Rooms? As in plural?Whitney hoped she’d heard correctly. She didn’t want to explain to Joe or Gladys why Whitney and Zack did not share the same bed.
“Thanks, Gladys,” Whitney said.
“Hmm...” Zack kissed her neck before lifting his head to look into Whitney’s eyes. “I don’t know, love, are we ready to retire for the night?”
“No.” She tried not to glare. “I thought we could stay up and talk with Joe. But if you’re tired—”
“Not in the least.” Zack’s cocky grin stretched wider.
“Let’s sit by the fire,” Joe said, moving toward the hearth. “Gladys, can you make us some hot chocolate? I’m sure Whit and Zack are still cold. Their car was stuck in the mud.”
Gladys giggled again. “Um, Mr. Joe, it doesn’t look like they are cold now.”
Oh, good grief!“Actually, Gladys,” Whitney said quickly, “I’d love some hot chocolate. So would Zack.”
He held her hand as they moved toward the fireplace. Joe sat in one chair and Zack pulled her down on the loveseat before wrapping his arms around her again. Whitney wished he wouldn’t be so clingy. And yet, she knew he did it to annoy her.
“So tell me,” Joe began, “what have you been doing with yourself, Whit? Are you still with the FBI?”
She nodded. “Of course. I’m just taking a short vacation.”
“If it was up to me,” Zack brushed his fingers across her cheek, “I’d make sure she took a permanent vacation from them.”
Joe narrowed his gaze on Zack. “You don’t approve of where she works?”
“It’s not that,” Zack said as he met Whitney’s stare. “Her job is dangerous. I worry for her safety.” He cupped the side of her face. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to my angel.”
Whitney stamped out the fluttering inside her chest. He was playacting, just as she was. So then why couldn’t she tear her gaze away from his hypnotic eyes? “Aren’t you sweet? But I’ve been trained to protect myself. I do know how to use a gun, you know.”
“Yes, I’m sure you do, although I can’t help but worry.”
“Being worried about someone you love,” Joe said, “is quite normal. But Zack, Whit is a good agent.”
“Yes,” Zack sighed and smiled. “She’s definitely one of the best.”
Once again, she knew he was saying this to rile her. He’d told her a few times already that he didn’t think she was that good.
“And what kind of work are you in, Zack?” Joe asked.
Whitney held her breath.Oh, dear!She hadn’t told her stepfather about what Zack really does for a living.
As Zack looked at her stepfather, his expression was calm and he didn’t appear half as worried as she felt.
“I’m into stocks and bonds.”
“Oh, you work at Wall Street?”
“Yep, I work with Wall Street.” Zack nodded.
Joe leaned back in his cushioned chair and crossed one leg over the other. “That’s a tricky business to be in. You never know from month to month how profits will turn out.”
Zack grinned. “You can say that again.”
“I’m sure you’ve taken a loss lately, just as most of us have.”
“For sure.” Zack agreed.
Whitney held back a laugh. He was answering the questions without really giving anything away. Thank goodness for that. Sometimes she wondered if Zack could read her mind... Gads, she hoped not. Especially, the thoughts she’d had today. If she couldn’t understand them, how would Zack? She just hoped the senator’s trial would hurry up and begin so that she didn’t have to spend any more time with this charming billionaire. Or she’d be in big trouble!
