Fortune's Prince Charming

Just as he’d predicted, Steffi-Anne was in a mood and she looked disheveled and frazzled, as if she was just about at her wit’s end. She’d pulled her straight blond hair back into a haphazard ponytail and her yellow blouse had a dirty smudge on it. From this angle, the harsh daylight and the scowl on her face aged her about ten years.

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Zoe moved closer to him and pressed her pretty, tanned leg flush against his so that they were hip to hip. Well, they were in a sense. She was so petite that her hip hit his body in the upper thigh region. He loved how utterly un-self-conscious she was about invading his personal space. But the other good thing that came out of it was that he now knew for a fact that she seemed to fit perfectly under his arm. Just as if she belonged there.

And what her nicely tanned legs lacked in length they more than made up for in supple shapeliness. They looked strong and quite lovely, he thought as he bound the two of them together.

Being this close to her brought back the rush of awareness he’d felt earlier. He could smell her shampoo, something light and floral, and he could smell her soap—or maybe it was her perfume? Whatever it was, it was intoxicating and he wanted to lean down and bury his face in that sweet, delicate spot where her neck curved into her shoulder.

Being here with her like this, feeling how well she fit in his arms, was an unexpected surprise. Suddenly this team-building nonsense seemed a little more palatable.

Even though he knew getting involved with the boss’s daughter was not a wise idea, it didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy every single thing about being all tied up with Zoe Robinson. Win or lose.

* * *

It had been said the way a person danced revealed a lot about what kind of lover they would be. Zoe couldn’t help but wonder if the same rule applied to the way a couple’s bodies moved together and adapted to tests like the three-legged race and the water balloon toss. Because, if so, she and Joaquin were destined for greatness between the sheets.

They’d been beasts at the challenges that required them working together physically. Of course, it didn’t hurt at all that they had permission—no, they were required—to get into each other’s personal spaces and violate boundaries that were usually off-limits.

Could they please do team-building exercises every day?

Then again, if they did, Steffi-Anne would surely find some way to ensure she ended up paired with Joaquin.

Now that they were breaking for the barbecue lunch Cowboy Country was providing, Steffi-Anne was already weaseling her way back in to Joaquin’s company.

It had only been natural for Zoe and Joaquin to fall into the buffet line together since they’d been partners. After they got their food—pulled chicken and barbecued brisket with baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad and ice-cold glasses of sweet tea—they’d found two spots at a table.

Steffi-Anne filled her plate and brought her lunch over to the full table where Joaquin and Zoe were sitting with six other coworkers. Zoe was sitting next to Joaquin, who was on the end.

“Scooch, please,” she said, gently nudging Tracy from accounts receivable, on the opposite side of the table.

“There are plenty of places at the other tables,” said Tracy.

“Yes, but this is the only table in the shade.” Steffi-Anne had given the entire table the big, poor-me eyes and it had worked. Well, it had sent Tracy grumbling to another table where she could have more elbow room.

After Tracy left, Steffi-Anne zeroed in on Joaquin like a homing device.

“Aren’t you glad you came today?” Steffi-Anne said.

Joaquin smiled at Zoe. “Actually, I am. I’m having a lot of fun.”

The way he looked at her made Zoe’s heart perform a quickstep.

“I’ve been dying to go ride the Twin Rattlers Roller Coaster,” Steffi-Anne said. “I’ve been waiting for that all day.”

“I’ve been looking forward to the funnel cakes,” Zoe said. “I love them so much.”

Steffi-Anne looked at her as if she’d just said she was going to go eat a bucket of fish heads.

“God, Zoe, funnel cakes are pure fat. Fat, carbs and sugar,” she said. “You’re young now, sweetheart, but if you keep eating things like that, you’ll regret it sooner than you think.”

Since when had eating a funnel cake become a capital offense?

“I enjoy the occasional one,” she said. “One every five years won’t hurt anything.”

“Suit yourself.” Steffi-Anne shrugged, her gaze scanning the picnic area. “Oh, Zoe, look. There’s Ron Lowell. Didn’t the two of you used to date? He’s kind of cute in a bookish sort of way.”

“We went out a couple of times,” Zoe said, thrown by the non sequitur. “He’s a nice guy, but it was nothing serious.”

“Who are you dating now?” Steffi-Anne pressed.

“No one.”

“I thought you had a boyfriend,” she said.

“No, I’m completely free.”

The way Steffi-Anne was moving the food around on her plate instead of eating it made Zoe think of a witch at her cauldron. At any moment she might pull out a poison apple and lob it at her because it was much healthier than a funnel cake.

“I’m surprised you don’t have someone special by now,” she continued. “You’ve dated a lot of really nice guys. Like Jake over there and George Simpson from marketing.”

She pointed with her fork.

“And why didn’t things work out with Frank? I thought you two looked especially cute together.” Steffi-Anne turned her attention back to Joaquin. “I’m not saying this girl gets around. She’s just very popular in the office. Joaquin, if you’re interested, you’d better take a number.”

Okay, so that was her game. Zoe had always known that Steffi-Anne was the queen of the backhanded compliments, but she’d never pegged her as a mean girl. Then again, she’d never gone head-to-head with her over a man.

“That’s what dating is for,” Zoe said, “trying out potential relationships, seeing how they fit. If they don’t, there’s no use in prolonging them.”

Since the day Zoe had started working for her father at Robinson Tech, she’d made a point of not playing the daddy’s-girl card. She realized, by virtue of birth, she’d been born with some privileges. She was deeply grateful for her blessings, and she didn’t want to get the reputation that the only reason she’d gotten ahead at work was because she was the founder’s daughter. It was important that she got her jobs and any promotions on the merit of her knowledge and expertise, because she was the best person for the job. Not through nepotism. She never wanted to come across as entitled. That’s why she worked hard and went out of her way to be extra nice to people.

But sometimes when people like Steffi-Anne knew she wouldn’t fight back, they tended to push her more than they would someone who would put them in their place.

Today, Steffi-Anne was hitting extra hard and low. Zoe wasn’t about to get into a catfight with her, and she seemed to be spoiling for exactly that. Zoe really thought the woman was more professional than that. But she was dishing it out, and the others at the table looked eager to feast on a huge helping of juicy drama.

Zoe hadn’t finished her lunch, but she’d lost her appetite. Maybe the best thing she could do would be to go get that funnel cake and enjoy every fat-laden bite. Part of her hated to leave Joaquin in Steffi-Anne’s clutches, but if he sat back and allowed himself to be clutched, then maybe he wasn’t the guy for her, after all. Better to find out now. Her heart sank at the thought.

Zoe tossed her napkin on her plate, stood and gathered the rest of her garbage. “I think I’m going to go get that funnel cake now.”

To her surprise Joaquin stood, too. “I’m not surprised Zoe’s popular. She’s got a lot going for her. A guy would be lucky to get a date with her.”