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suddenly the sight of Noah on the cover had her imagining him as she’d done many times before, locked in the bathroom with some strange woman during spring break. She’d never actually seen the two of them together. She’d heard about it in the worst way possible, from two girls gossiping through a bathroom stall door. They hadn’t realized she’d been in the bathroom with them and they’d quieted as soon as she’d emerged. But her mind did a fantastic job with all the dirty and painful details and it hadn’t taken anything more for her to end the relationship that she’d thought might last forever.
    Lydia must have seen the change in her face because she slowly took the magazine out of Lily’s hands and gave her a pat on the shoulder. The movement brought her back to reality. She shook her head. “So, should we get started then? Maybe go check out the master?”
    Lydia nodded and held out a hand to help her up.
     
    The rain finally let up midmorning, making way for a crisp blue sky. Noah stood at the window, his arms folded over his chest, and watched the flood of water pour down the side of the mountain. He’d done everything he could think of at the cabin and he knew it was time for him to head back to his office. But for some reason he was having trouble leaving. Every now and then he heard a peal of Lily’s laughter coming from the living room and it made his heart thud in his chest.
    He was conflicted, part of him wanting to hear more, to find a reason to be nearer to her, and part of him knowing the best thing for him was to get as far away from her as he could, and as fast as possible.
    He stood still though, looking out the window. His thoughts wandered back to the new house that sat just a couple of miles down the mountain from the cabin they were working on, the house he’d designed and built for Lily and himself, the house he’d just closed on the week before.
    It was meant to be a surprise to her and he’d never gotten around to telling Lily about it before she so painfully cut him loose. He’d kicked himself many times over the last months for that ill-conceived idea, as he watched his dream home rising from a foundation cut into the mountain and wondered what to do with the thing now that he had no girlfriend to share it with.
    Selling it would have been an easy option, and he knew several people who’d be interested. He already owned a luxurious condo in the heart of Crystal Falls. But in the end it proved too hard to say goodbye to his baby, the house he’d poured so much thought and love and work into.
    And so he’d put the condo on the market and started slowly moving his things into the new house only a few days before.
    He still hadn’t slept there. The place had a lonely feel to it and now that he’d seen Lily again, he couldn’t help but think of her as he shuffled through the empty rooms that he’d designed for the two of them together. It was painful, but surely he’d get over it. He just had to continue reminding himself of why they weren’t together anymore.
    And with that, he thought, time to get back to work. He propelled himself down the hall, not even wanting to pause to say goodbye. He made it almost to the door without looking at the women who were bent over the old kitchen counter, Lily drawing something out in her notebook, Upton’s assistant nodding vigorously.
    “Hey, sorry to interrupt the fun in here,” he said as he sauntered over to the kitchen, trying to muster a courage he certainly didn’t feel. “But I’m heading off. I’ll see you both later.”
    “I sure hope so,” the assistant said, giving him a ridiculously suggestive smile. Lily giggled beside her before she bent back over her design plans and he couldn’t help but laugh himself as he rolled his eyes and headed for the door.

Chapter Three
     
    The next day, Lily couldn’t help but smile as she pulled into a parking spot in front of her favorite furniture and upholstery store, The