The door was open, allowing him to step into an outer office where a woman was bent over a computer, a frown on her brow.
He was about to get her attention when she looked up. He saw when her brow cleared, replaced by instant recognition.
Gloria was single and had been most of her life and she loved the single life. Men as far as she was concerned were useful until they were not. But seeing this one standing inside her office, gave her sturdy, no nonsense heart more than a little jolt.
"I'm sorry if I disturbed you." His voice was as beautiful as his face, if that was at all possible. No wonder her boss had fallen for him.
"No problem." Shoving back from her desk, she gestured to a chair. "You're Zoe's daddy."
To her surprised delight, he looked so pleased, she felt her heart melting even more.
"I'm afraid I don't have an appointment. I was just in the neighborhood and wanted to speak to Abigail, er, Ms. Blake."
She sent him an easy smile. "Let's see if she's available."
"Thank you."
With a nod, she bustled towards the open door and closed it behind her.
Abby looked up from the files she was perusing. "I think we should introduce the gingerbread contest and incorporate it with..." What is it? Is it Zoe?"
"No." Gloria shook her head. "It's Zoe's daddy."
Abby's expression turned to stone. "I have no time to talk to him. If he's on the phone, tell him I'm busy."
"He's here."
Her eyes widened and then flashed fire. "Get rid of him."
"I will most certainly not be doing that. The man is already here, stop being such a damn coward and talk to him."
"You have no right..."
"This is about Zoe. It's time you get behind whatever he did to you and start thinking about your daughter." She headed for the door. "And I don't need you putting me in the middle." She marched out before Abby could respond.
Before she could recover her composure, he came right in.
"Your assistant told me to come right in." He immediately gauged her mood and mentally sighed. He was in for another battle.
"You should have called." She stayed behind her desk, her expression stormy.
"When I didn't hear from you, I decided to stop by." He wandered in, admiring the large and comfortable office. The desk was a plain birch, stacked neatly with files and other paraphernalia. A soft worn maroon sofa was in one corner near the window.
A fire was crackling inside the hearth, and a large bookcase took up one entire corner of the room. Photos were strewn on her desk and a large glossy one of Zoe was over the mantle. He wandered over to look at the portrait of the laughing little girl wearing her usual pink outfit.
"How old was she here?"
She wanted to ignore the question. "Three. We were on a trip in the Bahamas."
Her heart skittered as she watched him walked over and slide his fingers over the protective glass. He had asked her for albums, and she was still hesitating to hand them over.
"She takes your breath away. I cannot believe I had a hand in making her."
He turned to look at her. "I'd prefer not to fight with you. Will I be getting her tomorrow?"
That was one of the things she had struggled with last night. They had a tradition. The family would meet at her grandmother for the Thanksgiving meal and spend the night. On Friday, they would sleep in late before returning home where they would walk the mall or go take in a movie. Christmas was the same, another tradition.
"Yes." She rasped. "She wants to come to you. Pick her up in the morning. Her outfit has already been bought. Bring her back on Friday..."
