But she knew that he had dozens of more important things to take care of than trying to woo her via a couple of cute little boxes full of sugar. Perhaps if he kept sending her surprises, then maybe that would mean that he was actually trying to romance her, but she couldn’t imagine him continuing to take the time to come up with more surprises for a woman he’d only just met and who had turned down his offer to take her out on a date.

For the rest of the day, she deliberately pushed her thoughts of him to the background. But before she shut down her laptop for the night, she made sure to write him another polite email.

Adam,

Thank you for sending me the box of incredible candies. Your cousin truly is a genius and I would appreciate it if you could give me her contact information. Perhaps I could help with the first step in her going pro?

Best,

Kerry

* * *

The next morning, when the delivery man arrived with only one package—a sample of hand-painted dinnerware that she’d ordered from an artist in Oregon—Kerry couldn’t stop the sinking in her stomach. Though it was all for the best that Adam had stopped sending her surprises, what woman wouldn’t want to know she was wanted by a man like him? Even if she wasn’t interested...

But a few moments later, Joe walked back in, carrying another box. One that looked incredibly fragile. “I didn’t want this to get crushed. Not when it’s such a great-looking package.”

Adam hadn’t forgotten her.

Joe had been delivering packages to her for the past couple of years, and she knew he was happily married with two young children. Clearly, by the way he was smiling at her, he was hoping she’d find herself in the same place soon. “There’s no card with this one.”

She frowned. “There isn’t?”

“I looked everywhere in my truck for it just in case it fell out, but I didn’t find anything.”

“Thanks, Joe. I’m pretty sure I know who it’s from, even without the card.”

His eyes twinkled, and though she could see he wanted to ask for more details, he was as professional as ever, simply wishing her a good day before heading out to make the rest of his morning deliveries.

She ran her finger over the lid, trying to guess what could possibly be inside, before finally opening it.

Oh my.

Kerry’s breath went when she saw what was inside, and she suddenly wasn’t so sure she’d be able to get it back any time soon. Not when she was staring down at an impeccably rendered model of Dromoland Castle, which her ancestors had begun building back in the late sixteenth century, made entirely out of candy, cookies, and frosting.

The castle smelled spicy and so yummy that she was tempted to lick the frosting to see if it would taste as good as it looked. Only, Kerry knew she had already given in to temptation one too many times where Adam was concerned. And clearly, another email wasn’t going to cut it today. There was no telling herself, this time, that he was just trying to hook her up with new suppliers for her weddings.

No one had ever had something so amazing made for her before. She couldn’t imagine why he wanted to date her so badly—maybe because she was the only female challenge he’d ever encountered? But despite all the lovely gifts, they hadn’t changed her mind.

A few delicious sweets, no matter how breathtakingly original or perfect for her, didn’t mean he would ever be a stick-to-one-woman kind of guy.

Quickly confirming that her first meeting wasn’t for a couple of hours, she carefully closed the lid on the most amazing gift anyone had ever given her and picked up her purse. It was time to go see Adam in person to thank him for his latest gift.

And to tell him in no uncertain terms that she still wasn’t going to date him.

CHAPTER THREE

Kerry had heard of Adam Sullivan long before he’d ever set foot inside her office for their meeting. For most of the past decade, he’d been considered the West Coast’s top architect specializing in historic renovations. In fact, the building she lived in had been one of his first projects.

Still, she wasn’t prepared for how lovely his office was. Not at all big or flashy, like that of an architect whose wedding she’d planned who had practically plated his office walls in gold, Adam’s office was in an Arts and Crafts style building, and as far as she could tell, every piece was preserved. As she ran her hand over the gorgeous wood beam, she had to admit that the fact that he clearly loved history so much was yet another interesting facet to him.

Of course, that was right when he opened the front door and caught her fondling his building. She dropped her hand as if it were on fire.

Darn it, she was even being seduced by his building!

Unfortunately, looking at his gorgeous face didn’t help her snap out of the seduction. What had she been thinking coming here today? A phone call would have worked just as well, and then she wouldn’t have had to shove away this insta-lust that was shooting hot and fast through her veins every time she looked at him.

“Well, this is a nice surprise.” His smile was so warm and sexy all at once that it sent the heartbeat she was working to slow jumping again. “Come inside.”

Glad for the training her mother had instilled in her on how to be poised in any situation, no matter how nerve-racking, Kerry moved past him. The inside was even more stunning than the exterior. “Your office is beautiful.”

“Thank you.” He sounded pleased by her admiration. “I had my eye on it for years and made a dozen offers before the owner finally let me have it. Want a tour?”