Rewind It Back (Windy City, #5)(64)

And just like that, I remember I’m kissing the man I’m still heartbroken over.

He must sense a change in me because he slows things down, or maybe I do, I don’t know. The kiss becomes softer and more tender, almost a bit apologetic. He gently runs his hand over my hair, down my neck, and over my rib cage as if he were committing it to memory. Then that same hand moves around behind me before I feel him slip something into the back pocket of my jeans.

“Please don’t say anything right now,” he whispers against me, seemingly knowing I was about to put a stop to all of this. “Just let us have this moment.”

Words are stuck in my throat anyway, so I simply nod against him.

Behind me, he opens the door to my house and it’s only then I realize he unlocked it and slipped the key in my pocket.

He pulls back, puffy lips, heavy eyes, flushed cheeks. His expression is sweet and full of longing as he takes in every inch of me.

“Let’s not overthink this,” he pleads, seemingly to be giving himself that same advice. He strokes his thumb over my cheekbone, finishing with one more gentle kiss to my lips. “I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.”

Then he leaves me speechless in the doorway of my house before crossing the lawn to his.





Chapter 18


Hallie


“Tyler’s renovation show starts filming its new season in two weeks from Monday,” Tina says during our weekly design meeting. “So, if we’re not in the office, it’s because we’re on set. But of course, I’ll have my phone on me at all times.” She checks the clipboard in her hand. “And the last thing on the agenda for today is project check-ins. Hallie, how’s the DeLuca project coming along?”

Every person sitting around the conference table turns in my direction.

“It’s . . . coming along.”

Clearly, that’s not enough of an answer, because Tina stares at me to continue.

I fiddle with the yellow note in my hands. “The initial concepts will be finalized this week, and once Mr. DeLuca signs off on them, the crew can start the demo.”

The name “Mr. DeLuca” feels strange on my tongue, but referring to him as Rio in front of my colleagues also feels too informal.

Tyler sits forward in his fancy fitted suit, elbows on the table. “Hallie, get me those final designs that Mr. DeLuca approves of before I start filming. I want to see them in the next two weeks, just to get another set of eyes on them.”

“Of course. I’ll get them over to you as soon as I can.”

It’s common practice for Tyler to check over the interns’ designs. It’s the same process I went through when I worked on Wren’s house, and I appreciate the second set of eyes. Especially his eyes. He’s seasoned in the field and beyond talented. I’m happy to take note of the things he would adjust and why. I’m happy to learn from him in any way I can.

The rest of the designers go around the table, debriefing their projects. I only listen halfheartedly, too occupied with unfolding and refolding the small yellow note in my hands.

I unfold it to read it for what feels like the hundredth time since Rio left it on my doorstep this morning. It was stuck to the top of a to-go cup of coffee, accompanied by spare keys to both his house and his car.

Thanks for letting me keep you up last night.

You should’ve seen the latte art today. It was my best one yet until I took a sip.

Drive my truck while I’m gone, please.

-R

I bite back my smile, recalling finding it all on my front step this morning just as Rio was climbing into Zanders’ car, headed for the airport. That armor I’ve worn to protect myself from him has been growing weaker every day, and this, combined with that kiss last night, isn’t helping the cause.

Our weekly meeting ends, and I file out with my coworkers, finding my way back to my cubicle. On my computer, I pull up Rio’s project files—the aesthetic collage I’ve been drooling over, the color palettes I’ve dreamed of, and the 3D mockup of his home that I can’t wait to see come to life once I implement my ideas.

It helps that someone from our team stopped by there to get accurate pictures, videos, and measurements when he first hired the firm, so I have all the information I need to work with.

It’s only been about a week of thinking over his home design, but I’ve had fun with it. So much so that on Sunday, my day off from this job, I pulled out my work computer to get started. Spending time with him lately has been a helpful reminder that he’s still the same person I knew growing up. The same man I know better than anyone else.

It makes this project all the more freeing, giving me the ability to flow creatively instead of second-guessing the clients’ taste with each and every decision. The things that I love in home design, Rio will too. I know this because I used to explain in detail what I envisioned our future home to look like and he agreed with every part of it.

Essentially, what this project is, is the opportunity to design the house I’ve always dreamed of us sharing. Only now, that home I’m designing isn’t ours. It’s his. Which is a hell of a reality check, if I do say so myself.

Tyler’s timeline is rattling around in my brain, reminding me to get to work, so I grab my phone to keep Rio in the loop.



Me: Hi. I need to chat with you about a few work-related things. Do you have time?