Page 8 of It Happened Again

Despite our eyes locking here and there, Brooks seemed drawn to Chelsea, at first, and she to him. For her happiness, I backed away and focused my attention on Archer. That led to a couple of weeks of texting back and forth with him.

Then one starry night, out at a party at Rex’s place in the Hamptons, we all met up again. Only Archer’s ex showed up, made a scene, and he left with her. I ran off, the younger me embarrassed and hurt by it, only to have Brooks find me.

Throughout the night and a romantic walk on the beach, we talked for hours, and my naïve heart fell fast. He was everything I could have ever dreamed a man to be, sweeping me off my feet with his texts and calls, taking me out on sweet dates, pursuing me…

All of that seemed a lifetime ago. So much had happened between us since then. And now he appeared again today, suddenly back into my life.

My nervousness took over. “I, um… dropped my badge after a meeting. I just came back to find it, but saw this.” I held up the scarf, trying to keep my voice steady. “Didn’t expect it—or, well, you.”

He stared at the scarf, then back at me, something dark and unreadable flickering behind his eyes. A strange sort of stillness embraced the boardroom, the kind that made my skin buzz like I was standing too close to a live wire.

When I planned my day this morning, with all the meetings and research data to pour through with various deadlines—this encounter was the last thing I’d have planned. Not with him.

Especially not looking like that—suited and in a trench coat, hair just a little messy in that annoyingly perfect way that always made me want to either kiss him or push him off a boat. Maybe both.

My heart hammered against my ribs like it wanted out, and to run straight back to the moment everything between us went sideways. Would I change things, knowing what I knew now?

I let out a shaky breath that sounded way too much like a laugh, playing the scarf through my hands as if it was a cut of fancy silk fabric. “You wore it?”

His mouth twitched into an almost-smile. “It’s cold outside.”

I bit my lip to keep the emotion at bay. “I heard your company is in charge of building the new wing here.”

He nodded slowly. “I didn’t expect to see you again.”

“Me either.” Oof. That came out sharper than I intended.

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Silence stretched between us like a thread unraveling from the old yarn. Finally, he cleared his throat. “So… you must be working here?”

I nodded. “For a few months now. I got lucky to land something like this. The team’s been great.”

“They would have been fools not to hire you.”

I blinked, startled by the warmth in his voice. “Dr. Thorne reached out and told me about the opening and helped put in a word for me.”

“I’ll bet he did,” he mumbled. At that, Brooks’ expression shifted. Subtle. Barely there. But I saw the flicker. The tension in his jaw. He never cared for my relationship with Julian.

My fingers clung tightly to the scarf as if it’d make the situation any better for us. “So, Bellamy Design Group is building the new wing?”

“Yes. The Horizon Wing. Archer and I just had a meeting with the board earlier today.”

“Small world.”

“That’s one way to put it.” His laugh was dry. “You and the professor are working together again?”

“Same department,” I clarified. “Not as close as on the boat. Different projects.”

He nodded once, and I could tell he didn’t like it. But he masked it well. “Do you still want a doctorate?”

I shrugged. “Eventually. Right now, I want to work. Gain experience. Not just live in academic theory.”

“That sounds like you,” he whispered, his lips forming a soft curve.

Of anyone on the planet, other than my sister, he knew me so well, my mind, my body, my very damn soul. The connection between us back then was strong from the start. As awkward as this encounter was today, slowly the connection returned.

“How was the rest of your voyage? You were gone for what—over a year?” He asked.

“Eighteen months. It was incredible. Exhausting. Eye-opening. I don’t regret a minute of it.” I sheepishly grinned at him. He probably didn’t like hearing that, but he nodded.

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