Page 44 of It Happened Again

I groaned, hiding my face. “Sophie!”

She cackled. “Come on. You’re glowing. Spill.”

I peeked at her through my fingers. “Okay. Yes. And it was… everything. He was everything. I can’t even… put it into words.”

She reached across to squeeze my hand. “I’m so damn happy for you.”

I smiled, soft and dreamy. “It feels real. Like maybe we actually have a shot this time.” I didn’t voice to her that every mile we drove away from Holly Creek, I worried about whether Brooks and I could make this last in the city.

The weekend back home was just us, no work, no other people, no stress, just family and friends in a bubble of love and hearts. Like Spring Break was for us on the private island so long ago, just us. But our lives in New York would be another matter entirely between work schedules and pressuresand coworkers, the hustle and bustle of the city adding a complicated layer to it all.

“You two will find a way. And if you start to freak out, I’ll be there with tequila and ice cream. Whichever the moment calls for.”

I laughed, wiping a tear. “Deal. But enough about me. How was your night with Archer and Keaton? I’m sorry I left you there alone with them.”

“I’m not. I flirted with both recklessly, while also nonchalantly asking twenty questions of Keaton about his operation.”

“Ooh, like a spy mission? Did you get deep undercover with him?” I wriggled my brows.

She rolled her eyes with a laugh. “Sadly, no.” After a quiet beat, she added, “I am definitely going to pitch Richard on helping Keaton with his marketing. I saw enough of the operation last night to know he needs serious help if he wants to succeed.”

“There’s the boss-girl. You totally should. That brewery is amazing, but yeah… he could use the Sophie touch.”

I eyed her, though, as she talked more about Keaton. The spark in her eyes was undeniable for the brewmaster-turned-reality star.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Sophie? Or do you hope for more than a marketing contract?”

She smirked. “Shut up and turn on the music. I will not sleep with someone who hires me professionally. Not yet, anyway,” she teased.

Later, as the city skyline came into view, I felt a tug in my chest—like hope and fear braided together, fighting for space. I didn’t know what waited for us back here. But I wasn’t bracing for the worst. I was quietly, stubbornly hoping for the best.

16

STARS BLURRED

BROOKS

I was smiling again.Not the polished kind I wore for investors or Archer’s networking shenanigans. This was the real deal—effortless, anchored in one woman. It tugged at my mouth every time I thought about her.

Maisy Calhoun. The woman who was now allmine. At last.

Two pretty damn amazing weeks had passed since Holly Creek, since the night she unraveled every part of me and then stitched it back together with her touch. There was no coming down from it, walking through life with the feeling of her in my arms like a permanent imprint—equal parts exhilarating and terrifying.

We’d decided to keep things professional at Orion, save for a few stolen touches here and there—a brush of our hands or arms passing by each other, a wink across the room, a quick peck on the temple or a hug when we thought no one else was around.

After hours, we lived like New Yorkers do, and I discovered Maisy didn’t let her small town upbringing stop her from enjoying everything the city had to offer. We sipped cocktails, watching the sunset on a trendy new rooftop lounge, slipped into a dark corner booth at an intimate jazz bar, and walked hand in hand through a Saturday morning outdoor market.

She’d tucked herself under my arm observing performance art on display, teased me with her eyes over a glass of wine at a friend’s wine bar, and during every elevator ride to my loft she practically attacked me like she couldn’t get enough. And when we finally collapsed into bed with each other at the end of every date, it was with laughter still on our lips and hunger still in our bones—making love until the city blinked awake again. We’d wake in each other arms, drink pour-over coffee, which she now had me addicted to. And I hoped I’d get to do it all over again the next night.

“What the hell is that look?” Archer asked, barely glancing up from his tablet. We were in the Bellamy office conference room, reviewing contractor updates on the Orion expansion. He squinted at me. “That grin. You’re looking suspiciously... blissed out.”

I shrugged, stretching my arm along the back of the leather chair, my smile getting cocky. “Maybe I’m just in a good mood.”

“You’re in a good mood because you got laid. Repeatedly.”

“Wouldn’t you be?”

He smirked. “Touché. Still, you’re acting like the king of the world.”

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