Around the World in 80 Men Series: Books 11-20 (35 page)

“Max...you'll
not have a treat for a week if you....!” The large dog, who
had his back feet dropped into the water, scrambled out of Lucas'
grip and jumped to the middle of the bathroom. Morgan laughed until
she doubled over at the playful circles that the partially wet dog
was running in, daring Lucas or Will to try that nonsense again.

“He's
playing...with...you!” She couldn't believe how smart Max was,
and how he managed to dodge every move that either man made toward
him. Even to the point of running behind Morgan and peeking out from
behind her leg. It didn't even seem as if Max was bothered by the
bath, she saw a dog that was using the situation to have a good time
with his best friends.

Will
was the one that braved the next move. “Come 'ere boy.”
His calm voice lured the quirky furball to his side, then he reached
down and scratched his thick neck. “That's it, it's just a
little ba.... “ He stopped when the dog stiffened, the 'b'
word had almost been spoken. Then, with a quickness usually reserved
for one much younger, Will put his hands under Max and had him in the
tub within seconds. “No! Stay!” The older man reached
over to turn the sprayer on, and Max jumped, hitting his arm in the
process. Max and Will both fell back into the tub, and both were
finally drenched from head to toe.

Morgan
fell to the floor in hysterical laughter, and Will looked to Lucas
for at least some sympathy, but none would be found with his employer
either. Lucas was almost on the floor with Morgan. “This is
funny?” Yes, they nodded in unison. “Well, I suppose it
is rather comical.” The old man looked at Max, who had climbed
onto his small lap and put his head on Will's narrow shoulder, and he
told the dog that he would sit with him until his bath was over.

Lucas
finally got himself together enough to walk to the tub and help the
man, he figured Will could just hold him while he washed the dirty
dog, but when he reached in the cabinet for Max's shampoo, none was
there. “Bloody hell!” He searched a few more cabinets,
then made the decision to run a few streets down and get another
bottle. “Just stay there, I'll be back directly.” He
ran from the room, and seconds later, they heard the front door shut
behind him.

“Well,
I guess he got his playtime after all.” Morgan took Lucas'
spot beside the tub and scratched the soggy head of her new hero.
“You're a wreck, do you know that? A wreck!” She
laughed as Max cocked his head at her, then turned her attention to
Will who was holding onto the dog around the middle, preparing for a
struggle that might occur anytime.

“I
know why you're here, Miss Holland.” His words stopped her,
and she withdrew her hand from Max's head and looked down. She had
no idea how to respond, if at all. “Oh, not to worry, I see
nothing wrong with it. I just wanted to tell you...,” he let
one hand go from around the dog's waist, and lifted her chin with one
long crooked finger, “you've been a wonderful companion to
Lucas, and I find you to be a lovely person all around.” She
blushed and nodded, thanking him for his kind words. “It's
nice to see someone care about him for a change.” He put his
hand back to the dog, and spoke softly to Max as they waited for the
shampoo.

Care
about for him for a change?
She had no idea what he meant, and
it wasn't something that she would let go. So, she asked, and the
old man was more than happy to tell her the short version of what he
thought of Lucas Andrews.

He
told her that Lucas had no family left, and that his abundant wealth
had come mostly from inheritance. That much, she knew, but she
didn't know the rest. Lucas dedicated much of his life to helping
underprivileged communities around the world, help in the form of
financial assistance or a personal hand in all that he could do.
According to Will, he was the most admirable man that he had ever
known, but he worried that too much time was spent to 'save the
world' and not enough time on himself. The fact that Will saw
Morgan as someone who truly liked him, mixed with the ability to make
him laugh in a way that Will hadn't seen for quite some time, made
Morgan a most welcome guest.

Guilt
seemed to be the feeling of the month for Morgan, because that's
exactly what she felt when she heard how giving her client is. He
had actually paid for something that he wanted, and she ends up
getting sick and he takes care of her almost the entire time. “He's
wonderful, in every way.” Her soft words brought a wet tongue
to her cheek as Max tried to lighten the mood. At least, that's the
way it seemed to both of them.

The
best part of what Morgan had heard came at the end, right before
Lucas returned, and that was when Will admitted that he wanted to
work for Lucas so that the young man wouldn't feel so alone in the
world. It was touching to know both sides, that both men thought
they were helping the other one. Truth was, they were both right.

Lucas
finally returned with four bottles of the best shampoo, and the rest
of the afternoon was spent by all three of them lathering the dog and
taking turns holding him in the tub. The three were just as wet as
Max by the time the ordeal was over, and Morgan was ushered to the
spare bathroom to get a hot shower before her cold took a turn for
the worse.

It
was nearly early evening before Morgan had returned to the living
room, and she was quick to sit down and snuggle next to Lucas.
Before she could speak, her stomach let everyone know that it
wouldn't be ignored. “Sorry.” She giggled and tapped
her belly, willing it to behave for a little longer. Lucas stood and
pulled her to her feet, then planted a soft kiss to her nose.

“It's
our last night together, how about a proper dinner out?” She
heard the sadness in his voice and it was nearing her least favorite
part of her job, saying goodbye. Morgan nodded and hugged him
tightly around the waist, willing herself to try to enjoy the moment
instead of dreading the next morning.

“I'd
love to. But...,” she pulled away just enough to look him in
the eyes, “can Will come with us?” He was caught off
guard by her request, but quickly nodded and agreed. She was one of
a kind, and he would miss her more than he cared to admit. His only
regret would be that she had been sick and he wasn't able to enjoy
more of her, because she was someone that he could grow quite fond
of.

*****

“What
time is it?” Lucas yawned and sat up in bed, stretching his
long arms above his head. Morgan had already been awake for three
hours, taking everything out of the closet and putting it into her
bags, and taking care of another thing she felt she needed to do. She
had already called a taxi, went to the store and returned, and had
almost everything packed before she managed to wake him.

“Sorry,
didn't mean to wake you,” she spoke quietly as if he were still
sleeping, then tried to muffle the sound of the zipper that had
awoken him in the first place.

“Ah,
damn, you should have got me up!” He saw that her bags were
lined up in front of the door, then saw the time. It was ten thirty
and he told her again that she should have awoken him. “It's
our last...”

“Don't
say it, I know,” she said with a sad voice, then walked over to
his side of the bed and he pulled her down by her waist. She laid on
her side and his arms instinctively wrapped around her. She enjoyed
the comfort of his embrace and it got her mind off of the things she
had been thinking about all morning.

When
the three of them had gone out for dinner, it turned out to be one of
her best nights out with a client, or even a friend. Will had brought
up the topic of Lucas helping everyone, so Morgan asked him to share
some of his stories. The things he told her shocked her. From the
charitable donations to the individual stories about helping certain
families, to the hundreds of gifts he had purchased for Christmas
that were distributed around the world, all of it was impressive.
Lucas was the most selfless man she had ever met and it got her
thinking.

She
didn't feel as if she was in the least bit charitable. The closest
she had ever gotten to a donation was buying an item that had
proceeds going to another cause, and even at the time, it was just
because she wanted the pair of sunglasses, or the box of cereal.
Being around a man who did so much for the world made her feel like
she hadn't done nearly enough to do her part.

Morgan
didn't know how much money Julianne made, but she did know how much
she made for each day spent with a client. Her morning trip to the
store was to get a money order, one that covered the total cost that
Lucas had paid for her. She didn't feel as if she deserved the money,
considering she had been sick most of the time, and she knew for a
fact that Lucas wouldn't accept it. While Lucas jumped in the shower,
Morgan sneaked into Will's room and put the letter on his dresser.
Inside was a note that he'd find later.

Will,
I know Lucas will never accept this, so I'm giving it to you to do
with what you want. It's the money I was supposed to get to be here,
but I don't feel as if he should have to pay to take care of a sick
girl for a week. Give it to someone who needs it, keep it for
yourself, it doesn't matter. It was a pleasure meeting you and Lucas.
Happy New Year! Morgan

She
was back in the living room with her bags when the handsome man came
out of his bedroom with his own bags. He had to leave at two, which
only left her a little while longer with him. Morgan found out the
night before that he went to northern England every New Years Eve and
would host a huge party for the less fortunate families. London
already made the holiday a big deal and there were other charitable
events for families there, so he went to places that were otherwise
overlooked. There were always big ham dinners offered and fireworks
and even gifts. Since he was going to be in the area, he had also
arranged to look at a few properties up there, being the reason he
had to cut the week short instead of just returning after the party.

The
three of them ate a nice brunch together, being that it was already
after noon, but shorty after, Lucas had to get going, and Will was
going with him.

“Well,
this sucks,” Morgan blurted out as Will carried their bags to
the car.

“Yeah.
I kind of wish you had chosen a different week,” he joked with
her. “Not because of being sick either,” he added when he
saw her guilty expression. She smiled at his statement, then wrapped
her arms around the big man. “I just mean, I wish I could have
had more time with you.”

“I
know...me too. Thank you, Lucas, for everything,” she spoke
into his chest.

“No,
Morgan,” Lucas leaned back, then lifted her chin up to meet her
gaze, “thank you.”

“Well,
this could go on forever,” she finally cracked a giggle. “An
endless cycle of thank you's.”

“I
won't forget you, Morgan, and I mean it, thank you!” They both
laughed and Morgan said she'd never forget him either. Lucas had
called her a cab, and the men waited until her ride showed up, then
with a final hug to both of the men, and a last kiss to all of them,
he, Will and Max climbed into the car and disappeared down the
driveway.

The
taxi driver loaded Morgan's bags into the trunk and she climbed
inside when everything was stowed away. There was at least a twenty
minute drive to her hotel, so she took the time to write in her
scrapbook.

After
the page with the big red X, Lucas already had his picture secured in
place. Morgan pulled out her pen and wrote
England
at the top,
then his personal memo underneath the photo.

Lucas
Andrews, you are the most giving, caring person I've ever
encountered. I hope you find a way to give some of that back to
yourself. You deserve it. Thank you for taking care of me when I was
sick.

“Well,
a few more days in beautiful London, then off to Wales!”

*****

Morgan's
two guests, at least the ones she remembered inviting, were already
on their way to London. Angela wasn't going alone though, and Angel
had invited another guest.

The
moment that Angel found out about Morgan's party, he took it upon
himself to make sure Finny-Fin-Fin had gotten an invitation as well.
Of course, the only way Angel could get away with it was to tell him
that it was a surprise party, and he gave him the hotel and the room
number that Morgan had given him.