Zach didn't disappoint Lilli. He wore one of his best suits for the lunch with Nancy. It wasn't the suit she would forever refer to as his lucky suit, the one he wore the day he wooed Ethan Cunningham, the famous author, into becoming his client. For two years, Lilli lusted after Zach but hadn't paid attention to his skills as an agent. In the time she worked for him, she observed first hand his strengths. He didn't cower negotiating Tina Mauer's publishing deal. Kendall had a reputation for trying to get an all-inclusive non-compete clause, which essentially put her in control of the author's success or failure. Zack didn't back down. Ann never did either. Lilli remembered Ann fighting with Kendall when Lilli sat outside the editor's office.

After he and Leo had lunch with Kendall, Zach celebrated his successful pitch. The pitch itself was weeks before, but Kendall had shared the good news at lunch. Nothing moved quickly in publishing and acceptance by a publisher was only the first step. Often the negotiations dragged out, but Zach didn't give in. Tenacious was a perfect word to describe the man. Tenacious to protect his author's interests and tenacious pursuing Ree. Although he had only been an agent for a couple of years, he had started to acquire authors on his own as an assistant. The progression from assistant to agent was not a clear cut line. It happened over time until the agent had enough clients. Lilli wasn't naïve to think she would be made an agent overnight, but because Zach was willing to give her opportunities like participating in the process with Nancy, she felt more confident she would achieve her goal. She worked hard and deserved her chance. She joined Dwyer Mitchell with experience, even if it wasn't equal to the experience Zach gained in his coveted internship with the agency.

While Zach had agreed to be Nancy's agent, her manuscript was not pitch ready. They scheduled lunch to discuss some changes to help sell her story. Her first lunch with a client hadn't gone at all like Lilli expected. Nancy met her expectations in some ways. Although she didn't look like her friend's mother, she looked like other women walking through the aisles at the supermarket. While Nancy sipped on her second Diet Coke, her round face smiled constantly. Nancy didn't offend Lilli when she patted her hand, because it was what mothers did. Lilli smiled; Ann might have been offended.

Being with Zach had caused Lilli to freeze up. She had met plenty of famous clients, but when Nancy called them a couple all coherent thoughts left her. Lilli could tell Zach was uncomfortable too, but she was curious if his brother was as gorgeous as Zach.

Zach said, "Maxwell is shorter than me." He looked right at Lilli. It was a warning, but she wasn't sure of his message. Time to talk business? Or hands off his brother?

Warning or not, she repeated his name. "Maxwell Steele. He sounds like a character in a crime series."

Nancy laughed. "She's right."

Zach had a hint of pink on his cheeks. He was so cute when embarrassed.

Their meals arrived, and the conversation lulled as they ate. Nancy enjoyed her alfredo as Lilli coveted Zach's fries. She ordered a salad, because it was expected. It didn't matter because her belly was flipping and flopping. She picked at it, eating the pieces of avocado and olives and some of the chicken. She'd take it with her to eat for dinner.

Once the lunch dishes disappeared, Zach looked at Lilli with raised eyebrows. They had rehearsed their plan. Taking a deep breath, she started.

"Nancy, I loved your story. You have a way of building chemistry. I felt like I fell in love."

The woman beamed. "I just love my couple."

Zach asked, "How did you choose their names?"

"Well, I think I was volunteering in my daughter's class. I was looking for something different. Why?"

"I'm concerned Colon sounds like a body part."

"What? Oh! But it isn't uncommon."

Lilli shook her head. "There's Colin with an i, but it still sounds like a part of the digestive tract." She picked up her water.

"I suppose. I don't want a name that's associated with shit."

Lilli was drinking at the same moment Nancy's remark caused her to laugh. She feared she'd spit the water. In her panic, the water went down the wrong way and she began to choke.

Nancy pounded on her back while Zach jumped to his feet. She coughed into her white linen napkin. Her eyes watered and water came up and out of her nose as well as her mouth. All she could think was Zach witnessed her spewing liquid. Nancy, she didn't care about. She was a mother and a housewife from a small town in western Massachusetts.

As soon as her coughing stopped, she stood and rushed to the ladies' room. Her mascara smudged under her eyes, and her face resembled a tomato. She managed not to spew down the front of her. Still, she wanted to run home, but she had to face Zach. From the moment she learned she would work him, Lilli imagined choking to death in front of him. She wasn't dead, but extremely embarrassed.

After wiping her mascara off with wet toilet tissue as best as she could, replacing the black with red skin. She stood tall, because she could never be short, and stepped out. Zach was waiting for her in the hallway with the restrooms. "Lill, are you okay?"

"I'm okay. I'm fine," Lilli said, but Zach didn't move.

His voice was soft. "Hey, wait a minute." Lilli froze, but kept her back to him. He put his hand on her arm at her shoulder. "You're really okay?" She nodded. "Don't be embarrassed. It has happened to all of us. Let's finish the job, okay?"

Weakly, she replied, "Okay."

She didn't mean it, but she had to pull up her big girl pants. Too bad she wore a thong to avoid panty lines.

He dropped his hand, which was good because the way it burned into her skin through her dress hadn't helped to calm her. Could he feel the heat?

Nancy held her phone and smiled as they approached. "All set, dear. I was googling names. I'll stick with the top twenty."

Lilli nodded. She was partial to Zach, but couldn't say it. "Maybe Max, like his brother."

"I like it. What else do you have to say? I know there's more." Nancy's nickname should be No Nonsense.

Lilli gathered her thoughts. "I wasn't convinced of how the ending unfolded. It was too perfect. Life is messy. People choke and trip and spill. They also mix signals and say stupid things. This is a list of ideas. You can use one or use it to get your own creative juices flowing. You're the author."

She looked at the neatly typed page and Lilli held her breath. "I think I need to think about it more."

Zach said, "It's good the way it is, but we're hoping for great."

Lilli added, "We are thrilled you're a part of our team and we get to be part of this with you."

She looked up and smiled. "You two are a team." She shook her head. "I won't say it. Are you buying me dessert?"

Zach laughed. "Of course. I bet Lilli wants chocolate."

Lilli would have to settle for chocolate, because she couldn't have what she wanted.

By the time they said goodbye to Nancy, Lilli's energy meter flashed on empty. Zach touched her back as they walked through the door onto the sidewalk. Hopefully, her knees would hold without buckling. As they fell in step together. She enjoyed walking with him. She was used to having to slow down for Ainsley with her shorter legs.

Suddenly, Zach stopped walking and started laughing. Lilli looked at him and reflexively joined him. "Lilli, that was the craziest business lunch I have ever had. They can be boring."

Lilli had trouble getting the words out, as she broke up laughing. "Can... imagine... Ann..."

Zach had pulled her to the side, out of the way of the other pedestrians. "Ann's lunch meetings were never like that."

Lilli nodded, gaining some composure. "Ann never would have picked Nancy. She prefers a sophisticated voice. Reading Nancy's manuscript was like listening to a favorite aunt tell a story. Can you imagine if she patted Ann's hand?"

Zach snickered. "I was afraid she'd touch me."

Their laughing fits had moved them closer together on the sidewalk. Both sobered at the same time. Zach cleared his throat. Lilli looked down after she realized she was studying his face.

Zach's voice came out thick and rough. "You were great with her. You look very..." He coughed. "Um, very professional."

Lilli tried to talk, but she had a clump in her throat. She had turned into her family's cat with a hairball. She reached up and brushed lint on Zach's shoulder. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

Frowning, he said, "Back to work. The day is not done."

Lilli found her voice as they started walking again. "Thanks, Zach."

He held the door to their building. "Remember, we're a team."

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