He thinks he can wait me out. He is very wrong.

The gothic Victorian house on the lake was made for me. From the turrets to the intricate gingham details, it's an interior designer's wet dream. I'd spend my lunch break coming up with wild ideas on what to do with it when I could afford it one day. Then the worst thing happened—a sold sign.

Some stranger named Nolan Devereaux bought it. He's an infuriating know-it-all who has no understanding of the perfection of what he has.

When my sister, Macy, moved to small town Crescent Cove, I thought she'd lost her mind. Then she started building a life—one that didn't include me. At first it didn't bother me so much, but I'm tired of the living out of a suitcase. I want to get to know my family again, including my two insane nephews and bonus niece. The minute I saw that Victorian house on the lake, I knew it was where I belonged.

But this loud and opinionated designer keeps butting into my renovations. Dahlia McKenna—aka the wrecking ball—doesn't know the meaning of the words private property. But the more she pushes her way into my life, the more I'm wondering if she's been the missing piece all along.

Author's Note: Mixed media artist Nolan Devereaux never thought anyone could drag him away from his blowtorch or his drafting desk until a designer with a hidden dark side crashed into his life. Daddy By Design is a standalone romantic comedy with a happily-ever-after ending and no cliffhanger.