Overview

Rio and Hallie begin their first official design consultation, but a tense, volatile mix of nostalgia, attraction, and unresolved hurt derails the meeting. After Rio vacillates between tenderness and hostility, Hallie decides she cannot work with him and walks out, jeopardizing the renovation and her job prospects.

Full Summary

Rio narrates their first consultation at the design firm. Before they begin, Hallie takes a worrying call from her brother Luke, tries to hide her distress, and insists everything is fine. Rio pushes for details, and their conversation quickly exposes old wounds: Rio cut off contact with Luke after leaving Boston, and Hallie resents it.

As Hallie tries to resume the meeting, Rio prods about her plans and suspects she has a date at five. He deliberately drags out the meeting, and Hallie texts to cancel. The chemistry between them flares; Rio blurts a compliment about her hair and nearly calls her “baby,” then tries to pivot back to professionalism.

Hallie asks about Rio’s goals for the house. Rio admits he bought in a good school district to build a family but now might sell, possibly moving back to Boston in free agency if an offer comes, a plan he wants kept private. Hallie agrees to discretion, and they acknowledge that Rio’s friends know Hallie’s name but not their history.

When Rio asks if she bad-mouthed him, Hallie says only to Luke; mention of Hallie’s father chills the room. They return to design talk, and Hallie’s enthusiasm shows as she sets up a likes/dislikes list, drawing her distinctive heart. Rio instinctively touches the heart, evoking shared memories of her birthdays and their past, momentarily softening the tension.

Rio then undercuts the moment, saying he’s surprised she remembers anything about them because of how they ended. The jab lands hard. Hallie silently packs up her things and heads for the door.

At the threshold, Hallie tells Rio his whiplash between kindness and cruelty makes a working relationship impossible. She would rather lose the opportunity than endure six months of emotional turbulence, and she leaves, choosing to preserve her memory of him as the “sweet neighbor boy” she loved rather than accept the person he is being now.

Who Appears

• Rio DeLuca — NHL player and client; conflicted and reactive during the consultation, reveals possible plan to move back to Boston, alternates between tenderness and meanness, prompting Hallie to leave.
• Hallie Hart — Interior designer and Rio’s former neighbor/first love; takes a distressing call about her brother, cancels other plans, attempts professionalism, then quits the meeting and the project due to Rio’s behavior.
• Luke Hart — Hallie’s brother (off-page); on the phone early in the meeting, used to be Rio’s close friend, now estranged from Rio.
• Wren — Rio’s friend (off-page, referenced); aware Rio might leave Chicago and connected to timing of home sales.