"Give it a try. If not, you can try again later."
She ate another teaspoonful, then pushed it away. "I"ll try in a minute."
"Whenever you"re ready." Megan picked up the book again, but Anna had other ideas.
"Mom, you know Marco from my cla.s.s?"
Marco? She set the book aside and wracked her brain for a Marco from Anna"s cla.s.s list. "Oh, do you mean Marco Carbone?"
"Yeah. Can you let him know I"m in the hospital, but tell him I"m okay?"
"Of course, honey." Megan smoothed back a stray strand of Anna"s hair. The girl needed a shower as soon as she was able. "Do you want me to let anyone else know? Like Julia or your other friends?"
Anna shook her head, but stopped as if the movement caused pain. "Marco will tell everyone."
"All right." Megan adjusted the pillow so Anna could relax against it while remaining upright. "I didn"t realize that you and Marco were friends."
"We are." Anna picked up her spoon, but set it down without trying the gelatin again. "Um...he"s kinda my boyfriend."
At ten? Megan bit back her first response, then said, "I see. You didn"t tell me that."
"It"s no big deal."
Good. And thank goodness her parents decided to go to the hospital cafeteria for lunch, because this wasn"t a conversation she wanted them to hear. Megan waited a moment before asking, "What kinds of things do you and Marco do if you"re boyfriend and girlfriend?" They certainly hadn"t gone on a date or done anything together outside of school, not that there"d even been school for a few weeks now.
"The usual stuff." When Anna failed to elaborate, Megan circled her hand, urging Anna to continue. "You know. We sit together in the cafeteria at lunchtime and we try to get on the same team when we play dodgeball or soccer in gym cla.s.s. And he"s, like, the first person I"m supposed to text about things. Stuff like that. I don"t want him to think I"m ignoring him because I haven"t texted him in a while. I mean, because it"s summer, so really all we do is text."
Megan couldn"t help but smile at that. "His number"s on the cla.s.s roster at home. When I check in at home again, I"ll let him know." When the time was right, she"d ply Anna with more questions about how she ended up with "kinda" a boyfriend and what that meant.
Anna exhaled and settled deeper into her pillow. Megan resumed reading, but only made it a few paragraphs before Anna asked, "Is Mr. Jones your boyfriend now?"
Megan carefully kept her smile in place, though the question struck her like a knife to the heart. Ever since Stefano walked out of the apartment, she"d been in agony. Watching him leave the hospital after refusing to acknowledge his feelings for her felt even worse. "No."
"Do you like him?"
"Of course I do, but things are a little different for adults. We don"t have dodgeball teams."
Anna seemed to digest this. In a matter of fact tone, she said, "He hasn"t asked you out, has he? You know that you can ask him out if you like him. It doesn"t matter who asks anymore."
Megan stifled a laugh. "I"m aware."
"You should think about it. He might be too chicken to ask you, but I think he likes you. Sometimes guys don"t want to be the one to ask."
Not if they already asked once and the answer took so long he decided it was impossible.
Megan forced back the thought as she leaned forward and tucked the sheets tighter around her daughter, then tweaked her nose. "I think you need to focus on getting better. Anything else is a waste of your energy."
Anna giggled, then glanced toward the door. "The nurses can"t hear me, Mom." Despite her a.s.sertion, she lowered her voice. "But if you married him someday, wouldn"t it be incredible? Not just because we"d get to live in a castle-I mean, castles are cool and all-but I bet it has s.p.a.ce like Grandma and Grandpa"s house in Minnesota, so we could have a dog. Wouldn"t a dog be great? And I really like Mr. Jones. He"d be an awesome dad. Like, a real dad in our house, instead of a dad who visits."
Now she was really glad her parents went to the cafeteria.
Megan started to speak, but before she could get out the first syllable Anna added, "I know you"re going to tell me it"s silly, and I shouldn"t get focused on it or anything, but it"s fun to think about what it might be like, isn"t it?"
"It"s not silly," Megan said on a sigh. "We all like to daydream about living in a fairy tale. It"s human nature."
"Do you?"
"Sometimes," she admitted. She leaned forward and smoothed the sheet covering Anna"s upper body. "Right now, though, you need to have some real dreams. Sleepytime dreams. Your body still needs rest so you can get out of the hospital and enjoy your summer."
"Then school again. Somewhere." She let out a monster yawn before asking, "Do you know where we"re going yet?"
"No. But there"s still time before I need to get you registered." Some. "In fact, as soon as you go to sleep, I have a call to make about a job."
"Is it a good one?"
"It could be."
"Okay." One side of her mouth hooked up as she turned to her side and closed her eyes. "I hope it"s somewhere sunny."
"I"ll do my best."
She ran her palm over Anna"s hair, tossed the half-eaten gelatin cup, then left the room with the image of Anna"s trusting smile warming her heart.
Chapter Thirty-One.
Never in her life had Megan turned down a job offer.
For the first few years after she"d graduated, she"d been thrilled to have a job, period. Then, when she"d been offered the business development position at the Grandspire, she hadn"t bothered to interview anywhere else. The warm welcome she"d received from Ramon and the rest of the staff was the stuff of her dreams. They"d made her feel part of the hotel and the city. They"d given her a home and gave Anna the same love they lavished on their own children.
Even as she stepped out of the white Mercedes taxi and smoothed her hands down the front of her favorite navy suit, Megan found it hard to believe she"d actually turned down her second job offer from the Grandspire. Jack Gladwell was likely the only person more stunned than she. When she"d hung up the phone after thanking him for the job offer, his patience, and for the generous bouquet he"d sent Anna while her daughter was in the hospital, she"d fully expected to be sick to her stomach. Instead, her veins thrummed with a burst of energy, as if she"d just stepped off a Venezuelan zipline platform to soar over the jungle canopy and enjoy a view only the hovering birds usually experienced. It was, in a word, exhilarating.
After she"d left her parents and Anna in the suite and boarded the flight to Sarcaccia this morning, however, doubts crept in. This risk wasn"t Megan"s alone to take, no matter how right it felt. There was Anna to consider. Though Anna had only been out of the hospital a few days and had several weeks of summer vacation left-time which she should be using to fully recover-Anna was already asking when she"d know about school.
Megan blinked in the bright sunlight before ascending the wide steps into the Ristorante Villa Enrica, a picturesque white stucco building clinging to a cliffside above the Mediterranean Sea, and told herself not to think about the Grandspire and the what-ifs. She needed only to concentrate on today"s job interview. If she didn"t get this position, she"d need to start her job hunt from scratch and hope she landed a position quickly enough to register Anna for school.
But if she did get the job...well, she had no idea what would happen then, either. She"d said it herself: There were no guarantees with anything. Ever.
A pale blonde in a smartly tailored black dress topped with a matching jacket approached, her heels clicking on the tile floor of the cliffside restaurant. A warm smile lit her face as she extended her hand in greeting. "Ms. Hallberg, welcome to Sarcaccia. I"m Natalie Costa. It"s a pleasure to meet you in person. I trust you had a good flight?"
Megan replied with the appropriate niceties. She"d felt comfortable speaking with Natalie during their phone calls-though she"d pictured someone named Natalie Costa as having coloring closer to Stefano"s-but her pulse pounded overtime as they walked toward the rear of the elegant restaurant. Natalie mentioned during their last call that they"d hold the interview in a private room over lunch and that Megan should bring her appet.i.te.
"I hope you"ve allowed yourself a few hours to explore the island after our meeting today," Natalie said as they pa.s.sed through the main dining room. "It"s a beautiful country."
"Especially with the weather as glorious as it is," Megan agreed. "I admit, I"ve wanted to visit Sarcaccia from the first time I saw pictures of the beaches and mountains. It"s far prettier in person."
That drew a smile from Natalie. "I grew up in Denmark and never imagined I"d leave, but then I met my husband." She shrugged. "I had my doubts about moving to Sarcaccia to be near his family, but from the moment I walked into our first apartment in Cateri, the island became my home."
That explained the contrast between Natalie"s fair complexion and locally common last name. "I"m sure it was a difficult decision."
"For love, it wasn"t so difficult. Especially since he bribed me here with the promise of a sea view." She indicated a set of oversized gla.s.s doors set into the restaurant"s rear wall. "As you can see, it is quite an enticement."
Megan stepped out the restaurant"s large gla.s.s doors and bit back a sigh as warm wind caressed her face and the scent of flowers in bloom washed over her. A wide stone stairway led to a stone patio that ran the entire length of the restaurant"s lower level and offered a panoramic view of the sea. The early afternoon sun made the water sparkle as if thousands of diamonds had been cast upon its surface. In the distance, a pleasure boat made its way out to sea, headed north toward Corsica and beyond. A half-dozen small fishing boats, each holding two or three occupants, were visible within a half-mile of the sh.o.r.e.
As if wishing to make itself worthy of its postcard view, the restaurant patio itself was a feast for the eyes. Rustic wood tables of varying sizes filled the area, each topped with wide white umbrellas that kept the feeling light and airy while protecting diners from the sun"s harshest rays. Pink, red, and white flowers spilled from oversized urns s.p.a.ced out along the wall at the patio"s edge. Natalie led Megan down the stairs and to the patio"s walled edge. Shielding her eyes, the taller woman pointed along the coastline to the north. "See the long white building just south of the grand marina?"
"That"s the new conference center?" The modern structure was spectacular, even from this distance, with large windows facing the sea from underneath a roof that swooped in a manner reminiscent of a wind-filled sail.
"It is." Natalie went on to point out the location of several large waterfront hotels, most of which were undergoing refurbishment in antic.i.p.ation of new business, then to describe the planned transportation connections from the airport, bus terminals, and medieval city center, which was a tourist favorite. "Once finished, the conference center will be easily accessible from anywhere in Europe. All that"s left to do is to complete the interior, hire a staff, and start marketing it to potential clients."
"Well, if that"s all," Megan said, amused. "I look forward to hearing more details on your plans."
"The members of the committee are looking forward to meeting you. They should be gathering in the private dining room now. I"ve also invited a few representatives from the transportation sector and the adjacent hotels in case you have questions about where they stand with their development plans. I want you to understand the full scope of the project and its role in the country"s economy."
Natalie turned to lead Megan from the patio wall toward an area set further back, shaded by the restaurant itself. "We"ll be meeting here, just off the patio." As she paused to secure an umbrella that threatened to blow loose, she added, "I must say, you"ve come highly recommended. When I learned of your work at the Grandspire, I put you at the top of our candidate list. Not only have you generated buzz for the hotel throughout Europe, I understand the grand reopening was quite the event. I admit, I"m jealous of those who attended."
"Thank you," she replied, reaching to help Natalie lock the umbrella in place. "A lot of work went into making the night a success. We wanted guests to walk away knowing what to expect if they wished to host an event or conference in the hotel, then to share that knowledge in their professional and social circles."
"Which is exactly what Mahmoud Said did with us," she said on a smile.
"Mahmoud?" Not Stefano?
"We consulted with his company on the communications plan for the conference center. He has a high opinion of your work and insisted we contact you when we were ready to interview for the position." They finished securing the umbrella and continued across the wide patio as Natalie spoke. "He claimed that anyone who met you would want to book events with you because you"re one of the most organized, personable people he"s had the opportunity to meet."
Megan bit the inside of her lip to keep her jaw from dropping. She had the feeling she"d gained the confidence of the wealthy Egyptian CEO, but not to that extent. While Mahmoud was a sociable man, she"d never known him to be effusive. "That"s very kind of him to say. I"ll be sure to thank him later."
One more check in the Stefano was right, you were wrong column. She should have trusted him when he said he hadn"t been the one to give the committee her name.
"He"s not your only fan." Natalie lowered her voice. "Before we go in, I did receive a second recommendation for you, though it was off the record."
"Oh?" she managed to sound casual, despite the unease rising within her.
Natalie paused outside the door leading to the restaurant"s private room. "I"m very close to my cousin, who works in Barcelona and was a guest at your grand reopening. When I mentioned that I would be interviewing candidates for the conference center, she immediately mentioned your name and asked if I"d heard of you. She was blown away by the Grandspire"s operations. She also said she thought you"d fit in well in Sarcaccia and would be an a.s.set to our country. My cousin"s best friend is a member of Sarcaccia"s royal family, so she"s spent a great deal of time here and knows the country well."
Megan felt the look of disbelief cross her face, but knew trying to hide it would prove futile. "Your cousin wouldn"t happen to be Ilsa Jakobsen, would she?"
Though the two women had different coloring, Ilsa was Danish, like Natalie, and equally tall. Stefano mentioned that Ilsa lived in Barcelona and had been roommates with his sister. Now that she studied Natalie, she could see the resemblance in the tilt of their eyes and the manner in which they walked.
Natalie grinned. "One and the same. You met her, then?"
"Actually, no, though I did notice her at the party and we have a mutual friend." Not that Megan would identify the mutual friend.
"Ilsa is always noticed at parties." Natalie shot her a knowing look. "As you might guess, she"s invited to many."
Megan liked Natalie more and more every minute. "I"m surprised she recommended me, given that we weren"t introduced."
Natalie moved toward the door. "She was impressed by the party and by all she heard about you. I"m sure you"ll impress the committee, as well. Come on in. They should be ready."
Megan was still pondering Ilsa"s possible motive for recommending her when she stepped into the sunny room. A group of well-dressed men and women mingled near a table set for ten. She recognized the head of Sarcaccia"s tourism bureau from its website and was introduced to the woman nearest the door, who headed the conference center"s hiring committee. As Megan turned to meet representatives from two local hotels, a door at the far end of the room opened to admit a late arrival, one who instantly drew the attention of the entire room, just as he"d drawn the attention of everyone in the bar when he"d first come to the Grandspire.
And then she heard his voice, an unmistakable, rich tone that unraveled her soul.
Natalie leaned closer to Megan. "Ah, and here"s our transportation guru. I believe that you"ve met Prince Stefano Barrali?"
The swiftly-concealed shock on Megan"s face mirrored the emotion simmering through Stefano as he crossed the room.
She"s really here.
Stefano had done a double take when perusing his e-mail this morning. While both lunch and dinner with the committee were on his schedule, he hadn"t known which two candidates the committee would be interviewing. Not until he"d read Natalie Costa"s e-mail, confirming his availability to answer any transportation questions and stating that it was her hope they"d only need to conduct these two interviews to land the perfect hire.
The entire drive from the palace to the restaurant, trepidation clogged his throat. She"ll have cancelled. There was a mistake with the names. Natalie will call to inform me of her error at any moment. But no call came. And now, as he traversed the room while shaking hands with committee members at the same time Natalie moved toward him with Megan at her side, making introductions along the way, the lump in his throat grew.
The pale, hollow look of exhaustion and fear that clung to Megan in the hospital was gone, replaced by the vibrant, smiling face he"d come to love. Her cheeks were rosy, her expression bright with life, and her hair shone as it did the night he"d seen her in that gorgeous, honey-colored gown at the Grandspire reception. A navy suit with a light blue blouse complimented her eyes to perfection. It wasn"t his opinion alone. Every male in the room looked at her with admiration, and that admiration wasn"t strictly of the professional sort.
Welcome to the world of hot-blooded Sarcaccian men, Megan.
He could only hope the other men in the room didn"t feel the same electricity he did when he looked at her.
"Prince Stefano," Natalie greeted him with a broad smile. "Thank you for making time in your schedule. Mahmoud Said mentioned that you met Ms. Hallberg at the Grandspire?"
"I did." He turned to Megan, whose stance radiated confidence even as trepidation lurked in the depths of her blue eyes. "It"s a pleasure to see you again."
"And you as well."
She extended her hand, but instead of shaking it, he raised it for the briefest brush of his lips. He shot her a questioning look, one he hoped she understood. Though her eyes widened fractionally, her expression revealed nothing about whether her decision to interview was due to him, the job itself, or both. "Thank you for coming to Sarcaccia."
"Shall we be seated for lunch?" Natalie asked, corralling the group. "We"d like to get to know you better, Megan."
For the next hour, after asking a few general questions about Megan"s background, Natalie and the other committee members discussed the construction of the center, the planned technologies, the center"s current budget, and the types of events they antic.i.p.ated hosting. The hotel representatives discussed their facilities and plans for coordinating with the new center. Megan gave input where appropriate and asked all the right questions, demonstrating her knowledge of both the new facility and its importance to the country"s economy. Finally, Stefano was asked to give an overview of the country"s transportation upgrades. He managed to sound professional, though he wondered if others at the table could see his emotions written on his face. He wanted nothing more than to pull Megan aside and ask her when she"d decided to interview for the position and, more importantly, why.
Had Jack Gladwell changed his mind? If the b.a.s.t.a.r.d hired someone else while Anna was in the hospital....
No, he wouldn"t have. From the moment Stefano opened the folder with the job offer, he knew Gladwell was determined to hire Megan, and Gladwell wasn"t the type to change his mind. And the flowers he"d sent to the hospital meant that Megan was on his mind a full two weeks after the offer had been extended.
He was dying to know what happened.
Laughter filled the room as one of the hotel managers described a fiasco involving a sick bird that had made its way into his hotel"s lobby. The sound of Megan"s distinctive, lilting laughter illuminated his soul. What did it matter if Jack Gladwell rescinded his offer or not? Megan was here. He could tell from the subtle looks shared amongst the committee that they liked her. She"d get an offer, he was certain.
He wanted to kiss her into oblivion and beg her to stay. To tell her he couldn"t promise her a life of complete privacy, but he could promise her his undying devotion and love. On the other hand, he knew he wouldn"t. It wouldn"t be safe for her or for Anna. And frankly, he knew the job here, while challenging, wouldn"t give her the paycheck Jack Gladwell could afford. If she wanted the best for Anna, she should accept that position rather than this one.
The waiters cleared the last of the luncheon plates, signaling the end of their interview time. Natalie handed her empty gla.s.s to a waiter, then leaned forward to address Megan directly. "You accomplished a great deal at the Grandspire. I hope it"s not improper of me to mention, but you were fairly young to take on such a huge task. I"m sure it was quite intimidating. If we were to offer you this position, it would be even more substantial and would have a higher profile. This isn"t simply one hotel in a chain, it"s our country"s center for business. Our economy will be greatly impacted by its success or failure. What have you learned from your experience at the Grandspire that makes you believe you"d be a success here? Do you have any concerns when it comes to that success?"