then as the communications director for a long standing Maryland senator, and now married to his father—she was always at least two steps ahead of every other person in the room when it came to who was who.
But Becca wasn’t part of their usual circle of acquaintances.
The startled, and unexpectedly pleased, expression that crossed Natalie’s face made Colin pause. He had brought Becca tonight so she could talk to his father about the school and so he could get a night off from his stepmother’s relentless matchmaking attempts, but he hadn’t considered how Natalie might react to her.
Even in three inch heels and a dress that hugged and flattered in all the right places, Becca still oozed girl next door sweetness. She wore very little makeup and almost no jewelry, except for the single gold charm that hung around her neck. She looked nothing like any of the women Colin had ever brought to one of his father’s campaign events.
Natalie recovered quickly, taking Becca’s hand, but there was no mistaking the spark of curiosity in her green eyes. “Please, call me Natalie.”
“Becca’s a teacher on the island,” Colin explained. “She’s hoping to talk to Dad about some of the challenges her district is going to face in the upcoming budget environment.”
“Oh?” Natalie said, surprised. Most of the women he brought only had one goal—to be seen with him as much as possible. “I didn’t realize…”
“I’d like to introduce them when he gets here,” Colin said. “Would you tell him to come find us when he arrives?”
“Of course,” Natalie said, looking back and forth between them. “But there’s no need to rush off.”
Actually, there was, Colin thought. It wouldn’t take long for his stepmother to notice Becca’s engagement ring and he was hoping to put her off at least until they sat down to dinner. As soon as Natalie realized Becca wasn’t a potential match for him, she would start scanning the room to find someone else she could introduce him to. “Becca just got out of the car from a long drive. She could probably use something to drink.”
Natalie simply lifted her hand and a waiter appeared out of nowhere carrying a tray filled with over a dozen glasses of white wine. She smiled as she plucked a glass off the tray and handed it to Becca. “Here you go, dear.”
“Thanks,” Becca said, smiling back at her. “I really enjoyed the speech you made at the charter school in Frederick last week, the one on bullying awareness and prevention.”
Natalie paused, her wine glass halfway to her lips. “Were you there?”
“No.” Becca shook her head. “I saw the clip on the news later that night. All of us, at least all the teachers I work with, are grateful that you’re putting a spotlight on such an important subject. The more people who are aware of what’s going on, the better our chances are of figuring out how to deal with it.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Natalie glanced back up at Colin. The spark of curiosity had bloomed into full-fledged admiration.
Colin stifled a groan.
None of the women he’d ever brought to a campaign event had bothered to ask his stepmother anything about her political initiatives. They were much more interested in complimenting her designer clothes and gossiping about mutual acquaintances.
He knew how seriously Natalie took her role as First Lady. Becca had just scored major points.
“Colin,” Natalie suggested, “why don’t you head up to the bar on your own? I’m happy to keep Becca company while you talk to Don.” She smiled warmly at Becca, her expression a little too eager. “I’m sure we’ll find all kinds of things to talk about.”
“Natalie,” Colin warned.
“What?” Natalie glanced back up at him innocently. “I just want to find out how the two of you met.”
“How we met?” Becca asked, confused.
Colin sighed. So much for getting the night off. He should have known Natalie wouldn’t waste any time pouncing
But Becca wasn’t part of their usual circle of acquaintances.
The startled, and unexpectedly pleased, expression that crossed Natalie’s face made Colin pause. He had brought Becca tonight so she could talk to his father about the school and so he could get a night off from his stepmother’s relentless matchmaking attempts, but he hadn’t considered how Natalie might react to her.
Even in three inch heels and a dress that hugged and flattered in all the right places, Becca still oozed girl next door sweetness. She wore very little makeup and almost no jewelry, except for the single gold charm that hung around her neck. She looked nothing like any of the women Colin had ever brought to one of his father’s campaign events.
Natalie recovered quickly, taking Becca’s hand, but there was no mistaking the spark of curiosity in her green eyes. “Please, call me Natalie.”
“Becca’s a teacher on the island,” Colin explained. “She’s hoping to talk to Dad about some of the challenges her district is going to face in the upcoming budget environment.”
“Oh?” Natalie said, surprised. Most of the women he brought only had one goal—to be seen with him as much as possible. “I didn’t realize…”
“I’d like to introduce them when he gets here,” Colin said. “Would you tell him to come find us when he arrives?”
“Of course,” Natalie said, looking back and forth between them. “But there’s no need to rush off.”
Actually, there was, Colin thought. It wouldn’t take long for his stepmother to notice Becca’s engagement ring and he was hoping to put her off at least until they sat down to dinner. As soon as Natalie realized Becca wasn’t a potential match for him, she would start scanning the room to find someone else she could introduce him to. “Becca just got out of the car from a long drive. She could probably use something to drink.”
Natalie simply lifted her hand and a waiter appeared out of nowhere carrying a tray filled with over a dozen glasses of white wine. She smiled as she plucked a glass off the tray and handed it to Becca. “Here you go, dear.”
“Thanks,” Becca said, smiling back at her. “I really enjoyed the speech you made at the charter school in Frederick last week, the one on bullying awareness and prevention.”
Natalie paused, her wine glass halfway to her lips. “Were you there?”
“No.” Becca shook her head. “I saw the clip on the news later that night. All of us, at least all the teachers I work with, are grateful that you’re putting a spotlight on such an important subject. The more people who are aware of what’s going on, the better our chances are of figuring out how to deal with it.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Natalie glanced back up at Colin. The spark of curiosity had bloomed into full-fledged admiration.
Colin stifled a groan.
None of the women he’d ever brought to a campaign event had bothered to ask his stepmother anything about her political initiatives. They were much more interested in complimenting her designer clothes and gossiping about mutual acquaintances.
He knew how seriously Natalie took her role as First Lady. Becca had just scored major points.
“Colin,” Natalie suggested, “why don’t you head up to the bar on your own? I’m happy to keep Becca company while you talk to Don.” She smiled warmly at Becca, her expression a little too eager. “I’m sure we’ll find all kinds of things to talk about.”
“Natalie,” Colin warned.
“What?” Natalie glanced back up at him innocently. “I just want to find out how the two of you met.”
“How we met?” Becca asked, confused.
Colin sighed. So much for getting the night off. He should have known Natalie wouldn’t waste any time pouncing
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