Steve washed his hands. “I’m sure the parents appreciate it.”
Eden touched a piece of twisted metal sitting on a shelf. “Is this something you’re working on?”
Steve shook his head. “That was a sample piece I made for a project. When I’m not sure if something will work, I try it on a smaller scale.” He picked up a sketchpad and brought it across to her. “This is my latest commission. Harrison asked me to make a bronze sculpture as a surprise Christmas present for Daniella.”
Eden studied the sketch. The intricate drawing showed a fairy with delicate wings, her face turned slightly upward in a serene expression. “Wow, this is beautiful. She looks a lot like Daniella.”
Steve nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes. “That’s the idea. Harrison wanted the fairy to resemble her.”
He moved to his computer and opened a file. “Harrison sent me these to help with the details.” Steve flicked through an album of photos showing Daniella in her fairy costume at The Fairy Forest and sitting outside in the sunshine.
“That’s a lot of photos,” Eden told him with a smile. “It looks a little stalkerish.”
Steve laughed, shaking his head. “I thought the same thing at first, but Harrison assured me it was okay. Daniella knows about the photos. She just doesn’t know what they’re for.”
Eden picked up the sketchpad and looked at a smaller drawing of Daniella’s face. Each stroke of Steve’s pencil captured her personality and brought the still image to life. “You could have been a painter. This is beautiful.”
Steve looked over her shoulder and kissed the side of her face. “I did a fine arts degree. I wasn’t the most popular student on campus when I traded in my oil paints for steel, but it worked for me.”
Eden leaned into his embrace. “Daniella and Harrison will love the sculpture.”
“I hope so,” Steve said, his voice softening. “It means a lot to me to create something special for them.”
Eden turned in his arms and kissed him. “You have a heart of gold to make the sculpture for them.”
“Call me Mr. Nice Guy,” he said as he kissed her back. “But, if I want to keep on track, I’d better make our coffee. I’m meeting a potential client at four-thirty.”
While Steve made the coffee, Eden walked around the workshop, admiring the various pieces he was working on. When she was halfway around the room she frowned. “Where’s Rex?”
“He has a playdate with a golden-haired Labrador named Trixie.”
Eden grinned. “That sounds interesting.”
“Tell me about it. He met Trixie on one of our walks around the lake and they’ve been best buddies ever since. Liam, her owner, is working from Sapphire Bay for a few months.”
Eden walked across to Steve. “I hope Rex isn’t heartbroken when she leaves.”
“I don’t know about heartbroken,” Steve said. “But he’ll miss her.”
As she watched Steve find a plate for the donuts, Eden realized just how much she would’ve missed him if she’d gone back to Boston. “Have I told you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me?”
He placed a cup of coffee beside her. “I haven’t done all that much.”
“You’ve been a huge support to me since I moved here. I don’t know how I would have managed without you.”
Steve smiled. “I’m glad I could help. You’ve helped me too, more than you know.”
She picked up a donut and grinned. “It must be the added sugar I’ve brought to your diet.”
“It’s more than that,” Steve said softly. “I didn’t think I’d ever meet someone who accepted me for who I am. You’ve not only accepted me, but you’ve become an important part of my life.”
Eden put the donut down and smiled. “I’m glad you said that, because you’re important to me, too. And, apart from being an incredible boyfriend, I came here for another reason. I wanted to tell you about a meeting I had with Julie, the principal at the school.”
“What did you talk about?”
“I asked if there are any full-time jobs available at the school,” she replied, watching his reaction closely. “A couple of staff are retiring and she suggested I apply for those roles.”
Steve’s eyes widened. “Really? That’s amazing, Eden!”
