Surprisingly, they worked well together, playing off each other’s ideas and strengths, until they had a winning design.

Sorene hated to admit it, but Ash had a knack. Maybe it was the creativity streak that ran through him, being a travel writer. He could visualize in pictures, similar to how she operated.

“How are you at carving scenes into panels?” Ash asked. “Since you’re adding the animal elements to the staircase, what if you continue the theme on the upper cabinets of the kitchen? Do a whole wilderness scene.” He gestured wide with his hands as if the upper cabinets were already installed. “You could follow it up with the lower cabinets in the bathrooms.”

“Oooh, I love that idea. But do you think it might get to kitsch?”

“With this fairy cabin? No way. I say design it over the top, don’t hold anything back. This cabin begs for an artistic design like what we’ve already nailed down.” He turned to the fireplace. “But this needs to be the crowning jewel. You already have the multi-colored river rock to the ceiling, but you need a mantel that caps it off.”

“Something beefy, a rough-hewn beam, held up by—”

“Wolves,” he interrupted.

“Yes.” A wide smile split her face, and her pencil flew over her sketch pad, already seeing it in her mind. “Two majestic timber wolves.”

“Make them the alpha and his mate.”

“Perfect. Adding a scene along the beam of the pack wandering through the forest.” She pointed with her pencil and the nonexistent beam, already seeing it hanging there.

“Could you add northern lights overhead?”

“Depending on the dimensions of the beam. Do you think you could find me one that would work?”

“Consider it done. You’ll have the bear as the anchor post for the stairs. What other animals were you planning for the three in the middle and the top baluster?”

She turned with him to face the open staircase. “Well, I’d like a bull moose with a full set of antlers to span the middle posts, like he’s climbing the stairs himself. I haven’t successfully achieved a moose with a full set of antlers, yet, but I’d like to try again. If I carve him in separate parts, the head and antlers, then the body, I might be able to pull it off.”

“If anyone can do it, you can.” He rubbed an encouraging hand up and down her back, and she badly wanted to lean into him, have him help shoulder the strain she carried. “And the top baluster? No, let me guess. A bald eagle regally overlooking everything.”

“Looks as if you do still know a thing or two about me.”

“Or two,” he agreed, gazing into her eyes. When she didn’t blink, he slowly leaned down until their lips were a breath apart. Tenderly, he brushed his mouth over hers, held there a second that stretched to five, and then released her. “I want to be alone with you.”

“You are alone with me.” A tingle returned low in her belly.

“Someplace warm with soft places to fall. I can’t take you to my dad’s place, and there are too many people at your house.”

“It’s kind of funny that at our age, neither one of us has a place of our own.”

“And we’re still living with our parents.” He chuckled.

She joined him, shaking her head at the irony of it all. Here she’d been pushing Zoe to grow up and be responsible yet she still slept in her childhood bedroom under her daddy’s roof.

“Do you not have an apartment somewhere like Paris or New York?” she asked, suddenly curious. She’d never thought of where he lived.

“Other than renting a house for a month or two, I’ve lived out of a suitcase, slept in hotels, tents, even under the stars. Wherever the project takes me.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Actually, no. All the traveling lost its appeal years ago. I’ve wanted a home base for a while now, something that was mine, personal rather than the indifference of hotels.” He took in the cabin. “Maybe someplace like this. Since you aren’t consulting anyone regarding the design, I take it the lake house doesn’t have a buyer yet?”

He couldn’t buy the cabin. It was hers.

The thought hit her with the force of an avalanche. She hadn’t realized subconsciously that she’d been planning on purchasing the lake house. Could she do it? Her family would have to adjust with her not being in the family home taking care of Jack and everyone and every little thing, but it was time. Time for her to leave the nest and let the others cope without her.

“I’m the buyer,” she stated. Now if she could get Jack to agree to sell it to her.

“Did you just decide that when I expressed interest?”

“I think I’ve known it all along, from the preliminary drawings to the complex design elements we’ve come up with.”

He nodded in agreement. “The cabin is you.” He paused and stared deep into her eyes, searching. “It could be us.”

She held up her hands and took a step back. “Now, Ash—”

“Right. Sorry. I’m rushing things again.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “Dinner. We need to date. Are you free tonight?”

She almost laughed at his frustration but wisely thought better of it. “Yes, I do believe I’m free.”

“Seven o’clock? I’ll pick you up.”

“As long as we don’t go to the Pump House.”

He grimaced. “Agreed.”