Tessa froze.
Then slowly sat upright.
“Wait.”
Maggie looked at her.
“What?”
“He asked to see you again?”
“For the project.”
“Of course.”
“He wants a tour.”
“Of course.”
“It's business, Tessa.”
Her roommate smiled knowingly.
“Maggie, sweetheart, a man who owns half of Midtown does not need a private tour of a movie theater unless he's interested in something more than the ceiling.”
Maggie rolled her eyes.
“Please don't.”
Tessa leaned closer.
“Is he handsome?”
Maggie said nothing.
Tessa gasped.
“He's handsome.”
“That's irrelevant.”
“How handsome?”
Maggie thought of his blue-gray eyes.
His dark hair.
The warm way he laughed.
The careful touch of his fingers at the back of her dress.
She sighed.
“Annoyingly.”
Tessa smiled.
“Oh, this is going to be wonderful.”
Maggie shook her head.
“No. This is going to be professional.”
Her roommate lifted an eyebrow.
“Of course.”
“I'm serious.”
“Absolutely.”
Maggie stood and headed toward the bedroom.
Tessa called after her.
“Wear the blue sweater tomorrow!”
“Why?”
“Because it makes your eyes look incredible!”
Maggie stopped in the doorway.
Then turned back.
“It's a business meeting.”
Tessa smiled.
“Then wear the blue sweater for the business.”
Maggie disappeared into her room.
Five seconds later, her voice floated down the hall.
“Is it clean?”
Tessa fell backward onto the sofa, laughing.
The following morning, Nicholas Sterling arrived at the Starlight Theatre carrying two cups of coffee and a brown paper bag from a bakery.
He was eight minutes early.
Maggie was already standing beneath the marquee, examining a patch of cracked terra-cotta with a pencil tucked behind her ear.
She wore a fitted cobalt-blue sweater, a high-waisted cream skirt, brown leather ankle boots, and a short tan jacket. Her hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders.
Nicholas stopped.
For a moment, he forgot why he had come.
She turned.
“Mr. Sterling.”
He smiled.
“Miss Bennett.”
“You're early.”
“So are you.”
“I work here.”
“Technically, you don't.”
She gave him a look.
“Are we going to begin arguing already?”
“Only if you're prepared to lose.”
Maggie folded her arms.
“I see you've brought refreshments as a peace offering.”
He lifted the coffee.
“I had a feeling it might be necessary.”
She accepted a cup.
“Black?”
“Milk, two sugars.”