Galen hung up his phone.
“Working is a good quality and you must be a hard worker because Galen is super driven.” Caro stood, handed her a business card, and quickly said, “Galen and his real estate business are lucky. I won’t keep you from your trip any longer, but I wanted to welcome you and ensure you have my number. Don’t lose contact again.”
Natalie would add Caro’s number to her phone the moment she found her phone again. She stood and hugged her tight. “I won’t, Caro. Thank you.”
Galen and Natalie walked Caro to the front door. Her friend was far down the path when Galen placed his hand on Natalie’s lower back. “Do you feel better about accepting the clothes now?”
“Yes.” A sorority sister meant they looked after each other and Caro obviously took that seriously.
Galen nodded. “Good, because she brought you a suitcase full to bring with you to New Orleans.”
Natalie couldn’t help but laugh.
They entered the house and Galen picked up his keys and asked the staff if the car was packed. Once they confirmed, he turned toward her and guided her to the door. “I had no idea you knew Caro either. It’s a small world.”
Galen led her toward the outdoor garage with marble columns that housed his SUV. “So you don’t follow us in the press?”
Her face heated and she opened her own door before Galen did. He quickly took the driver’s seat and Natalie ignored her racing heart. “I mean, I glance at the magazines by the checkout counter, but Caro and Luke must be the low-key members of your family saga because I’ve never seen them on the cover.”
“And me?” He turned the engine on and backed up.
True. Most of the Morgan news she read had nothing to do with Galen. She only knew him from work. He backed down his driveway and she buckled her seatbelt. “Okay, you too. It’s hard to imagine you are related to Matthew Morgan the movie star and Axel Morgan the rock god.”
Galen pressed his lips together and looked like he might get sick. As he turned onto the main road, he said, “Don’t call my little brother a god ever.”
A bubble of laughter escaped her throat and she patted his hand. “Okay, fair enough.”
He winked at her and they drove to a small airport. He parked his car in a hangar and she saw the gold circle Morgan logo on the planes. He hopped out of his seat and she waited for him to open her door, because he liked being a gentleman, and took his hand. “This is your jet?”
He guided her toward the one with the open door and stairwell. “It’s one of the family fleet. Mitch convinced us if we funded our own fleet it was a better deal than just buying a single plane.”
They climbed the stairs together. “And you have at least a dozen planes not being used at the moment.”
Galen shrugged. “We take one when we need to go somewhere.”
Inside the jet was a beige sofa area and a wooden dining table. “I bet there is money to be made in offering people private flights.”
He motioned toward the couches and she scooted onto one. “I’m sure there is, but right now I’m not interested in that. I’m looking forward to getting you to my house in New Orleans.”
Her first trip with Galen. She squeezed his wrist and relaxed. “And you promised lunch and dinner with no ex-girlfriends.”
Galen traced her knee. “Jennifer was not a girlfriend. She was a one-time thing. As far as I’m concerned, you’re my girlfriend.”
Wow. Her heart leapt. Galen was the only man she wanted, and they’d already agreed to sleep only with each other. She took a deep breath to agree, but her phone rang.
No one ever called her, so she found it in her pocketbook and her eyebrows lifted. “My building security is calling me.”
“Answer it.” Galen stood. “I’ll get us a snack.”
“Hello?” A security guard talked but all she could do was repeat his words, which didn’t compute. “What do you mean there was a break-in last night?” Her gaze met Galen’s as the security guard explained to her that the police were on their way. She swallowed. “I can’t meet the police right now. I’m about to go out of town.”
Galen reached for her hand and quietly said, “We can go to your apartment together and leave for New Orleans later today.”
Good. She wouldn’t enjoy herself if this didn’t get cleaned up fast. “Okay. I’ll be there within the hour.”
He immediately guided her out of the plane without further question. The sun beat down on them on their way toward his car and Galen squeezed her hand. “Natalie, I need you to move in with me until we sort this out.”
What was the point in arguing? At least there she’d feel safe. “All right. I don’t know what to think—let’s just see if anything was stolen.”
