Chapter 1

ONE

Auden

I did it.

I beam to myself, clutching my phone as I laugh and spin in circles around my living room until I'm dizzy.

I freaking did it!

I can't remember the last time that I was this excited. Part of me thinks that's kind of sad since this is work, but I'll take a win where I can. Besides, I'll be the first to admit I'm a workaholic. I can't help it though. I need my design firm to be successful, and if that means working almost nonstop, then that's what I'll do.

Today, all of that hard work is worth it because I just landed the biggest client of my career.

My heart is still racing with excitement as I stand in the center of my living room, holding my phone like it's a winning lottery ticket. To me, it basically is. There's just something about landing a new client that makes the world feel full of possibilities.

I grin, my mind taking off with a million different ideas and things to do until my phone starts to buzz in my hand again.

"Hello?" I answer.

"So?" My best friend Lena asks, and I laugh.

"Have you heard any news yet?" Arlowe asks.

"I got it!" I tell them excitedly.

Lena and Arlowe, my two closest friends, both cheer in unison, and I know that they must still be at work. Arlowe owns Clay and Cupcakes in town, and Lena is the baker and manager of the Cupcakes part of that business. If they're together, then they must still be there.

"I knew you'd get it," Lena says, and I can hear the smile in her voice. "You've been working your butt off for this, Auden."

"We're so proud of you! You totally deserve to get the Montgomery project!" Arlowe adds, and I grin.

"Thanks guys."

"When do you start on the project?" Lena asks.

"Tomorrow, actually. The owners want to open quickly, so I'm headed in tomorrow morning bright and early to go over details and get their final approval on my ideas. Then I get to start implanting them."

"Wow, that seems so fast," Lena comments.

"Yeah, but I wrapped up my last project a week ago, so I have time for it. There are some electrical issues and a few minor things that need to be fixed with the building, so I might not even be allowed in the place until that's all fixed. At least I'll be able to get the ball rolling, though."

"The Montgomery remodel, though! That place is huge. Everyone in Lilac Harbor is going to be talking about it. You're about to be the hottest name in town," Lena says, and I laugh.

"Well, I'm kind of like the only interior design company in town, but I hope so! I could use some new business."

"You could come to work here with us!" Arlowe offers.

"I'm not sure that I'd be much help. I'm a terrible painter and an even worse baker."

"I can confirm," Lena says, and I let out a laugh, my whole body feeling light, almost buoyant with the joy of landing my biggest project to date.

I've been on cloud nine since I was first contacted by the Montgomerys. I had heard that they bought the old bank downtown, and we're planning on fixing it up and opening up an upscale boutique, and I was dying to be hired to design the place.

I worked for weeks on my proposal, and part of me still can't believe that I got the job.

"It's crazy, right? I mean, I've always dreamed of getting a big project like this, but now that it's really happening…" I trail off, still trying to wrap my head around it.

I've always had an eye for design, and when I was younger, I thought that I would be a fashion designer. I was that kid at school who went thrifting on the weekends and then sewed my own clothes. I even made my own prom dress, and I have to say that I looked awesome in it.

When I went to college, I took an interior design class, and I fell in love with that first class. I ended up changing my major, and the rest is history. I graduated and moved back to Lilac Harbor to start my own company, Deco Designs.

Business has been pretty steady since I opened. I managed to land the Clay Fire design when they opened up last year, and that was how I met Arlowe. When the company went under, Arlowe and her man, Yates, bought the place, and she took over the whole chain of stores. She decided to stay in Lilac Harbor, though, and I'm glad. It's been nice having another friend in town.

I hear a truck pull in next door, and I peek over, trying to get a look at my new neighbor. I noticed that the for sale sign was gone when I came home this afternoon, but I haven't caught sight of my new neighbor just yet.

The house next door has been vacant for months, ever since the older couple who lived there moved to Florida to be closer to their grandkids. I've gotten so used to the house being empty that it's almost strange to think someone else might be living there soon.

The truck door closes, and I strain to see, but all I get is a glimpse of dark brown hair before they disappear inside their garage. I linger for a moment in the hopes that they come back out. I can't help but wonder who my new neighbor might be, but when they don't reappear, I shake my head and step away from the window. Whoever it is, I'm sure I'll meet them soon enough.

I sigh and head into the kitchen, grabbing my glass of wine and taking a sip. I was working on some ideas, and I didn't realize how late it had gotten.

I walk over to the window, pushing aside the sheer curtain to look out at the lake behind my house. The rent on this place is pretty high, but I couldn't resist it when I saw that view. My place is right on the lake, and I love getting to be so close to the water. The sun is beginning its descent, casting a warm, golden glow over the water, and it makes me feel relaxed as I watch it.

"Your parents would be proud of you," Lena says softly, and my heart constricts at her words as tears sting my eyes.

My parents were my biggest cheerleaders, always pushing me to chase my dreams, even when it meant staying up late to finish a design project or missing out on a weekend trip because I had work to do. My mom, with her eye for beauty and her ability to create something out of nothing, was the one who first got me interested in design. My dad, ever the practical one, was the one who taught me how to run a business and how to stay grounded even when the world felt like it was spinning too fast.

"Thanks, Lena," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "I wish they were here to see this."

"They are," she says. "And they're probably throwing a party up there, celebrating your big win."

I smile slightly, the thought of my parents raising a glass in my honor making the moment feel even more special. "Maybe you're right."

"So, what's the plan for tonight? Celebratory drinks? Dinner? A night out on the town?" Arlowe asks. "I was supposed to meet Yates, but I'm sure that he would understand."

"Honestly, I'm so wiped, I think I'm just going to stay home, open a bottle of wine, and take a long, hot bath. Tomorrow's going to be busy, and I need to be ready."

"Good idea," Arlowe says.

"Yeah, that sounds great. I might do that too when I get home."

"You should! Try not to work too hard," I tell them.

"Yeah, we're getting ready to head home in a few, too. Talk to you tomorrow," Lena says.

"Bye, Auden! Congrats again!" Arlowe calls.

"Night! Talk to you tomorrow."

We end the call, and I smile as I pad through the house to my room and into the bathroom. I start the water in the bathtub, adding one of my favorite bubble baths and watching as the steam begins to rise before I head back out to my bedroom. The weather is so nice, and I smile as a breeze comes in through the window, ruffling my hair.

I grab my phone and connect it to the Bluetooth speaker on the shelf. Music fills the room, a mix of my favorite upbeat songs, and I can't resist the urge to dance. I twirl around the bathroom, singing along to the lyrics, feeling lighter than I have in weeks.

I strip, tossing my clothes into the hamper before I turn and head back into the bathroom. I check on the water and turn it off, wrapping a towel around myself as I head into the kitchen to grab my Kindle and wine glass.

I'm about to head back to the bathroom when there's a knock at the door. It's kind of hard to hear it over the music, and I wince. I hadn't realized that it was turned up so loud.

"Who on earth could that be?" I mutter, glancing at the clock.

It's well past nine, and I'm not expecting anyone. If my friends were planning on coming over, they would have told me on the phone call.

I frown as I pause, debating what to do, when there's another knock at the front door, this one louder, more insistent, and I feel a twinge of annoyance.

Whoever this is better have a damn good reason for interrupting my evening.

I yank the door open, and my breath stalls in my lungs when I see the handsome man standing on my front porch.

The guy blinks, his eyes widening in shock before they narrow on me.

"Do you always answer the door like that?" He snaps, and my spine snaps straight.

"Excuse me?" I spit at him, and he frowns.

"Could you turn that racket down?" He yells, and I realize that we're both talking loudly to be heard over the music.

I turn and head back to the bathroom, turning off the music and grabbing my phone before I head back to the porch.

"What do you want?" I ask him. "Who even are you?"

"I'm Wade Collins… your new neighbor."

He points to the house next door, and my stomach dips.

Great. Well, I sure know how to make a good first impression, don't I?

Wait.

I blink, trying to make sense of what he just said.

Wade Collins? Wade Collins, the grumpy, reclusive guy from high school? Wade Collins is my new neighbor? The guy who used to sit in the back of the classroom, always with his head down, who never really talked to anyone? And now he's living next door.

My body heats with a flush as I remember the huge crush that I had on him back then. My body throbs, and I amend that statement. The huge crush that I apparently still have on him. Although, I'll have to squash that because he seems to still be a grumpy jerk.

I take him in, my memories from years ago trying to mesh with the version of him before me. He looks the same. He still has the same dark hair, though it's a little shorter now. Same mesmerizing grey eyes. Same perpetual frown. Still brooding and intense in a way that has my heart racing.

I swallow hard and straighten my spine, determined to suppress the feelings starting to bubble inside of me.

There's a shadow of stubble on his jaw that wasn't there when we were kids, and I wonder what it would feel like against my skin.

STOP! I order myself, angry that I can't seem to get my libido in check.

"You should get dressed," he says, and I remember that I'm still in a towel.

I can feel my cheeks heat, but I'm determined not to let him see that he's getting to me, so I straighten my chin and cock my hip out, my hand landing there as I stare him down.

"I'm about to take a bath, so if you don't need anything," I say, starting to close the door in his face.

His hand comes out, stopping the door before it can smack him in his handsome face.

"You shouldn't be answering the door like that."

"Got it," I say, pushing on my side of the door, but it's no use.

I let out a huff, blowing a loose strand of hair out of my eyes as I glared up at him. His face is stoic, not giving anything away, and I narrow my eyes at him.

"Did you need something?" I snap, still trying to push the door closed.

"I'd love it if you didn't try to deafen me with your music," he says, and part of me feels guilty. I didn't realize that it was so loud.

"Yep. It won't happen again," I tell him.

"Good."

We stare at each other for a moment, and I'm flooded with memories of him in school. I always kind of had a crush on him, but he was so intimidating back then, and I never worked up the courage to talk to him.

"Welcome to the neighborhood," I spit out at him, my hand gripping the edge of my front door.

"Auden," he says, his voice low and rough around the edges, like he hasn't spoken to anyone in days.

He knows my name? He must recognize me from school, too. I'm surprised that he remembers me.

For a moment, I'm too stunned to say anything.

We stand there for a moment, the silence stretching between us, and I realize I have no idea what to say next.

"Auden, the towel," he says clearing his throat, and I glance down sharply.

"Shit!" I gasped, spinning around to tighten the knot that was starting to split.

"You should get dressed," he says, his voice rough and sending goosebumps racing across my skin.

"You should go," I counter, and he frowns, then gives me one terse nod before he turns and stalks back across the lawn to his own house.

He doesn't look back, and I can't help but wonder what he's been up to since high school.

With a sigh, I close the door and lean against it, my mind racing with a thousand questions. I head back to the bathroom and take a big gulp of my wine before I slip into the water.

I try to relax, but all I can think about is my grumpy new neighbor… and my misplaced attraction to him.