Chapter 4
ACCENT PIECES
NATALIE
Seeing Will had thrown me into a little tailspin.
I’d just started to feel like I was leaving him behind, stepping out of the emotional fog and back into my life.
Nobody really knew what had happened between us except Camille and Meredith, my younger sister.
I’d filled them in on all the messy details—how I’d ended things, how I couldn’t give Will what he wanted, how I felt trapped between two lives.
And now, two run-ins with him in one week.
I couldn’t believe how quickly he’d moved on.
Not that he didn’t have every right to. The last time we were together, I was still married.
I was the one who ended things for good.
Still, seeing him with someone else was a gut punch I hadn’t prepared for.
It wasn’t jealousy exactly; it was more complicated than that.
I wondered how Kelly felt about the new woman in his life. Will and Kelly had a history, a shared life with their kids. Did Kelly know about her?
And this woman, she must mean something if Will was bringing her to school. His kids must know her well. That thought was harder to digest than I expected.
But I didn’t want to be bitter. Will deserved to be happy. I’d made my choice, and I couldn’t have it both ways. It was time to get my life back on track.
It was a fresh day, and I needed to focus on the new restaurant. In the morning, I headed to Moda, the tile store. I’d already visited the day before to pick out some initial samples and finalize the design. I wanted to be prepared. Lucas Bennett, the restaurant’s investor, was meeting me there.
When I arrived, Lucas wasn’t there yet. Perfect.
That gave me a little time to wander the showroom and see if inspiration struck.
The restaurant’s kitchen would be exposed to customers, so it needed to make a statement.
I’d been toying with the idea of whitewashed subway tile paired with brass accents, but I wanted to see if there were any other options that caught my eye.
I was pulling samples, laying them out, and mixing and matching when I heard a voice behind me.
“Are you Natalie?”
I turned, startled, and saw a man standing there. He had a British accent and happened to be gorgeous—green eyes and features so perfectly balanced they seemed almost unfair. His hair was hazelnut-brown and thick, parted slightly to the side, with one longer strand brushing his forehead.
“I… uh, yes, I’m Natalie,” I stammered, suddenly feeling like a teenager meeting a movie star.
“Lucas Bennett,” he said, extending a hand. “I believe you’re the mastermind behind today’s ideas?”
I smiled, trying to pull myself together. “I was just pulling some samples and putting a few concepts together. Let me show you.”
As I laid out my initial vision, Lucas’s eyes lit up.
“Brilliant,” he said. “I love this.”
“I have a few more ideas I can show you too,” I offered, feeling a flush of pride.
“No need,” he said, gesturing to the samples. “I think you’ve nailed it. And the green woodwork idea you mentioned? Absolutely inspired. Paired with the tiles and brass, it’s exactly the look we’re after. Lori said you were talented, but I didn’t realize you’d be this good.”
“Well, thank you,” I said, feeling a little flustered by the compliment.
“I’ve already triple-checked the measurements and gone over everything with the contractor.
Once we finalize the selections, I’ll work on putting the order together.
Most of this is in stock, so it should arrive in three to four weeks. ”
“Perfect,” Lucas said, his gaze steady. “May I ask you another question?”
“Of course,” I said, smiling.
“Where’s a decent place to grab an espresso and a bite to eat around here? I’m still getting my bearings in Orange County.”
Before I could answer, Kathy, the store rep, chimed in. “There’s a lovely little café near the pier. Great coffee and pastries.”
“Thank you,” Lucas said, turning back to me. “Care to join me?”
I hesitated. It wasn’t like I was doing anything wrong. I wasn’t having an affair. I was free to have coffee with anyone I wanted. And Lucas seemed… harmless. This could just be a friendly, professional outing.
“Sure,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Let me just finish up with Kathy, and I’ll meet you outside.”
Kathy smiled warmly. “I’ll take it from here, dear. Go. Enjoy yourself.”
“Are you sure?” I asked in a low voice.
“Absolutely,” she said, waving me off. “Now go!”
Outside, Lucas was standing near his car, looking completely at ease.
“Ready?” he asked, straightening up when he saw me.
“Ready,” I said, adjusting my bag on my shoulder.
The café Kathy had mentioned was close by. As we walked, we chatted about the restaurant project, our shared love for design, and his transition to life in Orange County.
“I wasn’t certain I’d like it here,” he admitted, glancing at the ocean in the distance. “But there’s something about the pace of life that’s beginning to grow on me.”
“It’s a good balance,” I said. “Not too fast, not too slow. Plus, the weather doesn’t hurt.”
He laughed. “No, it doesn’t. And the people are… surprising.”
“Surprising how?”
“Let’s just say I wasn’t expecting to meet someone as lovely as you.” His accent highlighting the word lovely in a way that immediately made my cheeks warm.
I quickly changed the subject, asking more about his vision for the restaurant. By the time we reached the café, the conversation was flowing easily, and I felt more relaxed than I had in weeks.
Over coffee, Lucas shared more about his background, his years in London, his decision to move to California, and his dream of opening a restaurant that felt like a home away from home.
“I want it to feel warm and inviting,” he said, stirring his espresso. “Somewhere people linger. Not pretentious, but still beautiful.”
“That’s exactly what we’re building,” I assured him.
“I knew I was in good hands when Lori told me about you,” he said, his green eyes locking with mine for a moment too long.
I broke the gaze, focusing on my coffee. “So, have you met anyone else in the area yet? Friends, neighbors?”
“Not really,” he admitted. “Other than Jasper, of course. He’s my best mate and a chef. It’s been our dream for years to open a restaurant together. Between his culinary talent and my business background, we’ve always wanted to create something truly unique.”
“That’s good,” I said. “At least you’ve got someone close by, to share your vision with.
“True,” he said with a small smile. “Though he’s so busy experimenting with recipes, I barely see him. But having him around has made the move a bit easier.”
He told me he grew up in Sussex, attended Oxford University, and had one younger sister, Maura, who worked as a writer in London. His life sounded polished, fascinating—like something out of a novel.
He mentioned he’d been married once but had no children. The marriage lasted only a year. When I asked what happened, he gave me a wry smile. “She ran off with one of my closest mates. Can’t say I saw that coming.”
The way he said it carried the faintest edge, a shadow of bitterness beneath the humor. I debated sharing more about my own situation but decided to keep it vague. “I’m recently divorced,” I said, conveniently leaving out the messy details.
Lucas mentioned his recent move to Laguna Beach. “I bought a small ranch-style house. It’s cozy, but it has potential,” he said.
“I love Laguna,” I said. “One of my favorite restaurants there is Broadway. Have you been?”
“I haven’t,” he said, shaking his head.
“Well, we’ll have to go,” I said before I could stop myself. What was I doing?
I glanced at my watch, realizing I needed to wrap things up. My day wasn’t slowing down anytime soon. “I’m so sorry, but I must run. You have my card with all my info—feel free to call if you have any questions. I’ll also send over some wallpaper and light fixture options by tomorrow morning.”
Lucas stood, smiling warmly. “Of course. Thank you, Natalie.”
Then, to my surprise, he leaned in and kissed me on both cheeks.
“It was so nice to meet you,” I said, gathering my things.
“The pleasure was all mine,” he replied, his charming accent was a melody to my ears.