Read Online Meet Mr. Prince by Patricia Kay - Free Book Online Page A

included her in his remarks, saying things like, “I know Miss Fairchild agrees,” or “After today, please contact Miss Fairchild with any questions or concerns.”
    She’d only broken her promise to Zach once, and that was at the very end of their meeting, when they’d all stood and were saying their goodbyes. Georgie had turned to Carolyn Love—and Zach had been right about her: She was businesslike, and Georgie immediately liked her—to say she’d call for an appointment in the next few days, and Jonathan Pierce had said, pointedly, to Zach, “Call me as soon as you’ve made your decision, Zach, so I can get that new equipment ordered.”
    Before Zach could open his mouth to reply, Georgie said, also pointedly, “Dr. Pierce, you’ve already beentold that it’s me you’ll be dealing with from now on. I’ll be the one calling you.”
    Pierce’s gray eyes had darkened, and he’d glared at her. But before he could reply, Zach said, “Yes, Jonathan, Miss Fairchild will be contacting you.”
    They were saved additional histrionics by the doctor’s pager going off, and he’d abruptly left the small conference room where the meeting had taken place, but not before giving Georgie the evil eye. She almost laughed. Her eyes had met Zach’s and he’d winked.
    Maybe I’ve misjudged him, she thought grudgingly.
    She and Zach rode the elevator down to the main floor in silence. There were hospital personnel getting on and off; it paid to be discreet.
    Georgie tightened her scarf as they exited the building. She was also glad she was wearing warm leather gloves, because the temperature seemed to have dropped while they were inside. Or maybe the contrast between the warm building and the bitterly cold February wind just made it feel colder out. Georgie did notice how quickly most of the people on the sidewalk were moving, most with their heads down.
    Before hailing a cab, Zach turned to her and said, “Do you mind if we stop off at my apartment before going back to the office? I left some files there that I meant to bring with me this morning.”
    â€œNo, that’s fine.”
    A cab pulled over almost immediately, and they got in. Georgie found she was actually looking forward to seeing where Zach lived. Maybe she’d even get to meet his wife.
    â€œMy oldest daughter is home sick today,” he said after giving the driver their destination. “She’s got a strep infection.”
    â€œI used to get those when I was a kid. They’re not any fun.”
    â€œNo. She was pretty miserable yesterday, but the antibiotic seems to be doing its job. She seemed better this morning.”
    Georgie knew it was none of her business, but he’d given her an opening, so she said, “Is that why you left the office early yesterday afternoon?”
    He only hesitated a moment before shaking his head. “No. I had an appointment at Katie’s school.” He sighed. “She’s had a rough time since her mother died.”
    Georgie’s mouth went dry. “Your…your wife died? ”
    â€œYes. Jenny…had cancer.”
    â€œI’m so sorry.”
    â€œThank you.”
    Georgie’s mind spun. A lot of her ideas about Zach had been wrong, then. He wasn’t married. And he wasn’t a playboy who stayed out late every night. He was a widower with three young children. That’ll teach me to be so judgmental, to jump to conclusions about people .
    What else had she been wrong about? Maybe he wasn’t a slacker as far as work was concerned, either. He certainly had conducted himself well today, and he definitely seemed to know what he was talking about. She could see that both Jonathan Pierce and Carolyn Love respected him. And Love, in particular, had impressed Georgie as the kind of businesswoman who wouldn’t be easy to fool.
    Georgie wondered if Zach would say anything