Meet Mr. Prince / Once a Cowboy...: Meet Mr. Prince

“I resent the fact that you’re handing me off to some second-rate assistant,” Pierce said without preamble.

“Miss Fairchild is not a second-rate assistant. She’s a top-notch researcher and specializes in evaluations of possible grant recipients. You couldn’t be in better hands.”

“I prefer dealing with you.”

“I’m overloaded right now, Jonathan. Miss Fairchild is taking over all pending evaluations.” Zach kept his voice level, but inside he was seething. Who did Pierce think he was? He wanted something from them, not the other way around. If Zach didn’t think Carlyle was such a worthy possible beneficiary, he might just tell Pierce to take a hike.

“I would think you’d make an exception for us.” Pierce’s voice was steely.

And why is that? “I’d like to, but I can’t.”

“I see. And that’s your final word?”

Zach sighed. What the hell was the man’s problem? “Come on, Jonathan, be reasonable. I—”

“Be reasonable! I am being reasonable. You’re the one who’s blowing me off. Maybe we should just go elsewhere.”

Zach almost laughed. Go elsewhere? Did Pierce think that was a threat? There were dozens of possible grant recipients lined up, hoping for a positive response from the foundation. And the foundation could not say yes to all of them. They simply didn’t have enough resources. “If that’s your decision, we’ll certainly understand.”

If he’d thought Pierce would back down, he was wrong, for the doctor, still obviously furious, said a curt goodbye and hung up before Zach could reply.

Zach just stared at the phone. Sometimes he couldn’t believe the way people acted. He wondered if he should tell Georgie what Pierce had had to say, but he quickly decided against it. There’d be time enough after Pierce made his next move. Frankly, Zach had just about had enough of the arrogant prick. He’d almost be glad if Pierce went elsewhere. Let someone else deal with his grandiose fantasies.

Looking through the rest of his phone messages, he saw that his sister had called. Deciding he could use a dose of her good humor and common sense, he called her next.

“Hey, bro,” she said.

“Hey, sis. How’s it going with Princess Emma?”

“Oh, we’re having a fine time today. As a matter of fact, we’re baking peanut-butter cookies.”

Zach smiled. “She loves them.”

“Don’t I know it. She also loves the raw dough. I had a time stopping her from eating it.”

“I’m surprised you were successful.”

Sabrina laughed. “Me, too. That child of yours personifies the word stubborn.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Why I called is, I wondered if Emma could spend the night. I noticed that her shoes are all getting tight on her, and I thought I’d take her shoe shopping tomorrow.”

“You’re a saint, you know that?”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true.”

“I’m not a saint, Zach. I just … I don’t know. Every time I look at Emma, I realize how much she’s missed. Is missing.”

“I know.”

“I mean, everyone worries about Katie, and of course, they should. She’s still hurting. But at least she remembers Jenny. But Emma … she was only a year old when Jenny died. Her memories are gone.”

“I know,” he said again.

“If I can give her any of that, I want to. And Peter agrees with me.” Her voice softened. “He loves Emma, too.”

Zach was eternally grateful that Sabrina had married such a stellar man in Peter Norlund. Peter, a respected radiologist at New York Presbyterian, was exactly the sort of man Zach would have chosen for his sister. Generous, thoughtful, intelligent and kind—he was everything a husband and father should be.

“Well,” Sabrina said, “I know you’re busy. I just wanted to make sure it was okay to keep Emma overnight.”

Once again, Zach sat looking at the phone after terminating the call. Only this time he felt good. In fact, he felt so good he decided everything else on his work agenda could wait. He would surprise Katie and go home earlier than expected. Maybe they’d get in several games of chess.

But first he’d give Georgie a heads-up, just in case Jonathan Pierce called back.

Georgie looked up from her computer when Zach knocked on the doorframe. Zach quickly gave her a rundown on Pierce’s phone call. “I just wanted you to be prepared in case he calls back. I’m going to tell Deborah to route him through to you, because I’m leaving for the day.”

Her eyes flicked to the clock on the wall for a second. Zach knew she was remembering that he’d told Katie he’d be home by six. It was only four o’clock.

“Okay,” she said. Then she smiled. “And don’t worry. I can handle him.”

Zach smiled back. “There was never any doubt in my mind.”

In fact, Zach thought as he rode the elevator down to the lobby level, from what he’d seen of Georgie, she could handle anything.

Probably including him.

Chapter Six

Zach hadn’t been gone from the office ten minutes when Deborah buzzed Georgie to say Jonathan Pierce was on the line. “And he’s not happy,” she warned.

Georgie grimaced. He’d be even less happy after they talked.

She pressed a button. “Georgie Fairchild.”

“There’s been some mistake, Miss Fairchild,” he ground out. “I asked to speak with Zach.”

“I’m sorry, Dr. Pierce. He’s gone for the day.” She waited a heartbeat before adding, “May I help you?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Look, I get it that you’re not happy I’m now in charge of the Carlyle Children’s Cancer Center application. You made that very clear earlier today, but—”

“Not happy? I consider it absolutely outrageous that I’ve been foisted off on some underling.”

If his voice got any frostier, it would rival the temperature of the Arctic. She decided not to make a point of the fact he’d interrupted her or that he was beyond rude. Keeping her own voice pleasant, she said, “Despite your reservations, I believe we can work together. Unless, of course, you’ve decided to withdraw your grant application?”