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“Who is it?” she called.
“Your favorite neighbor.”
“Albert?”
I huffed. “Try again.”
“The worm?”
I had to laugh. She couldn’t make anything easy, could she?
The door swung open, and she stood there dressed in the same tight skirt and tall heels that got my attention this morning. “I thought that was you.”
I handed her the clean plate. “Here you go. Freshly washed.”
She examined the plate, then scratched a couple of spots and nodded. “A solid B-plus.”
I laughed. Cracking her open wouldn’t be easy. But hadn’t I always liked a challenge?
Her scrutiny finally turned to me. “What happened to you? Did you get into a fight with Barney?”
I looked down at my wine-stained clothes. “Something like that. Know a good dry cleaner?”
She walked into her apartment but left the door open like she wanted me to follow her inside. I did and shut the door behind me.
“I know everyone. And everyone knows me. That’s why I’ll convince the councilmembers to keep the theater intact.” She glanced over her shoulder and shot me a look. It was less a glare and more playful, so I crossed my arms and let my lips curl into a grin.
“Is that right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“How are you going to compete with the promise of safety and prosperity? You really think something like heritage and history can measure up?”
“What if I do?”
“Then I might be tempted to call you delusional,” I answered, but my lips curled up even more.
“Not the worst thing you’ve called me,” she said, mirroring my grin.
“I beg your pardon. You’re the one who keeps name-calling. I’ve been nothing but polite.”
“Polite,” she repeated.
“Should I get you a dictionary?”
One eyebrow lifted, and she gave me that sassy look that made me feel all fizzy inside. “Let’s rewind what you just said, and you can tell me how polite it was.”
I laughed. “Fair. Listen, I’m trying, all right?”
“The better to stab me in the back,” she answered.
“You really think that little of me?” I meant to keep the tone light, but the question came out quiet.
Charlie bit her lip. “I…” She sighed. “I don’t know.”
“I’m not trying to wreck this town,” I told her. “I’m just trying to do what I think is best.”
She searched my gaze like she’d be able to read the truth there. I wasn’t even sure what the truth was anymore. The theater was a dump, but it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought. This house, her apartment…there was charm here that I hadn’t seen before.
