Page 131 of Professor's Virgin Complete Series Box Set
“Smart girl,” she confirmed. “But really, my identity isn’t important here. You and Chance are.”
“Why did you do all this?”
“Because I happen to like Chance,” she replied. “He’s a good man, and that’s a rare thing to find. So is true love, by the way. Trust me; I’d completely given up on it until I met Chance. His love for you convinced me that genuine men are out there and so are healthy relationships.”
“You mentioned that you had two friends follow Jason?” I said, trying to figure out who she was.
“Yes?”
“Um…when you say, ‘friends,’ are you using that term broadly?”
She laughed. “Are you trying to figure out if I used hired guns?”
“Yes.”
She laughed again. “No, I didn’t pay them. They’re not thugs. They’re just big, intimidating guys who both happen to like me very much. I thought I’d take advantage of that.”
“For me?”
“For you and for Chance,” she replied.
“I… I don’t know what to say,” I admitted.
“Say thank you to your fairy godmother.” The woman laughed. “And get going; don’t you have an important dinner to attend?”
This time I smiled, and there was no caution or doubt behind it. I felt lighter than I had in weeks and suddenly I realized that the dark fog of sadness that had hung over me had finally lifted and everything looked bigger and brighter, including my future.
“Thank you, fairy godmother,” I said, repeating her words.
“Good luck.”
The line went dead, and I put my phone down tentatively. When I looked back at my reflection, it felt like the whole world had changed suddenly, and I was looking at a new woman.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chance
I had to admit; I was nervous. Sitting there in the middle of the restaurant where I had broken up with Natalie was giving me major stress. I hated coming here myself, so I could only imagine how she must feel. But I wanted to drive home the point that we were not getting back together. I was fairly sure that was what she wanted to discuss.
I ended up ordering a drink for myself, hoping that the alcohol would soothe my nerves and give me the strength to maintain my cold façade when Natalie got here. I kept thinking about the tears running down her face when I had told her I didn’t want her anymore. I kept thinking about Jason’s black eye, and Lindsey’s cryptic words before she had left the bar the other night.
My head was spinning when I saw Natalie enter the restaurant. She didn’t see me at first, so I had the freedom of staring at her hungrily as I watched her talk to a waiter. She looked absolutely beautiful, like some floating angel out of an ancient painting.
She walked through the tables towards me and on instinct, I rose from my chair, trying to force my expression into one of indifference.
“Natalie.” I nodded.
She gave me a breathtaking smile that I had to resist. Then we sat down together, and after the waiter had taken our drink orders and disappeared, Natalie turned to me.
She looked different from that morning, I realized. Her face was brighter, her eyes were dancing, and her features were arranged into an expression of softness. She didn’t look sad or depressed, and she certainly didn’t look like a woman seeking closure.
“How have you been?” she asked, breaking the silence.
“Fine,” I replied shortly.
Natalie nodded, but she didn’t seem perturbed by my coldness. “You looked very nice today in your robes.”
“Thank you,” I said, refraining from offering her a compliment in return.
