CELESTE MOVED THE lush wildflower arrangement for a third time and checked her watch. She couldn’t wait to meet Nash’s friend Macy. She vaguely remembered her face from last year’s Feed Hope fundraiser, but they hadn’t officially made acquaintances yet. She wondered what the PR guru would be like in person. From every picture she’d seen online, she knew Macy was a beautiful woman. Long blond hair and legs for days. She also knew from Nash that she had a big heart and loved to help others succeed. She seemed a perfect fit for her Angel Therapy business.

The sound of tires rolling over gravel pulled Celeste to the present. She nervously fingered the angel wing necklace at her throat. She was excited to meet Macy and the mystery friend she was bringing with her. At the last minute yesterday, Celeste received a cryptic text from Macy explaining that she had a friend joining her on the road trip down from New York. It didn’t seem too professional to bring a friend along for a business meeting, but she trusted Nash, so she trusted Macy by extension. There must be a reason for the tagalong friend.

She pulled open the front door only to have her breath knocked right out of her. Standing in front of her was the most ridiculously handsome man she’d seen in ages. His dark brown hair swooped messily to the side, revealing a small scar on his forehead. A warm smile stretched across his face, showcasing a row of straight white teeth. He set two Burberry plaid suitcases onto the front porch, his intense eyes never leaving hers. She was rooted to the spot, barely aware when he reached out for her hand.

Move, you idiot! Say something.

She lifted her hand to meet his in greeting. She wasn’t sure who this man was, but her insides didn’t care at the moment. Her stomach flipped when their hands touched. A warm current shot through her arm all the way to her belly. Oh, no. She opened her mouth to speak, but her dry throat constricted.

The crunching sound of shoes on the stone walkway broke the spell and Celeste saw a flash of blond hair peeking from behind the guy’s broad shoulders. A delicate hand gently wrapped around the man’s bicep, easing him aside so the woman could get through. A large grin broke out across the woman’s face, her skin noticeably flawless. “You must be Celeste St. Angelo,” she said, leaning in for a hug. “I’m Macy, and this door blocker is my friend Egan.”

Celeste froze as Macy’s arms wrapped warmly around her. She glanced up at Egan and cringed. So this was Macy’s “friend.” How mortifying! She’d openly drooled over Macy’s boyfriend. Egan winked at Celeste, humor crinkling the corner of his hazel eyes.

Well, I’m glad one of us finds this amusing. Celeste closed her eyes and said a quick prayer to St. Michael, asking him for strength and forgiveness.

Macy pulled back from the hug but took Celeste’s hands in her own. “It’s so nice to meet you in person. Nash has nothing but amazing things to say about you, and I’ve seen your artwork in person. It’s absolutely gorgeous!” Macy beamed at Celeste before her eyes roamed the large open room behind her.

“Thank you. I’m so sorry—I don’t mean to make you stand there. Please, come in. Welcome to Tranquility!” Celeste backed up to let Macy and Egan all the way in.

Egan grunted as he hoisted the two suitcases into the foyer. “I didn’t realize we were staying a month, Macy. Good Lord, what did you pack, woman?” Egan laughed when Macy turned and stuck out her tongue in his direction. “Excuse me, ladies, but now that I carried in her highness’s bags, I need to go grab my own from the car. I’ll be right back.”

Celeste didn’t mean to stare after his retreating form, but sweet baby Jesus, the man was built. His broad back narrowed at the waist, and his backside—it was round and firm, like sugar plums. Celeste bit the inside of her cheek, her eyes never leaving Egan’s confident stride.

“Celeste?”

Celeste shook her head. She’d forgotten that Macy was still standing there with her. “Huh?”

Macy laughed. “Yeah, I know. He’s pretty hot, isn’t he?”

Huh?

“I felt the same way when I first met him. And he’s a really nice guy, too, even if he is a little lost right now. You just don’t meet guys like Egan very often,” she said quietly.

Celeste stared at Macy, trying to read her reaction. “How long have you guys been together?” she asked, wanting to shift gears and get the topic away from how insanely hot he was.

“We’re not together,” Macy sputtered. “Not like that. He’s one of my best friends. He’s not ready for love anyway. Not that I am either,” she hurried to clarify. “We’ve decided to stick to just being friends.”

Macy’s admission didn’t exactly mean that she wasn’t interested. Just that they’d kept it in the friendship zone so far. Celeste wondered why Macy was sharing all of this with her. But she wasn’t really surprised. As an empath, people often over shared with her; they sensed that she was a good listener. “Well, I’m sure you will both find love when you’re ready for it. Sometimes it comes at the most unexpected time and in the most unexpected of places. We just have to be open to it, but not search too hard. It’s a delicate balance.”

“You’re not kidding!” Macy agreed. She looked around the spacious great room that led into the open kitchen and dining area. “Your space here is lovely. I couldn’t help but admire the large lawn at the front of the property. It’ll be perfect for an evening garden party for your grand opening. It’s such a magical place. I’m imaging fairy lights strung up in the trees, arbors made of twisted branches and overflowing with flowers, candle light . . .” Macy sighed. “It’ll be elegant and beautiful, but peaceful.” She looked at Celeste, angling her head. Then she added, “Like you.”

Heat crept into Celeste’s cheeks from the compliment. She looked up just as Egan made his way back through the front door with a simple duffle bag and an over-the-shoulder messenger bag. Her cheeks flushed further when their gazes met. Ugh! Body, stop! Celeste commanded. What in the world was wrong with her? “Would you guys like a tour of the property, or are you tired?”

“We drove most of the way last night, and just a few hours this morning,” Macy said. “I’d love to see the property. Egan, are you up for coming?”

Egan’s eyes never left Celeste’s. “Wouldn’t miss it. Where can we set these bags first?”

Celeste reached for one of the suitcases. “Well, we’re wrapping up renovations right now, so all of my guest suites aren’t quite finished. If it’s okay with you, I’ll put Macy in the one finished room upstairs. It’s the master suite and has the best view of the lake that sits behind the property. It has a beautiful screened-in porch, too, with a hammock swing. You’ll love it.” She glanced over at Egan. “I’ll put you in my room downstairs, and I can bunk in my office. I have a queen sleeper sofa set up in there.”

“Absolutely not. I can take the office. Especially since you were gracious enough to let me tag along with Macy. I’m not having you give up the comforts of your own room.”

Celeste nodded and followed Macy up the grand staircase. She watched as Macy ran her hands along the impressive length of iron as she made her way up the stairs.

“It’s gorgeous, isn’t it? The original owner was an artist and built this banister himself. I’m not clear why he wanted to sell the place, though. I don’t think I’ll ever leave.”

“You must mean Mitch Michaelson,” Macy responded. “His work was amazing.”

“Did he make that impressive phoenix sculpture we drove by on the way into the property, then?” Egan asked, coming up the stairs behind Celeste.

Celeste glanced over her shoulder and nearly lost her balance when their eyes met. He reached out to steady her hip so she didn’t fall backward.

“Yes, that’s his handiwork,” she managed to squeak out, her hip tingling beneath the heat of Egan’s palm. Celeste needed to get a grip. She was on a love hiatus for God’s sake, and she needed to maintain a professional image if she was going to work with Macy. Besides, she’d vowed to never mix business with pleasure again, especially after Rhys.

After showing Macy to her room and giving them both a tour of the top floor, Celeste walked back downstairs with Egan. Macy would freshen up and meet them on the front porch in thirty minutes.

“Here, follow me,” Celeste said, motioning to Egan when they reached the foyer once more.

“Anywhere,” Egan said, a charming smile softening his strong jawline.

Celeste rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help returning a cheesy smile. She led Egan down the back stairs that were nestled away behind the kitchen. They led to the basement, though since the home was built on a hill, plenty of natural light poured in through the sliding glass doors that ran along the entire back side of the space.

“What’s down here?” Egan asked, looking around.

“Well, my bedroom for starters—to give me some privacy when I have guests. I also have an office space, a small kitchen, a bathroom, a meditation and prayer room, and my treatment room.”

“Treatment room?”

Celeste stopped in front of her office door, which was right next to her bedroom. Maybe this isn’t such a great idea having him down here, after all.

“Didn’t Macy tell you about my business?” Celeste asked.

Egan shook his head. “Not really. She showed me some of your artwork. I went with Macy to the fundraiser last year. I’m not sure how our paths didn’t cross, but I’m sure I would have remembered meeting you.”

It was a simple statement, but it made Celeste’s insides melt. She licked her lips. “Yes, my art is a portion of my work. But the larger part of my business is called Angel Therapy. It’s kind of hard to explain, but I do energy healing work, workshops, counseling, that kind of thing.”

Egan looked puzzled.

“Have you ever heard of Reiki?” Celeste asked.

Egan shook his head. “Can’t say that I have.”

“It’s a Japanese healing practice. It allows me to use energy to help the healing process in people. I help them unblock anything that’s preventing them from healing or moving forward. Oftentimes we carry emotional traumas in our bodies, and they create so much pain they begin to manifest as physical symptoms. A Reiki therapist can help restore a client’s physical and emotional balance, even if they didn’t realize that’s what was out of whack.”

“‘Out of whack’. . . is that a professional term?” Egan grinned.

“Highly technical,” Celeste said, suppressing her laughter. “Here, this is my office.” She led him into her cozy library space. “I’m sorry it’s not larger. If you’d come just one week later, the other upstairs suites would’ve been done and you could’ve had a much larger room. I hope this will do.”

Egan looked around, taking in the floor-to-ceiling bookcases that lined two adjoining walls and took up a majority of the space. “These are gorgeous. Are you a big reader?” Egan set his duffle bag onto the pull-out sofa that Celeste had already made up. As he lifted his messenger bag over his head, his shirt rode up, and Celeste inhaled sharply when she caught a glimpse of his toned stomach, his abs flush and tight beneath the buckle of his jeans.

She cleared her throat and quickly turned her face to avoid meeting his gaze. The raw surge of heat went straight to her belly this time, skipping her cheeks entirely. She hadn’t had a reaction like this to a man in a long, long time.

“Voracious,” she whispered.

Egan looked at Celeste and lifted a brow, amused. “Are we still talking about reading?”

Celeste flushed and cleared her throat. “I’d better let you get settled. I’ll see you up on the front porch in a few?”

Celeste didn’t wait for an answer. She turned and hurried upstairs, making her way to the laundry room. She closed the door behind her and stood there in the dark, her heart racing. She ran her hand up along her chest to her neck, trying to roll away the tension and desire that had seared inside of her during her exchange with Egan. This was not good at all.

“It’s just attraction,” she whispered to herself. “It doesn’t mean a thing.”

But deep in the pit of her stomach, she felt an ache. More like a flutter. Something was awakening that she thought she’d long since tempered. Hope.