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Maybe he was one of those guys that loved the chase? Although it certainly didn’t seem so. But his talk of agendas left her curious. “So why did you ask me here tonight?”
“I needed a date. You were convenient.”
“Wow. You really know how to make a girl swoon.”
“I didn’t think you were the swooning type.”
“I’m not.”
He glanced down at her, his gaze flickering to her lips. “Well, don’t worry. I’m not trying yet, but once I do, you’ll know it.”
The song ended and the band stopped to a round of applause as they began to clear the stage. “Looks like they’re ready to get started,” Logan said, guiding her off the dance floor.
They didn’t get far. They barely got two steps before a woman approached them. She was older than them by at least twenty years, with a sleek silvery bob, and a capped smile.
She approached at lightning speed, a hungry look in her eye. “I thought I’d never get the chance to chat with you, Logan.”
“Sorry. I was a bit preoccupied,” Logan said with a polite smile.
“I saw. And who is this lovely specimen?” The woman eyed Marti with undisguised interest.
“Mrs. Shcwartz, this is Marti McBride.” He turned to Marti. “Mrs. Schwartz is one of Hidden Heartbeat’s biggest donors.”
Marti smiled and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Are you and Logan dating?” Mrs. Schwartz asked.
Marti’s eyes rounded. Next to her, Logan brought his hand up to his mouth, where he stifled a laugh at what Marti imagined was a horrified expression.
“Um, no. We’re just friends,” Marti said.
“Friends?” Mrs. Schwartz quipped like the word had no meaning. She proceeded to stare at her with narrowed eyes. “Wait. I know you.”
Logan shoved his hands in his pockets and answered for her. “You might recognize Marti from her digital column and articles for PopNewz. It’s quite popular. Even the Times has featured profiles on her.”
Mrs. Schwartz blinked. “Of course, Single In the City! Yes, I’ve read it.” She beamed and turned to Logan and nudged him with an elbow. “Smart of you to bring her.”
Marti frowned. The speakers crackled behind them, followed by a voice vibrating throughout the room, calling Logan up to the stage. Marti missed whatever the announcer said, still focused on Mrs. Schwartz’s comment.
“That’s my cue.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “Stay put. I’ll be back, McBride.” Then he headed for the podium.
Marti’s brow creased. She watched him stride confidently up the stage, and as he took his place behind the microphone, it was amidst the applause of everyone around them. Marti was the only one in the room who didn’t understand why he’d been asked to speak. This purposeful ignorance annoyed her. Obviously, he hadn’t wanted to explain.
When the hall quieted, Logan leaned into the microphone and introduced himself. “Thank you for the introduction, Pam.” He nodded toward the woman who had announced him, then turned back to the crowd. “You may know me as Dr. Logan Love, but many of you probably don’t know how Hidden Heartbeat got started.”
He flicked his gaze over to Marti, then back to the crowd. “I was eight years old when my mother, Pamela Love, went into labor. At the time, my father was a contract construction worker, leaving us with the barest minimum of medical coverage. It was mostly emergency care, yet my father made too much to qualify for additional assistance. We had huge gaps in our insurance coverage, which meant my mother didn’t receive consistent medical care. The fact is, women on Medicaid have more options than women with deficient insurance. Because of her lack of proper medical care, the doctors missed something they should have caught. She died during childbirth, leaving behind a newborn child, an eight-year-old and a grieving husband. Eight years ago, when I chose to specialize in Obstetrics, it was with her in mind—the selfless woman I called Mom for the short time I knew her.
“Several years ago, when I started my own practice, I knew I needed to do more. Being a good doctor, striving to keep both Mom and Baby healthy wasn’t enough.
“So, I started this foundation. I was a fresh grad, and Hidden Heartbeat was merely a dream, but each of you here has brought that dream to fruition with your generous nature and commitment to the cause. To many, Hidden Heartbeat is an answered prayer. It’s the difference between life and death, a thriving pregnancy, or a troublesome one. Our work is personal to me. It’s important. It’s needed, and though we are small and only touch the borders of New York State, we have helped thousands of moms-to-be bring their children safely into the world. Whether you have donated or campaigned on our behalf, there are no small parts. You have helped bring a life into the world, and for that, I thank you.
“But our work isn’t over. It’s time we went national, which is why I’ve brought you here tonight.” He shifted, pinning her with his gaze.
Marti’s stomach dropped as dawning sank in. It wasn’t hard to read between the lines.
Hidden Heartbeat was his foundation. He organized this gala because he was seeking national funding.
Finally, she had the answer to the question she’d been asking herself since he’d asked her on this date—and she felt like an idiot for not recognizing it sooner.
