“Send them in please.”
I looked up, expecting a new architecture client, but instead Theo came into the room. The man looked like he’d come directly from a GQ photo shoot, dressed in black pin-stiped pants, shiny black shoes, a pristine white shirt, and suspenders. His bald head gleamed in the overhead lights.
“Theo.”
He walked right over behind my desk and pulled me into a tight hug. He smelled incredible. Stepping back, Theo looked me up and down, his shrewd eyes missing nothing.
“Oh no, this is even worse than I thought.”
“Nicole?” I could tell by my assistant’s tentative voice that she wasn’t sure whether to get us drinks or call the cops.
“It’s fine Maria, Theo is a… we worked on that Grant Park College project together. He’s with AGM.”
“Ah, yeah.” Maria nodded. “In that case, do you mind if I leave for the day? Brad has soccer practice, and I promised to try to catch some of it.”
“No, go right ahead. I’ll see you Monday.”
“What are you doing here, Theo?” I asked as the tall man folded his lanky frame into one of the guest chairs in front of my desk.
“I heard a rumor that you’d gone solo, and I wanted to come see for myself.”
I couldn’t help the stab of disappointment that Grace hadn’t sent him.
“Would you like a drink?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Nah. I wanted to talk to you about a job, then I need to meet my handsome husband for dinner.”
“A job?” I asked.
He tilted his head. “I heard that you were looking for clients. Did I hear wrong?”
I’d sent out emails to my entire contact list earlier this week letting them know I was moving into solo architecture work, but I’d very purposely left off everyone at AGM. I couldn’t say why.
“No, you didn’t hear wrong. I’m just surprised that you heard already. News travels fast in this city.”
“Yeah, my introductory email must be lost,” he said sardonically. “But fortunately someone forwarded me a copy.”
I felt heat rise up my cheeks, and I covered it by grabbing my notebook and pen.
“What are you looking for?”
“Someone to get my friend Grace out of her funk.”
I dropped my pen. “I appreciate whatever you’re trying to do Theo, but Grace has been clear that she doesn’t want to talk to me. Whatever we had is over now.”
“Do you know what Grace’s biggest fear is?” he asked.
I frowned, confused at the question. “No.”
“Letting someone down. She’ll work her ass off to keep from disappointing someone. I don’t know where all that comes from – that’s for her therapist to figure out – but that girl’s hurting. She’s not been the same since y’all broke up. She misses you.”
“I know I made a mistake, but she blewmeoff Theo,” I said hotly. “I tried to contact her to make things right – repeatedly – and she ignored me. So maybe if she misses me she should be here instead of sending you.”
Theo smirked. “She’d castrate me if she knew I was here. She’s a hot mess though. Sure she’s working. But she’s not eating well. Not sleeping. Not exercising. What happened with your mother felt like a rejection, and she doesn’t do well with rejection.”
“Then maybe she should have returned one of my messages trying to apologize,” I snapped. “Now do you have an actual job for me, or are you just here to matchmake?”
Theo studied me for a long moment before sighing deeply. “Maeve and her new apprentice Ashley are working on a new project. They need an architect. Are you interested in submitting?”
