He felt more than a little discouraged as he boarded the plane that morning. Part of him felt like a failure for likely screwing up his one chance to get funding for River Run. But he knew he couldn’t work with someone sexist like Wyatt Jamison. Lots of his employees at the lodge were women, he wasn’t about to let some investor who treated women like objects to throw his weight around and have any kind of power over him.

And part of him…part of his was still caught in that moment last night, where Nat had smiled, quick and fearless, before she’d declared she was going to kiss him.

He’d never had a woman initiate a first kiss before. Ever. It was always his job. Always the guy’s job.

Was that why he was so caught up in it? Because it was so different, because she was so bold, because she just bounced right up to the tip of her toes and pressed her lips against his like it was where she knew they both belonged?

Or was it just because it was her? He’d spent a little over 48 hours with Nat and he felt changed. Like he was going to compare every woman from now on to her, smiling bold and bright up at him.

He should’ve done more than kiss her. He should’ve picked her up and taken her upstairs to her apartment and spent the entire night with her. He’d been so close to doing just that. But he’d stopped himself.

Because one taste of her and his head had been spinning. If he took her to bed…

He’d never want to leave.

His phone began to buzz in his pocket and he pulled it out, frowning when he saw a New York number he didn’t recognize.

“Hello?” Rhett said.

“Is this Rhett Oakes?” asked a clipped voice.

“It is.”

“Please hold for Eleanor Townes.”

“Wait, what?” he asked, thinking he must’ve heard the person wrong. Eleanor Townes as in the Townes Charitable Foundation? It couldn’t be. The Townes Foundation was one of the biggest charities in the United States. Eleanor Townes was famous for selling her soda company after her husband passed away and dedicated herself to philanthropy. Half of the homeless shelters in New York were funded by her.

“Hello, this is Eleanor. Am I speaking to Rhett?”

“Yes,” Rhett said. “I’m sorry, do I…have we met? How did you get this number?”

“I made the acquaintance of a very lovely young woman last night at the black and white ball,” said Eleanor. “A Ms. Natalie Banks. I was very impressed by her and even more impressed by the venture she told me you were looking to explore. The wildlife sanctuary on your property in Oregon?”

“How did you…did Nat ask you call me?”

“No, she just mentioned it in passing and it caught my interest. So I did some digging this morning. I have your business plan here in front of me…”

How did she get his business plan? Rhett felt like he was in an episode of the Twilight Zone, but he kept his mouth shut, waiting.

“I’m quite impressed,” Eleanor concluded. “I would like to come out to Oregon to tour the property and the lodge and speak to you about investing.”

“I would love that,” Rhett said, not quite believing it. “I’m getting on a plane to Oregon right now. When do you want to come out?”

“Does next week work for you?” she asked.

“That sounds great,” Rhett said.

“Wonderful. My assistant will call you with the details. I look forward to meet and discussing this with you further. Animal conservation is an area the Townes Foundation is not involved with yet and I’ve been looking for the perfect project. I think this is it. I like your approach, how you’ve set up the business to feed into the Sanctuary, and your medical background tells me this isn’t just a whim for you. This is a passion. And I like to work with passionate people.”

“Ms. Townes, I’m incredible flattered. I really look forward to meeting with you.”

“Likewise. Ta for now, Rhett.”

“Sir, you’ll need to put that way,” said the flight attendant, gesturing to his phone.

“Of course,” he said, as she moved further down the plane. Glancing over his shoulder, he tapped out a quick text to Nat:

Eleanor Townes is coming out to tour River Run and talk about investing. Thank you, Nat. You’ve just given me…you’ve just given me everything I ever wanted. Seems like I owe you one, city-girl. If you’re ever in my neck of the woods, I hope you come to collect.

He shut his phone off before the flight attendant caught him, settling back for the long flight back to the Pacific Northwest.

When he got off the plane later, there was a text waiting for him from her:

If I’m ever in your neck of the woods, I’m going to do more than collect ;) Congratulations, Rhett. I’m really happy for you.

He smiled. God, city girls like her were such trouble.

But he was starting to wonder if the trouble might just be worth it.

Rhett and Nat’s love story will continue in the full length novel, ALL LOVED UP, coming soon from Skylar Hill. When a neighbor digs up an obscure law that threatens Rhett’s beloved property, he must marry in order to appease the out-of-date but still on the books law from the 1800’s! Nat tells herself that she’s just doing a friend a favor, but what happens with their fake marriage starts to feel all too real?