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The mayor’s chair creaked as he leaned back, interest sparking in his gaze. “That’s a wonderful idea. I can’t wait to hear more. I have to say, I’m impressed. And relieved. I was worried you two might strangle each other over the rails of the grand staircase, but I can see this project’s brought you two together.” The man had no idea. “Anything else you’d like to share?”
Charlie and I looked at each other. “No.”
“Then I’ll see you both at the gala.”
He would. And I would make sure I had a solution by then, because I knew one thing. I wasn’t giving Charlie up for anything.
THIRTY
CHARLIE
We had nine days to pull this event together, and not a moment to lose. With the mayor on board with our collaborative plan, Sebastian and I worked through the weekend to put a presentation together. I showed him what I’d prepared about the history of the building, and we used some of the better images to introduce the importance of the Monticello. He contributed financial predictions and a few architectural renders he’d had his Arlington team create.
It was a lot of work. We had to hit the right balance between honoring the history of the place while catering to the councilors who wanted to move the town forward. By Sunday night, our presentation was looking sharp.
And beyond that, working with Sebastian made me feel like I had a perpetually lit fuse inside me. His eyes gleamed whenever they met mine, and he got this crooked little smile on his lips whenever I showed him something he liked. I’d never had someone in my corner like this before.
I’d always battled to prove that I belonged here, to make sure that this town remained home to me. Maybe a part of me had always felt like I was on the outside, looking in. But as Sebastian and I worked on our presentation, he made me feel like I was important. Like I mattered. To the future of the Monticello, to the town—and to him.
I sat back in a dining chair at his beautiful antique kitchen table and scrolled through the document, satisfied. “This is good.”
Sebastian brought me one of my favorite sparkling peach drinks and set it down on a coaster next to my computer. “You know the council better than I do. You think they’ll go for it?”
“I do,” I told him. “I don’t see how they can knock this back. It’s the best of both worlds.”
He nodded a bit absentmindedly, a frown tugging his brows together as he stared at the screen.
“What is it?”
Sebastian glanced at me and shook his head. “Just wondering if it’ll be enough.”
“Enough for what?”
“Enough for investors to approve.”
I frowned. That niggling feeling of dread I’d gotten on the drive back from DC came back stronger than ever before. “What investors, exactly?”
“Ones who can afford to fund this reconstruction. This is…a departure. It could change things.”
“I thought you were the investor.”
“No, unfortunately, my funds are all tied up,” he said, but he wouldn’t meet my eye.
“You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”
He shook his head, his hand sliding across my shoulders. “I think it’s our best shot to get approval from the council.”
Something about his tone didn’t sit right with me. It didn’t sound like he believed in saving the theater or that he cared at all, except to ensure that his precious investors would be satisfied with the numbers.
Sebastian cleared his throat and moved to the fridge to grab himself a drink. Was it just me, or were his shoulders tense? He cracked open one of the fizzy peach drinks and took a sip, grimacing. “These are truly disgusting.”
I didn’t take the bait. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
He set the can down and crossed the kitchen toward me, then pulled me up out of my chair and wrapped his arms around me. “I want to get this approved by the council, Charlie. That’s all. It’s important. There’s a lot riding on this.”
“I’m aware,” I deadpanned.
“Not just for you,” he answered, his palm making a slow sweep down my spine. “Not just for the town. For me too.” He pressed a soft kiss to my lips and pulled back. “What do you say we put the computers away? Put on a movie. Relax for a couple hours.”
