Page 2 of Take This Heart
“Art is evolving,” he says. “We preserve it, yes, but we also make room for the new.”
“And you thinkthat,” I point at the sculpture replicas in the model that are admittedly very cool, even though I will never admit that now, “is worthy of booting out the old, I take it?”
He steps closer and leans in, his breath skittering over my skin. “Yes, I do.”
When I look up at him, we’re about an inch apart.
I poke his chest. “Youare what’s wrong in America.”
Poke, poke, poke.
He arches an offensively perfect brow, and if it’s possible, moves even closer. “Is that right? And how does wanting to move a few sculptures make me so wrong?”
It’s hard to think straight when he’s this close and smells so good. Like cedar and honey.
Those eyes make me want to cuddle up to him and enjoy the fire.
Focus, Goldie.
“We don’t appreciate history here,” I say—somewhat breathlessly, but I soldier on. “We build things and tear them down when we’re tired of them. Massive structures that cost millions to build become rubble if someone gets tired of them and wants to put something else there. It doesn’t even have to be better, just new. Different. Why can’t we appreciate our rich history and preserve it? At least the beautiful things?”
“Like Spoonbridge and Cherry,” he says dryly, his lips lifting as he mocks me.
“Like Spoonbridge and Cherry,” I say emphatically.
“Why not let someone else enjoy it for a while?”
“Why mess with perfection?” I volley back.
I had no idea I felt this passionately about Spoonbridge and Cherry, but itisreally cute.
“Perfection?”he scoffs. Scoffs!
“It’s the principle of the thing!” I say, louder than I intended.
He rolls his eyes and takes a step back, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Wonderful! You’ve met Milo,” Luna says, appearing at my side.
Milo? Ugh. Even his name is cool.
Luna beams up at him. “The man of the hour.”
“Man of the hour?” I say under my breath.Man of the hour, my big, fat toe, my brain shouts.
“Yes! He’s the architect who designed this model. What do you think of it? Isn’t it incredible?” Luna says, grinning between Milo and me.
I feel unsteady and then hot all over. My eyes narrow again, and I look around Milo to find the museum label next to the park model.
Milo Lombardi.
Oh my God.TheMilo Lombardi? I can’t believe it. World-renowned architect. Ridiculously talented.
Ridiculouslyhot.
Hmm. They say Satan was pretty too.
“She thinks it’s a travesty,” Milo tells Luna, while still staring me down.
