“Wow.” She glanced around the room. Nathan had made it look so easy talking to all these fancy people. She was used to speaking in front of children, not adults. “First of all, thank you. I know that students nominate a teacher for this award, so I need to thank my class.”
Applause caught her off guard.
“My students and the families that raise them are the most important things in my world,” she continued. “I thank you for this award.”
She’d had a much longer and far more eloquent speech prepared, but upon seeing Nathan, it all went completely out of her head. She sat down hard in her chair and took a big gulp of champagne. The applause for her speech continued for a moment and then died down.
“Please enjoy the rest of your dinner,” Nathan said, taking the microphone. “Remember there’s an open bar and we are still taking donations for the literacy campaign. Thank you all and have a wonderful time tonight.”
The lights went back up and Holly felt the spotlight leave her like a physical release. She took another sip of champagne and looked over to see Nathan sitting in the chair next to her and grinning.
“So you really are a teacher,” he said, and then began to laugh.
Chapter 14
Nathan
When Holly said she was a teacher, he’d assumed private tutor or possibly college professor. He didn’t expect her to actually be a public school teacher, let alone the one he was giving an award to. He hadn’t paid any attention to the name of the recipient for tonight’s award. He never did. He learned it two seconds before the speech and promptly forgot it once the applause came.
He wouldn’t be forgetting the name this time.
He took his seat next to her, sipping on c
hampagne and excited about the evening. This award just became a lot more fun.
“So you’re Nathan Reed?” she asked him. Her green eyes held a touch of concern, as if she were no longer certain of him.
“The one and only,” he replied.
She looked like she was about to say something, but their food arrived. He was still full from lunch, so he didn’t plan on eating much. He looked over to see Holly had her fork and knife ready, but pausing at the plate.
She set her fork down and turned to face him. Her brow was serious and her mouth set in a thin line.
“Do you know anything about Elements Computer Technologies?”
Nathan thought for a moment, trying to place the name. Lucy had mentioned it. “I believe my company just acquired it,” he replied. “We just acquired three companies with the finalizations coming at the end of the year. It’s been a crazy couple of months.”
He didn't want to think about RentTech tonight. The name sounded familiar, but since he'd been preoccupied with RentTech, he wasn't sure. Lucy would know. She'd managed things for him. He wasn't sure what all she'd done, but he was sure it would make money for them both.
“Oh.” Holly looked disappointed. “Do you know anything about them moving the headquarters?”
He thought he remembered Lucy telling him something about a tax deal. He'd been so focused on RentTech that he wasn't sure what was going on. “Not really. I’m trying to take this weekend off from work.”
She nodded, her brow still dark. She opened her mouth to say something, then shut it, then open it again. “Elements Computer Technologies’ headquarters is in my hometown.”
He wasn’t quite sure what the connection was.
“The move is taking the major employer from my town.” Her words started slowly, but came out quicker and more emotional as she spoke. “If you could do something about it or even stop it, it would save our town. I know that we just met, but...”
He smiled at her. “I promise that I’ll look into it.”
The crease between Holly’s eyebrows smoothed. “Really? Just like that?”
“I can’t promise anything, but I will look into it,” he told her. “I’m happy to help. I want to help.”
She nodded. “The work contracts all start ending at the end of the year, so there’s still a little time. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
She reached out, taking his hand and squeezing it. Her touch sent heat straight into his groin and made his head swim like he’d had too much wine. Something primal and wonderful filled him. If this was his response to a simple touch on the hand, Nathan smiled as he wondered what would happen if he kissed her. And what would happen after that.