Page 6 of Lucy Loves Him Not
“Well…sort of. I guess, no? Okay, come on over, Miss Rhodes.” For the first time during this call he sounded flustered.
“And you’re, Mr.…”
“Mr. Stevens.”
We’ll come to an arrangement, sure, Mr. Stevens.I rolled my eyes.
This festival meant more to me than some silly reports could ever communicate. Mr. Stevens would realize that when he started looking into the details because my grandmother and Iwerethe details.
Ipushed open the heavy glass doors and weaved through the entryway. I found a map on the wall and saw CITY MANAGER – 311. I found an elevator and headed to the third floor. It was cold. I rubbed my arms, looking down at my black biker shorts and loose, white tee shirt, completely underdressed for a business meeting.
I stepped off the elevator and found a smiling guy at the front desk. I gave a little smile as I walked toward him. His name tag said,Victor Hernandez.
“Hi, I’m here for the city manager,” I said. “I’m Lucy Rhodes.”
“Yes, please hold,” he said, with big, puppy-dog, brown eyes. He picked up a phone and after a click said, “Adam, Lucy Rhodes is here for you.”
Adam? That name keeps popping up lately, I thought.How funny.
Victor then nodded at me saying, “Go right in,” gesturing toward the office open behind him.
I walked into the office to find a very handsome man with curly, dark hair and big blue eyes behind stylish, wiry frames. I recognized those wiry frames. I recognized this man who was definitely pulling them off.
His eyes opened wide in surprise.Oh, maybe he recognized me, too.
I felt speechless. Which was a rarity for me.
Our eyes locked and it made my heartbeat quicken like there was something crackling between us. Like fireworks, but not in a good way.
My eyes dropped to the nameplate on his desk:Adam Stevens.Amazing Adam, as Olivia had said. I spotted the Coffees and Commas to-go cup sitting by a pile of papers. So he had been in today.
Had he looked for me, too?I couldn’t help but wonder.
“Hi,” he finally said. “Miss Rhodes.”
“It’sLucyRhodes,” I said, hoping to jolt his memory in case he hadn’t memorized my photos in the way I had his. “I think we have…connected…before.”
He cleared his throat. “Yes, I think so, too.”I should’ve known not to get my hopes up when he identified as a dog person.
“I’m sorry we are meeting like this,” he added, looking at me regretfully.
I nodded. “Your profile says you’re new to town, which would explain why you don’t realize how involved I am with this festival.”
I could see him fight the urge to roll his piercingly blue eyes. My eyes dropped to his jawline. Yep, perfect amount of five o’clock shadow.
“Lucy, I respect your involvement with the summer festival and how much it seems to mean to you. People have informed me that you’re a very committed volunteer.” I snapped my eyes back up to his face. “I am not kicking you off the planning committee. You are welcome to remain a volunteer. See it as a big workload off your shoulders! You can keep busy with the fun parts.”
“Ha,” I let out a sarcastic laugh. “So, you’re not ‘kicking me out’, but you are giving me a huge demotion.”
“I wouldn’t put it like that.” He adjusted his glasses. “Have a seat. I’m sorry. I think I was just caught off guard earlier. I should’ve invited you in.”
I walked over to one of the two chairs in front of his desk. I chose the one on the right and let my bag fall to the ground.
“Are you thirsty?” he asked, loosening the tie around his neck.
“No, thanks. Listen,” I said, getting straight to the point, “my grandmother, Clara, planned this festival every summer for two decades, Mr. Stevens. It washerfestival, to be honest. She had the original idea. I was always by her side every summer helping her. Then she left it to me after she passed away and I’ve run it for the last two years. I think I’ve done great work with it. Ido it out of love for this city, not because it’s my job. I would like to keep doing it. I think you would quickly see what I bring to it and how no one else could know it quite like I do.” I made my impassioned speech.Please, don’t take this from my grandmother.Please don’t take this from our little legacy. Don’t erase her fingerprints, along with mine, from something that meant so much to us.
His eyes were on me the entire time. I could see by his expression that I had pulled on at least a couple of his heartstrings. He took in a deep breath, weighing his words. “Like I said, you’re not being kicked off the team,” he said slowly.
