AN: This is connected to chapter 13 of "A Love Story" and is told from Edie's perspective. Zach and Kendall's growing relationship through the eyes of an outsider who isn't all that serious. Edie comes up with an idea after Kendall's request.

Study

Edie studied the phone, studied the way that the small red light flashed repeatedly; beneath her fingertips, the paper of the file was smooth and still cool, although it was warming from her skin. Her lips curving up in a conspirator smile, she pushed back her chair and stood, tugging down the dark material of her skirt.

The rest of the office was being partially emptied, most of the other workers had been sent off to take a break until he got the casinos back under his hold, which, according to him, would be very soon. Feeling helplessly amused, Edie headed down the hall, fighting the chuckles threatening to bubble up from her throat.

At her knock, and then his "enter", she quietly slipped in to the office, forcing her face to remain empty as she stepped forward and laid the file on his desk. However, Mr. Slater knew her too well. His sharp hazel gaze immediately picked up the air of giddiness around the stern woman. With a slightly amused smile on his face, he questioned, "What?"

She shook her head furiously, clenched her hands to hold back the laughter, but laughing out loud would have been better in the long run, apparently, for she then found herself at the mercy of her boss's full attention, which basically came down to the most intense hazel gaze imaginable.

As the heartbeats ticked by, she found herself squirming pathetically, yet she resisted, refusing to acknowledge his power.

You can do this Edie, remember what Mom always said? You were the only one who could keep a secret… lord knows, your sisters couldn't keep their mouths shut for more than an hour about things… "Is there anything you need, Mr. Slater?"

"Yes… Edie, why are you bouncing on your feet? I already saw it, you didn't need to stop."

Aw, what the Hell… "I received a call from Mrs. Hart-Slater… it was about you?"

Oh, there was a definite spark of interest, but she doubted anyone other than her would pick up on it. Tapping the end of his pen thoughtfully on his desk, his lips twitching the smallest bit, he studied his assistant through lowered eyelids. "Was it about my eventual death at her mother's hands?"

Edie offered her boss a sly, small smile, cocked one eyebrow. "Apparently, she's told Mr. Montgomery about her nuptials."

"Oh?"

Lord, he looked like a kid in a candy store… "What does she say about him?"

"She's worried about you…" At his laugh, she shook her head, smiling, "No, Mr. Slater, I mean it… she just called me and made me promise to… ahem… protect you."

He stared, just stared, for long moments, eyes wide before, looking a bit confused, he waved her out of the office with a hand. Her last sight, before she closed the door, was him staring at the desk, brows furrowed in bafflement.

Three hours later, when he passed her desk on the way out, the baffled look was still frozen on his face, a thoroughly perplexed expression; his instructions to go home and sleep well were roughened up even more than usual with his unusual predicament… However, she had one thing to do before she went home.

It took five minutes to run into the store and grab the small, simple notebook… then she put it away and picked up a diary; a thick, paper-back sized black one with a lock. Ringing it up, she headed back out to her car, digging a ballpoint pen from her purse.

There, in the front seat of her car, smiling to herself, Edie studied the page laid before her, the opened lock. Maybe she had been watching too much Discovery Channel lately? Watched too many episodes of "Crocodile Hunter"? Possible, at least to judge by the first page of her study…

Zach Slater and Kendall Hart: An In-depth Study on the Art of Romance in the Modern World… Can Love Begin After Marriage?"

January… Day One:

Have decided to begin an experiment on the test subjects of Zach Slater and Kendall Hart… am intrigued by care shown by KH (Kendall Hart) and the level of confusion displayed by ZS (Zach Slater) at learning of this care. This study is based on personal interest in the question of love and marriage… can one create love in an atmosphere of business? To this researcher, the answer is a possible yes, in light of recent events, including rumors of a possible Chandler marriage. Could love be in the air for the many lonely of Pine Valley…?

AN: I know, short, but it's finally time to post this. Yes, I enjoy the idea of Edie taking charge in her boss's life and I think it could be funny if they ever gave us a real storyline with these two amazing actors, AM and TK.