Free A Match Made in Heaven by Colleen Coble

did. To find out he was like all the rest, that he was only out for what was best for himself, left her bereft.
    “I thought this was Your leading, Lord,” she whispered as she drove to Gram’s. “I thought You had brought me and Nick together. What am I supposed to do?” Her lips trembled, and she fought the tears. She parked in the lot outside the retirement home and leaned her forehead against the steering wheel. “What now, God?” She stayed like that for what seemed like forever then began to feel a sense of peace and purpose.
    Nick may have let her down, but God was still there and in control. She would do the best job she could. If Nick wanted a design that matched his own vision, she’d give him one he’d never forget. She grabbed her drawing pad and supplies from the trunk and hurried inside.
    Her grandmother met her at the door. “Why, Callie, whatever is wrong? Have you and Nick had a fight?”
    “Not exactly,” she said shortly. “But I don’t want to talk about it. Can I use your spare room tonight? I have work to do, and I’ll be interrupted at home.”
    “Of course, Darling. I’ll fix you a cup of tea. That will calm you, and maybe you’ll be ready to talk about it.”
    “It would take more than tea to calm me, Gram,” she said with a sigh. Carrying her supplies, she went down the hall to the spare room and shut the door. Through the long evening she drew feverishly and prayed just as fervently for inspiration. Using her laptop, she downloaded pictures of furnishings from the Internet. She pasted swatches of material on her presentation board along with the sketches and pictures. By dawn she had a new design that would wow the Millers. It wasn’t what Barbara needed, but at least it would match Nick’s design.
    A fresh wave of despair flooded her at the thought of Nick. His perfidy had knocked the even keel out of her world and left her disoriented. If Nick could be that self-seeking, no man could be trusted. And that’s what she would remember from now on. No more blind dates for her.
    She slipped out of Gram’s apartment and locked the door behind her. Driving through the empty streets of Heaven, she felt invigorated. Nick wouldn’t be able to replace her when she showed up at that meeting with a perfect proposal. Barbara wouldn’t desert her. Of course, working with him under the circumstances would be excruciating, but it couldn’t be helped. Maybe it would be a reminder not to be so gullible again.
    She went to her apartment to shower and get ready for the meeting. There were ten messages from Nick, each one more frantic than the last. Too bad she couldn’t believe the tenderness in his voice. She blinked away the tears with determination. She had no time for weakness. There was a battle to be won, and she intended to be the victor.
    She dressed in a lime green suit with a cream blouse. Twisting her hair into its familiar bun, she gazed at her reflection and shook her head. If there was one thing she’d learned from this, it was to be her own woman. With a flourish she pulled the pins from her hair and let her red locks cascade to her shoulders. She caught the sides back with a clasp then changed into a pair of khaki slacks with a blazer.
    Slipping her feet into loafers, she turned and marched to the door. It was time the world met the real Callie Stevens. Including Mr. Nick Darling.
    Nick sprang to his feet when she walked in the door to his office. Dark circles rimmed his eyes. “Callie, I’ve been worried sick. Where have you been?” His gaze traveled over her face, and a tender smile tilted his lips. “You finally have your hair down. It’s so beautiful.”
    Heat flooded her face, and she ignored his comment about her hair. “I was at Gram’s,” she said shortly. “Are you ready for our presentation?”
    “Yes, but I have your presentation board on the table with my drawings. You don’t need another copy.”
    Barbara and Warren were already perusing the plans,