Page 46 of Definitely (Maybe) Dating
“Carlton will be so happy to hear that,” she said. “When I asked him the best person to help with my little time management problem, your name was the first one on his lips.”
Another thing to talk to the mayor about. “I’ll be sure to thank him next time I see him. In fact, he’s part of the reason I’m calling. We had dinner the other night, and he met an upcoming photographer, Piper Campagna.”
“Isn’t she Margo’s addition to the volunteer list?”
She had no idea how far from the truth that statement was. His mom would rather shoot herself than have Piper back. But thankfully, the decision was the board’s, not just his moms.
“Actually, she was Darcy’s recommendation, and we’re lucky to have her. In fact, she volunteers for a non-profit art school in Portland, Urban Soul. She had the brilliant idea of throwing an auction of her own, where the girls can showcase their art,” he said, knowing he was going to hell for this next part. “Then I thought that you, Kitty, after seeing your stunning self-portrait and learning that you are an artist yourself, would want to be a part of this.”
“Well, I don’t know how I feel about having two auctions in Portland scheduled for the same month.”
“Of course not, which is why I think you should combine the events. A home that helps educate girls in the arts would be a great cause for the Ladies of Portland. Plus, it’s an election year.”
“How would it work?” she asked, but he knew he already had her. She loved being the mayor’s wife and everything that came with the title. There wasn’t much she wouldn’t do to ensure her husband’s reelection.
“We could display the art around Belle Mont during the dinner portion, then host a special segment of the auction, where all the proceeds go to the artists and Skye’s the Limit, the home where many of these girls live.”
“We’d have to get the board’s approval.”
“Of course, but I know that the board will love your idea.”
“My idea.” Kitty let out a pleased sigh. “That sounds lovely. But a sponsor of some kind would go a long way in convincing the rest of the board.”
“A sponsor as in Stout donating the beverages?” he asked, loving how much this would tick off Owen.
“Isn’t that generous?” Kitty said. “Now, if I only had one more board member on my side to help push through my next year’s budget.”
He closed his eyes. “I can talk to my mom.” She was the main board member against Kitty’s budget. Not only that, he had no idea how he was going to convince her to work alongside Piper and Kitty.
“You make this happen, and those girls will get the art show of their dreams.”
Josh hung up and felt like he needed another shower. If this was what it was like to wheel and deal with local charities and influential families, maybe being an elected official wasn’t for him.
Pocketing his phone, he headed across town to tell Piper the good news. Which was how he ended up, outside her house, feeling like some teen about to pick up his prom date. Well, pick up his prom date after the winning touchdown at the state finals. He’d run by home, changed out of his suit and dress shoes, applied an icepack to his swollen cheek—which he hoped gave him some street cred in her eyes. He stopped by the store to get her some flowers, then decided flowers might be overkill and put them in the trunk—and he was still twenty minutes early.
Her house was cute—homey. A small craftsman style on the southside of Portland. A quaint one-story bungalow with slate single siding, large front windows and an even larger porch, supported by a massive, detached redwood beam. It was a mash up of vintage meets modern—not surprising, considering its owner.
Realizing he was sitting in a dark car, casing her house, he considered pulling around the corner and catching the last part of the game—the guys were going to kill him, but so what—when he noticed something move on Piper’s porch.
With no porch light on, it was hard to tell. Adrenaline shot through his veins and into his hands. Located at the end of a cul-de-sac, two houses from a streetlamp, it would be the perfect place for someone to hide for a variety of reasons—none of them good.
Piper didn’t live in a bad area, but it wasn’t exactly Main Street USA.
Turning off the dome light, Josh opened his door, gently clicking it back shut, then walked around the side of the yard. Back against the house, he crouched down and slowly made his way toward the porch. Taking a brief moment to ask himself what he was doing, he stepped out, ready to get physical if the situation required.
The porch was empty, but he heard footsteps running away.
He should have let it go, called the cops and reported the incident. Had it been his house, he would have. But this was Piper’s place, and he didn’t want to think of the million and one reasons someone would run, fleeing from her house after hiding in the shadows. Unless they were guilty of something.
“Stop!” he called out.
The dark hoodie and jeans did the exact opposite, sprinting toward the fence leading to the back yard and going up, up, up and over. Josh was surprised the kid could move so quickly with his jeans pulled down around his hips.
With a tired sigh, Josh took off after him. He vaulted the fence in one move and rounded the corner right as Dark Hoodie started climbing the back fence wall, which led to a wooded area. Josh grabbed the backpack and yanked down. The kid came crashing to the ground. He scrambled to his feet and went to run when Josh caught the back of the hoodie and tugged him to a stop.
“The cops are on their way,” he said.
“Shit!” the prowler said, and that’s when he realized that Hoodie wasn’t a boy—she was a slight-sized girl in oversized clothes.
