Spencer cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and I imagined he was getting a taste of what it felt like for the people who were often under his scrutiny. “I just need to ask a few more questions and then I’ll be on my way.”
Stephanie and my dad started to leave, but Spencer called out to them. “I’d like to ask a few questions of you as well, if you don’t mind.”
Warily, each one nodded and came back in, both taking a seat on chairs set around a glass table in one corner of my office. We waited while Spencer shuffled around some papers and then took out a pen from his pocket. He stared at my dad first. “When did you first meet Ms. Elliot?”
“Mrs. Heath,” I growled. The moment we’d had earlier was souring quickly.
“Of course.” He glanced at me and then bent his head, scribbling on a piece of paper. I rolled my eyes and leaned back in my chair, one hand rubbing gentle circles on Zoe’s back and the other toying with her hair. She was tense but relaxed a bit under my ministrations.
Spencer finally returned his expectant stare back to my dad and waited. I hid another grin when he met Spencer’s look stonily and sat there in silence, making him wait, just to put him in his place. I learned everything I knew from my dad.
“I met her on her first day with Heath Construction. Could have told you right then that she’d end up as my daughter-in-law,” Dad informed Spencer smugly. “Anyone could see my boy was a goner.”
After scribbling a little more, he asked, “How long have Mr. and Mrs. Heath been together?”
“I believe my son asked her out that very same day.”
Spencer’s hand was poised in the air, just above his document, obviously waiting for my dad to expound. Instead, Dad winked at me and grinned. “Like I said, that boy moves fast.” Stephanie laughed, and even Zoe let out a little giggle.
Spencer looked around at each of us with a deadpan expression before silently putting his pen away and stuffing his papers back into his briefcase. “I think I’ve got all I need for now,” he said as he stood. “I’ll be in touch.” I didn’t bother to stand, that would have meant having Zoe leave my lap, so I simply reached across the desk to shake his hand.
As he left, I turned Zoe’s head so I could see her face, and brushed some errant curls away before kissing her nose. “Ready to go home, baby? I’m still on honeymoon time.” I winked and leaned in to brush my lips over hers. Stephanie’s sigh broke the magic of the moment, and I scowled at her as Zoe blushed and ducked her head.
“You’d best give your mother a call tonight, son,” my dad warned. “She’s going to want to plan something”—I opened my mouth to tell him I wasn’t ready to share Zoe yet, but his look shut me up fast—“and I’m telling you right now, you’re going to let her.”
‘Yes, sir,” I grumbled in annoyance. He ignored me and walked over to my desk to take Zoe’s hand and help her to her feet. “I am truly happy to have you as family, honey.” He wrapped her up in a big bear hug and Zoe closed her eyes, returning his embrace. Well, as best she could since I hadn’t let go of her other hand. When they let go and she stepped back, I heard a little sniffle and jumped to my feet.
“What the fuck, dad? You made my wife cry!”
He threw back his head and roared with laughter while Zoe smacked my arm and huffed. “Don’t yell at your dad, Landon! I wasn’t crying and even if I was, they would mostly be happy tears. He was being very sweet and it made me miss home, that’s all.”
“Your home is with me,” I growled and tugged her against me. It only made my dad laugh harder. When he settled down, he cuffed me on the shoulder affectionately. “Chip off the old caveman.” He continued to chuckle as he walked into the hall but stopped at the door. “Let’s meet tomorrow, I want to discuss the bid I was looking at.” I lifted my chin in acknowledgement and he nodded, then tapped the door frame and left.
“He’s totally right, bro,” Stephanie muttered. “I can already tell that you are going to be as bad as Dad is with Mom.” I shrugged unapologetically. Like I said, learned from the best.
***
“Did you know Penderson Builders was bidding on this project?” my dad asked as he strolled into my office the next day.
I looked up from the paperwork I was studying and frowned. “Which one?” I asked, holding my hand out for the paperwork. Irritation coursed through me as I quickly scanned them. “They really think they can win this?”
Steve Penderson had flunked out of college his freshman year, ruining his father’s dream for him to follow in his footsteps and become a senator. Instead, Daddy had funded his construction start up, probably hoping to gain some respectability out of his son being a business owner. Except, Steve was a snake in the grass. On the outside, they looked respectable and clean, but it was only a matter of time before they bit you by cutting corners and using cheap materials. We’d been hired several times to clean up their mess.
Dad sunk down in one of the chairs across from me and rested an ankle over his opposite knee. “They won’t after today. It’s been kept quiet until the final contracts were signed, but we won the bid last week. I went over the final contract yesterday and signed it this morning.”
My eyebrows shot sky high. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I’d been working on this project for months, determined to win it.
“I didn’t want to disturb your honeymoon, son. Even with good news like this, would you really have wanted me to call?” His tone was knowing and I couldn’t help chuckling. He was right, I’d preferred my uninterrupted time with Zoe.
“Touché.” I grinned and a flash of yellow caught my eye. “Blondie,” I called out.
Zoe stuck her head around the corner and glared at me. “Do you have to call me that?” I would have thought she was really mad but for the twinkle in her gorgeous green eyes.
“Yes, I really do.”
She huffed and hid her smile. “What do you need?”
“That’s a loaded question, baby,” I smirked. Her eyes widened and she glanced at my dad who was shaking with laughter.
“We won the museum bid.” She’d wanted this job as much as I had and had worked as tirelessly to put together the presentation for the bid.
A smile broke out on her face and she did a little happy dance in the doorway. It was sexy as hell and despite having had her for breakfast, I was suddenly ravenous.
“Dad, would you mind if I had a moment alone with my wife?” I couldn’t seem to look away from her bouncing tits as she pranced happily into the room.
“Actually, I’d like a moment with you both.” My eyes snapped from Zoe to my dad. He looked serious and concerned. What the hell? I reached a hand out to Zoe. “Come here, baby,” I commanded softly. She walked around my desk and I pulled her down into my lap.
“This isn’t very professional,” she hissed and tried to get up.
“Too bad,” I grunted and held her tight. She wiggled for a few seconds, until her bottom brushed against my hard as fuck dick and she went rigidly still. Shifting her, I settled her right on top of the bulge, knowing she could feel the heat and pulse from it. Her cheeks warmed and she squirmed for a whole new reason.
Hidden beneath the desk, I slipped a hand under her skirt and slid it up her thigh, almost to her sex. Then paused, lightly rubbing one fingertip over her smooth skin. She tried to hide it, but I could see her slight tremble when she shivered. I didn’t let up, but turned my attention to my dad.
“As I was going over all the paperwork yesterday, I noticed that Penderson had tried to bid a second time.”
My hand stilled. “They reopened the bidding?”
Dad shook his head. “I couldn’t imagine they had, so I gave Clyde a call before I came in here.” Clyde Harrison was the curator of the museum we were going to restore. “He said Steve had come to him with some story about Heath Construction being unreliable and unable to complete the project due to our loss of the interior designer on the project.” Dad’s hazel eyes
hardened as he gave me the information.
“What the fuck?” I roared, causing Zoe to cover her ears and lean forward. I calmed myself enough to kiss her temple and whisper an apology.
She nodded and looked at me worriedly, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth. I used my thumb to pull it out and kissed the abused lip.
“Do you know who Senator Penderson plays golf with on Sundays?” Dad asked. I broke my gaze from Zoe’s to look at him questioningly. “Lyle Franklin.”
I thought for a moment, the name sounded familiar. “Former FBI, right? Doesn’t his son work for Homeland Security?”
“You got it,” Dad confirmed. “And, who reports to the director of Homeland?”
Zoe gasped. “USCIS.”
My eyebrows furrowed as I chewed on this information. “It’s a stretch, Dad.”
“But, one worth looking into,” Zoe insisted.
I brushed her hair back over her shoulder and kissed her temple. “Sure, baby. I want to make sure that son of a bitch pays if he was the reason behind your inquiry. But, either way, it doesn’t really matter.”
“What? How can it not matter?” she snipped.