Chapter 1 — The List

Calla Merritt

The glass-fronted dealership gleamed under the early morning sun, its rows of polished vehicles reflecting the light like mirrors in a pristine showroom. Calla Merritt stepped onto the lot, clipboard held tightly in her hand, her sensible flats crunching against the gravel. She hadn’t wanted to spend her Saturday morning here, but her old car’s sudden demise earlier in the week had left her no choice. With work resuming on Monday, finding a reliable replacement wasn’t just preferred—it was essential. One day, one car, and she could return to her carefully ordered life.

Her dark brown eyes scanned the lot, already running through her mental checklist before her pen even touched paper. A reliable engine. Excellent fuel economy. Five-star safety rating. These were non-negotiable. She adjusted her glasses as if to refocus her determination, exhaling slowly.

Theo Ashcroft leaned casually against a sleek red sedan nearby, arms crossed, his tie predictably askew. His hazel eyes, flecked with green, roamed the lot before landing on her. She wasn’t the average Saturday shopper—that much was obvious. Her stride had a deliberate rhythm, her clipboard held more like a shield than a tool. She moved with the kind of precision that intrigued him. A challenge, he thought, as a flicker of curiosity lit up his easy grin.

“Good morning!” Theo called, his voice warm and confident, the kind of greeting meant to charm.

Calla didn’t even glance his way. “Hello,” she replied, her tone clipped but polite. Without slowing, she stopped in front of a compact sedan, meticulously inspecting its exterior before jotting down a note.

Theo raised his eyebrows, his interest piqued. Most customers softened under his easy approach, but she was different—disarmingly focused, like nothing and no one could distract her. Pushing off the car he’d been leaning on, he strolled toward her, hands in his pockets. His polished shoes crunched softly against the gravel.

“Shopping for something specific?” he asked, matching her pace as she moved to the next car.

“Yes.” Calla didn’t look up. “I’m looking for a vehicle with excellent fuel efficiency, low maintenance costs, and a five-star safety rating.” Her tone was calm, almost mechanical, like she’d rehearsed the line.

Theo tilted his head to catch a glimpse of her clipboard, smirking when he saw the neat, bulleted list. “You’ve got… a checklist?”

“Yes. A detailed one.”

“Of course you do,” Theo muttered under his breath, the grin tugging at his lips betraying his amusement. “Well, I think I’ve got just the car for you. There’s a hybrid model—fantastic mileage, loaded with safety features. Plus, it’s red. Who doesn’t love a little flair?”

Calla came to an abrupt halt, finally turning to face him. Her dark brown eyes, sharp and steady behind her glasses, fixed on him like a teacher about to correct an overeager student. “I don’t need flair,” she said, her voice firm. “I need practicality.”

Theo blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the intensity of her gaze. “Right. Practicality. Got it.”

She returned to her clipboard, her pen moving swiftly as if to close the conversation. Theo rocked back on his heels, studying her. Straight-laced, serious, and entirely unimpressed by his usual tricks. Interesting.

“Okay,” he said after a beat, his tone shifting to a mock-serious cadence. “Let me guess. You’re a teacher.”

Her pen paused mid-check, and she shot him a skeptical glance. “How did you know?”

“Lucky guess,” he replied, though it was hardly that. Her methodical demeanor and the way she wielded that clipboard like it could grade him had given her away. “Math, right? You seem like the numbers type.”

Calla’s frown deepened, and she adjusted her glasses, a small gesture of irritation—or perhaps flustered surprise. “Yes. And you seem like the type who thinks charm can substitute for substance.”

Theo laughed, a genuine, full-bodied sound that caught her off guard. “Ouch. Fair enough,” he admitted, still grinning. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if to share a secret. “But for the record, I’m a lot more substantial than I look.”

Her lips twitched—almost a smile—but she quickly masked it by flipping to a fresh page on her clipboard. “We’ll see.”

“Challenge accepted,” Theo said, his grin widening.

Calla shook her head, annoyed at herself for engaging, even briefly. She turned back to the nearest car, a modest silver sedan, running her hand along the hood. “Tell me about this one.”

Theo followed her gaze but hesitated for a fraction of a second before replying. “This one’s a good car, sure. But you don’t strike me as a silver sedan kind of person.”

She raised an eyebrow. “And what kind of person do I strike you as?”

He pretended to think, tilting his head thoughtfully. “Something bold. Maybe not red, but definitely not boring. You’re practical, sure, but I bet there’s a part of you that wants something a little different. Something that stands out.”

Calla stared at him for a beat, her expression unreadable. “Are we still talking about cars?”

“Depends,” Theo quipped, his grin taking on a teasing edge.

She rolled her eyes and turned back to her list. “I think I’ll decide for myself, thanks.”

“Suit yourself,” Theo said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “But if you need help, I’ll be right over there.” He gestured toward the showroom and started to walk away, then paused. “By the way, I’m Theo. Just in case you change your mind.”

“Calla,” she replied curtly, though he was already out of earshot.

---

Inside the dealership, Theo leaned against the counter, his eyes drifting back to the lot. Through the glass, he watched Calla move efficiently from car to car, her expression calm and focused as she made notes.

Brooke sidled up beside him, popping a piece of gum into her mouth. Her auburn pixie cut caught the morning light, and her graphic tee—a splash of bold color—clashed slightly with the dealership’s polished aesthetic.

“Who’s the new project?” she asked, jerking her chin toward Calla.

“She’s not a project,” Theo said, though the grin tugging at his lips suggested otherwise.

“Uh-huh.” Brooke leaned on the counter, chewing thoughtfully. “You’ve got that look—the one you get when you’re trying to charm someone immune to your shtick.”

“She’s… different,” Theo admitted, crossing his arms. “I tried the usual Theo magic, but she’s not biting.”

Brooke snorted. “Let me guess—she’s got better things to do than swoon over a sales pitch.”

Theo sighed, his gaze flicking to his reflection in the glass. “I don’t know, Brooke. Sometimes I feel like this is it. Selling cars to people who don’t even want to talk to me.”

Her teasing softened. “You’re good at it, Theo. Better than anyone else here. But we both know selling cars isn’t your dream.”

Theo’s jaw tightened. He looked down at his hands, shoving them into his pockets. “Dreams don’t pay the bills.”

“No,” Brooke agreed, nudging him with her elbow. “But they make life worth living.” She grinned. “What’s the point of all those sketches in your notebook if you’re just going to let them gather dust?”

Theo’s mouth twitched, the words hitting closer than he cared to admit. His gaze slid back outside, to Calla crouching to inspect the tires of a hatchback. For a brief moment, he let himself imagine it: leaving the dealership, opening his shop, and turning his plans into reality.

Frank’s sharp voice barked from across the showroom, breaking the moment. “Ashcroft! Stop daydreaming and get back to work!”

Theo plastered on a smile. “Duty calls.”

Brooke rolled her eyes. “One day, Theo. You’re going to stop letting Frank boss you around.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Theo muttered, waving her off as he headed back outside.

---

As Calla finished her notes and stood to stretch, she caught sight of Theo approaching again, his easy grin firmly in place.

“Back so soon?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“What can I say? I couldn’t stay away,” Theo quipped, leaning casually against the car she was inspecting. “So, have you found ‘the one’ yet?”

Calla resisted the urge to sigh. “Not yet. But if you’re going to keep hovering, you might as well make yourself useful.”

Theo straightened up, his grin softening into something more genuine. “Now you’re talking.”

As they began discussing engine specs and safety ratings, Calla couldn’t help but notice the way his enthusiasm lit up his face. For all his charm—and it was considerable—there was a genuine passion beneath it.

Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn’t be such a waste of her Saturday after all.