27 - Train

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The minute Zach drove away, she breathed. She didn't know how long she stood on the stoop touching her cheek. Why did he kiss her? To thank her? What was she thinking when she invited him over? She wasn't thinking. She was on a high from the thrill of finding Cooper. First Shania and then Coop, she loved when she got to give people good news.

Lilli entered the house and sighed. "If he doesn't like the book, I'll quit."

Ainsley laughed. "If you quit, you'll never see Zach again. I've never seen you so quiet."

"He makes my heart race and my mouth dry. If I talk, I say crazy things."

"Lill, you're adorable."

"I don't want to be adorable. I'm taking a shower." She lifted her arm and smelled her pit and wrinkled her nose. "Do you think he could smell me?"

Ainsley laughed as Lilli headed up the stairs. Needing time alone to think about Zach's visit, she spent extra time in the shower, shaving, and blowing her hair dry. When Lilli was done, she expected the boys to be there. They were stopping by after a movie. When she returned clean, Ainsley was busy tapping and laughing.

"I'm jealous of your new friend."

Ainsley ignored her. Lilli sat and huffed.

"Okay. I'm done. Lill, let's figure out a plan."

"What kind of plan?"

"For you to get Zach. Stop acting like you're afraid of him."

Lilli recoiled. "But I am."

"I think you should tell him."

She gulped her wine. "What?"

"That you like him. Usually, guys are intimidated by you, but not Zach."

"Yeah, but it's more than that. This is my job. What if it goes wrong? I'll be finding a new job."

"Zach can go work with Olivia in New York."

Lilli knew it wouldn't go that way. "More likely, I'd be back with Kendall."

Ainsley laughed. "I'd make my future brother-in-law find you a job you deserved."

"He's still too perfect. He makes me do crazy things."

Ainsley didn't let up. "So how do you think he feels, knowing he intimidates you?"

Lilli was emotionally fried. "I don't know. Why aren't the boys here? I need more wine." She needed to numb some brain cells.

Lilli arrived early on Monday morning, eager to talk to Leo. It might have been the first time she was the first to arrive. Ann always arrived early and Lilli ran on the late side. Except since she had become more involved in her work, it was easier to wake in the morning. She was surprised she slept. She never could on Christmas Eve.

Zach had texted three words to her on Sunday. You were right. She jumped around and danced.

"He liked it! He liked it!"

Anise laughed, but she was busy with her damn texting. It was only getting worse and Lilli was more curious or pissed depending on her frame of mind. In fact, with the weather nicer, she decided to take a trip home. It might do Ainsley good to remember Lilli had another best friend.

When she arrived at work, all thoughts of Ainsley and her mysterious texting had been forgotten. Lilli could only think about her two great finds. Maybe her luck was changing, because no one found two authors in the same month, never mind the same week. She knew there were still a few hurdles to cross before bestseller status or, in Shania's case, winning the Coretta Scott King Award.

Every time she heard the elevator ding, she jumped out of her seat.

How many people worked in the suite next to them, for God's sake!

When Chelsea arrived before Leo, she paced. Zach appeared with two Dunkin cups. "Relax, Tiger."

She stared at him momentarily, forgetting Zach wouldn't know how tiger was an endearing pet name for her friend. If Zach ever had a pet name for her, it would be clumsy or flaky. Stopping her pacing, she stamped. "Where's Leo?"

Zach shrugged. "Did he say something about a new nanny? Maybe he wasn't prepared for his new commute. Cut the guy a break. I thought you might be glad to see me this morning."

He frowned. "I am. So what do you want to do about Coop?"

He smiled. "Email him to see if he'd be willing to meet with us. He doesn't have to make the trip, but I want to meet him in person."

"Us?"

Zach smiled. "You found him. I want him for myself, but you can observe."

Lilli smiled. "I'm curious what he looks like. Maybe there are pictures on the police website. I know he doesn't have social media." Zach stared at her intently, causing her to stammer to a defense. "I tried to look him up. I'm not a stalker."

Zach shook his head. "He's probably short."

"Do you think so?"

Zach smiled. "Elevator. Maybe Leo's here."

Lilli bolted to the door and jumped with excitement. "I'll be back."

"Go get 'em, Tiger."

She was going to collapse in the middle of the reception area. Somehow, her legs followed her across and into Chelsea's office. She didn't even ask, but entered Leo's office and shut the door. He had his phone in his hand when he looked up at her with a raised eyebrow. It didn't do a thing for her like it would if it were Zach's eyebrow.

"I'm just checking to make sure the new nanny got the kids to school." He let out a long sigh.

Lilli said, "Let me guess. Riley was giving you trouble?"

"Every day." He frowned.

"I'm here to cheer you up. I sent you an email. Read it. If you tell me, I'm wrong. I'll... I'll probably cry and then I'll help her find another agent elsewhere."

"You're that convinced?"

She nodded. "Maybe Imogen..."

Leo frowned. "I haven't read it yet. Who's the author?"

"That's the most amazing thing." She lowered her voice. "It's Shania!"

He crocked his head and looked at her with one eye squinted like he thought she was putting him on or something.

"I expected a repeat of Chelsea with the reality check and tears, but I can't tell you how blown away I was."

"You sent me the whole thing?"

Lilli nodded. "She even wrote a good query."

He turned to his screen. Lilli stood shifting her feet, anxious, excited, both at once. Finally, he looked up.

Leo looked up. "She's more than a mirror. She could be a window."

Lilli smiled. Children's literary critics were all about windows. Mirrors were important because all children should be able to find a book where they could see themselves, but windows went further and allowed other children to see characters who were different from themselves. Windows opened up eyes to the outside world.

"She's a big picture window, and she has another story." Lilli laughed at her pun.

Leo smiled. "Thanks."

Lilli shifted her feet. "Remember how you promised to help me?" He nodded. "Well, maybe we could work together, if you decide."

He nodded and smiled. "I did promise, didn't I. I owe you for Thursday." He sighed. "And Zach for Saturday. He's probably wishing I stayed in California."

Lilli shook her head. "He likes you and your kids."

Leo smiled. "He likes you, too. I'll let you know when I'm done reading. Maybe it will be quiet enough this morning."

Lilli opened his door and faced a glaring Chelsea. She smiled at her and debated taking a chocolate, but Zach had dropped a bag on her desk. She was so worked up she hadn't looked in it or had any of her coffee. Halfway across reception, she stopped.

'He likes you, too.' She shook her head. As an assistant or mentoree. That's what he meant. Of course, that's what he meant.

Zach appeared the minute she returned. Was he waiting for her? "So?"

"I told him if he doesn't go for it, I will help her find someone who will."

"You can take it yourself. I'd help you because I believe in you."

She looked up at him, but once again, his superpowers stole every drop of saliva, so she just smiled. Thankfully, he turned and retreated into his office. She needed her coffee, and she had to be alone to drink.

After taking a sip (she still didn't know how he got her coffee right) she looked inside the bag, a chocolate croissant. She hadn't had one in weeks. Not since before Ann left. She had survived a lot of Mondays without her treat. Smiling, she emailed Coop.

Lilli imagined he was solving a crime. Although he wasn't from the biggest city in Maine, he probably kept busy on the job. She looked up the webpage for his police department. Unfortunately, there were no pictures, but he was listed as a detective. So he did more than give out speeding tickets.

Meanwhile, Leo agreed with her about Shania and talked to Lilli about how he went about YA pitches. She liked when he said he would start with other publishers before going to Roche-Sumner.

Her dreams were taking shape. She wanted to have what Zach and Leo and Ann had; she knew it more than ever. Lilli had a spring in her step when she slid out of her car. She had set her alarm early and driven to the other side of the city to park at a station. It was something she did when she planned to drive home for the weekend. She hoped to skip lunch and leave early to beat some of the traffic. It was the first weekend the bar was open on the beach and all her friends were excited to see her. Smiling, for all she cared, Ainsley could spend her entire weekend texting her mystery friend.

She stood waiting for the train on the platform when a voice startled her from behind. "Are you stalking me?"

She knew the voice from the shivers which went down her spine and the physical reaction they caused in her erogenous zones. "No." She refused to turn around, but he was so close she could feel his breath on her neck. "I'm heading north later."

"I was kidding, Lill. Big weekend? Don't stalk Coop. He'll have you arrested."

Zach laughed like he thought he was funny. Lilli was pretty sure Coop was too old for her. His character had a failed marriage because of the pressures of the job, and Lilli's gut told her that part wasn't fiction.

The train screeched to a stop and, of course, as they climbed aboard, there were no seats. Lilli grabbed a strap. It was another reason she never wore heels during her commute. She struggled to balance on flat feet. Zach stood right behind her, and she could feel his heat. What would he do if she leaned back? Before she could follow the scenario through to her being fired, the train lurched forward. She swayed a little. She swayed through the stop and the start at the next station. When the train halted in the tunnel not at a station, Lilli wasn't prepared and fell backwards. Before she could right herself, a strong arm caught her. It wrapped all the way around her waist and held her as hot breath hit her neck.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded, but couldn't speak. He didn't let go immediately. Those two or three seconds were like an eternity and Lilli didn't know if his holding her was a good thing or not. On one hand, when she passed out from lack of oxygen, he would keep her from falling. On the other hand, his arm was causing her inability to breathe directly, causing her imminent death. The train moved and his arm dropped and she breathed a lungful of air. Her heart rate returned to normal when they rolled into State Street Station. At least it had until she realized they would have to walk together.

When Zach veered off towards Dunkin. She stopped walking. He turned to her and lifted his eyebrow. She'd be damp all day.

"Starbucks is fine. You like it better."

He smiled. "Monday. I didn't order and I'm not wasting time in line."

It never occurred to her he used his app to order ahead of time. When they entered Dunkin together, Carmen gushed.

"I miss you. Dos?"

Zach said, "Si, Dos and Lilli?"

She shook her head. She couldn't eat.

When Zach took the two cups, he smiled. "Gracias Carmen."

As Lily turned to leave, she heard Carmen. "Bella."

Zach said, "Si, bella."

Lilli took French in school to impress her grandmother. Her French-Canadian and Italian were quite a mixture. Regardless, she knew what bella meant in Spanish.

"Why were you humoring Carmen? She is just being sweet."

Zach opened his mouth and shut it. He had no argument.

Eventually, he spoke after a long sigh. "Lill, I don't want to argue with you or upset you, but I have some information that might cause both."

And the other shoe always dropped in the life of Lillian Caron.

"First of all, it is kind of your fault. Yours and mine, but anyway. New York, or more specifically, Olivia, found out about Chelsea missing Coop's submission. As a result, she is planning to spend a few days in Boston training."

"Isn't that a good thing? I mean, I've tried to help her."

"Yes, but it would look bad if it were just Chelsea. She's planning to hold some sessions with the three of you. She wanted to include Shania, but I think she already heard from Leo that she probably won't be around long enough to be promoted to assistant."

"So Chelsea sucks at her job and I have to waste time listening to your girlfriend tell me how to be an assistant. I think if I look at her bio again, I'll confirm that I have been an assistant a hell of a lot longer than she ever was. Of course, my daddy doesn't own the agency."

God damn, Zach smiled at her the whole time!

She didn't even realize he had pulled her to the side of the busy sidewalk and had his hand on her arm. "Apparently, your mouth has no problem working when you're mad. I agree with everything you just said, except the girlfriend part. I will try to use my influence as her friend to change her mind. You may not believe me, but she likes you."

"It's not just me. Justin doesn't deserve it. You and Austin should revolt."

"I'll do my best, Lill. Trust me." He squeezed her arm and let go.

There had been too much touching happening. If she wasn't angry, she'd need to change her panties.

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