Last night, he’d studied her website, in awe of her latest collection. Each piece of jewelry was exquisitely designed and, from what he saw, beautifully made.
The sooner Noah tracked down the elusive artist, the quicker he could put his next plan into action. He could make her the next Givenchy of the jewelry world. And no one, including an unknown jeweler from Montana, would turn down the chance of becoming a household name in the lives of the rich and famous.
Dropping his chin to his chest, he dug deep for the last hundred yards. Sweat poured off his face, and his breathing became more labored. He savored each stride, pushed himself a little harder until, with a relieved groan, he made it back to the cottage.
He rested his hands on his hips and breathed deeply, sucking air into his oxygen-deprived lungs. As his heart rate decreased, he focused on the water, absorbing the serenity of the lake. An almost spiritual sense of calm flowed through his body, leaving him more relaxed than he’d been in a long time.
“Do you always run so fast?”
Noah jumped. He hadn’t expected to see anyone, let alone Cassie. “Are you always awake this early in the morning?”
She tilted her head and smiled. “I’m usually in Sapphire Bay by now, but it’s my birthday. I’ve taken the day off work.”
“Congratulations.” Picking up the towel he’d left on the veranda, he wiped his face. “For most people, that would be even more reason to sleep in.”
“Not me. I hardly ever get time away from work, so I’m making the most of it.”
He looked at the boots on her feet and the shorts and T-shirt hugging her slender body. “Are you going hiking?”
“Good guess. A friend told me about a trail twenty minutes northeast of Sapphire Bay. I thought I’d spend most of the day there, then come home and recover.” She straightened her baseball cap and sent him a dazzling smile. “I forgot to tell you about the Saturday market in Sapphire Bay. If you need any fresh fruit or want to sample the local food, the market is the place to go.”
“Thanks. I was going into town anyway, so I’ll have a look.”
“If you see a parking space, grab it fast. People come from all around Flathead Lake to enjoy the market. Finding somewhere to park can be a real problem.”
Noah hadn’t noticed how blue Cassie’s eyes were. They reminded him of the color of the lake, the stunning reflection of the sky as the sun rose above the horizon. “I’ll remember to take the first parking space I see. Do you need anything?”
“No, I’m okay. I bought my groceries yesterday, so my pantry’s full. Enjoy your day.” Cassie turned and walked toward her cottage.
He needed to find C.J. Davis, and Cassie was the only person he knew in Sapphire Bay. If the jeweler wasn’t in her store a little insider knowledge might help him find her. But he couldn’t afford to be too obvious. C.J. lived in a small town. If she didn’t want to be found, she might have asked her friends not to tell anyone where she lived.
He jogged after Cassie. “Can I ask you a question?”
She stopped and turned around. “Sure.”
“I want to buy a friend some jewelry. Is there a store in town you’d recommend?”
Cassie’s polite smile wavered. “It depends on your budget. The general store has some cute necklaces and bracelets made by local craftspeople. If you want something more expensive, there’s a jewelry store on Main Street.”
“Are you talking about Davis Jewelry?”
A blush worked its way over her face. “Have you heard of them?”
“My brother came across their website a few weeks ago. They have some beautiful necklaces.”
“They do. I don’t think the store is open today, but you could always visit on Monday.” She wiped her hands on her shorts and sent him a nervous smile. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
Noah frowned as Cassie walked back to her cottage. Something wasn’t right, only he didn’t know her well enough to understand what had just happened.
The only thing he did know was that he needed to head into town. Because, regardless of Cassie’s wariness, he had a feeling she knew a lot more about Davis Jewelry than she’d told him. And if there was one area where he excelled, it was getting to the bottom of a problem and finding the answer.
By the timeCassie drove into town, she was so stressed that she almost decided not to go for a hike. She should have known Noah had something to do with Wilson Enterprises. It was too much of a coincidence that a man from New York City had booked into her cottage at the last moment.
She gripped the steering wheel tight. Anyone with half a brain would have put two and two together and come up with four. But not her. She’d thought her guest was here for the same reasons most people came to Montana. To enjoy the peace and tranquility of the wide-open spaces and to de-stress after leaving their hectic lifestyles.
She couldn’t have been more wrong. Noah wasn’t exactly here under false pretenses, but he wasn’t being totally honest, either. He’d come to Sapphire Bay to find C.J. Davis. What he didn’t know was that he’d already found her.
As she stopped her SUV behind the jewelry store, she looked at the parking spaces behind Sweet Treats. Thank goodness Megan and Brooke were both working.
