He turned away from the heater, still baffled as we walked around to the front of the house. “I’ll contact one of my buddies and see if he knows what to do. It might take a while to figure it out.”
“No worries,” I replied, trying to hide my glee. “I just feel bad for kicking you out of your cottage.” Which I did, but his home gave me so much inspiration.
We walked to the front door, and he got ready to leave. “It’s fine. Brianna’s there now. Maybe you could show her your new designs?”
I nodded. “I think I will.”
Once I had a few things packed, I made my way to the inn. Brianna was sitting on the front porch swing, talking to Colin while he fixed one of the window wreaths. Brianna jumped up and raced down the stairs. I opened my car door, and she was right there. “Is it true?”
Colin grinned at me from the porch and continued messing with the wreath. “Is what true?” I countered.
Her gaze landed on the sketchpad, sitting on the passenger’s seat. “Uh … your designs. I need to see them, like, yesterday.”
Giggling, I reached in and fetched them for her. She carefully held the sketchpad as if afraid it’d break apart. Eyes wide, she slowly looked through the designs. By now, Colin had joined us and peered at them over her shoulder.
“These are absolutely perfect,” she gasped, handing the sketchpad back to me. “When you get them on the runway, I’ll be one of your models.” She said it flippantly, but she couldn’t have been more right. Her body and height were perfect, and her walk was great for the runway.
I stared at her, and her eyes widened. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
I held the pad against my chest. “Because I think you just found yourself a job.”
Grabbing her heart, she swayed on her feet. “You can’t be serious? Me … a model?”
I waved a hand up and down her body. “You have all the qualifications. Now all I have to do is put together a full fashion line and find the courage to share it.”
She bounced up and down and hugged Colin. “This is like a dream come true. I can’t wait to tell Mom.” Letting him go, she hurried inside the inn.
Colin shook his head and laughed. “You do realize what you’ve done, right? She’s going to have a big head now.”
I shrugged. “She’s beautiful. I’d love to have her model my designs.” Smile fading, I sighed. “That’s if I ever do anything with them. I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
Colin placed his hands on my shoulders, the warmth of them seeping into my skin. He looked into my eyes, all serious and determined. “I know we’re just getting to know each other, but I have faith in you. You can do this.”
“Thanks,” I murmured. My gaze focused on the gazebo, and I nodded toward it. “Guess I better head to my office and get busy.”
Colin chuckled. “Go. Have fun.”
Turning on my heel, my feet crunched through the snow as I headed for the gazebo.
“Layla,” Colin called. I glanced at him over my shoulder, and he smiled. “How about dinner tonight? There’s a couple of steaks in my refrigerator that I need to grill.”
My heart did that crazy flutter thing it always did when he was around. Grinning wide, I continued on my way. “Guess it’s a date then.”
Chapter Nine
Colin
“I’m so stuffed right now.”
Layla handed me the last pot, and I dried it off. “I take it you enjoyed dinner?”
She patted her stomach. “Definitely. I didn’t know you could cook.”
I handed her a glass of wine and grabbed my beer. “My grandmother taught me lots of things.”
She followed me to the couch and sat beside me, curling her legs underneath her. “Hopefully, I’ll get to experience more of your cooking since I’ll be here for a while?”
I nodded. “Until we figure out what’s going on at your house, you’re more than welcome to stay right here. With businesses being closed around Christmas, it’ll probably be after the holidays before I can get anything done.” She didn’t seem to mind, and neither did I. “Besides,” I added, “didn’t you mention earlier that you can make a killer chicken pot pie?”