A Little Wild by Kate St. James

rather than continually trying to placate his father.
    Tess’s eyes widened. “You’re serious about this.”
    “Damn straight.” Her head was probably spinning from information overload. He had to pace himself before he turned her off the idea of working for him and his hollow threats to seek out Renfrew lost their charm.
    As if on cue, his stomach grumbled. He glanced at his watch. “I’m starving. What say we continue this over lunch?”

    “I think the meeting went well, don’t you?” Ethan’s father asked, sinking into an armchair in Lawrence Greenburg’s office and snipping the end off the fat cigar Lawrence had offered. Ethan had declined his own cigar, happy to cite an early afternoon appointment in the trendy downtown neighborhood of Yaletown as an excuse. Whole Latte Lovin’ sat a block from the marketing specialist he was meeting. Hopefully, he’d have time to pop in for a macchiato.
    Lawrence parked his massive frame in the second armchair. A sofa and two marble-topped coffee tables complemented the dark furniture in the executive office suite, but restlessness stirred within Ethan. He preferred to stand.
    “I don’t know, Dad.” He toyed with the money clip in his trouser pocket. “Zach might get ticked when he finds out what you have planned.” A gross understatement. His brother would be pissed off to the extreme when he learned their father’s intentions.
    “You won’t tell him.”
    “It’s not my place.” Dad had requested secrecy for the next few weeks, and Ethan didn’t want to cross his father when they were both working like dogs lately.
    Besides, once Graham Halliday reached a decision, a steamroller couldn’t deter him. Hell, maybe Dad’s announcement would finally persuade Zach to get off his ass and behave like a responsible adult.
    “Good,” Dad said. “Don’t worry. Zach participated in the meeting, asked pertinent questions, provided excellent insight. He’s studying the projections with Teresa now. Since when has your brother expressed an interest in projections?”
    “Never.” Which should tell their father something. Like maybe Zach had a personal interest in the woman.
    “You see? Give the boy a chance. He might surprise us.” Dad accepted a light from Lawrence then drew on the cigar before resting his hand on his knee, where the cigar would remain. Since Ethan and Zach’s mom had died of ovarian cancer sixteen years ago, the cigar shtick was for show—an old habit symbolizing respect between two long-standing business associates and friends.
    Lawrence cleared his throat. “I must say, Graham, I agree with Ethan. Let me call Teresa’s office again, invite Zachary up here. We’ll explain what you have in mind.”
    Ethan’s father shook his head. “No. If we do that, my son won’t give the project a chance. Zach doesn’t know what’s good for him. If he did, he would have taken action by now.”
    “It’s our responsibility to show him what’s good for him?” Ethan asked.
    “I’m his father, aren’t I? And you’re his big brother.” Cigar smoke curled from his father’s knee. The rich scent filled the office. “I realize you don’t approve of how I’m handling this, Ethan, but Zach needs a swift kick in the behind. He can’t laze about forever.” Waving a hand, Dad glanced at Lawrence. “Let’s discuss something else. I’ve been thinking about the Christmas fundraiser for Floretta House. How does a black-and-white dinner at five hundred a plate sound? We’ll target the elite, scrounge deep in their pockets for a worthy cause.”
    Lawrence nodded. “I like my chicken at five hundred a plate.”
    “At five hundred, we’d better serve lobster.” Dad laughed.
    Ethan nodded. “I’ll contact the event planner from last year.” The charity established in their mother’s name was a favorite of his and Zach’s. Despite Ethan’s multiple commitments, he wouldn’t forfeit his involvement. “I’ll dig up some numbers and present