The Duke's Runaway Princess (Love By Accident) by Elizabeth Lennox Page A

drink orders and Zarah only blushed a little when she ordered lemonade instead of something stronger. He ordered an ale of some brand she didn’t recognize.
    Trying to get back to business and keep him away from asking any more personal questions, she turned to face him as soon as the waitress had left to get their drinks. “So what’s this job you think I could do for you?” she prompted.
    He sat back, his sunglasses now covering his eyes so any insight she might have had by that pathway was now gone, hidden behind the dark lenses.
    He considered asking her about the phone call again, curious to find out everything he could about her. Instinctively, he knew that she would shut down if he asked her anything personal. She was too tense at the moment, too defensive. He’d have to get her to trust him before he could gain any additional insight into the Zarah he wanted to know intimately.
    Sticking to business and his plan to keep her close to him, he outlined his idea. “Right now, you’re working for Mary in the dress shop but I also know that you’re helping with Gerald and Eloise and several others have approached you for advice as well.”
    How did he know this? She had spoken with a few of the shop owners, thinking that they were private conversations. Obviously, the other shop owners were spreading the news about Mary’s successes. “So?”
    He couldn’t stop his amusement at her belligerent tone. She really was a prickly little thing. “So….I want you to take over the whole village.”
    Zarah stared at him, stunned by his comment. Furthermore, it really irritated her that he’d stumped her by that bizarre statement. Was he always this outrageous?
    “Excuse me? I’m not sure I really understand.”
    He almost laughed out loud as he watched her bristle with irritation and confusion. “I want you to do for the village the same thing you did for Mary, but on a larger scale. I want a village training seminar for inventory control, business efficiencies, organizational tricks. And in two months, I want everyone to participate in a festival that will bring in tourists from other areas, increase the sales and town recognition. Every shop owner should be encouraged to participate, offering some sort of selection from their inventories but you’ll need to arrange a marketing plan that will draw people into the village for the festival. The marketing has to be significant enough to lure people to the shops and markets, but not so big that the town can’t handle the crowds.” He carefully watched her face, trying to gauge if he was putting too much responsibility on her slim shoulders or if she was up for the challenge.
    Zarah considered the idea in her mind, tossing and turning the possibilities. A festival was a fantastic idea. It would showcase the various shop owners, bring in tourists for the day and give the town some much needed advertising. She liked where he was going with this idea and wished she’d come up with the inspiration herself.
    If she could pull it off, the interest would draw visitors into the village from the neighboring communities, increasing the business flow and raising the revenues for everyone involved. She quickly started coming up with marketing options, merchandising possibilities and investment ideas. “Who will pay for the event?” she asked cautiously, trying to hide her enthusiasm.
    The waitress came back and placed their drinks on the table and Zarah was frustrated with her interruption. She ordered a salad quickly, hoping to get rid of her so she could ask more questions. She actually wiggled impatiently in her chair while Derrick asked the waitress about the various sandwiches available, then finally made a decision which sent the woman away again.
    While he discussed the menu with the waitress, out of the corner of his eye Derrick watched Zarah’s excitement create a soft color that crept into her soft cheeks. She really was a beautiful woman, even more so when she was