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you’re thinking about a certain new-moneyed Dallas hottie.” Was it that obvious? Chloe swallowed down a groan. “And I bet he’s thinking about you, too.”
    Chloe’s cheeks flushed. “Why would you say that?”
    â€œHe was confused when I answered the phone,” Hailey said. “Like he wasn’t expecting to get a business. And he asked for Chloe. Not Miss Benson, not Chloe Benson. Hardly professional.”
    She hadn’t given him her last name. God, she was an idiot. A horny, sex-starved fool. “We didn’t get a chance to talk much.” Oh, they talked all right. Just not about the foundation. “It was his dad’s memorial service. I got cold feet mid-ambush.”
    â€œYou’re seeing him again, though. That’s why he called, right?”
    Somehow, Chloe doubted they’d be discussing business in his hotel room tonight. “Yeah, we’re meeting at eight.”
    â€œSo, put your people skills to work and talk that boy out of his millions!” Hailey exclaimed. “You can’t give up now, Chloe. This foundation means so much to so many people. Just go for it.”
    That was the problem. She’d gone for it and then some. “In case I don’t show up in the morning with a big fat check, can you make a few more cold calls today? I heard that the Blackwell Foundation might be looking to expand their charitable ventures.”
    â€œWill do.” Hailey pulled out her tablet and scribbled something on the screen with the stylus. “I have a couple more leads I haven’t explored yet, too. None of them are whales, but I bet I could shake them down for ten thousand apiece.”
    â€œSure. That’s a good idea.”
    â€œHey,” Hailey said at Chloe’s downtrodden tone. “Every little bit helps.”
    â€œIt does.” She gave Hailey her best optimistic smile. “And I appreciate everything you’re doing.”
    â€œYou can thank me when we’re back on our feet,” Hailey said. “I expect a huge gala and a gold trophy.”
    â€œI don’t know about the gala,” Chloe said. “But you’re so getting that trophy.”
    â€œWith rhinestones,” Hailey added. “Now, stop daydreaming about Nate Christensen and get to work.” She gave Chloe a wink in parting and closed the office door behind her.
    Chloe slumped down in her chair and stared blindly at her computer screen. How could she possibly bring up the foundation with Nate now? Any attempt to plead her case for a sizeable donation would come across as sleazy. She’d never planned to sleep with him. She couldn’t change what had happened, though, and it was going to happen again. Nate was a force of nature. She had no choice but to be caught up in the storm.
    With any luck, Hailey would be able to secure some real, solid funding today and Chloe wouldn’t have to worry about Nate’s money and what it could do for her struggling foundation. She checked the clock on the bottom of her screen. In less than ten hours, she’d be back in his hotel room and too mindless to think straight. Chloe rolled her shoulders and opened the Excel file with her list of possible contributors. Without thinking, she picked a random name from her list, picked up the phone, and dialed.
    â€œHi, this is Chloe Benson from the Youth Sports Foundation of Dallas. Is Mr. St. Claire available this morning?”
    Chloe waited as the receptionist put her on hold. Think positive thoughts . With any luck, this wouldn’t be the bitch of a day she expected it to be, fraught with disappointment. Otherwise, she’d be begging Nate for a handout whether she wanted to or not.

Five
    Ten minutes to eight and Nate was about to crawl out of his fucking skin. His day had been every bit as shitty as he’d anticipated with the lawyers, his dad’s stuffy board of directors, and even his own damned brothers making