All the frustration and anger she’d felt toward Z melted away. “Hi, Daddy.”
“Hello, sweet angel.”
She stepped inside, set down the take-out bag, and hugged him. And, just like that, everything in her world fell right back into place.
Her dad peered outside. “Is that a rental car?”
“Uh-huh.”
“When are you flying back to Denver?”
“No idea,” she replied. “The past twenty-four hours have been crazy. Since I’m here, I’ll probably stay the weekend. Daddy, I’m starving. Can we please eat?”
“You need to be in a secure vehicle.”
“That’s ridiculous,” she pushed back. “Anyway, I’ll probably spend the weekend with Addison.”
Z pulled his cell phone from his pocket, made a call. “I need an SUV.” He slid his gaze to Brit. “And I need a rental car returned. I’m at home.”
He hung up, walked inside, bolted the door, and took the food bag from her.
“What was that?” she asked.
“Me, ensuring you’re safe.”
She didn’t want to get into it with him the second she got there, so she forced herself to let it go.
“I hope you’re hungry, because I ordered way too much,” she said.
Together, they walked into his kitchen. Within minutes, they were chowing down on dinner from their favorite Thai restaurant.
“So good,” she said. “I’ve never ordered anything I didn’t love.” After several bites, she said, “You carry around a lot of secrets, Dad.”
He sipped his red wine. “It’s been like that for most of my adult life. Second nature now.”
“Thank you for setting up the job interview.”
“How’d it go?”
She shrugged. “Cooper’s not a fan of yours, so I’m not sure.”
“He’s very fair,” her dad replied. “He hired Addison, so if he extends you a job, it’ll be on your merits, not who you’re related to.” After a pause, he asked, “Am I forgiven?”
“No matter how angry I get at you, you are one of two people I will always forgive.”
“Thank you.” He paused to eat. “I assume the other is Addison.”
“Of course,” she replied.
“I was concerned you’d be mad at each other for the secrets you’ve been keeping.”
“I could have been, but we both listened to you and never talked about our jobs with anyone outside the organization. I always thought that was good advice, especially given what we did.” She ate a piece of chicken. “Yummy.”
Being around her dad hadn’t always been this easy. They were a lot alike, so they banged heads all the time. Whereas Addison worked hard to please her dad, Brit did the opposite. She’d put him through the paces, simply to win an argument or get her way. Most times, the outcome of besting her dad meant more than whatever point she was arguing.
Tonight, however, she was simply happy to be with him. Happy to be sharing a simple meal with her beloved dad.
“If I don’t get offered the job legit, please don’t make them hire me,” she said.
