Chapter 8
eight
. . .
Gracie
It felt so good to be working again and doing what I loved.
Designing was my passion, and I loved nothing more than bringing clients’ visions to life.
Designing Cutler’s family home was going to be a breeze, as Emilia had given me very clear and specific direction on the aesthetic they wanted, all while giving me free rein to make choices on their behalf.
It was a designer’s dream.
A large budget. Clear aesthetic. And she fully trusted me.
I’d interned with Emilia Chadwick for two summers, so we knew one another well. That helped.
I’d met with Shana Peterson yesterday, and today was our design meeting, as she’d officially hired me.
Shana would be easy in a different way. I got the sense that she didn’t want to have to make the decisions on her own, or even at all. She wanted my guidance, and she seemed to trust it.
I understood that. Renovations were huge undertakings. They could be exciting and fun, but also stressful and overwhelming.
That’s where I came in.
“I just, I have so much on my plate right now,” Shana said. “The three kids and Billy and I are all living in the basement at my parents’ house. I’m just spread so thin, but I want to make sure that I get what we want in this house.”
I could feel the anxiety radiating from her.
Yesterday we’d met at the office, and she’d hired me on the spot.
I’d given her several design books to take home, and several websites for her to look at as well.
I asked her to send me any photos of aesthetics that spoke to her, and she’d done a great job with the task, sending me at least a dozen rooms she liked.
So she did have an aesthetic and style all her own; she just didn’t know it.
Today we were at their new home, and they’d finished tearing out all the flooring.
It was time to get the design locked down.
Materials could take weeks, depending on what she chose, and the smoothest renovations happened when things were ready to go, and you weren’t waiting around for materials.
So it was time to get things locked in, and to choose items that were in stock and ready to go.
“I can imagine how stressful this is. I want to do everything I can to help you.” I glanced over at her as she scrolled through my online portfolio of the work I’d done over the last several years.
“I wanted you to see these after looking at all the different options, so you could feel confident in my work. If any of these jump out at you, let me know. My assessment after you pointed out everything you like is that you are a mix of French country and traditional. Those two designs marry very well.”
“Oh, I didn’t even know I had a style.” She shook her head, and I could see the stress written on her face.
“Yes. It’s sort of a mix of classic, timeless, and comfort, while bringing in some history with vintage pieces. The colors are typically light and earthy, very neutral. We’d bring in texture with fabrics like velvet and florals, mixed with some rustic linen touches.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow. I like the sound of that. I felt like I sent you so many pictures of different looks, so I was frustrated that I didn’t have one specific style that I liked.”
“It’s perfectly normal to mix aesthetics. It gives a home personality, and I like that you involved Billy as well. We want this home to represent your family.”
“Me too. I was surprised that Billy didn’t choose the super-modern photos I showed him,” she said, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“Yes, the ones you sent that he’d chosen were very traditional, where your top choices leaned toward French country, but you had a few rooms that were very traditional. The great news is that those are very easy to mesh.”
She blew out a breath. “Thank goodness you’re helping me. We’ve gone to the tile store multiple times to choose all the tile for the floors and walls, and I just walk around for hours, and then leave with nothing.”
Cutler had come to me because he thought she needed help, and he was right.
Shana Peterson was overwhelmed.
That happened often with renovations.
This was one of my favorite parts of my job. Helping clients create a home that they’d love. Not everyone could visualize the big picture, so being able to help someone bring it all to life was something I really enjoyed.
And I loved design as a whole. I could stare at paint colors and fabric samples for hours and never tire of it. I loved mixing and matching textures and designs and creating something fresh and unique.
This was why I was so excited about moving to New York.
It would challenge me both personally and professionally.
Moving to a new city would be a little intimidating, but I welcomed it.
I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone.
The homes I’d be designing would be different in New York, as city living was very different from living out in the country or in a small town—and I was excited to grow as a designer.
“So what I like to do is make things as easy for you as possible.” I chuckled.
“I have a great idea from what you’ve sent me about where to start.
I typically go to the tile store and get three to four options for each bathroom, as far as flooring and counters and cabinets and backsplash.
I do the same with the kitchen. I know you want wood flooring, so I’d bring a couple different finishes for the wood, and we’d lay it all out, eliminate what you don’t like, and start putting together what you do like. ”
“Really? That sounds dreamy.” She let a loud sigh escape. “If I never have to go back to the tile store, I would be very happy.”
I smiled and gave her a nod. “We can absolutely make that happen. I will bring everything to you. And if I don’t hit the mark on certain rooms, I’ll just bring you back some more samples, and that’s how we’ll start putting the entire design together.
Once we have the finishes all selected and ordered, then I’ll head over to your storage unit with you, and we’ll go through the furniture and décor that you have, and we’ll make a list of what you need.
You’ll give me a budget, and I’ll get all the interior pieces, such as furniture, lighting, and artwork, taken care of for you.
” I squeezed her hand when I noticed that her eyes were watering.
“Gracie, I can’t tell you how much this means to me.
I just, I can’t seem to make a decision, and everyone from my parents to my husband to my kids is asking me a million things at once.
” She swiped at the tear running down her face.
“What color kitchen am I doing? What color bathroom tile did I pick? What kind of flooring am I doing? What am I making for dinner tonight? When can we go to the park? Did I sleep well?”
A laugh escaped her, and I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around her. Sometimes people just needed a hug and to be heard.
“I can’t answer the questions about dinner or the park or your sleep habits, but I can take everything else off your plate,” I said.
She pulled back. “Okay. I love the sound of this. You’ve got the budget that we agreed to with ROD Construction, and we’d like to stay as close to that as possible, as far as the flooring and appliances and all of those things.
And then we can figure out a separate budget for furniture and décor, but it probably won’t be very large. ”
“Don’t worry at all. I can work with any décor budget. I’m quite the deal finder,” I said as I pushed to stand.
There was a lot of hammering in the background, and Shana moved to stand beside me. “Sadly, this is the most peaceful place I’ve been all day.”
I laughed. “Yes, I can imagine three kids in a small space is not super peaceful.”
“No. But it’ll all be worth it, right?”
“It will. I promise.” I leaned forward to hug her one last time. “I’ll head to the tile store now and have options for you by Monday.”
“Wow.” Her eyes widened. “You don’t mess around.”
“Nope. I’m on it.”
“Will I see you at country night at Down by the Bay tonight? Billy and I will be leaving the kids with my parents and getting out for some much-needed line dancing and beers.”
“I was just about to ask her the same thing,” Dirk said as he came around the corner.
I didn’t love that he’d interrupted our conversation, as this was a work meeting for me, and he was here on a jobsite as a professional.
“Yes. I’ll definitely be there. I’ll come over and say hi.” I waved to Shana as she walked out the door.
“She can’t make a decision if her life depends on it. It took me four appointments to get her to make a decision on the doors she wanted in the house,” Dirk said once she’d walked outside. It irritated me the way he spoke about her.
“I didn’t find that to be true at all. She actually has a pretty distinct style. But she’s living in her parents’ basement with her family, and it’s a lot to balance,” I said.
He chuckled. “She doesn’t even work—I’m sure she can handle it.”
I was getting all the red flags of ghosts of boyfriends past with this guy.
“Her children are young, and it’s summer break. You’ve clearly never been a mother.” I tugged my purse over my shoulder and blew out a breath.
“Can’t argue with that. So, how about you let me take you to dinner before line dancing tonight?”
“I think with us working together, it’s best we don’t go there. But I’ll see you tonight and we can all grab a beer together.” I smiled, relieved that I’d thought quickly, and it seemed to appease him.
“No problem. I’ll see you tonight.”
“See you there.” I held my hand over my head and waved goodbye.
I piled everything in the car and was headed to the tile store when my phone rang.
“Hey, Bear,” I said.
His voice rang through the Bluetooth speaker. “How did your meeting go with Shana?”
“Really great.”
“Was Dirk there getting those doors installed?”
“Yes. And for the record, there will be no fling with him.”
“And why is that?” There was a definite edge in his voice.
“You were right. Dirk is a jerk.”
“What did he do? Did he upset you?” Cutler asked. The man was ridiculously protective.
I chuckled. “No. He just irritated me.”
“Good. Kick his ass to the curb. He’s definitely not the guy for you. But we’re going to have some fun tonight.”
“I plan on it. I just pulled into the tile store. I’ll be home in a few hours.”
“See you then,” he said before ending the call.
I spent the next hour and a half at the tile store, and then made my way to grab cabinet and floor samples before dropping everything at ROD Construction.
I went back to Cutler’s house and called out his name, then heard the sound of the shower coming from his bedroom.
I paused for a moment, swallowing hard as I stood on the other side of the door, wondering what he was doing in the shower. I bit the inside of my cheek as my heart raced at the thought.
Get your mind out of the gutter, Gracie.
This was my best friend, and these were not thoughts I should be having.
We’d already agreed it was a line that we shouldn’t cross.
This was Cutler.
My Cutler.
What the hell was wrong with me?
I hurried to my room, quickly pulling out a cute outfit to wear before laying it on the bed.
I was going to have some fun tonight.
It was time to get back out there.
No more overthinking things.
No more looking for the perfect guy. I also wouldn’t be settling for a man who rubbed me wrong, but something in between would be just fine.
Good-looking. Good personality. No strings attached.
I was sick of always trying to be perfect. Fitting into that box where everyone knew that I was a “good girl.”
I wanted to feel wild and alive for once in my life, like I mattered in a different way.
I wanted to know what it felt like to be desired.
Really desired.
Yes, I’d been called pretty by my ex-boyfriends, but I’d never once been told that I was sexy.
The only person who’d ever called me sexy was Cutler, and that didn’t count, because he was my best friend. Totally off-limits.
And he was the one to tell me that I should ask for what I wanted.
And I realized that it wasn’t all that complicated.
I wanted to experience that kind of all-consuming passion and desire, the kind you read about in romance books. At the same time, it was important to me that I stay in control of my emotions and expectations and walk away unscathed.
This was my time to have a little fun, to be a little wild before I moved to New York and everything got serious again.
And that’s exactly what I intended to do.
I added some beach waves to my long dark hair before applying some shimmery bronzer to my cheeks and mascara to my lashes.
I finished it off with some pink lip gloss on my lips, then slipped into my white sundress with spaghetti straps that ended just above my knee and my red cowboy boots.
When I pulled my bedroom door open, Luke Combs was singing through the surround sound, and I heard Cutler singing along from the kitchen.
I rounded the corner and just took a minute to take him in, as his back was to me. He wore a white tee that stretched across the muscles of his back. His thick dark hair was a little longer than usual, and he wore a pair of faded jeans that hugged his ass just right.
Cutler Heart was all man.
“You checking me out, Jeege?” he asked as he slowly turned around and winked.
“Please. It’s not like I haven’t seen it all before,” I said with a laugh, making light of it.
Because yes, I was checking him out.
But a girl could look and still have boundaries.
I’d been doing it for years.
“You ready to have some fun tonight, Jeege?” he asked as he scooped me up and spun me around before setting my feet back down on the ground.
“Damn straight. It’s Friday night. We don’t have to wake up in the morning. I’m ready to let loose and have a good time.”
He flipped off the lights in the kitchen and wrapped his arms around me from behind.
“Well, being the prettiest girl there means I’m going to have to be watching out for you.” He kissed my cheek.
“Don’t be scaring off my potential lovers,” I said over my laughter, and he just stared at me for a beat, not responding, before he cleared his throat and nodded.
Why is he being so serious now? He knows what my plan is.
I cocked my head to the side, trying to figure out what was going on with him.
As if he could read the questioning look on my face, he shook his head, lips turning up in the corners, though it appeared forced, and he pushed the door open.
“Let’s go, lover girl.”
I was ready.
It was going to be a good night.