Page 10 of It Happened Again

BROOKS

I’d wornenough suits in my life to know when one was too tight in the shoulders—but this wasn’t one of those nights. The tux fit like a second skin, thanks to Archer’s annoying insistence that we use his tailor. I adjusted the bow tie for the third time anyway, standing near the edge of the Orion Mind Institute’s exquisite rooftop event space. The lights of Manhattan blinked all around like the city was winking at us on this warm May night.

What made my shoulders tight wasn’t the suit, but the thought—hope?—I’d run into Maisy again.

Since seeing her in the boardroom, I’d fought with myself every single day not to text her. Not to reach out, just to talk. Not to think of her body next to mine as we lingered on the sand, kissing on the private beach of Buchanan Island over her last Spring Break before graduating from Columbia…

Next to me, Archer flirted with a woman from the donor board while Lacey made her rounds, circulating with strategy and precision. She appeared polished in a sleek navy satin gown that shimmered under the string of lights—less ‘assistant at a work event’ and more ‘charming hostess.’ I’d bet no onehere would guess she was a small town girl from somewhere in Texas.

Still, it wasn’t Lacey I scanned the crowd for.

I spotted Rex Buchanan first—laughing too loudly and holding court like he owned the place, which, considering he and his brother, Richard, paid the hefty price tag, he practically did. As I approached, he spotted me and lifted his glass.

“Brooks Bellamy,” Rex said. We shook hands and clinked our glasses of champagne. “How does it feel to be guests of honor here tonight?”

“Archer threatened to change our company name to ‘Bellamy & Bellamy Minus Brooks’ if I skipped another event.”

Rex smirked. “I’m glad you’re here.” His gaze slid toward the side of the rooftop. “Especially considering Maisy works here now. Crazy coincidence, huh?”

I smiled tightly, following his gaze, finally setting my eyes on her. “Yeah. Serendipitous.”

He eyed me like he knew better, but said nothing more. Just slapped me on the shoulder. “You look good, man.”

“Back at you. Fatherhood complements you.” At that, he whipped out his phone so fast. The next thing I knew, we were several hundred deep into photos of little Maximillian Buchanan—and the kid wasn’t quite three months old. As adorable as he was, I stole glances at Maisy as much as possible while trying to stay with this conversation. “So, how is being a dad?”

“It’s fucking amazing. I’m blessed. I’d be home with Max and Chelsea instead of here tonight, except like you, my brother forced me to attend. He wanted to stay close to Vivian as she has a month to go with her pregnancy, but she’s on bedrest according to doctor’s orders. I’m cutting out of here as early as I can.” He finally tucked his phone away.

Before I could reply, someone from the Orion staff called Archer, Rex, and me toward the small stage at the front of the rooftop. The CEO, Dr. Patterson, was already stepping up to the microphone to thank donors and staff, and with special thanks for the Buchanans’ investment and the Bellamys’ intriguing design.

As we climbed the steps, I glanced out over the crowd, not wanting to lose sight of Maisy. And there she was... I did a double take and almost stumbled forward.

Our eyes locked, with her soft smile and a slight raise of her glass to me. Talk about a moment in time just for us.

Dr. Patterson launched into his speech, talking about innovation, the future, the groundbreaking of the Horizon Wing, and more. He thanked the Buchanans for their investment. Then Rex stepped up and said a few words about the importance of the research at Orion and how his father would have been proud of their support.

Our turn came next. Archer stepped forward to shake Patterson’s hand, and I followed suit. We smiled for the press, holding between us the crystal commemorative statue they handed us in gratitude, like it meant something more than concrete and contracts.

Marketing and public image had become more important to Archer over the past few years than to me. Tonight, my mind wasn’t in the spotlight. Not when Maisy stood out in the middle of the crowd, the woman I could never forget.

When we stepped down from the platform, the crowd erupted into polite applause, and photographers snapped a few more shots. I headed straight for Maisy, on a mission to talk or simply to smell her and feel her energy near me.

Before I could get far, Lacey appeared at my elbow. “Three clients are waiting to speak with you,” she said smoothly, her voice low but pointed.

“I’ll make the rounds in a while,” I responded.

Her lips thinned. But she nodded and stepped back. I cut through the thinning crowd to where Maisy waited for me. Neither of us pretended we weren’t being drawn together like magnets.

A wine-colored one-shoulder dress clung to her curves in a way that made my pulse stumble. Her hair swept up effortlessly, and she was—to me—the most captivating woman at the party.

“Maisy,” I said, voice steady despite the rapid thump in my chest. Her bare shoulder, sporting sun-kissed skin, begged to be kissed.

“Brooks.” She looked stunning. And unreadable. My favoriteandleast favorite combination.

“You look incredible,” I offered. She could wear a potato sack and I’d still get hard. My mind drifted quickly back, picturing her in the barely there bathing suits she’d worn across our spring break getaway back when we were a new item.

“You do, too.”

“I hoped you’d be here,” I admitted.

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