We want to talk to you about something.
Zac:
I’m already in the middle of something.
Jon:
This is more important.
What could this possibly be about? Was everything all right with the babies? Did it have something to do with his offer to help while Jon was out on family leave? His friend had made it clear that he didn’t trust Zac with the task, so it probably wasn’t about that. Except, Lucy was the one sending the messages. Too many what-if’s plowed through Zac’s mind that he was convinced he wouldn’t be able to focus on anything else.
Zac:
On my way. 20 minutes.
Jon:
Can you pick up some jalapeño chips and vanilla ice cream on your way? Thanks.
His lips quirked up a little. Lucy was the sweetest woman Zac had ever met, but she’d gotten a little demanding during her pregnancy. Still, she was impossible to deny.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t ignore this.” He shrugged apologetically to Maggi and downed the final swig of his beer.
“Is there anything I can say to change your mind?” Maggi leaned in, offering an enhanced view of her cleavage.
Zac chuckled. “Unfortunately for us both, no.”
“You’re missing out,” Maggi sighed after licking a drop of beer from the corner of her lip.
“Trust me. I know,” Zac grumbled. “But it’s important.”
“Ok, ok.” She held up her hands in surrender. “I’m here ’til Thursday. Let me know if you want a redo.”
“Count on it,” he promised, taking one of her hands and placing a gentle kiss across her knuckles. Before leaving, he settled up with Kendrick—making sure to cover enough for Maggi to have dinner and a couple more drinks on him—then stomped out the door.
“So, let me get this straight.” Zac combed his hands through his mass of waves, snagging fingers on a couple snarls, then rewound it into a bun at his crown. “If I make sure this magazine chick has a good time this week, you’ll let me cover for you during parental leave?”
“Yes,” Lucy chirped while Jon gave a more subdued, “Maybe.”
Talk about conflicting information.
Zac showed up at the Millers’ residence to deliver Lucy’s current pregnancy craving and chat with the parents-to-be. What he hadn’t expected was to be offered the opportunity to prove himself.
“There’s more to it than making sure she has a good time, man. This feature is a huge deal for us. For Off the Beaten. This could present an opportunity to expand,” Jon explained, brows furrowed. He leaned in more. “I’d prefer to guide her myself, but Lucy went and scheduled this week-long baby boot camp thing—”
“They had a last minute cancellation, and we were next on the wait-list,” Lucy explained defensively.
“Either way,” Jon continued, patting his wife’s hand for reassurance, “we need this handled with finesse.”
“That’s perfect because I’m your finesse guy. Suavey McSmooth reporting for duty,” Zac crowed, popping another jalapeño chip in his mouth. He spread his arms wide. “There’s no better ladies man in the bunch.”
Jon turned to Lucy. “See? I told you this was a bad idea.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” His friend specifically said they needed someone who can charm the pants off the reporter—ok, maybe not in those exact words—so why would Jon be so hesitant to send his most irresistible employee?
Probably because he assumes you’ll hit on her.
Successfully.
