From the Moment We Met Read Online Free PDF Page A

our morning walk, and it got us thinking, ‘Now, wouldn’t that be nice?’”
    Yes, lovely and nice, lovely and nice, lovely and nice. They were the only adjectives the woman knew. Oh my God , Abby was going to lose it right there. On Mrs. Hampton’s settee. With The Duke playing witness.
    “Then I ran into your brother, Nathaniel, at the market, such a nice boy.” She gave that smile that every woman between newborn and not quite embalmed gave when they encountered Abby’s older brother. “I was buying some prime rib for The Duke’s dinner and Nathaniel told me that you helped him design the alpaca habitat. Invited me over for a tour, even gave me a bottle of that fancy wine of his wife’s, and I have to say I was impressed.”
    “With the wine?”
    “With the habitat. Although, that I acquired a bottle of Red Steel was all the talk at the Garden Society’s Friday tea.”
    “I bet.” Abby was going to be sick.
    “But the real star was that habitat. What a serene, playful, and perfect space you created, Abigail.” She patted the dog’s head. “Only we want ours red and with bones. Maybe even a little siren he can ring.” The Duke looked up at his mistress and barked, and Babs clapped once with excitement. “Or maybe a palace-themed habitat. I see royal, regal, elegantly fit for a duke. But with hydrants. Gold ones.”
    “I only directed Nate to a site that sold habitat blueprints. I didn’t actually design it.”
    “He said you helped add on the reading room and exercise corral as their wedding present.”
    “Yes, I did.”
    Screw sick, she was furious. Not only had Nate butted into her life, something that all of her brothers had spent a lifetime mastering, he also felt as though he had to bribe an old lady with fancy wine in order for Abby to book an interview—for a freaking habitat.
    Closing her eyes, she let her head drop back against the couch, wondering how she could have been so stupid.
    Her husband was naked on her lawn and the entire town was flocking to get a look. Her family thought she was as good as her last closet. She was considering taking a job building a doghouse for a four-legged duke. And, oh God , the worst part of all—Tanner had all but told her so.
    Her life was a mess. She was a mess. A talentless, jobless, pathetic mess.
    Your designs speak for themselves. If they pass, it’s their loss.
    Tanner had been wrong on both counts. Her designs wouldn’t be seen, let alone heard, and if Babs passed, it would be Abby who lost out. And she didn’t know if she’d bounce back. Because after her hellish day, she stood to lose a whole lot more than a stupid job.
    Tears burned her throat, so she reminded herself that her designs were incredible.
    So what if she was called here to pitch a glorified doghouse? She had designed million-dollar wineries. Completely renovated an Italian farmhouse, making it one of the most exclusive destination rentals on the Mediterranean. Who cared if the property belonged to her family? They hadn’t done the work, she had.
    Every grueling and inspired inch of it.
    “I’m sorry, Mrs. Hampton.” Abby sat up and snatched the proposal right out from under The Duke’s paws. “My firm no longer specializes in nurseries or habitats. I came here to help you turn that old bottling plant into a wine and cheese shop that will be the envy of the vine and curd community. I want to make your dream a reality and ensure that your shop shines.”
    Babs took the offered package and flipped through it, her eyes scanning with practiced precision, her fingers running down the length of the pages. Abby could see it, the way her face lit with excitement, how her hands shook as she saw the potential of what Abby’s Designs could bring to her shop.
    “This is impressive,” Babs said, professional appreciation lacing her voice.
    Then she reached the proposed budget Abby had put together and her eyes dimmed. Not a lot, but enough that the back of Abby’s throat began to