“Absolutely.” Her friend nodded. “I know it’s not Broadway, but this place…it’s special. I can feel it.”
So did Sophia. She still had the goose bumps to prove it. But her dream to design a Broadway set hadn’t happened yet. Sure, she’d worked on them, but was never hired as the sole designer. Her goal. Her dream.
“I’m truly flattered, and definitely tempted,” she finally said.
“But, you have your heart set on Broadway.” Phoebe smiled. “It’s okay. I get it. Believe me.”
She nodded. “I got a call back for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.”
Her friend’s eyes widened. “South Pacific?”
She nodded again. It was her all-time favorite of their musicals.
A shrieking Phoebe rushed over to pull her in for a hug. “Oh my God, Sophia! That’s terrific! And you’re just telling me now? When is your callback?”
“Mid-September,” she replied, drawing back.
“I’m thrilled for you. If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.”
Warmed by the generous offer, she smiled. “Thanks. I will. But right now, I’m excited to nail down the designs foryourRodgers and Hammerstein production.”
Oklahoma was another of her favorites.
“I think you pretty much have.”
She patted her purse. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to sit in the main theater and double-check my sight lines.” A set was useless if there were patrons unable to see it. “Then I’d like to fill in a few of my sketches.”
“Go right ahead.” Phoebe glanced at the time on her phone. “I’ve got that class to teach. Most of the students were already there when we dropped in during the tour.”
She nodded, and after one last glance at the magical room, she headed into the main theater. The collaboration between Phoebe and Brandi resulted in a one-of-a-kind performing arts building, but it was Ryder who brought it all to life. Spectacularly.
No matter which section she sat in to check her sight lines, Sophia marveled at the talented carpenter’s execution. Art Deco wasn’t exactly a practiced style these days, especially in the middle of the woods, and yet, Ryder nailed it, with a capital N.
Admiration upped her pulse. That was two things the man was good at. She wasn’t sure she could handle a third.
***
By the time Ryder doubled back to Keiffer’s condo and fixed the drain in the master bathroom, the sun was starting to set. Shit. He gathered his tools, and hurried across the room. The last thing he needed was to run into Sophia again.
It was bad enough he was going to have to work with her at the theater. If he had known she was the set designer Phoebe gushed about, he would’ve…what? Refused to help? No way. Volunteering to work on a set was the perfect hands-on lessons for the two college kids he mentored.
Still…why did it have to Sophia?
As if fate were laughing at him, the woman in question walked into the room.
“Hi, Ryder,” she said, not in the least bit startled this time. “It’s kind of a reverse déjà vu.”
He, on the other hand, needed a moment to steady his pulse. Damn thing. “Hey, Sophia. I just finished up in the bathroom. You shouldn’t have any more issues with the sink.”
Jesus, he was babbling like a high schooler. And why was she sitting down on the bed?
“Okay, great. I…uh…didn’t know there was a problem.” She slipped a finger beneath the strap around her ankle and removed her sandal. “I hope I didn’t create a mess.”
“No. Not at all,” he said, gripping his toolbox tightly, as she repeated the process on the other foot. “I don’t think you used it. The one on the right just needed a washer.”
“Ah…I’ve been using the left sink.” She stood up and smiled. “And you’ve been busy creating a masterpiece.”
He raised a brow. “I have?”
