the story about her and Vance’s marriage finally died down.
Not to mention the fact that she wanted to be in town in order to continue the search for her mother with her sisters.
That fact had sealed the deal, and by the next morning, Natalie had made her decision. While she expected and hoped to put one hundred percent of her time and effort into finding clues that would lead to her mother, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to spend some time helping Penelope with her fundraising efforts. The truth was, event planning came easy to Natalie, because she had done it so often. And as Penelope had said, athletes and athletes’ wives and other people in high-profile positions were able to get tasks done more efficiently, simply because they had connections to people who had more financial resources.
After breakfast, Natalie called Penelope.
“Natalie?” Penelope said without preamble.
“Yes, Penelope. It’s me.”
“You’ve made a decision?”
“I have,” Natalie said, and paused. “I really love what you told me about Compassion for Families and I’m more than happy to help out.”
“Excellent!” Penelope exclaimed. “And timing couldn’t be more perfect. Remember I told you about the football player friend of mine who is also going to be helping me with this cause? Well, he’s coming into our office today, and this would be a great chance for you to come and meet him. In fact, he’s on his way right now. Why don’t you come to the meeting? With the gala date only six weeks away, there’s no time to spare in getting started.”
“You want me to come in now?” Natalie asked with hesitation.
“Unless you have another obligation right now.”
“No, I’m free now,” Natalie decided. There was no real reason she couldn’t head in to the office and meet this man she would be working with. As Penelope had said, there wasn’t a moment to spare.
“Excellent! Let me give you the address, and I’ll see you soon.”
Natalie scribbled the address on a piece of paper. “I’m on my way.”
“I can’t wait for you to meet Mike Jones,” Penelope added.
Natalie’s stomach lurched at the mention of the name. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“Mike Jones is the football player I was talking about. My friend from school. He’s a sweetheart, and real easy on the eyes. You’ll like him.”
Suddenly, Natalie’s brain was scrambling to try to come up with a reason to do a one-eighty and tell Penelope that she could no longer meet her, no longer volunteer her time.
Yeah, I bet you looked just like a little angel when you were born, and that’s what your mama named you.
“As in Michael Jones?” Natalie asked for clarification.
“Yes, that’s him,” Penelope said. “Oh, you know him?”
Natalie’s hands tightened on the receiver as she closed her eyes. “No. I’ve just…heard of him.”
“Excellent.” Penelope couldn’t sound more pleased. “All right. See you soon.”
Chapter 4
The entire drive to the Compassion for Families offices, Natalie felt as if she had a bowling ball sitting in her stomach. At least ten times she contemplated—and dismissed—the idea of turning around and heading back home.
How silly are you being? she asked herself as she parked beside a sleek BMW. What—are you incapable of working in a professional capacity with a man like Michael Jones?
That was the thought that had her getting out of her car and making her way up the steps of a large, older home with a wraparound porch. Clearly, this was not only the home where the families in need resided, but also the building that held the charity’s offices.
Natalie drew in a breath as she stood before the door, then reminding herself that she was acting like a schoolgirl, she opened it.
She was immediately greeted by a woman who had to be Penelope—a five foot nothing African-American female with a short afro, light brown skin and a sprinkling of freckles on her nose.
“Natalie Hart,” the woman said, extending her hand. “I’m Penelope Rand. So nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, as well,” Natalie said. Then she looked beyond Penelope, in the direction of a woman who was crossing the far end of the hall with a tray of cupcakes.
Penelope turned to follow Natalie’s line of sight. “That’s Cynthia. She’s one of our staff members. She bakes the most extraordinary desserts.”
“The house certainly smells lovely,” Natalie said.
“Would you like a cupcake?” Penelope asked.
“No, I’m fine.” Natalie waved off the suggestion. “Leave them for the children.”
“All right, then. This way.” Penelope gestured to the door on the immediate right.
Natalie started into the room—and stopped dead in her tracks. Though she had known she would see Michael Jones in the room, laying her eyes on him again was like a shock to her system.
Good Lord, the man was so…
“I know, I’m sorry the office is so cluttered,” Penelope said, mistaking the reason for Natalie’s hesitation. “Please bear with the mess.”
“It’s fine,” Natalie said, avoiding looking directly at Michael. But as she put one foot deliberately before the other and walked farther into the room, she could feel Michael’s gaze on her.
His eyes were burning her skin. She felt flushed and didn’t know why. And strangely, she found her breathing had become shallow.
Embarrassment, she told herself. That’s what it is. And she knew that was true. After yesterday—
“I’ve cleared space at the end of the conference table,” Penelope explained, jarring Natalie from her thoughts about the day before. Penelope began walking toward the table, and as Natalie feared, she took a seat opposite Michael, which left Natalie one option—to sit beside him.
“Michael Jones, this is Natalie Cooper—I mean Hart. Natalie, this is Michael Jones, the local football player I was telling you about.”
“Pleasure to see you again,” Michael said, eyeing her up and down as if she were a juicy steak.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Penelope said, her expression one of confusion as she took a seat opposite them. “I didn’t realize that you knew each other.”
“We don’t,” Natalie said.
To that, Michael raised an eyebrow. “Actually, we met yesterday.”
“Briefly,” Natalie
