Falling for Fortune

by Nancy Robards Thompson

  The woman had asked for respect. He understood that and revered her even more for telling him that was important to her.

  “I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. Because you’re a very important part of this team and I don’t want you to ever feel uncomfortable.”

  There it was. An almost imperceptible shift in her demeanor, but he saw it. She had re-crossed her arms and was still standing there with her closed-off posture, but her brow was slightly less furrowed and her shoulders were somewhat more relaxed.

  “I appreciate that,” she said.

  He resisted the urge to tell her that he knew there was a lot more to Kinsley Aaron than a pretty face and a potentially great pair of legs. There was something guarded and a little troubled about her and he wanted to know who or what had made her that way because she was way too young and pretty to be that uptight.

  He silently vowed that he was going to find out. He was going to be the one to teach Kinsley Aaron how to loosen up.

  Chapter Four

  Two days later, Kinsley got a call from Emmett Jamison’s assistant, Valerie, asking her to meet with Mr. Jamison at two o’clock. Apprehension knotted in her stomach.

  Christopher had called Judy Davis right after their discussion. Kinsley had followed up and made sure that Christopher had placed the call. Christopher could be all wit and charm, so Kinsley had been certain that he would win the woman over. She hadn’t given it a second thought.

  Until now.

  Now, Kinsley was nervous that maybe Judy Davis had called back with more complaints and, once again, she would take the fall. Well, she wasn’t going to lie and she wouldn’t go down without a fight. As she made her way to Mr. Jamison’s office, she racked her brain for the words to defend herself if he was calling her in to level the boom.

  She loved this job. She was good at it. She’d made great strides with the community outreach program. Really, her work should speak for itself.

  When her heartbeat kicked into an irrational staccato, she took a deep breath and reminded herself not to jump to conclusions. Just because Mr. Jamison has never called her to his office before in the year and a half she’d worked there didn’t mean the first visit spelled doom.

  Valerie looked up and smiled at Kinsley as she approached.

  “Hi, Kinsley,” she said. “Have a seat. I’ll let Mr. Jamison know you’re here.”

  Kinsley had no more than settled herself on the edge of the maroon wingback chair when Valerie hung up the phone and said, “He said to come right in. He’s ready to see you.”

  Kinsley dug deep to offer her most self-assured smile. “Thank you.”

  When she opened the door, Christopher was the first person she saw. What was he doing here?

  He wasn’t her boss. Yet he was her superior if you went strictly by job title. When he had started at the Foundation, his place in the chain of command hadn’t been officially defined.

  But here he was, sitting on the sofa in Emmett Jamison’s office. Mr. Jamison occupied the chair across from Christopher. Notes of their laughter still hung in the air. They stood up and smiled at Kinsley as she walked in.

  She hoped the convivial air was a good sign. Usually, people didn’t sit and joke when they were planning on letting an employee go. She was eager to know what this was all about.

  “Hello, Kinsley,” said Mr. Jamison. “Thanks for taking time out of your day to meet with us.”

  That was a good sign.

  “No problem at all,” she said.

  He gestured to the empty space on the couch next to Christopher. For a moment Kinsley silently debated whether she should sit in the chair next to her boss, but she walked over and took the seat he’d indicated.

  After their talk the other day, Kinsley had forgiven the flirtation. Maybe it was because despite how incredibly maddening—and flirty—the guy could be, he seemed to have taken seriously her requests to be treated professionally. She couldn’t ask for more than that.

  She felt him watching her as she settled herself next to him. Okay, so maybe the old dog hadn’t completely changed his ways. Or maybe she just needed to relax and own up to the fact that maybe she was the one with the problem. That maybe she found Christopher just a little bit more attractive than she would like to admit. There. She’d said it. And immediately blinked away the thought, wondering where it had come from.

  “I want to thank both of you for the way you handled Judy Davis,” said Emmett. “She called back to say she was delighted with the response she received. I think you charmed her, Christopher.”

  No doubt.

  “But, Kinsley,” said Emmett, “Christopher tells me you’re the one who alerted him to the fact that there was a problem, allowing him to correct the situation. That’s great teamwork. It started me thinking that the two of you should collaborate on another community relations project.”

  Christopher had admitted that there had been a problem?

  Kinsley checked herself to ensure that her expression didn’t expose her surprise.

  So he’d fessed up... Hmm... Maybe I need to give him more credit.

  “Do you have something in mind?” Christopher asked.

  “As a matter of fact I do,” said Emmett. “Jed Cramer, principal over at Red Rock High School, told me that you, Kinsley, had lunch with his Cornerstone Club president the other day. He was telling me that there has been an increase in bullying among the students, and he’s very concerned. He believes the Foundation can help since we’ve been successful in reaching teens through our community outreach program. Kinsley, you’re really doing a wonderful job with that. I think this is a project that the two of you could really sink your teeth into. Together you could do some real good and put a stop to this bullying problem.”

  Emmett’s eyes darted back and forth between Christopher and Kinsley. “Does this sound like something you would like to handle?”

  Kinsley and Christopher both looked at each other and started to speak at the same time. Then they stopped talking and started again at the exact same time.

  Finally, Christopher smiled and gestured to Kinsley. “You go first.”

  She felt her stomach flutter a little, but she ignored it and simply said, “Thank you. Meg was telling me this is an unfortunate reality that’s happening more and more these days. The challenge is getting the kids to speak up—not only the ones who are being bullied, but the ones who witness the bullying. A lot is going on here—self-esteem issues, cliques and a general feeling of wanting—no, needing—to be accepted.”

  Christopher was nodding his head. Kinsley paused to let him put in his two cents, but he remained quiet. So she continued.

  “To reach the kids, we have to not only go where they are, but we also have to reach them on a more personal level. What would you think about the Foundation having a booth at the annual Red Rock Spring Fling?”

  “I think it’s a wonderful idea,” said Emmett.

  “I agree,” said Christopher. “But we will have to move fast because it’s happening toward the end of the month. How about if I check into the logistics of securing the booth?”

  “That sounds like a plan,” said Emmett. “The two of you can work together to plan the approach you’ll take and the material you’ll use. Here’s more good news. We have about $20,000 in the unspecified reserve account. We had a board meeting yesterday and the board of directors approved your using some of that money to implement an anti-bullying program. How about if we make the Spring Fling our target launch date? Does that sound doable?”

  Again, Christopher and Kinsley’s gazes met. Maybe it was her imagination, but Kinsley could’ve sworn that something vaguely electric passed between them. For some reason, despite everything that had already happened, it didn’t bother her like it would’ve before she and Christopher had talked. And that fe
lt a little reckless. She refocused her attention on Emmett.

  It was probably just the residual adrenaline rush she’d felt at Mr. Jamison’s praise. He’d noticed her hard work. She was having a hard time keeping herself from smiling.

  “It sounds doable to me,” she said. “We will have our work cut out for us, though, with this timeline. But we can do it.”

  “Sounds like a very worthy project,” said Christopher. “I’m definitely up for the challenge.”

  His words made Kinsley’s breath catch in her throat, which was ridiculous. She needed to stop this nonsense. After her big declaration the other day, if she knew what was good for her she would just keep her mind on the job and stop thinking about how blue Christopher Fortune’s eyes were and relishing the times when those eyes lingered and seemed to only see her.

  What was wrong with her? Two days ago she had all but read him the riot act about treating her with respect, and here she was in her boss’s office contemplating Christopher Fortune’s eyes. She needed to get her head on straight. She would do this project and do it right without allowing inappropriate thoughts to get in the way. The last thing she wanted was to let a fickle man come between her and the only stability she’d ever really known.

  If her mom had been strong enough to do the same, things would be so different today for both of them.

  Well, she would just have to be strong...in memory of her mother.

  “Fantastic,” said Emmett. “I know the two of you will make a fabulous team. You complement each other. Christopher, you bring the charm, and Kinsley, I know you will keep Christopher on task. I have a very strong feeling I will be calling the two of you my dream team.”

  Dream team, Kinsley mused.

  Why did that seem to work on so many different levels?

  * * *

  Over the next few days, Christopher realized just how many members of the Fortune family worked at the Foundation. The organization was run by Emmett and his wife, Linda Faraday, but working here had given him so many opportunities to meet his cousins: Susan Fortune Eldridge and Julie Osterman Fortune, who were doing great work with troubled teens; Nicholas Fortune, a financial analyst who monitored the Foundation’s investments; and Jeremy Fortune, who was a doctor for the Foundation’s medical clinic. Yet they always seem to have room for one more. He didn’t want to be the slacker amid the bunch. He wanted to make sure that Emmett and Linda didn’t regret hiring him. He vowed to be his most professional self.

  Christopher had taken to heart Kinsley’s request for him to treat her with respect. The anti-bullying project Emmett had assigned was the opportunity for him to prove himself—to Emmett, to his family and, of course, to Kinsley.

  If he wasn’t able to woo her with the Fortune name and charm that seemed to work on every other woman in Red Rock, he would win her over with his new-and-improved work ethic. She was an inspiration. She made him want to be a better man.

  He would show her that he wasn’t just hired because he was a Fortune. Though she hadn’t come right out and said it, he knew she must be thinking it.

  The anti-bullying project was a worthwhile venture. It was an opportunity to do some good for the community. After two months of feeling as if he was spinning his wheels, he finally felt as if he had a foothold. Plus, it offered the bonus of extra time with Kinsley. It would be a chance for him to get closer to her, a chance for him to woo her and win her over.

  Because they didn’t have much time to put the display together, the two of them had been spending a lot of time together. They had agreed to a standing hour and a half meeting every afternoon so they could plan their approach.

  He should’ve known by now that Kinsley would throw herself wholeheartedly into anything she committed to. Even so, he hadn’t planned on her practically transporting her office to his. But for their first meeting, there she’d been with reams of files and at least a dozen three-ring binders that detailed the different branches of the Foundation’s outreach program.

  She’d brought so much stuff it required several trips to transport it all. Christopher had helped her carry the bulk of it. Now, the two of them sat across from each other in his office—since it was the larger space—with the information spread out across the coffee table.

  “First, I think we should figure out what sort of printed material we need,” Kinsley suggested. “I was thinking we could put together a brochure that offers tips about bullying prevention. Like what to do if you find yourself the victim of a bully, and what to do if you see someone else being bullied. We’ll need to have these finished first because we’ll need some lead time for the printing. What do you think?”

  What did he think?

  He thought she was one of the most beautiful women he had ever laid eyes on. With her long blond hair and complicated blue eyes, the saying still waters run deep came to mind. Kinsley might seem quiet and unassuming, but from what Christopher had experienced, there was a whole lot more going on beneath the surface.

  “I think that sounds great,” he said. “Do you want to write the copy for that? Somehow I have a feeling you would be a lot better at it than I would.”

  She had gorgeous skin. He just knew it would feel like silk... He balled his fists to keep from reaching across the table and running a finger along her jawline. She was a natural beauty, and he was willing to bet she didn’t even know it.

  “I’m happy to do it,” she said. “In fact, I already have a couple of ideas for themes. Would you like to hear them?”

  Smart. Beautiful. She just needed to know that she didn’t have to be all business, all the time. He could help her with that. He felt himself smiling.

  “I would love to hear them.”

  She surprised him by smiling back at him. “Well, the first one I thought of was Take a stand. Lend a hand.”

  She paused and watched him. Though he knew she would never admit it, he could see in her eyes that she was looking for approval.

  “That’s great. It’s catchy and concise.”

  Her blue eyes shone. “I’m glad you like it. I thought it served two good purposes. We’re encouraging people to take a stand—that could mean standing up for yourself or stepping in when someone else is being bullied. And of course, the lend a hand part is all about helping those who are in distress. My research shows that one of the reasons people bully is because they’re allowed to get away with it. When people speak up and then get together the bully loses his or her power.”

  He nodded. “That makes a lot of sense. It’s important that we let people know it’s okay to intervene.”

  “Exactly.” Her eyes sparkled, and she spoke with such conviction he wondered if she was speaking from personal experience.

  “I’m blown away by how much you know about this subject. Did you research it, or is this personal?”

  In the seconds it had taken him to ask the question, the glint had disappeared from her eyes and her arms were crossed over her chest like body armor.

  “It’s just...” She shrugged. “It’s really just common sense. But, hey, I have another idea. Are you familiar with the quote, ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’?”

  “I am,” he said.

  “I thought it would be appropriate for something like this.”

  Christopher cocked his head to the side. “Why does that sound like something that would be your life’s motto?”

  Kinsley blushed a pretty shade of pink. “Oh, no, I can’t take credit for that. It’s a famous saying....”

  As her voice trailed off, she looked down at her hands, which were tightly clasped in her lap now.

  “I know you didn’t invent it,” Christopher said. “I was just saying it sounds like a good theory to subscribe to. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

  Her head snapped up, and she looked at him with intense eyes. “I’m n
ot embarrassed.”

  He was tempted to razz her about blushing, but he held back. “Kinsley, you’ve got to loosen up.”

  She stiffened. Her back was ramrod straight. Suddenly he wished he would’ve taken the teasing route.

  “I don’t know what you mean,” she said.

  She was fidgeting with the top button on her blouse. It wasn’t the first time that Christopher had thought about reaching out and unbuttoning it. But that was a surefire way to get himself into a heap of trouble. He finally decided it was best just to move on.

  “Either of those slogans would be good,” he said. “Frankly, I’m partial to the first one. I think the kids might relate to it better.”

  She nodded, obviously just as relieved as he was to move away from his thoughtless comment about her needing to loosen up.

  “I saw some rubber bracelets and pencils that we could have personalized with the slogan and the Foundation’s phone number. We could have them sign an anti-bullying pledge card. And each kid who signs gets a bracelet and pencil as a sign of his or her commitment.”

  Christopher nodded.

  “That’s a great idea,” he said. “I was doing some homework, too. How do you feel about some pricier giveaways?”

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “I was searching online and found a place that offers T-shirts, water bottles and dog tag necklaces. We could put the slogan on them and offer them to kids who stop by the booth.”

  Her brow was knitted again.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “That’s a great idea, but it might get a little expensive if we gave something like that to everyone who stops by.”

  Christopher laughed. “I hope we get that much traffic at our booth. That would show a lot of community interest. But I do see what you mean. Plus, I don’t want to giveaway throw-away swag.”

  “What is throw-away swag?” she asked.

  “If it’s free, the kids will grab it, but once they get home it won’t have any value to them. We want the freebies we’re offering to be worth something. So if we invest in higher-quality giveaways, purchase fewer of them and offer them as prizes, they will have more sticking power. See what I mean?”