He's some Zach POV...

Zach looked up when Lilli walked into his office. The vision still elevated his heart rate. His wife smiled at him.

"Sexy glasses."

He chuckled, as he took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're a sight for sore eyes. I'm deep into these edits."

"So you'll be working tonight?" She walked around his desk and put her arms around his neck.

"Keep that up and you'll change my mind."

"Leo sent me in to ask about lunch."

He leaned back his head to see her beautiful face. "You two decide. I'll eat anything."

She chuckled. "Anchovy pizza."

"Ha ha. You know I hate those slimy fish." She leaned in and brush his lips.

"Enough. Do that at home."

Lilli laughed at Leo. "Do you miss Isla?"

Leo paused before smiling. Zach hated secrets, but he knew things about Leo that he couldn't share with Lilli. Leo knew about missing the woman he loved. Being away from Isla while he worked didn't compare.

Zach cleared his throat. "How's she feeling?"

"Tired, but glowing."

"Food. I'm hungry."

Leo looked at Zach and laughed as they both nodded. "Okay, Chipotle. But don't ask again until I'm the father of two sons."

Lilli stuck her tongue out. "I didn't ask, although today is free guac."

Zach laughed. He needed the distraction before he got sucked in the void of edits. Lilli tapped on her phone. She had both his and Leo's orders saved on her app. Leo relaxed like he had no work to do.

When Lilli was done, she turned to their friend. "Are the kids excited about summer vacation?"

Leo snickered. "They're excited about you helping to set up the pool."

Zach rolled his eyes, but he and Leo had it down to a system. The portable pool was nothing like the pool he grew up with.

"We're having a party for my brother. You guys should come. Riley and Codester can find out what it's like swimming in a real pool."

Lilli chuckled. "One that isn't at a hotel."

"Or I have to set up." Zach groaned.

"They'll like that. I like your brother. He must be glad to have all that training behind him."

Lilli sighed. "And I thought my path to becoming an agent was hard."

Leo chuckled. "Then you slept with the boss's nephew." Lilli sucked in her cheeks and glared. "Just kidding. I couldn't resist. You deserve your position."

Lilli stuck out her chest proudly, while Zach tried not to think of the lace she put on earlier.

His assistant, Jack appeared at his door. "Your mother is on the line."

Zach looked at Lilli who stood up. Lois rarely called work, at least not since he and Lilli. Occasionally she texted him during the workday, but she contacted Lilli about plans or social engagements. He called his mother two or three evenings a week to talk. The last time she called him at work was to let him know Ian's surgery went well. He remembered being nervous but didn't tell his brother who performed surgery all day.

"Mom?"

"Anita called me. She's worried about Olivia."

Max frowned. "Because of her father."

"No, because she's missing."

"Missing!" His heart rate sped up. "What do you mean?"

Lois sighed. "She told Kurt and Anita she wanted to take a leave of absence and went away. She's some place, but Anita doesn't know where."

"I can't believe it. She loves the agency." Zach scanned his in box. There weren't any emails from her. Each week she sent one or two about some office procedure. He suspected the assistants received more.

Lilli stood behind him. "What's happening?" She whispered but his mother heard.

"Have Lilli call Ainsley. Maybe Ian knows something."

Zach closed his eyes. "I'm calling Ian."

He hung up on his mother and pressed the speed dial for Roche-Sumner. He didn't have Ian's extension, so he had to go to the directory. It was painful dealing with the robot. Press the first three letters of the last name of the person you are trying to reach. Maybe he should complain to Duff.

Zach cut him off before he announced himself. "Ian. My mother just called me."

Ian sighed. "She says she's fine."

"This isn't like her."

"I know. Zach, you know her. Maybe better than me these past years. Definitely when you were living in New York."

"I thought I did too."

Lilli leaned over. "Let's meet for drinks to, um, talk this through. I'm texting Ainsley."

"I can't believe Ainsley didn't tell Lilli."

"I thought my mother was keeping it between me and Kurt."

Zach ran his hand through his hair. "It got to my mother."

Ian sighed. "Probably Kurt."

"However, the word is out. We'll see you after five." Zach hung up and looked at Lilli. He had forgotten Leo was there, but he was busy texting. "She disappeared. Anita is worried. Ian is too."

Zach's concentration was shot. Years before Coop, Oliver sent a green mystery writer his way. He was Zach's first client when he was still Ann's assistant. His latest manuscript didn't require as much work as the first book, but it was still a lot. Meanwhile, he sold a ton of books and Zach earned a healthy commission .

At five, he walked over to Lilli's office. "You ready?"

She held up a finger. "I doubt we'll be late. I'm bringing a few submissions home."

Zach had work in his messenger bag. Lilli called it his sexy bag. As they walked to the Public House together, Zach remembered when they walked to meet Coop. Lilli would never run out on Zach. Maybe he would kiss her to prove it. He used his thumb to twist the band on his left hand.

Lilli waved at Ainsley who sat alone at a table. "Where's Gilly?"

Ainsley cocked her head to the bar. "He's upset about his sister."

Zach walked over. "Hey."

Ian turned to him. The circles under his eyes stood out on his pale face. Ian nodded and picked up his scotch and drank. Gilly rarely drank like Oliver and JJ. Zach only did when he was with them.

He waited until he returned to the table with two glasses of red wine. His head was buzzing with questions. "How long has she been gone?"

Ian sighed. "A week. My mother kept it quiet thinking she would take a vacation and come home."

"Have you called her?" Lilli asked.

Ian shook his head. "She won't answer. She'll text, but it's always. I'm fine. Don't worry."

"He's worried." Ainsley sighed. "Zach, you know her better than me and Lilli. What do you think?"

Zach looked at Ian. "What do the Dees say?"

Ian laughed. "I don't even have their numbers."

Zach held up his phone. "I do."

He texted both of them. Have you heard from Liv?

Mandy replied. No. Graham says she's not at work.

Zach looked up. "Mandy hasn't heard from her."

Ainsley sighed. "She seemed sad at Kurt's party." She paused. "Like at your wedding."

Lilli looked at her best friend. "What do you mean?"

"Remember? She took off swimming."

Ian and Zach laughed. "That's Livvy."

Ainsley shook her head. "What about getting drunk?"

Zach frowned. "That's not like her. Max and I talked that night. I was afraid she was upset about me getting married."

Ian laughed. "You two were like that as kids, but no."

"She kissed me once."

Lilli's chin dropped. "You never told me."

Ian laughed. "Don't get excited. She kissed me, Max and JJ too. Duff put her up to it."

"He got in trouble, but she only sniffed JJ." Zach chuckled.

Ainsley cackled, "I need the details about this story."

Ian sighed. "Duff bet he could get Olivia to kiss Zach. We. Me and Max were all for it. Instead, he tricked us too. They lined us up on the couch in the Sumner's basement with our eyes closed and she kissed us."

Ainsley asked, "Why did you keep your eyes closed?"

Ian shrugged. "Duff and Dex were older. I was in awe of them."

Lilli exploded. "The same sofa where you kissed me the first time?"

Zach smiled. "I kissed you the first time over there. And you ran out the door."

Ainsley laughed. "Only Lilli."

Ian smiled. "Our first kiss was by the swan boats."

Zach scowled. "Can we get back to Livvy? I'll admit I've been busy and haven't called. Actually, she kept putting me off by saying she was watching something. She's changed after she visited her father."

"If her grandmother wasn't with her, I'd worry he hurt her. I'm not glad he's dead, but I'm glad Livvy made peace with him. He owed me a big fat apology, but I'm happy to go without."

"Livvy was always jealous of you and Andrew." Zach hoped he wasn't breaking her confidence.

"I know." Ian lowered his voice. "My mother thinks she's involved with a man, but I don't know why. It sounds sketchy."

Lilli laughed. "Anita? Sketchy?"

Zach shook his head. "She avoids lasting relationships. There are a string of men like Graham."

"She is beautiful inside and out. She could have any guy she wants," Ainsley said, as Ian beamed.

Zach sighed. "I'll text her and hopefully she'll open up to me."

A behind the scenes look at when Livvy disappeared. One more bonus to go.

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