Page 95 of Love You, Mean It

“So? What did you think of the plan?” Theo’s pose was nonchalant, but his eyes were avid as he waited for me to speak.

“I think it sounds like a great idea…but I have no clue what could have possibly convinced Ted to agree to it.”

“He didn’t have a choice,” Theo said, grinning triumphantly. “Getting Cheryl and Paul to vote against Mangia was pretty straightforward, at least once I activated the emotional blackmail card. It was hard for even Paul to voteforMangia once I reminded them of what the building had always meant to me and Chase. Plus, I was offering the same amount, and they have to see me at the holidays.”

“Offering…Theo, where the hell did you get that kind of money?”

“I decimated my trust,” he said casually. “I haven’t touched it in a decade. Why just let it sit there making money when it could actually do some good?”

“Wait…areyouplanning to move in to the building?”

“Eventually. First, I’m planning on using it as a sort of apprenticeship.” He stiffened a little, chest thrusting forward as though to ward off a blow. “There’s an architect we’ve used a few times on other projects, I plan to…half hire him, half take classes with him. Turning the building into a family home would be…”

“Your training grounds?”

“More or less.” He sniffed out a laugh. “Architecture school would be cheaper, but honestly…what really interests me is preserving and updating historic buildings. I figure if this goes well, I’ll have a great portfolio piece for future jobs. And if it doesn’t…then I’ll find something else instead.”

“That’s incredible, Theo.” Tenderness gripped my chest. Apparently I actually meant it. “Why now?”

“Someone reminded me that I should have been doing what mademehappy all along,” he said, voice roughening. “Her delivery might have been a little…harsh, but she wasn’t wrong. I spent way too long living the life Ted wanted for me. And I have the ability to change that. I just had to…take the leap.”

I colored, still embarrassed by what I’d said that night, but it was clear from the look on Theo’s face that he didn’t want to discuss it further at the moment.

“So that guy I saw at the building the day after the dinner…he wasn’t from Mangia?”

“He was not. In fact, that was Chris, the architect I’ll be working with. After our…discussion, I reached out to see if he’d be willing to talk through possibilities with Cheryl. She’s very hands-on.”

“But wait…” Pieces started clicking into place. “YouknewIthought that Mangia was coming in. When I brought you the lasagna.” He shrugged acknowledgment. “What the fuck, Theo?”

“Oh come on, Ellie. I accept your apology—the lasagna did a lot of the work for you, by the way—but you deserved to sweat alittlemore than that.”

He flashed a languid smirk. I pursed my lips, annoyed, but the man had a point. There was only one question left.

“And things between you and Sam are…good?” She might be over Theo, at least for now, but that was no guarantee he was truly overher. Maybe having her around so much more had brought up old feelings…and their date might have rekindled something…

“They are. No thanks to your little stunt. I never knew it was possible to have such a bad first date with someone you once planned to marry.” He rolled his eyes. “Honestly, what were you thinking with all that? Sam I get—thinking she can strong-arm us back to what we had is her all over—but why wouldyouthink we’d be good together?”

“I don’t know.” It did seem a little ridiculous in retrospect. “I guess I figured your mutual love for tennis would carry you through.”

“Luckily, Everett loves it even more than I do. Plus, he can turn drinking soda into a competition. They’re perfect for each other.” Theo turned his deep blue eyes on me, then frowned slightly, presumably catching the worry on my face. “What? And don’t try to dodge it, we’ve both done enough of that lately.”

“There’s really nothing there?” I whispered. “You’ll be working together every day, and you have so much in common…”

“Which is awesome, for the company and for me. Sam knows her shit like no one else. And she’s really loyal, underneath the corporate cutthroat act. She knows better than anyone what the Taylor’s building means to me.” Theo’s gaze darted over my shoulder for a moment, Adam’s apple working. “When I called her that night to tell her I was considering making an offer, she worked overtime to help me pull together all the information I’d need to get it past Aunt Cheryl. She’s…a really good friend.”

“Right.” I swallowed, trying to ignore the fluttery feeling in my chest, hardly daring to hope…

“But that’s not who I am anymore, Ellie. And…it’s not who I want.” He lifted a hand to my shoulder. My breath caught as my eyes drifted up to his.

“And who do you want?” I murmured.

“I think you know that already.” His hand tightened around my shoulder as the other drifted to my waist, then snaked around to the base of my spine. The heat of his touch started blooming inside me. His gaze lowered to my lips and I felt myself drifting closer, my entire body caught in his orbit, magnetized to his poles.

Oh god, now I was thinking about hispoles.

“And you’re willing to forgive me?” My voice came out breathy.

“I think I could see my way to that,” Theo said, perfect lips curling languidly as he leaned half an inch closer. “Ifyouwere willing to go out on a first date. A real one, no act to keep up, nothing we need from each other.”

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