41. Bri

41

brI

I was already sweating but Sarah's beaming smile was enough to make my entire body heat up.

Shaking my head, I tried to avoid her gaze. I knew it was a trap, one that ended in her bed. And right now, I needed to deliver a half million dollar table. So I walked to the back of the truck and threw open the roll-up door.

A loud clatter filled the lawn as the door lifted. I grabbed the metal ramp from the truck's deck and laid it out. My parking job was nearly flawless, the ramp ending right at the start of the pathway to the front door.

Sarah waved over the professional movers who effortlessly climbed inside the truck. With delicate hands, they lifted the table onto a furniture dolly.

I put my hands on my hips and moved out of their way.

From the porch, Sarah admired the wrapping job. "I was hoping to sneak a peek."

Laughing, I looked back at the table. I had wrapped in more furniture pads and moving tape than was strictly necessary. It almost didn't even look like a table was inside the insane packing job.

"Didn't want to risk any damage on such a short drive." I couldn't stop myself from smiling as I met her blue eyes. My heart fluttered under her gaze as I looked up at her on the porch.

Sarah stepped to the side as the movers quietly lifted the table up the stairs.

It was like watching water move around a rock. The team hardly bothered speaking to each other, perfectly maneuvering the table through the doorway without so much as making contact with Robin's pristine paint job.

Once they moved past the lake house's entrance, Sarah and I followed closely behind.

"How are you feeling?" She asked me, her voice just over a whisper.

Letting some air seep out of my lips, I shrugged. "I just hope she likes it. It's simpler than I expected."

Sarah nodded. "Simple is good."

Once the team had the table in place, right at the center of the dining room, they started to peel off the wrapping. My throat tightened, hoping that none of the intricate wood details had fallen off in the process.

My finger tapped nervously against my crossed arm. Standing next to Sarah, worrying about how she really felt about me, certainly wasn't helping my overwhelming anxiety.

Sarah took a look over at me, and rested her hand on my forearm. Her fingers lightly squeezed the tensed muscles. When my eyes met hers, I felt my shoulders relax. The tender touch made me melt.

The team lifted the final blanket, gathering up all the wrapping in their arms and carrying it out.

"Wow." Sarah's jaw dropped. Without another word, she walked toward the piece. She got down on her knees and looked at the wood up close.

The wood was one carved piece rather than two pieces or three pieces glued together.

"Is it all one?" Sarah gawked.

Nodding, I bit my lip. "I wanted to maintain the strength of the original trunk. It's sturdier but it also felt symbolic. This kind of place can't be torn apart. It works all together and nothing stitched into place will work."

With a chuckle, Sarah stood up. "Exactly. That was the vision for the whole place." She ran one of her fingers along the surface, a perfectly smooth dining table. It was functional but also stunning.

"The stain is perfect. The natural wood is shining through." Sarah shook her head as she took a step back.

I tried to hide my excitement, for once unsure that I wanted Sarah to know just how much power she had over me. "Good."

Before we could say more, I felt a figure appear in the doorway. With her body leaned against the frame, Victoria Bradley shook her head. "I wasn't sure if I'd be able to catch the elusive Brianne Shaw before she disappeared back into the woods."

Turning around, I laughed and met her outstretched hand. As I shook it, her amber eyes pierced my soul. "I was hoping I'd never find out how you felt about it."

From across the room, I could feel Sarah's body tensing. As odd as it must have been for me and Vic to meet, it was likely even more strange for the woman seeing us both.

"Didn't want me to sing your praises?" Vic laughed as she dropped my hang. Walking past me, she scoffed. "This is unbelievable." Staring at the table, Vic let out a sigh. "I feel like I'm back in that gallery all those years ago."

I pursed my lips together, it was exactly what she wanted. Somehow, without ever speaking to her, I'd built her perfect table.

A voice called from deeper inside the house. "Sarah, we need you." My guess was that the party planner, Bobbi, needed her opinion on something.

But Sarah's eyes flicked between her two lovers, unsure what would happen if she left us alone.

Without much of a choice, Sarah swallowed hard and headed for the door, leaving Vic and I in a weighted silence.