Page 20 of When You Were Mine

“I’m glad for that. And no, I don’t know the guest list, but I’ll let her know the urgency in getting it to us.”

“Now, do you have any thoughts on décor? Style? Colors?”

He shook his head. “I hired you for your vision. You have carte blanche to do whatever you want.”

“Okay, well, I think we should reflect the environment with charcoal gray walls to mimic the lava and bathroom tiles in the deep blues of the thermal baths and greens of the moss that covers the lava. I love the idea of chandeliers and hanging lights that glow like the aurora borealis.”

He shivered. “I just got a chill.” He held out his forearm. “Do you see that? Wow. I love it.” He flicked a hand.Go on.

“I think every aspect should be Icelandic. Which means bespoke artwork and sculptures, but”—she held up a finger in case he was about to warn her about the time factor—“for our immediate purposes, we’ll visit art galleries and purchase what we need for the wedding. At the end of spring, I can come back and focus on the rugs and fixtures and the rest of the décor. Unless you need it sooner, in which case I’ll have to find an interior designer who understands our vision.”

“Nope. We’re not hiring anyone else. After the wedding, you can work at your own pace.”

“Okay, then.” She shoved her notebook and pen into her tote. “I’ve got my work cut out for me.”

“Aren’t you exhausted from the flight? You didn’t sleep.”

“I’ll sleep when I get home, but right now, I need to set up tastings and interviews. I can only do that during work hours.” She stood up. “Do you want to come with me? Taste the food, drink the wine?”

“Taste the food of three Michelin-rated chefs? I think I could squeeze it into my schedule.” His phone buzzed at that exact moment, and he read the screen. “That’s her.” He waggled the phone. “My sister’s here.” Excitement had him hopping out of the chair. “Let me introduce you to her and her fiancé. Come on.”

“Great.” She followed him out of the office. “Now, where can I set up shop?”

He tapped out a message on his phone. “Let me get my assistant. He’ll set you up with everything you need. Sound good?”

“Perfect.”

“Great. Come meet the bride and groom.”

As they headed down the hallway toward the lobby, Jess’s mind spun with ideas. Crisp white bedding to go with the charcoal gray walls. Mirrored nightstands to add a little sparkle against the dark—they’d echo the night sky of this remote location. Burgundy velvet couches in the lobby—with black, mirrored throw pillows.

No, no, no.Let’s keep it thematically tied to the landscape and go with green velvet. The same color as the moss. “I’d like to get my hands on vintage photographs and historic maps of Iceland to go on the walls.”

“Well, you’re in luck because my grandfather was a collector. My assistant will take you to the owner’s quarters, and you can have a look around. Take whatever you’d like for the resort. I really like that idea, by the way.”

Voices in the entryway grew louder. From the conversation, she had a sense of the couple’s dynamic. Where the woman was loud, bold, and had an infectious laugh, the fiancé was quieter, confident. He seemed to give her all the space her personality needed.

A good match.

And then, the man burst out laughing.

The sound hit like a strike to her funny bone. “Who’s she marrying? I never asked.”

But there was no way. It’s not possible.

I’ve just been thinking about him a lot lately because of the move to Calamity.

There’s zero chance Trevor Montgomery is in this random hotel in Iceland at the same time as me.

Chris gave her a mischievous smile. “I’m not sure whether to surprise you or warn you.”

But before she could respond, a man in gym shorts and a tank top came hurrying toward them. “What?” He swiped the sweat off his face. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, good. You’re here.” Chris gestured to her. “Jessica Elsworth, this is my assistant, Jasper. When I asked if he’d make the move to Iceland with him, he gave me a list of demands?—”

“Really?” Jasper clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “A treadmill and weights are a whole list?”

“Let’s not forget the granola.” Chris grinned. “He’ll only eat one brand and one flavor, so we have to special-order it. In any event, Jasper, this is Jessica, our resort designer.”

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