, she could be. Was there gravity on cloud nine? Their evening had been magical. Not once had they spoken of the deadline or budget. She even refrained from bringing up or even thinking about what they'd discussed earlier about how he couldn't or wouldn't settle down. All she did was enjoy herself. She laughed, skated, played air hockey and ate two sundae cones. Rees seemed to warm up to her more and more. He'd taken every opportunity on the rink to hold her hands and even to skate behind her, clasping her waist. Now, he walked beside her to the cottage, his fingers brushing up against hers in casual familiarity. When they reached the door, she opened it without thinking. "Thanks for today ... tonight." She'd dreamed of moments like this so many times. He almost seemed nervous the way he raked a hand through his hair and glanced out across the yard. "It was fun, wasn't it?" She felt anxious, too. Her heartbeat seemed far too quick and her lungs far too empty. In order to quiet her jumpy nerves, she made a concerted effort to do exactly what she usually did when she walked in. She kicked off her flip-flops. Then she unpinned the brooch from the inside of her top. 55

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When she turned to place it in her jewelry box on the mantle, just as she did every night, she paused and opened her palm. "You probably don't remember the day you gave this to me." He leaned closer and peered down. After a moment he took it and studied it closely. "Yes. I remember. I can't believe you've kept it all these years. It was meant to be a present for my mom." His voice turned raspy and he cleared his throat before he continued. "But I never had the chance to give it to her." Sienna moved closer and laid her hand on his arm. "I'm sure she would have loved it." "I found it on the beach during our last family vacation to Florida. The jeweler I took it to told me the spirals and knot work were there to protect the wearer from harm." She watched the tender way he traced the intricate design with his finger and her heart ached for him. "If you'd like it back now, I'd understand." "No. I want you to keep it. I like knowing that it belongs to you, that you wear it." When she didn't take it from him, he reached up to the jewelry box and opened the lid. "When I gave it to you, I hoped it would keep you ... from getting stuck in any more trees." She swallowed down the sudden surge of love for him. "You remember that?" "Sure. Why wouldn't—" He stopped suddenly, his gaze fixed on the jewelry box. Sienna had forgotten about the now-yellowed list she'd taped to the inside so long ago. Rees' name was all over it. 56

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Even if he caught only a glimpse, he'd know the truth about her. But it was too late now. Sienna wanted to say something to distract him, but couldn't think of a single thing. All she could do was stare in stunned expectation, her breath held, as she waited for his reaction. What would he think about someone who'd carried something like this around all these years? Even though she hadn't really been aware of it, it wouldn't matter. In the end, she might even look like a stalker. Finally, she drew in a breath, prepared to explain. But before she could, Rees quietly closed the lid and left the cottage without saying a word.

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Chapter 6 Gloria sat across the dining table from Sienna, all her plans for the August party spread over the glossy surface. With her brow knitted, she shook her head. "He didn't say anything? But surely in the last two weeks he would have..." "Oh, he's spoken to me," Sienna said and drummed her fingernails on one of the folders. "Just not about that night, or that entire day. He only talks about this house—excuse me, bed and breakfast—and work, and finishing ahead of schedule. In fact, it seems like he can't wait until I'm gone." She sighed and stilled her hand. "So, that's why I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I ordered a car to pick me up." "It's strange. When I talked with him earlier, he was very insistent that you receive an invitation to the party. When I asked him why, he took me on a tour of the house and gave all the credit to you. He thinks you're incredible." "He thinks my designing is incredible. There's a definite difference." Gloria began to gather the papers and stacked them into one pile. "Did you ever tell him about what you really do?" Ashamed, Sienna admitted, "No. I couldn't at first. I knew he was too proud to accept my help if I told him everything. Then later, it was already too late. Now, I regret not telling him in the first place." "You should tell him before you leave." "I know." She stood with Gloria and lifted her eyes to the ceiling as if she could see through to where Rees was working somewhere on the second floor. "I'll tell him in the morning." 58

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"So he probably doesn't know you bought half the furniture and helped pay for the party?" Sienna put a finger to her lips and leaned out into the foyer to peer up the stairs, just in case he was near enough to hear. "No, and I don't ever want him to know either. That part should at least remain a secret." She'd worked it out with Nan to alter the receipts. Rees only saw those within his budget. He thought he was getting a bargain, while she spared no expense to get the things she wanted for the house. "But why did you?" Gloria picked up the stack of folders and followed Sienna to the front door. "I'd like to blame it on impulse, but to tell you the truth, I just want all his dreams to come true." She laughed at her own stupidity. "You've probably already guessed I've fallen hopelessly in love with him." Her friend goaded her with a wiggle of her eyebrows. "What are you going to do about it?" "I don't know. I feel so guilty about everything I'm keeping from him. After I tell him the truth, do you really think he'd want to hear me tell him I love him?" Gloria gave up trying to persuade her and opened the door. A cool breeze fluttered the ends of the papers in her folder. Beyond her the sky looked dark and ominous. "Something's brewing. Feels like the weatherman might be right this time. If he is, you'll want to stay in the house tonight with Rees."

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If she and Rees slept under the same roof, the tension between them might cause the house to explode. "Let's just hope the weatherman isn't right." **** Rees made another tour through the house, hoping to find something Sienna neglected to do. At least that way, he'd have an excuse at this late hour to talk to her. As it was now, he couldn't get her out of his mind. She would be gone in the morning and ... damn it, he didn't want her to go. He'd been such a coward for the last two weeks, ever since he saw that list of hers. For a moment, he'd thought it was a trick of the light—his name all over it. But it hadn't been his imagination. There hadn't been time to read the whole thing, just the highlighted phrases, but it had been enough. The night of my senior prom, Rees and I make love. After college graduation, Rees asks me to marry him. We move into our dream home. Rees and I have our first child. The last was dated for this year and seeing it, feeling how potent the words were, left him speechless. He hadn't known what to say. He was honored, flattered, a little freaked out, and even in awe of her. She'd mapped out her life and included him in every aspect. But he'd said nothing. Even now, he was wandering the upstairs looking for a reason to go over to the cottage, instead of using the truth. And the truth was— A loud roar of thunder crashed overhead. The lights went out, immersing him in pitch black. Brutal wind beat rain 60

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against the windows. Another reverberating clap shook the floor beneath his feet. A chill of foreboding snaked up his spine. All of a sudden, he had a bad feeling. Hand on the rail, he raced downstairs and into the kitchen, where he kept a weather radio. It took forever before he found the station. When he did, he flew out the door. A gust of wind knocked him into one of the chairs and he had to fight his way against the current of air. A sound—the distant, deep rumble of earth being ripped to pieces—put ice water in his veins. Rees pushed harder and faster to get to the cottage. He tried the knob. "Sienna!" He didn't wait for an answer and kicked the door in. Sienna screamed, sitting up in the corner of the bed. "Rees? What—" In two strides he was to her. He lifted her and hauled her against him. "Hold on to me." With Sienna in his arms, he ran out just when the hail started. Large cherry-sized balls of ice pelted his bare arms and the top of his head. Though he tried to shield her, he heard her gasp and felt her flinch with pain. The roaring of the wind grew louder, closer, a deep menacing growl. He knew they didn't have much time to get to the safety of the basement before the tornado struck. Yet, somehow they made it. He set her down on the airbed he'd been using while living down here and wrapped his comforter around her. "Are you okay?" In the scant amount of light coming from a rechargeable halogen flashlight at the top of the stairs, he saw the fear in 61

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her eyes, but she nodded anyway. With his hands on her shoulders, he felt her tremble beneath the blanket. Only now did he see that she wore only a soaked, strappy cotton shirt and a pair of underwear. "You must be cold. Let me see if I can find something for you to change into." When he straightened, she followed him, grasped his arm. "Don't." Her voice shook. "I'm scared, Rees." "We'll be safe down here. This old house was built like a castle." He smoothed a tangle of damp hair away from her face. She moved closer, pressed the front of her body against his and wrapped her arms around his waist. The cold terror he'd felt minutes ago vanished in the steam of rising desire. Her shirt saturated his, the hard peaks of her breasts burrowed into his flesh. Her legs shifted until there was no space between them. There was no way she didn't feel her effect on him, just as he could no longer fight it. However unlikely, it seemed he'd waited all his life to kiss her. And when he finally bent his head and brushed his lips over hers, he knew why. Finally, he was home. Nothing else could compare to this feeling, this warm surge of contentment. He explored it further, taking her head between his hands and urged her mouth open beneath his. The heat and texture of her tongue released a molten flood of need and yearning. Thunderstruck, Rees drew back. When he did, he saw tears glimmering in her eyes, spilling over. With the pads of his thumbs he wiped some away. He didn't intend to hurt her, but now he feared he'd stepped over the line. 62

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The apology he thought might fix the mistake he'd made wouldn't come. He wasn't sorry for kissing her. In fact, if she'd let him, he'd kiss her again. Her breath hitched. "So beautiful. More than I ever imagined." She touched his face, his brow, his cheek, his lips, and then she smiled at him. "And that's saying something." The way she looked at him made him feel like he could fly. He dipped his head again. This time as their mouths fused, she linked her arms behind his neck, her fingers sweeping over the short ends of his hair. The blanket fell from her shoulders. He curled an arm around her waist, pulled her close to share his body heat. Whether by accident or unconscious design, his fingers slipped beneath the hem of her shirt, splayed over the curve of her back. Nothing he'd ever felt compared to the softness of her skin. She shivered and burrowed closer, moving her arms beneath his. Her hands untucked the shirt from his shorts and slipped beneath. "You're cold," he said against her lips. "Let me find something dry for you to put on." She tugged on his shirt when he tried to back away. "I'll be fine. Just help me get out of these wet clothes." **** Sienna didn't tell Rees about her real job in the morning when she'd awakened in his arms. The moment was too perfect to spoil it with the truth. She pressed a kiss to his chest and let her fingers roam beneath the sheet. "Rise and shine." 63

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He muttered something devilish about her being half right before he rolled over and buried his mouth in the crook of her neck. Nearly an hour later, dressed in a borrowed tee and baggy shorts, she walked upstairs to survey the damage. The house seemed perfectly undisturbed, almost as if the storm had never happened. In the kitchen, Rees had the weather radio on. The report confirmed a tornado in the area. "Maybe it passed overhead," she suggested. But the instant they opened the door and saw the debris scattered over the yard, a terrible panic filled her. Barefooted but watchful of the clutter on the ground, she ran around the corner to the cottage. At first, relief swept through her. The cottage was there. Then her gaze lifted to the roof. At one corner, it seemed as if someone had taken a vicious bite out of her gingerbread house. Half of the shingles were missing and beneath that, the trusses were gone as well. Rees warned her to stay back, but she had to see for herself. So, she opened the door. Bright sunlight shone down into the cottage from the hole above her. In the room, the only thing remaining was the overturned bed and one suitcase that had been crushed beneath it. Everything was gone. It looked like a giant straw came down from the sky and sucked out all that wasn't nailed down. Her computer, the lovely writing desk, most of her clothes, and ... "No. My brooch." She laid her hand over the ashy layer of dust on the empty mantel. Her precious brooch and jewelry box were gone. 64

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Rees wrapped her in his arms and held her. "We'll find it. Don't worry. I'll search the county, the state. It will turn up." She loved him for that, even though they both knew it was gone forever.

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Chapter 7 Sienna pulled up the long drive and stepped out for the valet service to park her rented car. She knew without a doubt, it had been a mistake not to tell him. In the last two weeks, she'd spoken with him every night, but decided telling him the whole truth wasn't the right thing to do during a phone call. At last, she'd summoned up the courage to come clean, and all of her damaging proof lay tucked inside the envelope in her hand. She'd hoped to arrive early enough to pull him away and explain things to him. With any luck, he'd see how impossible it had been in the beginning to tell him about the pro bono work. Then later, he'd only been concerned with the bottom line. She'd wanted to help him, but hated herself for being deceitful about it. She lifted the hem of her slim, blush-colored gown and ascended the stone steps. Rees, dressed in a black tuxedo and looking as if he'd stepped right out of GQ, stood in the foyer, talking with an older gentleman, who had bushy, hornshaped eyebrows. She hesitated at the door and adjusted her eyelet-lace shawl over her bare shoulders. Anxious about the envelope in her grasp, she felt her heart speed up. The moment she crossed the threshold, Rees saw her. His smile filled her heart and some of her concerns evaporated. Surely, he'd forgive her once he realized she'd only lied to him because she didn't want to hurt his pride. Right? 66

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"Sienna," he called and moved toward her, enveloping her hand in his. He glanced down to the envelope with curiosity. When she lifted it, he interpreted that as her desire for him to take it. With a wink, he slipped it from her grasp and into his breast pocket. "There is someone quite interested in the work you've done. He just bought some property not too far away from Refuge and is looking to build." Then he leaned in and brushed his lips over cheek. "You look incredible. I've missed you." There wasn't time for her to say the same or anything else, before she stood in front of the man. She inclined her head and hid her trepidation behind a smile. "How do you do?" When the man furrowed his brow, the wiry hairs undulated in such a way that they looked almost like a new breed of albino caterpillar. "Mr. Garret was just telling me about your work. Said you're a student at a local college. Sienna Logan..." he said, his gaze hard and penetrating. "The name rings a bell, but I'm sure I'd have remembered such a pretty face if we'd ever met." "You're very kind ... sir. I'm sorry I don't know your name." "Of course you don't. You only just arrived," he said with an amused twinkle in his eyes before he bowed. "Reginald Withers at your service." Sienna's smile froze. She'd heard the name, but never met the man. Reginald Withers. Or Reggie, as Sophia Lindstrom had called him. Sophia and her husband owned the Scottish castle Sienna finished last year. With any luck, the man 67

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before her would forget all about their mutual acquaintance. At least until she could pull Rees away and beg him to forgive her. Unfortunately, for the next hour Rees introduced her from one person to another until she'd met everyone and filled her clutch purse with more than a dozen business cards. All the while, she kept one eye on Reggie, and it seemed he was doing the same with her. Just when she thought she saw recognition light up Reggie's eyes, Rees led her outside by way of the garden steps. He turned, set his hands on both sides of her face and kissed her. Again he whispered how much he missed her, and the guilt gnawed a deeper hole in her stomach. "Rees, there's something I want—" His lips brushed hers. "Hold that thought. I have something for you. It's over here." Beneath the clear water in the garden fountain, glittering shards of pearlescent tiles formed a heartbreakingly familiar circle. Emotion tightened her throat and tears rimmed the lower lids of her eyes. "The brooch," she barely whispered. He'd captured the essence of the knot work and spirals in the way he'd used the gray tiles intermittently with the white. The combination appeared silvery, as if they were forged of precious metal. "It even looks like it's made from gleaming silver." She lifted her watery gaze to see a wealth of tenderness staring back at her. Rees slipped his arm around her waist and drew her into his embrace. "I kept all the old tiles I tore out of this house. They really weren't good enough to reuse." 68

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"And here it is, like a signature of your craftsmanship. It's a shame no one but us will know how precious this is. I hope the new owners will take good care of—Wait a minute," she said, suddenly recalling the word he'd used a moment ago. "You called it a house, not a bed and breakfast." "I know. I've been doing a lot of thinking in the weeks you were gone. I've decided I don't have to sell it. I already have a few jobs lined up. I could just work for a while before I started up my business. The only reason I haven't cancelled tomorrow's auction yet is to have the chance to show off our work." "But, Rees, selling this house is what you've planned all along. You shouldn't give up on your dream." "What if I told you that I never realized what my true dream was until now?" He pressed a kiss to her temple. "This could be our home ... if you want it to be." Even though she'd waited the last twelve years to hear it, her guilt robbed her of the elation she should feel. She eased out of his arms. "Rees, there's something I need to tell you. Part of it has to do with what's in the envelope." "Mr. Garret," Reginald Withers suddenly announced from the doorway. He staggered down the few steps and onto the clay path. "I've finally realized who this beguiling creature is. How dare you keep a world-class designer all to yourself when there are so many of us in need of her talents. "Ms. Logan, you must forgive me for not recognizing your name from the first moment. It wasn't until I saw the fraise in the dining room that I recognized your trademark. Stunning. 69

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Absolutely stunning! I simply must keep you in this part of the world a bit longer." Without hesitation, she turned to Rees. He took a step apart from her, his arms stiff at his sides. The look of betrayal in his eyes made her stomach clench. "I'm sorry. I should have told you in the very beginning." Though she wanted to explain further, Reggie continued on, moving closer to them on the path, his voice drowning hers out. Rees opened his mouth and started to say several things before he stopped himself. Then at last, he said, "You're not a student looking for experience." He took the envelope out of his pocket and withdrew the yellow receipts. After a moment, his stare turned cold and his fist crunched the paper. "You've been lying to me. What? Was this some kind of a joke? A game? Or was it pity? All this time ... Was it pity?" "No. It was never that." She swallowed and lifted her chin. It was only natural for him to be angry and deservedly so. "I wanted to tell you, but at first I was afraid you'd have sent me away." He stared down at her, his brow puckered. She could almost read his thoughts, hear him ask her about all the other times she could have told him. But she'd never given him the chance. She'd never trusted him with the truth. And now it was too late. Rees turned away from her. He hesitated when he saw Reggie still moving in their direction. The man walked at a snail's pace and looked to be taking in every bit of dialogue between them. 70

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Before Rees walked off, he tapped the envelope on his thigh and gave a derisive snort. "Looks like you just gave me more of a reason than ever to sell this old place. Spread the word, Mr. Withers, the more people who know that Ms. Sienna Logan was the interior designer, the more I'm likely to get at tomorrow's auction."

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Chapter 8 The auction ended and all the attendees left, most of them disappointed. Rees stared out at the rows of empty chairs on the side lawn and clenched the keys to the mansion in his hand. He didn't want to remove them from the ring, give them to someone else. Two deliverymen finished taking down the white canopy. They walked it over to the Crossing's truck parked in the circular drive just when Nan made her way around the corner. She held a dark clipboard up to shield her eyes from the high eastern sun. "Well, here you go. All I need is for you to sign on the dotted line." Although she smiled, when she spoke, as she drew nearer he could see disappointment in her eyes. Rees purposely averted his gaze to the fluttering white and yellow papers attached to the clipboard. "I could have come in tomorrow for this. You didn't need to make a special trip." "I figured you'd want to be gone from here as soon as possible, so I brought the final paperwork with me today," she said with a trace of contempt. She handed him the paperwork and fished in her purse for a pen. "Sienna mentioned a few times how you couldn't wait to move on to wherever the wind takes you." His automatic gesture to take the pen halted. "When did you talk to her?" "Last week, or the week before." She shrugged and turned to survey the workers as they loaded the chairs into the back of the truck. 72

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"That's what she said? That I couldn't wait to get out of here?" "Uh-huh. It's true, isn't it? I mean, you never did want to stick around for any length of time. Even when you were in high school, all you could do was talk about getting out of this small town." "That was different. I was a teenager. All teenagers want to leave home." But then his parents died and he'd regretted every time he ever thought about leaving them. That's why he'd joined the service, as a punishment to himself. Then during his last year when he'd been asked to re-enlist, he realized he'd been punishing his parents, too. He'd been mad at them for dying, and refused to fulfill their dreams for him and go to college. "What about now? What are you trying to get away from this time?" Nan turned back to him, her pert nose in the air, her head tilted to the side. "Nothing," he said and instantly cringed at the defensiveness in his voice. He tried to hide it by clearing his throat and focusing his attention to the clipboard in his grasp. At his side, she pointed to the papers. "Sign the white ones, the yellows are yours to keep." Absently, Rees looked down and signed the first three white copies. When he saw the yellows, they reminded him of last night, of Sienna's deception. Nan had been in on it, too. "So let me ask you," he swallowed down the rising betrayal. "What was your reason for lying to me these last two months? Or did it take longer for you to plan this game with Sienna?" 73

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

Nan opened her mouth, her cheeks coloring. "It was never a game, and I'm sorry for altering the receipts. When Sienna and I found the perfect furniture for every room, she knew the total cost would be outside your budget." His budget. Rees gritted his teeth. All the hell he was in right now was because of it. "But she also wanted to make this place stand out." Nan took the clipboard from him and slipped the pen into her purse. "You have to know by now that the only reason she did any of it was for you. So your dreams could come true. She never once thought about her own." Since he knew a little about the subject, he snorted. After all, he'd seen the list. "Trust me. She didn't need any help in that department. Anything she ever wanted, she made happen." "Not everything." She gave him a pointed look and he knew exactly what it meant. There were plenty of things on her list that never happened. "I heard her say more than once how she wanted to decorate this house like it was her own. Sienna has a lot of good memories in Refuge, from when she was younger. She even told me she wouldn't mind having a house around here. Someplace to finally call home. She never had a home, you know. Or much of a family either." Her last words sucker-punched him in the gut, instantly draining him of anger. He closed his eyes. What had he done? In his life, he'd acted on a few doozies of impulsive, pigheaded ideas. But letting Sienna leave last night and then allowing the auction to proceed this morning, topped them all. 74

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

He'd let his pride get in the way of the only good thing he'd had in his life. At this moment, he should be happy. He'd sold the place for double what he thought she'd earn. Four million and change. He should be hooting to the heavens, but ... Damn. He should have stopped Sienna from leaving. He should have called off the auction. "It's too late." "Well, the way I see it, there's late and then there's never." She shrugged. "The choice is yours." Apparently Nan didn't understand when he said it was too late. There was nothing he could do about getting the house back. It was already sold—the highest bid by telephone. He'd signed the papers in front of the lawyer representing the anonymous buyer. The new owner had arranged to come by this afternoon for the keys. Not only that, but Sienna had left last night and he had no idea how to find her. Hell, he didn't even know where she lived. Before, he'd always just assumed she lived somewhere in the state. From what he knew about her now, she could live anywhere in the world. Gloria would know, but she'd left for North Carolina this morning. "Nan, do you know how I can reach her? Where she lives? Anything?" She replied with a slow shake of her head. "I never asked. Honestly, I didn't think she'd leave so soon. From the way she talked, I really thought ... Well, that doesn't matter now." The loud rumble and whap of the roller door on the back of the truck drew her attention away. She waved to the drivers before she turned back once more to Rees. "That's my ride. 75

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

Take care of yourself, Rees. It's too bad you're always in such a hurry to leave. We sure do like having you around." As the truck backed down the drive, he headed inside for one final walk-through. The new owner should be here within the hour. Apparently the man didn't want to wait to move in and arranged for Rees to hand over the keys in person. It killed him to think of how things might have been different. Halfway up the curved staircase, he paused on the tread he'd fixed twice and tested it. The wood didn't creek or groan. This time, he'd fixed it for good. For some strange reason, the thought depressed him. On his way down the hall, he took careful note of the warm hues of each room he passed, how every one seemed to invite him inside. It felt homey. Sienna had such a gift, no wonder she was so successful. She achieved everything she'd set out to do. The only things left unchecked from her list were the entries concerning him. His chest ached with the need to see her again, to tell her so many things. He wondered if she'd hear him out, or if she'd had enough. Maybe the last two months for her hadn't been as wonderful as they'd been for him. What if, at the party, the thing she meant to tell him was about how she didn't have feelings for him anymore? His throat constricted on a dry swallow. He'd assumed she'd wanted to tell him about her career, but what if that wasn't the reason? What if she only wanted to say that she enjoyed her time with him, but there was nothing lasting between them? 76

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

With so many questions on his mind, he had to see her. Rees checked his watch and headed back down the hall. As soon as the new owner showed up, he could leave and try to find Sienna. No matter where she was, he had to see her. From the top of the stairs, he saw the front door open. Sunlight flooded into the foyer. "Hello?" he called. Then like an angel sent to him for one last attempt at salvation, Sienna appeared. She closed the door quietly behind her and lifted her face to where he stood. "Hi," she said softly. "Hey." He could barely catch his breath, let alone form a cohesive response. "I know I'm probably the last person you want to see—" "What? No. I'm glad you're here." He started slowly down the stairs, never once letting her out of his sight. "In fact, I was just thinking about all the ways I could track you down." She took a step forward and then paused, her fingers knitting together at the waist of her pale yellow sundress. "About last night, about everything I didn't tell you. I'm sorry. I should have." "You didn't have to pay for all that furniture, you know," he said with tenderness and a touch of regret. "It wouldn't have mattered in the end." "When someone looks at a house, the fine details are what sell it. From your hand-carved moldings in the arched doorways to the color of a lampshade. If the buyer feels at home, the job is a success." "And you really wanted me to sell it?" 77

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

"No," she answered. "But I wanted to make sure all your dreams came true. You see, you have a list, too. Only you're just now getting started." He grinned at her astute knowledge of him and made his way across the foyer to her. "And what do you think is first on this list?" "Selling this place for enough money to start your business." Her voice cracked. "To start your life." "You're wrong." He brushed her silken cheek with the backs of his fingers, lifted her chin and stared into the dark, fathomless pools of her eyes. "The first thing on my list is to tell you how much I love you, how much you've changed my life, and how I don't want to live—wherever I end up living— without you." She exhaled his name. "I can't seem to stop loving you. No matter how hard I try." Rising on her toes, her hands perched at his shoulders, she pressed her lips to his. Though soft as a breeze, the touch made his entire body quake. She tasted like summer, like sunshine and laughter, like all the happiness he'd been missing for years. The scent of her skin held residual traces of coconut oil and made him warm all over. "Don't try anymore." He reached around her waist, pulled her to him, and deepened their kiss. All the agony and loneliness in his life melted away as she held him and returned the love and passion he poured into her. "I won't," Sienna promised while she toyed with the second button of his shirt. When she looked up at him from beneath her lashes, he could clearly read her intent. The 78

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

button slipped through the hole and she moved on to the next. "As much as I want to carry you upstairs to any and all of the bedrooms..." He hesitated and felt remorse rise anew within him. "The new owner should be here any minute." Her hand stilled and splayed over his chest. She didn't look up at him. "The new owner?" "The auction went on as planned. It was already too late before I thought to stop it." He pressed his lips to her hair and was relieved when she wrapped her arms around his waist. "But maybe I can talk to him, explain things. Maybe I can buy it back from him." "Do you think he'll sell it?" She lifted her face, her expression unreadable. "Would you?" If he got another chance ... "Not in this lifetime." She blinked, and when she opened her eyes again, he could see a light sheen of tears. "Well, before the new owner shows up, I brought a few last minute papers to be signed." Confused, he watched her step back and pick up the leather satchel near the door. "More receipts? Don't tell me you paid for even more than I already found out. And speaking of that, you're getting every dime back." She pulled out a manila folder and opened it. "That really isn't necessary." "Regardless, you're still getting a check." He took the pen she offered. "Just sign at the bottom." She handed over the folder, the first few pages draped over the top. "Right below my name." 79

Better Late [The Legacy of the Celtic Brooch 6] by Vivienne Lorret

He scanned the document. Something about the wording below his signature made him look twice. Joint Titleholder. Stunned, he glanced up. "You?" "Us," she corrected with a smile. "It's ours. It's what you wanted, right?" "Yes, of course it is ... but the money." The words spilled out before he had the chance to censor them. Sienna laughed and hugged him. Her body molded perfectly to his. If you'd rather buy it back, I'll make you a fair deal," she said with a suggestive lift of her brows. For now, she took the pen and unsigned papers from his grasp and tucked them neatly into the satchel at her feet before she returned to his embrace. "But it isn't necessary. I've done well for myself. I've managed to accomplish most of the goals on my list." Baffled and dazed by her, he couldn't keep from smiling. "It seems you have." Her fingers strayed again to the buttons on his shirt. "A few have come a little later than planned," she said while nibbling on his lips. "Well, you know what they say ... Better late—" With a searing kiss, she ended his words and pulled him down to their parquet floor.

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