Page 14 of Sunset Catchers

4

When I first read the email detailing Kit’s project to build two small cottages to turn into rental properties, tears were almost shed.

The cottages are located in the piece of paradise that is Prince Edward County in Ontario. So not only will I get to design these spaces, but I’ll also have the chance to spend a few weeks here and have some sort of vacation. Which I am overdue for.

The gravel lane rumbles under my tires as I drive up to the cottages, the forest on either side dappling the sun streaming through my windshield.

After I’ve come to a full stop and parked, I turn the ignition off, and after my car door closes with a loud thump, I stop to admire the settings of where I’ll be living for a few weeks.

This parcel Kit bought years ago is so very charming. The clearing where the cottages have been built is all long, green grass leading to cedar trees, giving a rustic quality to the scenery.

It’s the perfect setting for the colorful show that are the cottages. One is a pale lavender color with bright lime-green trimmings and doors. The other is pink with red accents. They are totally in line with Kit’s style. Both cottages also have their own covered porches and swings.

It’s like her own home had babies.

My shoes crunch on the gravel path as I walk toward the smaller cottage, the pink one, my belongings in tow. Kit had kindly offered me a spare room in her house while I worked on her project. An offer to which I’d said, No, but thank you so much, because I could not imagine something more uncomfortable than living in the home of someone I barely knew.

Staying here instead is really the perfect scenario for me. I’ll be able to start work as early in the day as I want and continue into the night if I want to. I love immersing myself in projects and getting my hands dirty with anything I can take on, which hasn’t happened in a while. Back home, I was mostly working behind a computer all day long. I did visit construction sites quite often, but just to supervise and make sure everything went smoothly and according to plan.

Once the door is unlocked, I step inside the empty cottage. Well, almost empty.

Thankfully, the bed frame and mattress have already been delivered and assembled—I won’t have to camp out on the floor. Although I do want most of the furniture to be second-hand, I hadn’t wanted to skimp when it came to the sleeping amenities. Kit had headily agreed and hadn’t minded paying more to ensure her future guests would be comfortable and well rested.

There is nothing worse than getting to your vacation rental, only to have the worst night of sleep on some lumpy mattress. Plus, it’s another positive point guests will be able to include in their future reviews.

I dropped my bags on the floor.

Home sweet home.

By the time I have changed into my black matching set and thrown my hair into a high messy bun; knocks on the door.

“Door is unlocked,” I call out, as I come out of the bedroom, just in time to see Levi open the door.

He doesn’t come all the way in; he stays at the threshold.

I halt a few feet away, suddenly aware that this is sort of a weird situation. We’re sizing each other up, both unsure of how to proceed next. I think we’ve just realized it’s just going to be us two strangers from now on. And since we seem to be the same age, there’s this instant opportunity of kinship between us. If he were a girl, I bet we’d be friends already.

We’re staring each other down but not frowning. For now.

The day is still quite young.

The top part of Levi’s coverall is tied at his waist, leaving his torso in a plain white t-shirt. My gaze drops toward his bare arms. I hold in my sigh in my nostrils.

They are really nice arms.

His own focus is fixed on the slice of exposed, light-brown skin of my waist. And ah!, there he goes, frowning. I hope he’s not taking offense to my crop top; if he can show some skin, so can I!

“Hi,” I say.

“Hi,” he says back. Not moving an inch.

Well, I’m definitely also frowning now.

“Do you need an official invitation to be let in or…?”

He lets out a friendly chuckle before saying, “not a vampire, so no,” then steps further into the cottage, closing the door behind him.

My brows jump.