Zander

“That’s absolutely unacceptable,” Zander yelled into the phone. “I want the situation corrected immediately. And I shouldn’t have to tell ye how important this is for Cor-Tec.”

He slammed the receiver down swearing colorfully. Zander put his face in his hands. Today was not starting out well at all. His knee was killing him from his run and as usual, there were way too many fires for him to put out. It didn’t help that his stomach was grumbling. Unfortunately he didn’t have time to eat. Not with the crisis Rita had just dumped in his lap.

“Bad time?”

Zander’s head snapped up at the sound of Megan’s voice. She stood at his office door holding a plate of pastries and a mug of coffee. His face instantly lit.

“Morning, love.”

“Morning,” she said grinning at him so brightly his heart squeezed. “I thought you could use a pick me up.”

“Ye thought right.”

Megan beamed and shot Thornton a triumphant look. The butler looked skyward and let the office door close silently behind him as he left.

“Bad day?” Megan asked handing Zander the coffee as she looked for a space to set the plate of donuts on his cluttered desk.

“Ye could say that.”

“Well I’m here now, so it just got better.”

Zander couldn’t help but think she was right. Positivity flowed from Megan like an eternal well of it had been buried within her. He wished he could be more like her. But he was cursing whatever demon had sent him this angel only to take her away in a few short months. Zander was already mourning her absence even though their time together had just begun. He’d glimpsed the loneliness her absence would bring when he left Megan’s bedroom last night. Zander had immediately felt the dark shadows of loneliness closing in, and that was after only a few hours together. How would he ever survive watching her get on a plane back to the states?

Megan’s cheerful voice interrupted Zander’s dark thoughts.

“So tell me your troubles and we’ll figure them out together,” Megan said grabbing a glazed donut. “But first, sugar.”

Zander watched her take a bite of it and could think of nothing but licking her sugary lips. “Come here,” he growled.

“Where?”

“Here,” he demanded pointing to his chair.

Megan sidled around his desk and Zander pulled her into his lap, causing her to squeal with delight. He took a bite of her donut instead of kissing her, for fear he wouldn’t be able to stop.

“So what’s this I hear about you not being able to come shopping?” Megan asked.

“Shite, Megan. I meant to be the one to tell ye. Something came up and I won’t be able to get away today. I feel like a total wanker, but I swear I’ll make it up to ye.”

“Zander, I don’t care if we go shopping.”

“Ye don’t?”

“No, I just want to spend time with you.”

“But ye need a dress for the gala.”

She shrugged. “I’m sure I have something that’ll work. Tell me how I can help make your day better.”

“Unless ye can pull a new gala venue outta that sweet arse of yers I think there’s little ye can do, love.”

Megan smirked and took a sip of his coffee. “Maybe I can.”

“Oh yeah?” he asked squeezing her firm arse. “How’s that?”

“Just have the party here.”

“Here?”

“Yeah, why not? The place is ginormous. The dining hall I just had breakfast in is bigger than my university’s.”

The wheels were turning in Zander’s head. Maybe he could host the gala at the James’ Estate. It was Cor-Tec’s largest fundraiser and not having to fork out money for a venue would make it even more profitable. “That could work.”

“Of course it can.”

“What kind of space would be best?” Zander asked.

“Give me the details; headcount, timeframe, guest list, theme.”

“Tomorrow evening. Four hundred or so CEO and celebrity types. There’s not really a theme. It’s our annual black tie fundraising event for Unicef Ireland. This is the first year that I’m solely in charge of the event and it has to go flawlessly.”

“Breathe,” Megan said, placing her hands on Zander’s shoulders. She squeezed at the knots of tension he held there. “Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, it only empties today of its strength.”

“Meg . . .”

“I’m serious. Take a breath.”

Zander closed his eyes and took a deep breath while Megan continued to knead his shoulders.

“Better?” she asked, when he opened his eyes a few breaths later.

“Yes.”

“Hey, Siri,” Megan yelled. “Schedule a massage for Zander’s hulk-sized knots.”

He chuckled. “Only if yer the one giving the massage.”

“I think that could be arranged,” she said coyly. “But first things first. Let’s plan this party. This place has to have a ball room, right?”

Zander grinned and drew Megan closer so he could reach his laptop. He pulled up the estate’s security feed and tapped through a few rooms until he came to the one he was looking for.

Megan stared at the cloth draped chandeliers and furniture in awe. “Holy hell, Batman! You seriously need to take me on a tour of this place. This room is Yule Ball worthy.”

Zander laughed. “Only you could see potential in dust and cobwebs.”

“It’s a gift,” she said. “But seriously, this will work, Zander. I’m sure you can get some staff to shine it up, right?”

“Well yes, but—”

“No buts. We just need to let the caterers and vendors know the venue location has been changed.”

“What about the guest list?”

“Have your PR team personally contact each guest to let them know the venue location has been generously upgraded to the James’ Estate.”

Zander looked skeptical. “Ye really think we can pull this off?”

“Absolutely.”

“It’s going to take all day to work out the details.”

Megan climbed off his lap and held her hand out. “Then we’d better get started.”

Zander frowned. “There are a few more details I’d like to get yer opinion on before we get started.”

“Shoot.”

Zander suddenly felt sheepish and rubbed the back of his neck stalling for time.

“What is it?” Megan asked sensing his hesitation.

“Well, it’s the matter of who I’m taking as my date to the gala . . .”

Megan

Megan waited anxiously for Zander to pass her the phone once he finished relaying the details they’d worked out for changing the gala venue to the James’ Estate. Megan couldn’t wait to give the PR woman who’d been pimping Zander out to models and movie stars a piece of her mind.

“My decision is final, Rita. I’m putting ye on with Megan. She can answer any questions ye have,” Zander said handing Megan the phone.

“Hello, Rita,” Megan said confidently. “This is Megan Fields. How can I help?”

“So yer the woman who thinks she’s taking my job?” Rita asked haughtily.

“I’ll think you’ll find Zander has need for both of us today.”

“Mr. O’Leary already has a PR person. Me!”

“Actually,” Megan corrected, “You work for Cor-Tec. I’ll be acting as Zander’s personal PR manager for the gala.”

“How is that different?” Rita asked angrily.

“For one, you won’t be setting him up on any more dates.”

“Is that so?”

“Absolutely,” Megan replied.

“I already informed Tabitha Hall’s agency that Mr. O’Leary would be escorting her to the gala.”

“Well then you’ll have to inform them of your mistake.”

Rita sneered. “Then I imagine ye have someone appropriate lined up for Mr. O’Leary to escort to the gala on such short notice?”

“I do.”

“Well do ye mind sharing? I need to be included on the details for the press release.”

“Of course. He’ll be attending the gala with me,” Megan said, her inner goddess glowing. She’d literally shrieked when Zander had asked her to be his date before calling Rita.

The old bat on the other end of the phone scoffed. “Yer joking?”

Megan had expected as much, but she didn’t give a damn what anyone beside Zander thought. “I’m as serious as a heart attack.”

“And what would ye have me write in the press release? No one knows who in the bloody hell ye are, dear.”

Megan pushed her smile into her voice. “And you call yourself a PR rep? Here’s a headline for you. Zander O’Leary generously offers his home for Unicef gala, where he’ll be increasing international relations by escorting wunderkind American film maker, Megan Fields.”

The other end of the line was silent and Megan smiled to herself. Take that, Tabitha Hall!

“Do you need me to repeat that, Rita?”

“No, I’ve got it.”

“Good. I’ll email over the floor plan of the James’ Estate ballroom along with the address for you to forward to guests and vendors. If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to call.”

Megan hung up the phone and Zander applauded her. “Yer hired!”

“Good,” she said sitting on the edge of his desk. “Crisis averted, now let’s do something fun.”

Zander’s smile faltered as he looked past her to the mountain of papers piled on his desk. “I’m afraid we only managed to put out one of the many fires I’m dealing with today.”

“What else can I help with?” she asked.

He smiled. “You’ve done more than enough, love.”

“Zander, I seriously don’t mind helping.”

“The best way ye can help is by enjoying yerself, Megan. Besides, yer much too adorably distracting when ye sit on my desk like that,” Zander said pulling her into his lap again. “I’ll be much less stressed knowing yer out having a good time. Grab Sam and take the car to Dublin.”

“I guess girls day could be fun,” Megan admitted. But then again she would agree to anything while sitting in Zander’s lap. Her head felt dizzy as she inhaled his addicting Irish Spring scent, and the way his voice rumbled through her did shameful things to her insides.

“Buy yerself anything ye want. And something gorgeous for the gala, on me, of course.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Megan protested.

“I want to,” Zander purred pulling her closer until his mouth was at her ear. His warm breath kissed her skin sending tremors through her. “I can’t wait to show my stunning date off tomorrow night,” he whispered.

Megan lost her ability to speak again, but it was just as well since Zander’s lips found hers a moment later. He kissed her slow and sure, and Megan gave up all her doubts.

She wanted Zander. And his kiss said he wanted her back. They weren’t in a crowded bar, their inhibitions weren’t diluted by alcohol—their kiss was pure and relentless. He held her tenderly to him and as her hand settled over his racing heart Megan knew she hadn’t mistaken Zander’s feelings. She felt her own heart swell near bursting. The boy she liked, liked her back, and there was no greater feeling in the world.