by Patricia Kay
Don’t be like Joanna. You know Zach isn’t for you. No matter how attractive he is, no matter how attracted to him you are, he isn’t for you. You need a Mr. Right-Now, someone sexy and attractive to flirt with and possibly have a fling with while you’re in New York. Zach is the opposite of that—he’s a Mr. Commitment, with three children who need a mother. And even if you were willing to consider being that mother someday—which she wasn’t—his oldest child doesn’t like you.
How could Zach possibly fit into her life? Or her into his? Was she ready to give up her job and move to New York? Ready to stop traveling around the world? Ready to assume responsibility for a ready-made family?
No, she wasn’t.
So she needed to put his sexy smile and gorgeous eyes right out of her head, and then she needed to run as far and as fast as her legs would carry her.
Because Zachary Prince might as well be wearing a big red sign saying Danger Ahead.
Cornelia finally made up her mind. And she did it without consulting anyone. She’d thought she might bounce her idea off Georgie, see what her oldest daughter had to say, but Georgie had obviously had other things on her mind when Cornelia called her, so in the end, Cornelia made her own decision. Still, talking to Georgie hadn’t been a waste, because the conversation with her oldest daughter had given Cornelia an idea.
Picking up the phone, she called Harry.
“About time,” he said. “I was beginning to think you were just going to ignore me, not give me any kind of answer at all.”
“Now, Harry, you should know me better than that.”
He chuckled. “I do, Corny. I was just trying to get a rise out of you.”
She smiled. “I’ve made a decision.”
“I hope it’s a favorable one.”
“I’ve decided that yes, I’d love to go away with you this weekend.”
“Wonderful. What’s it to be? Paris? Montreal?”
“Not exactly. Um, what would you say to New York?”
“New York? But, Corny. It’s February.”
“It’s February in Paris and Montreal, too.”
“But what does New York have that Paris doesn’t?”
“Georgie,” Cornelia said without a moment’s hesitation.
“Ah. I see. You’re missing your girl.”
“Something like that. I just thought…as long as we’re going somewhere…I could kill two birds.” She didn’t dare tell him she wanted to check out this boss of Georgie’s, this young widower. Especially since she’d gotten onto Harry’s case when he’d meddled in her daughters’ love lives. Oh, Harry would have a field day if he knew what she was thinking.
“Tell you what. Why not really kill two birds?” he countered. “How about if we go to New York tomorrow, stay over a night or two so you can see Georgie, then on the weekend fly to Paris. We could stay there two or three nights—have a real Valentine’s Day weekend, then come back home. That way you can see Georgie and Paris.”
“You know, if we’re going somewhere after New York, I’d rather go somewhere warm,” Cornelia said. She was still thinking about that Valentine’s Day remark he’d made. “We can save Paris for a possible future trip. How about the Keys? I’ve never been to Key West.”
“You know, Corny, you never cease to surprise me. Key West would be about the last place I’d ever imagine you wanting to go.”
“And why do you say that?” Cornelia wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or insulted.
“Key West just doesn’t seem like your style.”
“Well, Harry, for your information, I know how to let my hair down as well as the next person. In fact, I may just surprise you.” She actually had more than one surprise for him.
He laughed. “Is that a promise? Or a threat?”
“You figure it out.”
But she was laughing, too, when they hung up. She was actually looking forward to this.
Thursday morning at eleven o’clock, Georgie had picked up the phone to call Jonathan Pierce when Deborah buzzed her. “Georgie, you’ve got some visitors.”
“Visitors?” Who in the world would come here to see her? Surely not the great Dr. Pierce.
“I think you should come out and see for yourself,” Deborah said.
Frowning, Georgie got up and walked out to the reception area, where she promptly did a double-take. Standing there by Deborah’s desk were the last two people on earth she’d ever imagined would be there: Harry Hunt and her mother, Cornelia, both of them looking like the cat that ate the canary’s grant application.
“Surprised, darling?” her mother said, walking forward to give her a hug and kiss.
“Stunned,” Georgie said. Her mother’s cheek was still cold from the freezing weather outside. Georgie’s eyes met Harry’s dark ones over her mother’s shoulder. “What are you two doing here?”
“Just visiting for a couple of days,” Harry said. “Then we’re off to Key West.”
“Key West? Seriously?” Georgie gave her mother a quizzical look. “What’s up?”
Cornelia smiled. “Just a little vacation.”
“Really?” Georgie was still stunned. Did this mean her mother and Harry were actually dating now?
“I really wanted to take her to Paris,” Harry said, “but she said she’d rather go somewhere warm.”
“I don’t blame her for that,” Georgie said, grimacing. “I’d rather be somewhere warm myself.” They must be dating. Georgie could hardly wait to tell her sisters. She wondered if they knew about this trip. They must not, otherwise surely one of them would have called her.
“Me, too,” Deborah said.
Belatedly, Georgie remembered Deborah’s presence. “Deborah,” she said, “you know Mr. Hunt, don’t you?”
Deborah smiled. “I’ve had the pleasure.”
Harry beamed at her.
“And this is my mother, Cornelia Fairchild.”
“I’m so pleased to meet you,” Deborah said. The two women shook hands.
Always attractive and well-dressed, today Georgie’s mother looked absolutely beautiful. Her face glowed, whether from pleasure or the outside cold, Georgie didn’t know, but it really didn’t matter. Cornelia wore a raspberry cashmere coat and matching hat, with a creamy wool scarf and black leather gloves. Black leather boots encased her slim legs, and her eyes sparkled.
She looked so happy. Georgie realized it had been a long time since she’d seen her mother look this way. Cornelia was always pleasant and seemed content, but she’d never looked like someone had just given her the moon. Georgie knew that was a fanciful thought, but she couldn’t think of any other way to describe her mother’s glow. She actually looked lighted from within. This must be Harry’s doing. Had things between her mother and Harry progressed more rapidly than Georgie and her sisters knew? Georgie hoped so. Her mother deserved to be happy, and if Harry was the person she wanted, then Georgie wanted him for her.
“Is Zach here?” Harry asked.
“No,” Deborah said. “He had an appointment with the accountant. But I expect him back any time.”
Harry looked at his watch. “We can wait, don’t you think, Cornelia?”
“Certainly. I’ll visit with my daughter.”
Turning to Deborah, Harry said, “We want to take Zach to lunch with us. And you are welcome, as well.”
“Thank you. I’d love to go.”
“While we’re waiting, I’ll make a few phone calls,” Harry said.
“You can use the office next to Georgie’s,” Deborah said.
Once he was settled into the vacant office, Georgie invited her mother into hers and gestured to one of the two extra chairs in the room.
“So you’re going to Key West?” she said.
Her mother smiled. “Yes, I’m excited.”
“Why Key West?”
Cornelia shrugged. “I don’t know. I just think it seems so romantic or something. I’ve always wanted to go there.” She grinned. “Actually, Harry did want to take me
to Paris. I think he’s disappointed.”
“No wonder,” Georgie said dryly. It was no contest between the two cities, in Georgie’s opinion. Of course, Georgie had never been to Paris, and her mother had. “So why New York first?”
“I wanted to see you.”
“Why? I’ve barely been gone two weeks.”
“I know, but I wanted to see where you’re living. And—”
“And, what?”
Cornelia hesitated. “And I wanted to meet your boss.”
“Mother! I thought we settled this.”
“Don’t look at me like that, Georgie. It’s not what you think.”
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”
“Because I know exactly how your mind works.”
“Mom, you promised!”
“Georgie, I just want to meet the man. That’s all. He sounds…intriguing.”
“I cannot believe this. You made Harry bring you to New York just so you could meet Zach because you think he might be a prospect for me.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is true, and you know it.” Georgie closed her eyes. “I’m so embarrassed, I could die.”
“Oh, stop acting like a drama queen,” her mother said. “Why should you be embarrassed? I mean, even if I was thinking about your boss as someone you might be interested in, and I’m not admitting a thing, he wouldn’t know it. No one would know it. So why be embarrassed?”
Georgie stood up. She felt like throwing something. Why did her family persist in this kind of behavior? Did they enjoy making her life more complicated? “I’ll tell you one thing, Mother. I’m not going to lunch with you at all, if that’s what you’re planning. I won’t be a party to this.”
“Georgie, don’t be ridiculous. You’ll just call more attention to yourself by refusing to accompany us to lunch than if you simply go. What do you think I’m going to do? Ask your boss embarrassing questions pertaining to you? Surely you know me better than that.”
Georgie wanted to scream. Throw something first, and then scream. Or vice versa. Instead, feeling totally impotent, she sat back down and glared at her mother. Bad enough she was secretly attracted to Zach and having a hard time keeping to her resolution to keep as far away from him as possible, but to have her mother scheming and plotting in the opposite direction was too much.
Cornelia sighed. “I promise you,” she said quietly, “I will not, by word or deed, do anything to embarrass or upset you.”
Only slightly mollified, Georgie reluctantly said, “Okay. But if you do…”
“I won’t.” Her mother looked around, her gaze settling on the small framed photo of their family—Cornelia surrounded by her four daughters—that Georgie always took with her on her assignments. Here in New York, the photo sat on Georgie’s desk. “How do you like your job here so far, Georgie?”
“It’s better than I thought it would be.”
“Well, that’s good. I—”
Hearing the office door open and Deborah greeting him, Georgie interrupted, saying, “We’ll talk later, okay? Zach is back.” And of course, the moment she realized this, her stupid heart sped up.
A moment later, Zach stopped in the open doorway.
“Hi, Zach. This is my mother, Cornelia Fairchild. Mother, this is Zachary Prince, the director here at the office.”
Zach walked in and took Cornelia’s hand. “Mrs. Fairchild. I’m delighted to meet you.” His eyes were warmly admiring.
Cornelia smiled. “Thank you. It’s a pleasure meeting you, as well.”
“What brings you to New York?”
“Didn’t Deborah tell you?” Georgie asked. “She came with Harry. Harry Hunt.” Why did Zach have to look so handsome today in his dark overcoat and navy pinstripe suit and with those devastating blue eyes? She knew her mother would jump on the fact that Georgie hadn’t told her how good-looking he was. She carefully avoided her mother’s all-seeing gaze.
“No,” Zach said, looking around, “she only said we had visitors.”
From next door, Harry’s laugh boomed.
“Ah, I hear him,” Zach said.
“He decided to make some phone calls while we were waiting for you,” Cornelia said.
“They want to take us all to lunch,” Georgie said.
“I’d better make a quick phone call myself, then.” Zach held up a pink slip.
Once he’d gone across to his own office, Cornelia leaned forward. Softly, so she wouldn’t be overheard, she said, “You didn’t tell me he was so handsome.”
“I didn’t think that was important.”
Her mother didn’t answer, simply smiled. But the smile said it all. And Georgie knew her mother knew she was lying. Because part of what made Zach Zach was how he looked. And the fact that his looks didn’t seem important to him.
Ten minutes later, the five of them were seated in the limousine Harry’d hired—which had been illegally parked and waiting for them while he and Cornelia were in the office—and on their way to Joe Allen’s, in the theater district. Harry had said it was one of his favorite places to eat, and Zach agreed, saying it was a good choice.
Harry had called ahead, so they had a table waiting for them when they arrived. Georgie liked the look of the restaurant immediately, casual and comfortable. As they took their places, Georgie was glad Deborah was with them, otherwise she might have felt awkward, almost as if she and Zach were a couple, which they absolutely were not. As it was, Deborah was seated next to him, and Cornelia was on his other side. Georgie sat between Deborah and Harry.
After they’d ordered—with Harry insisting on a bottle of wine for the table—Harry asked Zach what they were working on.
“Aside from the Carlyle Children’s Cancer Center, which is wrapping up,” Zach said, “we have two other projects under active consideration. One—a literacy project in Appalachia—was suggested to us by Jennifer Rogers.”
“A good woman,” Harry said.
“Yes.”
“I’m hoping to work on that project before I leave,” Georgie interjected.
“And the other is the Fielding Institute,” Zach said. “They’re at the top of our priority list right now because they’ve been waiting the longest.”
Harry thought for a moment. “They do Alzheimer’s research, right?”
“Right.”
“What about applications? How are they running?”
Zach sighed. “Ask Georgie. She’s got a stack on her desk, and there are more every day. It’s impossible to keep up. We could work ’round the clock, and I’ll bet we still couldn’t stay current. Fact is, the last few years have been hard on everyone, and we can only help so many.”
They talked about the foundation for a while longer, then Harry, who was always interested in people, asked Deborah to tell him about herself.
Deborah smiled. “I’m pretty boring.”
“Somehow I doubt that,” Harry said, giving her the full treatment of his famous smile.
“Trust me, I am. Here’s my life in a nutshell. Graduated cum laude from Barnard. Married to an engineer. One son, nine years old.”
“That doesn’t sound boring at all,” Cornelia said. “That sounds like a full and satisfying life.” Her eyes met Georgie’s across the table.
Unlike mine, Georgie thought. She knew exactly what her mother was thinking.
“And I understand you have three children,” Cornelia said, smiling at Zach.
“Yes, and they’re a handful.”
“How old are they?”
“Katie is ten, Jeremy is seven and Emma is three going on ninety-three.”
Cornelia laughed. “I used to say the same thing about Georgie.”
“Emma is adorable,” Deborah said. “Kevin—that’s my son—thinks she’s great. He keeps asking me when we’re going to get a baby sister.”
Zach made a face of mock alarm. “I hope not anytime soon. I can’t afford to lose you, too. Not even for a few months.”
“He’s a
slave driver,” Deborah said to Harry. “Tote that barge. Lift that bale.”
They all laughed.
“How is that search for a new assistant coming along?” Harry asked.
Zach was just about to answer when their waiter approached with their food. He waited until they’d been served, then said, “I had a promising call this morning. This guy worked for United Way in D.C., but his wife was offered a terrific opportunity here in Manhattan—something they felt they couldn’t turn down—so now he’s looking. We had a long talk, and I really liked him. He’s coming in to interview tomorrow morning.”
Turning to Deborah, he added, “Keep your fingers crossed.”
Georgie knew she should be happy. If Zach hired this candidate, that meant she’d be leaving New York in a matter of weeks. And isn’t that what you wanted? To get back to doing what you do best? Free and unencumbered?
Of course it was. This was exactly what she’d hoped would happen. Exactly what Alex had told her would happen.
Why then did the thought of leaving the New York office suddenly make her feel so empty? And so much like crying?
Chapter Eight
“That was a lovely lunch,” Cornelia said. “Probably the best salmon I’ve ever had outside of Seattle.”
“It was good,” Georgie said. She’d also ordered the salmon.
“I love their food,” Deborah said. “Whenever Jack and I have something to celebrate, we invariably come here.”
As they all rose to leave, Zach turned to Georgie and said, “Since your mother’s in town, Georgie, why don’t you take the rest of the day off?”
“Yes, darling, do,” Cornelia said.
“But there’s so much to do,” Georgie said.
“It’ll be there tomorrow,” Zach said.
Georgie had wanted to talk to Zach about a phone call she’d had that morning, but she guessed it could wait. “Okay. You twisted my arm.”
Later, after Harry had dropped Georgie and her mother at Georgie’s apartment and gone on to the office with Zach and Deborah, Cornelia said, “I really like Deborah and Zach, Georgie. They are both very nice people.”
“Yes, they are.”
“You’ll miss them if Zach hires this new man and doesn’t need you anymore.”