He laughed and stepped back from the door. “Got it, Mom,” he yelled up the stairs. And then to Natalie, “Would you like to come in?”

She said, “Yes,” and meant it. “But I can’t. I have to be at the airport and I need to run to my apartment and get clothes first.”

He shook his head, smiling. “Is that your standard don’t call me, take my dog, and I’ll call you line?”

“No, it’s true!” God, it would be easier to concentrate if he wasn’t so cute.

Cronkite, who had been doing a jig on the hot sidewalk, now inched up to James and began to nuzzle his leg.

“What’s his name?” James asked.

“It’s Cronkite.” She took a deep inhale.

James shook his head again, laughing. “Okay. Well, we’d be honored to have Cronkite as a guest.”

“Thank you,” she said. “Really thank you so much.”

“One more thing.”

He pulled her to his chest and kissed her.

Not hard. Not long. Just perfectly hot.

“Let me know when you’re back,” he said.

She nodded and got back into her car swooning.

She drove two blocks in a haze, the empty feeling in her chest replaced by rising excitement. It was all coming together at once. The guy. The story. Her future. She started to consider where James might take her on their next date. And maybe they’d go to Miami for New Year’s vacation together. He’d look amazing in a tux when she took him to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner—or the White House Christmas party—once she was ATN’s senior White House correspondent. Good things come to those who persist!

Her phone rang.

“Natalie, Matthew says you confirmed the First Lady is in rehab? Is this true?”

Bibb.

“Hi. He did?” Natalie said, trying to play it cool. “Yes, I’ve possibly confirmed that. I need to do more reporting.”

“We need get this on air ASAP. They’ll be ready as soon as you arrive.”

Her heart started racing.

“Fantastic. Thanks, Bibb. I asked Matt to put us on the next flight to Phoenix. I will let you know as soon as I have this solid, hopefully in time for the morning shows,” she said, offering the best case scenario.

Bibb was firm. “Don’t worry about getting to Phoenix. We have an Arizona freelancer on call. Tell me the name of the center, and I’ll head our Arizona crew in that direction.”

Natalie felt her blood go cold. She’d been here before. If she gave Bibb the name of the rehab center, she’d hand the story to Ryan. Did Bibb really think she’d fall for this twice?