The Undercover Playboy (Captured by Love Book 3) (23 page)
Read The Undercover Playboy (Captured by Love Book 3) Online
Authors: Miranda P. Charles
Zach pressed his lips, guilt eating at him. Spending time with her grandsons brought Magda
the joy and comfort their family’s wealth couldn’t give. He knew that for all of his grandmother’s exuberance and resilience of spirit, she still acutely mourned the loss of her husband, her only son, and her daughter-in-law. Heck, even he still missed his grandfather and his parents terribly. That horrific light plane accident two years ago that had cruelly robbed them of three people they loved
dearly was not something any of them would ever forget. And special occasions like Magda’s eightieth birthday always brought back the best and worst of the memories.
He rubbed his chin, wavering in his decision to make the trip short. The weekly phone calls, he knew, didn’t make up for his recent physical absence.
“Okay, Gran,” he said, grasping Magda’s hand. “I’ll make arrangements so I can
do my work on board the ship and stay with you for the whole month.”
“Oh, thank you, Zach. I do miss you, you know,” Magda said delightedly.
“I know,” he responded as he got up. “I have to go and tidy up a few things before we leave tomorrow.”
“Okay. Make sure you’re free to join us for dinner tomorrow night—our first night on the ship.”
“Who’s ‘us’, by the way?”
“Well, there’s your Grand-Auntie
Miriam,” Magda responded.
Zach nodded, not minding the thought of spending time with Magda’s younger sister.
“And I’ve invited Phillip Lee.”
Zach hid his grimace, not looking forward to socialising with the man. Phillip had been the bearer of hurtful news that Zach would rather forget, and lately, he’d been noticing repressed antagonism from Phillip directed toward him.
But Phillip’s late
mother was Magda’s best friend, and Phillip was someone that Magda considered a nephew even though he wasn’t blood related.
“That’s very surprising that you’ve asked him to come,” he commented casually.
“I felt sorry for him,” Magda said with a sigh. “Did you know that the company he worked for went bankrupt a month ago?”
“Yes, I’ve heard about that,” Zach said. Phillip had been hounding him
and his brothers for a job at The Carmichael Corporation.
“Well, he was telling me the other day how lost and lonely he felt. So I asked him to join us. I’m paying for his expenses.”
Zach simply nodded. His grandmother had a heart of gold.
“I’ve also invited my friends Olga and Debra to join us on this trip,” Magda continued. “Their granddaughters are accompanying them.”
This time, Zach couldn’t
help groaning out loud. He’d bet the granddaughter Debra was bringing with her was Vicky—a woman he’d had sex with four times in the last couple of months.
It was Vicky who’d offered a casual liaison agreement with him, since neither of them was interested in a committed relationship. But lately, she’d started to ask him out to dinners and events. He’d been quick to decline, reminding her of
how it was between them. He wasn’t interested in anything long-term with Vicky and didn’t want her to have misconceptions.
At least Vicky was being as tight-lipped as he was about their arrangement. He could just imagine how their grandmothers would enthusiastically embrace the possibility of their grandkids married off to each other if they knew. He shuddered at the thought.
“Don’t even think
about pairing me off with anyone while on this trip, Grandmother,” he warned.
Magda laughed at his tone. “If you insist.”
“Oh, I insist, Gran.”
“Fine, I won’t,” Magda said readily.
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay, Zach. By the way, my nurses will also be joining us for the trip.”
“Your nurses?” Zach asked in surprise.
“Yes. Even though I’m fit and well, you never know what might happen
while we’re at sea. Better that they’re on hand.”
His heart hammered in his chest. “Who... uh... have I met these nurses before?”
“Yes. Rebecca and Sarah. They’re those lovely girls who helped me recover from my hip replacement. You remember them, don’t you?”
He paled.
Rebecca
. She was going to be there. On the ship. With him. For a month.
“Don’t tell me you can’t remember them, Zach. They
looked after me for six months.”
He roused himself from his shock. “Sure, I remember them. I’ll... uh... see you tomorrow.”
###
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Links To My Other Books:
All these books are strong stand-alone novels. But if you would like to read them in my preferred order, start with
Will To Love (Lifestyle by Design
Book 1)
and follow the order below
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Click on the book title to get your copy.
Lifestyle by Design Series
Clarise Carson and Will Matthews
Jessa Allen and Rob Granger
Faye Summers and Ray Thackery
Secret Dreams Series
Jasmine Allen and Kane Summers
Ari Mitchell and Dylan Summers
Kris McCann and Trey Andrews
Samantha Lane and Adam Craig
Time for Love Series
Rebecca Andrews and Zach Carmichael
Sarah Daley and Jeff Carmichael
Amanda Payne and Connor Reid
Brenna Ward and Ash Payne
Gemma Aldwyn and Greg Carmichael
Captured by Love Series
Book 1:
The Unwilling Executive
Lucas Renner and Jade Tully
Book 2:
The Unyielding Bachelor
Rick Donnelly and Lexie Mead
Carter Garrett and Cassie Stephens
Bradley Mead and Erin Baker
Other books in the series coming soon!
Again, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Miranda P. Charles