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TWENTY-FOUR
CHARLIE
Despite the practice I’d had the night before, I still felt nervous about calling Sebastian to pitch the plan to him.
He answered on the first ring. “Your footsteps sound anxious, sweetheart.”
“That’s very creepy of you,” I said, but my voice had no heat. “Do you always judge your neighbors’ moods by their walking?”
“Only you, Charlie.”
Not knowing what to do with that answer, I straightened my shoulders. “I have a proposition for you. About the Monticello.”
I couldn’t read his pause. Then he said, “I’m listening.”
“Meet me there in an hour?”
“Sure,” he said, and I pulled the phone away from my ear to let out a sigh of relief.
That’s how I ended up waiting by the lobby doors for him to arrive, my head tilted up to the New Elwood spring sunshine as I tried to settle my nerves.
I heard his car a few moments before it turned the corner and came to a smooth stop in front of me. He stepped out wearing navy pants, a fitted white tee, and flawless white sneakers. He looked like he belonged anywhere but New Elwood. The sun shone on his sable hair as he turned to face me. Though his eyes were shaded by dark sunglasses, I felt his gaze like a touch.
I wished I’d worn something other than the fluttery weekend sundress I chose this morning. I should have worn my pencil skirt uniform or my housework clothes. The dress danced in the warm spring breeze around my knees, and I felt naked before him. I didn’t want to feel naked. I wanted to feel powerful and in control.
I gave him a casual little wave. “Hi. Thanks for meeting me.”
He prowled toward me. “Didn’t see you yesterday,” he noted as he came to a stop in front of me. He was a foot or two away from me, but I still felt his presence like a force field pushing against me. I didn’t know if I wanted to lean into the feeling or tuck tail and run away. When he slipped his sunglasses off, his eyes searched mine. “Is everything okay?”
“I wanted to run something by you,” I said, and my heart took off at a gallop. What had seemed like a great idea when I was two margaritas and a couple of glasses of wine deep, surrounded by encouraging hoots and smiling faces, now seemed like a pipe dream. I’d be asking him to give up his precious profits to allow me to save a piece of history that had no meaning to him.
But I had to try. “Want to go inside?”
“Sure,” he said, gaze lingering on me for a long moment, as if he wanted to drink me in. Or maybe he was just trying to figure out my angle, or wondering whether he should bring up The Events Which Should Not Be Named. His keys jangled as he took them out of his pocket, and he unlocked the lobby door and opened it to let me step in first.
I was about to make a snarky comment, but something stayed my tongue. He didn’t seem like he was putting on an act. It was natural for him to open the door for me. He’d done it the first time we came here with Rex too.
Maybe Sophie was right. Maybe I was right, and he wasn’t as bad as I’d originally thought.
“The suspense is killing me,” he said as he joined me on the section of broken tile near the lobby doors. “When I saw your name come up on my phone, I thought…”
I glanced over. It was dark, and his eyes were shadowed. “You thought?”
His lips gave a bitter twist. “I didn’t think you’d want to see me.”
“Well, here’s the thing. I have an idea to pitch to you, and I’d like to know if you’re willing to hear me out.”
We faced each other. Sebastian popped a brow. “You seem…nervous. It’s strange. I’m not sure I like it. Say something rude to me so I know you’re okay.”
“Quiet, Anderson. I don’t want your lip right now.”
A grin curled his mouth. “That’s better.”
Huffing a laugh, I squared my shoulders and gathered myself up. If he didn’t like my idea, so be it. I’d just have to campaign to save the theater based on its historical value alone, and that would have to be enough. But if there was a chance that we could make something better…
“Your plan is to create a new hotel that will attract all the winos to our beautiful town. You’re promising an injection of cash with increased tourism, which will give New Elwood a new lease on life.”
He crossed his arms, the fabric of his tee bunching over his arms. “Correct.”
