Meet Mr. Prince by Patricia Kay

truths.
    â€œI resent the fact that you’re handing me off to some second-rate assistant,” Pierce said without preamble.
    â€œMiss 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.”
    â€œI prefer dealing with you.”
    â€œI’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.
    â€œI 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.”
    â€œI see. And that’s your final word?”
    Zach sighed. What the hell was the man’s problem? “Come on, Jonathan, be reasonable. I—”
    â€œBe 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.
    â€œHey, bro,” she said.
    â€œHey, sis. How’s it going with Princess Emma?”
    â€œOh, we’re having a fine time today. As a matter of fact, we’re baking peanut-butter cookies.”
    Zach smiled. “She loves them.”
    â€œDon’t I know it. She also loves the raw dough. I had a time stopping her from eating it.”
    â€œI’m surprised you were successful.”
    Sabrina laughed. “Me, too. That child of yours personifies the word stubborn .”
    â€œTell me about it.”
    â€œWhy 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.”
    â€œYou’re a saint, you know that?”
    â€œYou keep saying that.”
    â€œBecause it’s true.”
    â€œI’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.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œI 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.”
    â€œI know,” he said again.
    â€œIf 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