In the corner was a baby crib, a changing table, a bookshelf filled with books and toys, pictures of Mickey Mouse lined the walls and teddy bears lined the floor. The area had obviously been set up for a well-loved child, Zoe thought with a sad smile.
“That’s for my little buddy,” Mr. Bradford said with a warm smile.
“What’s his name?” she asked, taking the seat he gestured towards.
“Cole. He’s just a few months shy of one,” Jared said proudly as he took his seat behind the large desk. “May I?” he asked, holding his hand out for her application.
She handed it over, fighting back the urge to ask what her old job said about her. As she sat there trying not to squirm, he looked over her application, absently nodding every few seconds.
Was he looking for a polite way to tell her that he wasn’t interested? She didn’t remember being this nervous at her last job interview. Granted, that had been three years ago. She wasn’t sure that her poor stomach was going to be able to handle the stress of going on any more job interviews.
“When can you start?” Jared asked, startling her.
Once again, even though she knew that she should keep her mouth shut, she didn’t. “Did you check my references?”
“Mmmhmm, everything checked out.”
“Everything?” Zoe asked, wishing that she could just shut the hell up. Seriously, what was wrong with her?
“Yup, you worked for some real assholes,” Jared said, smiling as he threw her a wink. “Don’t worry, Trevor filled me in this morning. It also didn’t hurt that you’ve already met my wife and she vouched for you.”
Zoe sighed in relief.
“So, can you start tomorrow?” Jared asked.
She opened her mouth to answer him when a large, angry man wearing a black Bradford Construction tee-shirt and tool belt stormed into the office.
“I want her fired!” he said, slamming a piece of paper on top of Jared’s desk.
It didn’t take Zoe long to figure out that this man was another Bradford. Actually, the man looked more like a younger version of Jared. He was large, well-built, and devastatingly handsome.
“Not this again,” Jared mumbled wearily, rubbing his hands over his face.
“Yes, this again. She assaulted me and took advantage of me and this time I have a witness,” the man declared triumphantly. He looked over his shoulder expectantly. “Get your ass in here!”
She heard a long-drawn-out sigh and then, a much shorter and leaner man wearing a shirt and tie stepped into the office, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else but here.
“I’m sorry, Jared. I had no idea what he was up to until he dragged me from my office.”
“It’s fine, Brad,” Jared said, leaning back in his chair.
“Bullshit! You hired a woman who can’t keep her dirty little hands off me! You need to fire her!”
Zoe’s brows arched as she spotted the man’s wedding band. Well, it was nice to see a man who was committed to his wife, she thought. Most guys would enjoy the attention.
“Tell him what you saw yesterday,” the large man demanded.
Brad sighed. “You mean when you had her pinned against the back of the coffee truck, devouring her mouth?”
Okay, so apparently, he enjoyed the attention, Zoe thought, feeling oddly disappointed that there were no happily married men out there. It didn’t leave much hope for someone like her.
The large man gasped. “You betraying bastard! You saw what she wanted you to see!”
“Uh-huh,” Brad said, taking the chair next to her. “Hi, I’m Brad and I’m really sorry about my friend. We’re all pretty sure that he’s gone insane,” he said with an easy smile.
“Zoe,” she said, wondering if she should just leave.
“Can’t you see that I’m in the middle of something?” Jared asked the larger man while he gestured to her.
