Page 69 of His Curvy Distraction

“Should we start over?” I asked.

Natalie swallowed audibly. “Thank you, but I know you’re busy and don’t have time for me to be all…”

“Awkward?” I asked.

Natalie looked up at me with a gasp.

I smirked, a secret shared between us.

She exhaled a laugh, and her body language changed. “Yeah. Awkward.”

“I think I’m already aware of that one. Why don’t you just tell me what’s going on?”

She drew a breath and nodded. “James, Amelia’s son, and Derek Bailey helped me to remove the tree from the basketball court over the weekend. They spent all day at the property with me, and we dug out the rest of the connections. We’re ready for the electrical crew to come out and remove everything the rest of the way.”

“That’s huge progress from a week ago.”

“It is,” Natalie said. “I also got the camper cleaned out this week. We rented a dumpster and paid a company to get rid of everything in it.”

“Natalie was trapped at the campground in the storm last week,” Amelia told me. “We were in contact, but she was still stuck out there.”

“Getting the camper cleaned was a good idea.”

Natalie’s lips twitched with suppressed humor. “Derek Bailey put me in touch with Total Paving. They’re going to do the parking lot, driveway, and seal the basketball court in April or May.”

“So you do have some things set up?” I asked.

Natalie nodded. “Because our budget is limited, I didn’t want to commit to anything I didn’t know we could pay for. That’s why I’m not further along than I am. Until the fundraiser, I haven’t been able to confirm everything with these contractors.”

“Okay, I understand that. It makes sense to me that you wouldn’t want to take up space on their schedules and then back out and risk them missing out on other jobs. Have you been in touch with some of these companies?”

“Yes. I have a pool company that agreed to clean up the pool if we can pay them. I am still unsure about a building, but that’s a big ask. The camper was the biggest piece since we have to have a weather-safe location.”

“You’re making progress. And the fundraiser is less than a moth away?”

“It is. We have been getting calls from local companies wanting to donate items for a raffle, and we have information going out so everyone in town will know about it,” Natalie said.

“Good. Last we spoke, you seemed unsure.”

“I’m—” She gasped. “I was, but I realized last week that if I let my pride get in the way, I am only hurting myself.”

My brows jumped high. Was she talking about us? Or something else?

Did it matter?

“Well, I’m happy to hear that.”

I held her gaze for a long moment. Long enough that I forgot Amelia was sitting in the room with us.

“Okay, Omar, we’ll get on everything and be back for our next meeting in two weeks. The fundraiser will be almost here by then, and we’ll have all the details together.” Amelia stood and shook my hand. “And please know people are behind you. Anyone who does come out of nowhere and starts their campaign with lies and half-truths and an attempt to shame you isn’t someone I want running this town.”

“Thank you, Amelia.”

She nodded, then walked out, leaving Natalie and I alone for a minute.

“I’m sorry about the article,” Natalie said.

“Thanks.” I wanted to pull her into my arms and hold on.

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