Love by Design (Crystal Falls Book 1) Read Free Page A

a faucet turning on and off caught her attention and she stepped into what seemed to be the master bedroom. The ceiling was just as high here as it was in the common area. A dirty old fireplace took up most of one corner and Lily imagined how beautiful it must be, lying in a big four poster bed, watching the snowflakes fall, a fire crackling away. Her design senses kicked in and she made notes to herself about the type of furniture and fabrics she would use in the space. She knew she’d probably have to adjust everything once she learned more about what Mrs. Upton wanted, but this dreaming phase was her favorite part and she let her mind wander to overstuffed chairs and plush carpets.
    Noah came into the room from a door leading to the master bath a few seconds later, breaking her concentration.
    “So much for staying out of the way, I guess,” he said as he stooped in front of her to measure a floorboard, a little too close for her liking. She took a step back and shrugged.
    “I’m just trying to do my job. If I’m in your way I’ll leave.”
    He twisted up to look at her and she felt her legs go weak. “No problem, I’m almost finished in here anyway.”
    She ran a hand absently over the wood and then the stone fireplace.
    “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Noah said as he passed her and headed back into the attached master bathroom.
    She closed her eyes for a second as his deep voice dripped like honey through her memory. He’d broken her heart, there was no doubt about that, and she could never forgive him. But damn, they’d been good together while their relationship had lasted. She remembered mornings waking up to that voice, and to those hands. She shuddered and pushed the thoughts away before turning to join him in the bathroom. She wasn’t sure what propelled her to follow him, but she couldn’t stop herself.
    Christina stood gazing at Noah with a look of a huntress and Lily couldn’t help but roll her eyes. The woman’s desire was so obvious she was amazed Noah wasn’t on fire from her looks alone. Lily pushed the thought away and concentrated on her job instead.
    The bathroom was dirty and dated but the bones were as exceptional as the rest of the house. She would have to update the tile and the light fixtures at the very least. But the job would be exciting, watching the old cabin come to life again under her designer’s eye.
    “This is a gorgeous cabin. Hardly seems to need any work at all.” She fingered the blue tile countertop in front of her as her eyes wandered over the dated gold specked jacuzzi tub in the corner. What she could see of the wooden walls through the dust and the cobwebs was stunning. The perfect canvas for her to work with.
    “I wouldn’t say that,” Noah said with a frown. “This floor is obviously warped.”
    Christina and Lily watched as he bent down and felt the space where the floorboards met the wooden walls. Try as she might, Lily couldn’t help but stare at his ass, so perfectly sculpted in the dark designer jeans he wore. He always did have a nice backside.
    She blushed as he turned around and caught her staring. She turned to Mrs. Upton quickly, hoping he hadn’t seen the color rise in her cheeks.
    “Did you have any colors in mind for this space? Or any particular pieces you’d like me to incorporate in my design?”
    She knew she was probably pushing too far, but she just couldn’t help herself.
    She was dismissed with a wave of an inch-long fingernail red and a steely look. “Like I told you before,” Christina said, barely concealing her contempt at being so pointlessly bothered again, “Lydia will take care of all that. She really is the only one you need to speak to.”
    Lily tried not to frown as the woman turned back to Noah, snubbing her once again. She shrugged and felt a blush creep into her cheeks. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to cry or hit the woman. Noah looked at her, sympathy in his eyes and she scowled at him before turning away. The