Page 77 of Not You Again
“Mr. Watson,” one of the hotel employees calls my name from the pathway to the dome. “Someone’s here to see you.”
I look up from the blueprints I’m pretending to focus on. My breath freezes in my lungs—Andie is a vision standing among the greenery. She’s in her typical work attire: a flowing skirt that hits her mid-calf and a simple blouse with three little buttons at the neck.
Despite the fact that Steve and Cassidy are right behind her, I can’t help the smile spreading across my face. My heart swells about three sizes larger in my chest. She smiles back as I approach. “Did we have plans today?”
She wrinkles her nose and shakes her head. “You left before I was up this morning. I thought maybe you’d have time for lunch?”
I check my watch; it’s close enough to lunchtime, and it’s not like I would ever turn down a chance to spend time with Andie, even if it means dealing with the cameras. They spent the weekend following us to the grocery store and making us play a stupid card game where the suit we drew informed the “secrets” we told each other.
“I always have time for you,” I tell her honestly. “Do you want to see the dome before we head back inside?”
She nods eagerly, and I smile so hard it hurts. We stop at a workbench outside the dome, where I outfit her with a hardhat and a safety vest to match my own.
“I think helmets are your look.” I tap on the brim of the hardhat.
She flips me off, and I laugh as we walk deeper into the dome.
As I explain how I designed the triangular panels two-thirds of the way up to open and close with an innovative hydraulic system to help keep the temperature inside the dome perfect year-round, I definitely don’t check out the sway of her hips as she examines my work up close.
“What do you think?” I ask, hands on my hips, as we stop at the far edge of the dome. It’s quieter here, construction on this end is mostly finished.
“It’s beautiful.” She runs her fingers along one of the soldered points where several triangles meet. “But I’ve always thought that.”
I tilt my head in question, my brows drawing together.
She waves it off with a smile. “Heidi showed me the drawings months ago; they plan on doing a lot of weddings here, so they reached out to event planners in the city for advertising.” She chews on her lip as her eyes meet mine. “Something about it felt familiar to me, and when you told me you were an architect working for the resort, well …”
I let out a puff of laughter. “I didn’t know I was trying to impress you before we even met at the altar.”
She sighs, looking at the web of metal arching overhead. “I keep thinking I should have known it was yours earlier. It really is beautiful, Kit. I designed a dress inspired by it after I saw the drawings.”
“I’d like to see that.” I give her a warm smile, amazed at how our souls knew where to find each other this whole time, even when we were adrift. Anchors in the storm.
“There you are!” A booming voice shatters our quiet corner of the dome. I turn to see one of the Colonnade’s bigwigs marching my way. He’s as wide as he is tall, and he’s forgone the safety gear, wearing a suit that likely costs more than all my clothing combined. His face is red from the heat and presumably the walk from the main building, and he mops the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief he pulls from his pocket. Diamond cufflinks sparkle in the sunlight.
He swats his way past Steve, giving him serious side-eye. I doubt he’ll sign the release for Cassidy, either.
I greet him with a firm handshake. “What brings you out here today, Clyde?”
“Big Boss Hammersmith just called to talk about the Montalcino build.” Clyde’s gaze slides to Andie, then back to the camera. Alarm bells go off in my head.
I clear my throat and gesture to her. “This is Andie. My wife.” She looks at me fondly when I say it, and I know my stupid grin matches the one on her face. “Steve and Cassidy are here filming … a documentary.”
Clyde looks between us and blinks. “I didn’t know you were married.”
I scratch the back of my neck, searching for the right answer. “It’s new.”
I’m still in love with you, Andie Dresser.
None of this is new. It’s so old it’s embedded in my bones and inked under my skin. Andie has always been it for me. The difference is now she’s finally starting to let me in, to see it too.
As though he’s already forgotten Andie’s here, Clyde sets his gaze on me. “Hammersmith won’t be happy to hear you’ve gone and settled down.”
I frown. “What does it matter?”
“He’s still annoyed that you chose to take this job.” Clyde smacks me on the shoulder.
Ah, fuck. It’s not like I’d planned on keeping my nuptials a secret forever, but I’ve never had any priorities other than the company since I was hired. It made the big bosses feel safer picking me to lead projects, knowing I’d be at their beck and call without anything holding me back. It meant a level of financial security younger me could only have dreamed of. It meant I could take care of Mom, even if I was far away.