Page 23 of It Happened Again

“It’s a sensory wellness initiative. One of their employees won an internal idea contest. Something to do with neuroscience-meets-design to alter environments, type of thing. The point is, I don’t have time to babysit an idea that may or may not involve mood lighting and essential oils for the next eight weeks.”

“Okay, Arch. What can I do to help?”

He blinked. “Take it off my plate. Obviously.”

Lacey piped up, flipping her laptop around to show us something. “We could assign Nico from the Orion construction crew to handle it. He’s familiar with the specs, and his resume shows he has a design background.”

“I’m aware,” Archer said, mildly annoyed, “but I trust Brooks to handle this one.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Since when?”

“Since this thing became a PR priority. Patterson wants media-ready regular updates plus a public reveal at an event in eight weeks. You know him and his penchant for going big. We need someone who understands both the construction side, who can handle Patterson’s demands and PR, not to mention how to deal with, you know, scientists—” Archer shifted in his seat. “Unless you think you can’t handle seeing Maisy again.”

I blinked and stared. “Why would that come up?”

Archer glanced at me over his espresso. “Because she’s the one who submitted the idea. She won the initiative.”

The room tilted. Not alarmedly—more like the universe nudged everything off course. Or righted the course to how things should have been in the first place.

Maisy. Me. Together.

Of course, she won. A burst of pride threatened to swallow me whole.

“Interesting,” I said, keeping my voice neutral.

Lacey cleared her throat. “Do you want me to schedule an internal meeting to scope it out before you commit? This could take up a lot of your time, and I’m not sure your schedule can deal?—”

“Nope. I’ll handle it,” I assured both of them.

Because if there was even the slightest chance I could help Maisy shine, then I would.

Two days later,I stepped into the construction zone of the Buchanan-sponsored Horizon Wing—Orion’s gleaming new addition to their already-elite facility. Hard hats were required; caution tape fluttered like flags. Bits of dust flew wildly through the sunlight streaming in from the newly installed skylights.

I spotted Maisy at the entrance of what would become her sensory room. She hadn’t seen me yet, mid-conversation with one of the site coordinators, bent over the floor plan. Her hair was drawn up into a bun held in place by a pencil. She pointed at the plans with one hand, a cup of coffee in the other.

All business. She was a far cry from the younger woman I first met. Still as stunning, more confident. Out to make her mark on the world. Sexy.

When she finally turned—and saw me—the effect was immediate.

Her whole body tensed, eyes widening slightly, as if I’d just materialized out of nowhere like a ghost from a chapter she thought was closed. I hated having that effect on her.

“Hey.” I gently and waved. As she stepped nearer, I said, “I’m here for the design team meeting. I didn’t realize I’d be such a surprise.”

“Don’t tell me.You’rethe design team?” Her voice was steady, but her hands curled tighter around her cup.

“I’m overseeing the project. Archer handed it off to me.”

She nodded once. Then again. As if trying to convince herself this was fine. Everything was fine.

“I’ll be honest,” she drawled. “My first instinct is to ask Patterson to assign someone else.”

Ouch. That stung.

“Why? I’m perfectly capable of helping you create your vision,” I retorted.

“I’m sure you are, but it’s more than that, Brooks. I don’t know if we could keep things professional between us. And this project meanseverythingto me and my career right now.”

“Understandable. Congratulations, by the way. I was pleased to hear you’d won.” I smiled, genuinely happy for her.

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