Falling For The Last First Time

-legged on the couch, her laptop balanced on her knees, staring at the blank document she had opened hours earlier. The out

liquid as her mind wandered. No matter how hard she tried to focus, her thoughts kept circling back to yesterday-Ethan's quiet i

n just cosmetic changes; it needed a transformation that would make it the perfect wedding desti

as barely nine in the morning. Setting her laptop aside, she crossed the room and opened the

hing past Claire into the living room. "T

s twitching into a reluctant sm

one of the cups. She plopped onto the couch, kicking off her shoes.

g down beside her. "He was...

ised an eyebrow, s

ire shrugged, trying to sound indifferent. "It

t you're here now, and that's what matters. So, what's the plan? H

ace needs a ton of work, and the budget's tight. I'm meeting with Ethan later

queen of creative problem-solving. Besides,

r of unease through her. "I'm not han

trictly business with your ex-boyfriend who j

g her face with her han

ock surrender. "But if he starts looking at you wit

and caffeine-fueled banter. By the time Claire left for th

ng, unloading crates from the back of a truck. He looked up as her car a

said, a hint of sur

rtfolio tucked under her arm. "I figu

ame as it had yesterday, but Claire's mind was already racing with ideas. She pulle

'm thinking we go for a modern farmhouse vibe-neutral tones, lots of

furrowed in concentration. "It's a

mpatience out of her voice. "If you want this place to stand

against one of the swatches. "You're

place means a lot to you. I'm not trying to erase what it

unspoken passing between them.

han anymore, not after everything that had happened. But hearing him say it n

te the initial awkwardness, Claire found herself falling into a rhythm with Ethan. His knowledge of the land and its hist

ing to dip toward the horizon. Ethan pulled a bottle of wine from

to try the product," he

e rich aroma of the wine f

the day settling over them. Claire sipped her

good," sh

in his glass. "I'm glad you think

he better of her. "Why did you stay? After eve

r known. My family built it from the ground up, and I couldn't just walk away

han she wanted to. "It's not eas

e tinged with something she couldn'

ings they weren't ready to say. Claire drained th

going," she

hers. "Claire... thanks for doing this.

esolve wavering. "It

elt hollow. She wasn't sure who she

ly sound in the car. Claire's mind raced, replaying the day's events

s done with Willow Creek, done with Et