“Trent. It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.” Trent was worried he’d break her hand when his covered hers. Her skin was like silk, but her grip would make Harper smile with appreciation. His cousin was a fan of women capable of kicking ass.
“I cannot thank you enough for coming to install the pieces yourself. I am such a huge fan of your work. I have two rugs laid out in the living room and I just can’t decide which one to put in here. Can I see the pieces and then can we decide? I’d like to have your opinion.”
Trent smiled at her as he relaxed. Honest praise for his work was hotter than any skimpy outfit. He hadn’t expected America’s Sweetheart to even be here, never mind wanting to participate.
“Sure. Gentlemen, can you open the back of the truck?”
Karri hurried out with them as Skye fell into step with him. “What did you think of the lights I selected? I can change them if you think they’re not a good fit. I was going for subtle since I want the furniture to be the center of attention.”
“I think they’re perfect. Miss Hill was telling me you’re going to use it in a photo shoot next week.”
Skye nodded. She looked up to him with such joy that Trent instantly felt comfortable. He’d expected aloofness and elitism, but Skye wasn’t any of that. “I have a dining room in the other wing. But if I have a chance to show off a custom made TAF Design, then I’m doing it. You are an artist with wood.”
They walked out the front door as Karri clapped her hand to her chest. “Oh, Skye. You’re going to freak.”
Skye gave up all pretense of calm and ran barefoot down to the driveway to look into the back of the truck. “Oh my gosh. It’s better than I imagined. Trent, you’re a genius. Karri, look!”
Trent held his breath as one of the movers brought out one of the pieces and set it down. He didn’t tell her about this design and was nervous that it might have been too personal.
“How did you know?” Karri asked even as her hand still covered her mouth with surprise.
“I did my research, too. I couldn’t find much information on it, but I kept finding references to how much the Onondaga Nation meant to you. I read that you regularly go back there to speak with the kids on the reservation. I took a chance that it was special to you.”
“I grew up on the reservation. I’m part of the Wolf Clan,” Karri told him with tears in her eyes. “Skye and I met freshman year at Syracuse University. And since Skye’s family is from Iowa, she spent a lot of time at my home and has done a lot to help our reservation. She was made an honorary member of our clan a couple of years ago.”
Trent looked down at the carved pattern on the piece of wood. It was the pattern from the Hiawatha Belt.
“The two squares at each end and then the two rectangles on the inside symbolize each of the five nations—the Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, and Mohawk—with the Tree of Peace in the center representing the Onondaga. Then the line that connects them all represents that each nation is connected in peace,” Karri told him as her fingers traced the carving.
“This is beautiful, Trent.” Skye had her arm wrapped around Karri as they both wiped tears from their eyes.
Skye turned and suddenly she was in his arms. Her arms were around his waist and her head on his chest as she hugged him tightly. “I can’t tell you how much this means to us.” Skye let go of him and then turned to Karri. “Your parents are so going to cry when they come to visit next month. Now, let’s take a look at the rugs and then we can start moving things inside.”
The private wing was nothing like the public wing. The living room was still large, but it was soft and welcoming. Skye had turned this wing into a real home. There were pictures everywhere and not a single one had another celebrity in them.
“Who’s this?” Trent asked as he looked at a large picture of a little girl sitting on a huge tractor in the middle of a cornfield. She had freckles across the bridge of her nose and her hair was in braided pigtails.