I need you to give up this crazy idea of yours. “That’s for after work. You know that.” He regretted the words the instant they left his mouth. He should have said that he and Tara were done flirting, forever.
“Okay. What are you doing tomorrow night?”
Grant blinked so fast it nearly knocked one of his contact lenses out of his eye. “What?”
“I have an invite to a party hosted by a friend of mine. Another real estate agent. It’s on the rooftop of the Sussex Building. It has an amazing view of the ballpark and there’s a game going on during the party.”
“Why not take Miranda? Or Astrid? They’re your closest confidantes these days, aren’t they?”
“But they’re not as much fun as you are.”
Grant found it difficult to swallow. His mouth had gone incredibly dry.
“Just say yes,” she continued. “It’ll be good for you. Get out. See some people. Maybe squeeze in some flirting?”
He hated the way the heat rose in his cheeks. It was so damn predictable. “I like baseball.”
Tara elbowed him in the ribs. “Oh, come on. You like me, too. I know you do.”
Six
The Sussex building was only a few blocks from Sterling Enterprises, so Tara and Grant walked over after work. The day had been unremarkable—Grant was always in meetings, which left Tara stumbling around in the dark trying to sort out the process for the Seaport Promenade pitch. Sandy had been an invaluable resource, dealing with the city directly and gathering the needed information.
“How are you feeling about Seaport after your first two days?” Grant asked.
“Good, so far. We need to meet with Clay as soon as Sandy and I are done pulling the basics together. We have six weeks before we need to present. Do you think that’s doable?”
Grant opened the door when they reached the address for the party. “It’ll be tight, but I think we can make it work.”
They presented their security passes and Tara pressed the button for the fifteenth floor. “Hold on a minute. You almost sound enthusiastic for this idea.”
They stepped onto the elevator and rode up alone. “I don’t have to do the hard work. That’s all on you.”
“Would you consider being there for the presentation to the city? It might help with our credibility.”
Grant looked at the numbers light up as they reached each new floor. “I’ll think about it.”
Tara decided not to push it, but this seemed like yet another example of Grant creating distance between them. It didn’t bode well for her future at Sterling, being an integral part of the team. She was going to have to keep pushing.
They reached the top floor of the building and stepped out into the lavish party space. Tara had been to several wedding receptions and extravagant bashes there, and it was a jaw-dropping location for festivities. Inside the expansive lounge area, partygoers chattered away on chic black leather sofas, enjoyed drinks at high-top tables and nabbed passed appetizers from the waitstaff, all against the backdrop of a stunning city view provided by floor-to-ceiling windows. But the real showstopper was the outdoor area just off the main room, with a glitzy fireplace taking the edge off the nighttime chill in the air, and bar tables for two alongside the balcony’s unique glass railing.
The panorama was spectacular—a view of the baseball stadium below, the green field all lit up and the muffled sounds of the game floating up to their high perch. They were surrounded by shorter buildings, and off in the distance, you could see the dark ripples of the bay and the soaring steel structure of the bridge to Coronado.
Tara loved this city, just as Johnathon had, and she hoped that her role at Sterling could prove that point. She was eager to do more than drag Grant begrudgingly along with the idea of pursuing the Seaport Promenade project. She wanted to prove to him that it was worthwhile. It wasn’t folly. She had the vision. It might not bring the money rolling in right away, but it was important to be a part of the community and make a contribution that would pay off in the long term.
The party was casual, but still a business affair, and Grant had dressed accordingly, in charcoal trousers and a pale blue dress shirt that really brought out his eyes. It wasn’t conjecture to say her date was the best-looking guy at the party. It was a fact. Of course, flirtation aside, this was no date. It was a chance for two colleagues and friends to spend some time together. She wanted Grant and her to be close again. It could only help when it came to work.
After they made small talk with several agents Tara knew, Grant seemed antsy. “Can I get you something to drink?” he asked, gently placing his hand at the small of her back.
It was nice to have the male attention, to have someone take care of her for once. She was usually so busy being independent. “Sure. I’ll take a beer. An IPA if they have it.”
“It’s San Diego. I’m sure they’ll have one.”
Grant wandered off, and Tara finished up her conversation, realizing just how glad she was to be making a shift in her career. All this talk of house showings and demanding clients was tiresome. She was happy she didn’t have to wake up tomorrow morning to that reality. When Grant returned with their beers, Tara wanted the chance to move on to something different. “You’ll have to excuse us. Grant and I want to check out the game.”
They stepped out onto the balcony and into the slightly cooler night air. “It’s an amazing way to see a baseball game, huh?” Tara asked.
Grant shook his head and leaned against the railing. Tara was not so brave. She loved the view, but hated heights, so she stood back from the edge. “We are not at
