10. Natalie
TEN
natalie
“We have to stop meeting like this.”
Dave smiled and nodded to the seat across the desk. The guy I’d danced with two days ago. Whose arms around me had been the stuff of my dreams for the past few nights. I had no business agreeing to that dance, as if he’d really given me a choice.
Damn bossy military guys. I’d been around Lucas and Nate enough to know that I did not want to dance with an ex-Army Ranger. Specifically, that one. But I had, and now I simply could not get him out of my mind. Hiding in the corner of the bar for the rest of the night hadn’t helped. Like a big coward, I’d sent Charlee to his car to fetch my clothes with a promise I’d return his things soon. As in, hopefully never.
My new plan was to completely avoid him. Do what I could to thwart his land-grabbing efforts from afar. If he came into a bar, I’d be leaving it from now on. I simply didn’t trust myself around him.
“I wish I could tell you it was good news this time.”
“You’re killing me,” I said to my boss, clutching my travel coffee mug for dear life. His face said it all. “Just say it. I already know.”
He seemed surprised. “You do?”
“I can guess,” I clarified.
“Ahh, well. You probably can. I met with the purchaser Friday afternoon—”
I stopped him there. “You met with Jaxon Friday?”
“I did.”
Hmm. Conveniently he hadn’t mentioned that during our dance. Not that we talked much. He’d asked a question or two. I stubbornly gave him one- and two-word answers and tried to avoid eye contact. Not that it worked, completely.
And every time our eyes did meet . . .
“Nat?”
I came back to earth. “I’m listening.”
“We went over the conservation easements, land use agreements, and property deeds, since the impact report came back green-lighted.”
Green light. Meaning it was full steam ahead for Jaxon. Fantastic.
“And?”
“And I’m assigning you to the case.”
I nearly shot up from my seat and yelled, “No way!” until I thought it through for a second. How better to know exactly what was happening than by being the case manager on this?
So instead, I made a face to show Dave how unhappy I was about the whole thing. But he didn’t seem to care.
“I know you have a personal tie to the inlet property. This way you can see all the reports and know everything is on the up and up. And that there’s probably very little you can do to stop it.”
“Me?” I pointed to my own chest. “You think I would do such a thing?”
He cleared his throat. “Yes.”
“I love that property,” I said, serious for a second. “But I love my job more. I’d never do anything to jeopardize it.”
“I know that too,” my boss said. “Which is exactly why I’m putting you on this case. You can oversee the process and, if the land is sold, at least you’ll have full knowledge of the details. I’ve already emailed you the files.”
Looked like it would be an office day as I went over the paperwork. But I wasn’t going to complain. Now I could see everything from the initial application to exactly how Jaxon planned to weasel his way into purchasing the land. “Thanks, Dave,” I said begrudgingly.
He laughed. “We’ll find you a new spot for the program. It’s not the end of the world. When you see the files, you’ll probably feel better. I’m actually surprised that inlet wasn’t nabbed up already. Our hold on it was tenuous, at best.”
FLLT had been extremely aggressive years ago snapping up each and every parcel of land that even had a shred of environmental impact. But I was still dying to see those files. Plus, it would keep my mind off him.
“Here’s Jaxon’s number. Reach out. Tell him you’re on the case and that a public hearing has been set for next Wednesday.”
So much for getting my mind off him.
“So soon?”
“It’s either that or next month. And since Jaxon is staying in town for the duration of the sale, I got him on the agenda.”
Dave was being awfully accommodating. Almost as if he wanted this sale. Which, to be fair, he probably did. Men and money. It was a heady combination.
I took the note. Stood. And tried not to look as if I’d just swallowed asparagus.
“Natalie.” Dave stopped me halfway to the door. I spun around. “I appreciate you handling this so professionally. I know it’s a kick in the pants for you.”
If I were a guy, he would have said balls. And yeah, it was a real kick in the balls for sure.
“Thanks, Dave,” I said, heading out of his office and toward my own. If it weren’t so sunny out, I’d go to the inlet and work on my computer there. I tried to think of somewhere that I could be outside but shaded to see the computer. When I couldn’t think of anywhere, I sat at my desk and resigned myself to working indoors, at least for the morning. Might hit Devine Coffee House later if I got sick of these four walls.
Actually, they had tables with umbrellas. It was better than nothing.
Mind made up, I packed up my things and decided now was as good a time as any, my office was just too depressing today. On the way, I completed the dreaded call.
His phone rang twice before he answered.
“Hello?”
Shit. I’d been expecting to leave a message. His voice was as deep and sexy on the phone as in person.
Obviously. Same guy. Same voice.
Duh, Natalie.
I tried to sound as dry and professional as possible. “Jaxon? This is Natalie Hartwell. Dave just assigned me to your case. I’ll be taking a look at your files today, but he wanted me to let you know you’re on the docket for a public hearing next Wednesday. I’ll email you the details.”
Silence.
“Interesting.”
That was it? Interesting?
It took every bit of my willpower not to hang up.
“He asked that I call you. Which I’ve done. We can follow up at this point via email. Have a good—”
“Natalie. Hold on a sec.”
Ugh. “Yes?”
Another pause. He wanted to say something, probably not about the project. Maybe about Saturday night?
Inexplicably, he actually seemed to be as attracted to me as I was to him. Or at least half as attracted. At first, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, but the tension between us this weekend had been undeniable. To me and my friends. The gig was basically up. Every single person that was at Boots and Brews saw it and commented on it, which was another good reason to avoid him.
A girl could only be so strong against a guy who looked like...that.
“Never mind.”
Good.
“Okay. I’ll be in touch.”
With that, I hung up and mentally prepared myself for a long day of reading. At least there would be coffee. And maybe a cinnamon sugar donut. A winning combination sure to make my morning just a little bit better.