Meet Mr. Prince (8 page)

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?

“T
hat 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.”

“That's probably true.”

Cornelia seemed to consider, then quietly said, “Maybe
you
should think about applying for the job yourself.”

Georgie sighed. “Mother, honestly, you couldn't be any more transparent.”

“What do you mean?” her mother said innocently.

“You know exactly what I mean. But you might as well put that idea out of your head, because I have no interest in applying for the job. I work in the field. I love working in the field. I have no intention of giving it up.”

For a long moment, her mother didn't say anything. When she did, her voice was resigned. “You're so stubborn, Georgie. You'd cut off your nose to spite your face.”

Georgie opened her mouth to retort, then decided it was useless. She and her mother were miles apart in their thinking. They would never agree. So why waste her breath?

And yet…there was something about her mother's suggestion that had, just for a brief moment, seemed extremely appealing.

But why would she want to give up her lucrative position as a field agent, with all its challenges and freedom, to be cooped up in a small office in New York?
Especially when she'd already figured out that any kind of relationship with Zach was out of the question.

It might be different if he were free…single and unencumbered. But he wasn't. So even though it made her feel bad to think about leaving so soon, just as she was beginning to enjoy being here awhile, Georgie knew that the best possible thing that could happen would be for Zach to hire the man he was interviewing in the morning.

Then she could go back to Seattle and forget about New York…and everyone in it.

 

Friday morning Luke Peterson showed up for his ten o'clock interview fifteen minutes early. Zach liked that. It showed the man was eager. Slim and athletic-looking, Luke was an all-American type with thick, sandy-colored hair and friendly hazel eyes. He had a firm handshake and a nice smile. Zach liked him immediately and knew he would be a good people person—an essential characteristic for a job like this.

Luke had a terrific background. He would be an asset to the office, any office. He was just the kind of candidate Zach had hoped they would get but was afraid they wouldn't. Ten minutes after they began talking, Zach knew he'd found his new assistant. But he went through the process, anyway, because it wouldn't be right not to.

“C'mon, I'll introduce you to the others,” Zach said when they'd finished going over the responsibilities of the position. First he took Luke out to formally present him to Deborah, who, after talking to Luke for a while, gave Zach a thumbs-up behind Luke's back.

Zach smiled and then took Luke to Georgie's office. Zach felt a pang at the realization that finding Luke
meant losing Georgie, but if he was being realistic, he knew Georgie—no matter how appealing—could never have been a permanent part of either the New York office or Zach's life. Their worlds were simply too far apart.

“Georgie, I want you to meet Luke Peterson,” he said. Georgie got up from her desk and walked around to shake Luke's hand. Zach noted that she looked particularly nice today in a black pencil slim skirt and white silk blouse.

“What do you think of New York so far?” she asked Luke after they'd chatted a minute or two.

He smiled. “I like it. Of course, I've spent quite a bit of time here in the past, so it's not like it's new to me. When I was with United Way, I came to New York often for meetings.”

“So this won't be a stretch for you.”

“No, not at all.”

Georgie's eyes met Zach's, and he could see she approved of Luke. Again, he felt that pang. He would miss her. She hadn't been there long, but already she was an integral part of the place. He would miss her a lot.

Back in his office, he said to Luke, “I'll need to verify your references, but if everything checks out the way I expect it to, the job is yours if you want it.”

Luke nodded. “I'm very interested. But I have to be honest with you. I have two other interviews—one this afternoon and one on Monday.”

“I see.”

“Right now, though, you're at the top of the list.”

“I'm glad to hear it. Do you have any more questions?” Zach smiled. “Anything at all I can tell you that might help our case?”

“I'm sure I'll have more questions. Let me think about
everything, read through the literature you've given me and I'll call you.”

Zach had no choice but to leave it at that. He thanked Luke for coming in, told him again how much they liked him and how much he'd like to have him on board, then said goodbye.

Afterward he asked both Deborah and Georgie to come into his office. “What did you two think of him?” he asked.

“I liked him,” Deborah said. “I think he'd fit in.”

“Yes, I liked him, too,” Georgie said.

“Are you going to offer him the job?” Deborah asked.

“If his references all check out. However, he's interviewing for a couple of other positions, as well.”

Deborah frowned. “Where?”

“I don't know. I didn't feel as if I could ask, and he didn't volunteer the information.”

“That's too bad,” Deborah said. Her frown deepened. “Just about everyone else pays more than we do.”

Georgie cocked her head. “Is that still true? I thought the board was raising administrative salaries.”

Zach grimaced. “Unfortunately, it's still true. Although you're right, the board is considering raising salaries to be more competitive. But it's tough. The foundation doesn't have enough funds to do everything we'd like to do as it is, and putting money into administrative costs isn't high on anyone's list.” He looked at Deborah. “Sorry, Deb. Nothing personal.”

“I know. Jack is constantly telling me I'd make more somewhere else. But I love this place and I believe in what we do. Money isn't everything.”

Georgie felt the same way. She, too, could probably
make more money elsewhere, but she loved working for the foundation. She wouldn't give it up for anything.

“Luke did say we were at the top of his list,” Zach said.

“That sounds encouraging,” Deborah said.

Zach shrugged. “I hope so. Anyway, let's keep our fingers crossed and hope he'll decide in our favor.”

As Deborah got up to leave, Georgie said, “Zach, do you have a few minutes? There's something I wanted to run by you.”

“Sure.”

When Deborah was gone, Georgie said, “I know I'm supposed to be concentrating on the Fielding Institute application since they're top of the list, but I came across something else that really intrigues me.” He raised his eyebrows.

“It's not a formal application,” she went on. “It's a letter and some photos sent by a music teacher at one of the public schools here in the city. With the help of an alumnus who plays the violin with the New York Symphony, this teacher—her name is Shawn O'Malley—has begun a special program at her school. She's managed to get some donated violins, and between her and this alumnus, they've been teaching kids to play, with huge success. Apparently, it's made an enormous difference in the kids' attitude toward school
and
in their grades. Unfortunately, though, the program is running out of money, and the O'Malley woman is hoping we might be willing to fund the project.”

“We've never done anything quite like that before,” Zach said. “As you know, we generally steer the bulk of our funds toward providing food and medical supplies or medical research.”

“I know. But I'm really interested in this, and I'd like to look into it further. It seems very worthwhile to me.”

He nodded. “Can't hurt anything. Sure. Go ahead.” He shuffled some papers on his desk, then his gaze met hers again. “Georgie, if Luke Peterson accepts our offer, I'd still like you to stay on for at least another month, maybe two. Would you mind?”

“No, not at all.” Funny how just a week earlier, she would have minded a lot.

“Luke will need to be brought up to speed on the way we do things as well as on the individual applications. I particularly want you to accompany him in the field for at least the first two or three projects. He's got a great background but no field experience.”

“Would the Appalachia project fall into that group?”

Zach nodded. “Yes.” He fiddled with a paperclip, seemed to be thinking.

He was silent so long, Georgie began to feel uncomfortable.

Finally he said, “I wish Luke's coming didn't mean your leaving.”

Georgie swallowed. “I wish that, too,” she answered softly. Her heart picked up speed as their eyes locked.

Again, a long moment passed. “We'll miss you,” he said.

We'll
miss you. Not
I'll
miss you. Georgie nodded and stood. “Thanks. I'll miss you guys, too.”

And then she turned and went into her own office, quickly, before her eyes or expression revealed any of her conflicting emotions.

 

“It looks like I'll be coming back to Seattle soon.”

“Really?” Joanna said. “What happened?”

“Zach interviewed a guy today that he really liked, and he plans to offer him the job.”

“Well, that should make you happy.”

“Yeah. It's what I wanted.”

“Then why don't you sound happier?”

“I don't know. I was just kind of getting used to the office. And there are a couple of things I'm working on that I'd like to see finished.” She wasn't about to admit how confused she felt. Not even to Joanna.

“Well, I'm sure he'll have to serve out a notice somewhere. That should give you some time to wrap things up.”

“No. No notice. He and his wife have moved to New York from D.C. and he's currently jobless.”

“Still…he'll need someone to train him, won't he?”

“Yeah.” Georgie knew she should be happy about Luke. But dammit, she wasn't.

“Something's wrong, girlfriend. I can hear it in your voice.”

“No, nothing's wrong.”

“C'mon, I know you better than that. Tell me. I tell
you
everything.”

Georgie sighed. Should she? If she gave voice to what she was feeling, wouldn't it make it all the more real? And what was the point, really? Nothing was going to change, was it? Zach would always be a Mr. Fixed-in-Place-Family-Man. Forcing herself to sound upbeat, she said, “No, seriously, nothing's wrong. This is a good thing. I
will
have to train him—you're right about that—in fact, Zach's already asked me to. It's all going to work out perfectly.”

“You're sure you're telling me the truth?”

“Yes, I'm sure. But I do have some other news.” And
she proceeded to fill Joanna in on her mother's visit to New York.

“Will wonders never cease?” Joanna said. “And you say they've gone on to Key West?”

“Yes.”

“Sounds great, doesn't it? I could do with some margaritas, sunshine and warm weather myself.”

“But you have wonderful Chick to keep you warm,” Georgie said dryly.

Joanna gave a throaty chuckle. “Yes, there's that.”

“Sounds like everything is going well.” Maybe Georgie was wrong about Chick. Maybe he really did love Joanna.

“Oh, Georgie, he's just perfect,” Joanna said. “I know you had your reservations about him, but I'm so happy.”

“I'm glad for you, then,” Georgie said. “I hope it all works out the way you want it to. Listen, I'd better let you go. And hey, when you see Bobbie again, tell her to call me once in a while.” Joanna was always running into Bobbie at the coffee shop they both patronized. “I mean, surely she can tear herself away from her husband long enough to say hello to her sister.”

“I don't know. She's head over heels.”

“That's the pot calling the kettle black.”

“You're just jealous.”

Yes, she hated to admit it, but she was. After they'd hung up, Georgie thought how much she'd like to be “head over heels.” She might not want to be married—or even tied down for any length of time—but she sure could use some T.L.C.

And some sex.

Even the thought of sex made her shiver.

Although she knew this was not a place she should
go, even in her mind, she couldn't help wondering what kind of lover Zach would be.
Well, you can wonder all you want, but you're not going to find out. Mr. Out-of-Bounds, remember?

Later, in bed, lying in a pool of moonlight and listening to the sounds of traffic below, she reminded herself that the faster Zach got a yes from Luke Peterson, the better off she'd be.