Getting Lucky by Susan Andersen Page B

officially on leave. Add to that a stomach full of exceptional food, and he really did feel pretty damn mellow.
    “Good.” Lily passed him a sheet of paper that had been folded in half.
    “What’s this?” He took it and shook it open. Recognizing his sister’s handwriting, his eyebrows furrowed. Then he read it, and his head snapped up. He didn’t like the sound of this at all, and he pinned the curvy little blonde sitting across the table in his sights. “Okay, spill it.”
    Lily drew a breath and then released it in a long sigh. “The reason that Glynnis isn’t here is that she’s gone up to Washington state…to meet her fiancé’s family.”
    Zach reacted every bit as badly as Lily feared he would.
    He cursed succinctly as he pushed to his feet with such force his chair tumbled over. Slapping his hands on the tabletop, he leaned his weight on his splayed fingers and thrust his face forward until they were nose to nose. “I don’t believe you, lady. You’ve known exactly where she is all this time and you’re just now getting around to telling me?”
    They were so close she could smell the chutney on his breath, hear the clicking pop of his TMJ joint as his teeth clenched and unclenched. His tension was contagious, but she forced herself to meet his furious eyes serenely. “I only just discovered the note.”
    “So if you hadn’t found it, you wouldn’t have ever told me?”
    She lifted her chin. “Your sister is an adult, Taylor. It isn’t up to me to tell you her business. If she’d wanted you to know, she would have said so—and considering what a control freak you are, I wasn’t exactly bowled over when she didn’t.” She gave him a level look. “As it turns out, you’re still a control freak, but apparently one she wants kept informed, so here’s the scoop. The young man’s name is David Beaumont. They met when he was down here on business, and they’re driving up to his home in Washington state so Glynnis can meet his family. Then they plan to get married.” A corner of her mouth crooked up in a faint smile. “I’m sure you’ll be invited.”
    “The hell you say.” Pushing off the table, Zach straightened and glared down at her.
    “Then again, maybe not, if that’s going to be your attitude.”
    “Hell, yes, it’s my attitude. Damned if I’ll allow some two-bit hustler break my baby sister’s heart!”
    “For Pete’s sake!” She stared at him in exasperation. “You haven’t even met David. He loves her!”
    “Loves her money, you mean.”
    “No, Rambo, loves her . I’ve seen them together, and—” She found herself abruptly talking to thin air when Zach turned on his heel and strode from the room. She followed him to the den, where he was flipping through an address book.
    He made a sound of satisfaction and picked up the telephone. Seeing her standing in the doorway he gave her a smug smile. “I knew I could trust Glynnis to jot down his cell phone number.” He punched out the numbers.
    Then the smile dropped away and he banged down the phone. “Shit. Out of the service area.” He shot her one of his my-wish-is-your-command looks. “What’s the Beaumonts’ phone number?”
    “I have no idea. The only thing Glynnis gave me was his address.”
    He dialed information, and she watched his face turn grimmer yet as he tried unsuccessfully to talk the operator into giving him an unlisted number. He then reached for the yellow pages, pausing only long enough to glare at her. “I want that address,” he snapped. “I’ll book a flight to Seattle for now, but I expect the exact address in my hand before I leave.”
    The impending air-traffic controller’s strike poppedinto Lily’s mind. She opened her mouth to tell him about it, then pursed her lips closed. As if he’d believe her anyway. But judging by his language when he slammed down the phone a short while later, she’d say the strike was no longer imminent.
    “The hell with it,” he suddenly declared.