Ali didn’t know how to respond. On one hand, her boss was...well, her boss. But her backside was still feeling the effects of her punishment the night before. There was no way she was going to tell Daniel she couldn’t go to lunch with him. Besides, she needed a break. She’d been going nonstop for almost five hours.

  Forwarding her phone, she picked up her purse and stood. “I’ll be back in an hour, Mr. Jacobson.”

  “Ms. Foster, I need those numbers compiled today.” The tone in her boss’s voice sent a chill through her body. She felt like a misbehaving child being scolded for needing to eat.

  Daniel placed a hand at the small of her back, silently showing his support as she answered. “I should have them on your desk before the end of the day.”

  Then, before she could lose her nerve, she walked away.

  It wasn’t until the elevator doors closed behind them that all the air rushed out of her lungs and the panic began to set in. What had she done? He was going to make her pay for that. She’d come back to even more work and she was barely treading water as it was.

  Daniel’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her against his chest. “Breathe, sweetheart. You did good.” He kissed the top of her head. “It will be okay. I promise.”

  They reached the bottom floor and the elevator doors opened. He ushered them outside, guiding them to his SUV.

  She didn’t ask where they were going. All she cared about was she was away from her boss. The demands of her job were weighing on her and she had to be honest with herself. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep it up.

  They pulled up in front of a restaurant she wasn’t familiar with. He parked the vehicle and helped her out of the passenger seat.

  The restaurant wasn’t fancy. There was even a sign stating they should seat themselves.

  She waited in a booth while he went up to the front to place their order. He came back with a tray full of food and two plates. “Eat.”

  Ali did as she was told. She reached for the macaroni and cheese, and then some of the shredded meat.

  Daniel loaded his own plate with several items and began eating. He waited until she’d taken several bites before asking, “How was your morning?”

  “Stressful as usual, but not any more than usual.”

  He nodded. “Do you know a woman named Brenda Renyolds?”

  Ali thought about it, but the name didn’t ring a bell. “I don’t think so. Should I?”

  “I believe she’d the reason your boss is trying to get rid of you.”

  She stopped eating. “What do you mean, trying to get rid of me?”

  Instead of speaking, he showed her the files, pointing out the relevant details. She read through the performance reviews and felt both sick to her stomach and vindicated at the same time. It wasn’t her. It wasn’t anything she’d done or didn’t do.

  Then he turned the page. “She was their replacement.”

  Ali met his gaze across the table. “All three times?”

  He nodded.

  She sat, her gaze unfocused as she processed the new information. It’s not as if she’d had any warm, fuzzy feelings for her boss before, but now she felt disgusted by him. How could he have done this, not once, but three times? And what about his wife?

  Daniel pushed her plate toward her. “Eat your food.”

  Picking up her fork, she took another bite, not really tasting what she was eating.

  “I want you to quit.”

  She stopped mid chew.

  “You can come work for me, either permanently or until you find something else.”

  As much as she hated it, her mom and Bradley came to mind, and it must have been written all over her face. “I—”

  “I don’t care what other people think and you shouldn’t, either. You and I know the truth and that’s all that matters.” He took her hand in his. “I won’t stand by and watch you being mistreated. Your well-being is my responsibility until you decide you no longer want it to be. And even then, I’ll still be there in any capacity you need me.”

  Tears sprang to her eyes. He meant every word. She knew he did. She could feel it deep in her soul. “What if I always want it to be your responsibility?” It wasn’t quite the same as saying I love you, but maybe it was more.

  He studied her face for a long moment. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.” Ali hadn’t been surer of anything in her life.

  Daniel held her hand on the drive back to the hospital administration building. He walked her to her desk and gave her a quick kiss. “Put in your notice, but don’t be surprised if he dismisses you right away.”

  “Yes, Sir.” They were alone. Her boss’s office door was open, but he was nowhere in sight.

  “Call me when you leave. No matter what time. I’ll meet you at home.”

  Ali nodded.

  He gave her one last kiss, then turned to go, leaving her alone.

  She took the next thirty minutes to gather her personal belongings and get her desk in order. Daniel was right. As soon as she put in her notice, Grant Jacobson would let her go. Based on what Daniel had found, it was what he’d wanted all along.

  When her boss strolled in at one thirty, he glared at her. “Did you enjoy your lunch, Ms. Foster?”

  Trying not to react to the ire in his voice, she plastered a smile on her face. “I did.” Then, she handed him her resignation letter. It was short and to the point. There was no sense in drawing it out. She couldn’t change the outcome and Daniel was right, she didn’t deserve the way she was being treated.

  “What’s this?” he demanded as he read over the letter. When he looked up, there was a look of satisfaction on his face. “I knew you couldn’t cut it.”

  Ali didn’t bother to argue the point.

  “I won’t have you making a mess of things for your replacement. Gather your things and exit the building.” He picked up the phone on her desk and hit the button for security. “Yes, I need someone to escort Ms. Foster from the premises.”

  Her heart raced as he disconnected. He stood, arms crossed, watching her as she placed all her personal items in one of the boxes the printer paper came in.

  She was ready to go before security got there, but he refused to allow her to leave, insisting he wanted someone to walk her down to make sure she left the building.

  Ten minutes later, security arrived. It was Charles, an older gentleman who’d always been nice to her. She walked toward him, meeting him halfway. “Could you walk me out?”

  “Of course.” He shot a quizzical look in her boss’s direction but followed her when she continued toward the elevator. Pressing the button for the first floor, he waited for the doors to close. “Is everything okay, Ali?”

  “Yes. Everything’s fine.” And despite her worry this would only confirm Bradley’s opinion of her, she was okay. More than okay.

  CHAPTER 28

  Daniel swung by the office to pick up some paperwork, then made his way home. He was halfway there when Ali called. “You were right. He had security escort me to my car.”

  “Are you all right to drive?” he asked. She didn’t sound distraught, but he wanted to make sure.

  Ali sighed. “Yeah. My emotions are all mixed up at the moment, but I’m good.”

  He nodded even though she couldn’t see him. “I’ll meet you at home.”

  “Okay.” She paused. “Daniel?”

  “Yes?”

  She hesitated. “Thank you.”

  He had a feeling that wasn’t what she’d been about to say, but he let it go. “Drive safe.”

  They disconnected as he took the exit ramp off the highway. Seven minutes later, he was pulling into his garage.

  The house was silent when he made his way inside. Bradley’s car was parked in the garage, so he knew at least he was there somewhere.

  After a quick search of the downstairs, Daniel went to the French doors at the back of the house and glanced outside. His son was sitting at one of the patio tables, his laptop open in front of him, but he kept looking up.

  Daniel followed his line of sight and wasn’t surprised to see Zelda lounging poolside. What he hadn’t expected to see was her wearing one of the skimpiest bikinis he’d ever seen. The woman had a body, he’d give her that, but he felt no attraction. And by the look on his son’s face, Bradley didn’t either.

  Opening the door, he stepped outside. Bradley’s head turned, a look of surprise on his face.

  “Decided to work by the pool today?” Daniel asked.

  At the sound of his voice, Zelda turned her head. She smiled and sat up, her breasts nearly falling out of her top with the movement. “Get done with work early today?”

  “I did.” That was a lie. He’d brought his work home with him, but she didn’t need to know that.

  Bradley answered Daniel’s original question. “Zelda wanted some sun, so I decided to join her while I worked.”

  “He’s such a spoilsport. I tried to get him to put down that thing and enjoy life a little, but he insisted he had to work.” She pouted and while he knew she meant it to look cute, it didn’t work.

  Speaking of work... “Ali said you move around a lot. Were you planning to stay in the St. Louis area for a while?” Daniel asked.

  She didn’t seem bothered by the subject change. “I haven’t decided yet. I never know how long Ali will need me.”

  Daniel schooled his features. Zelda wasn’t the first gold digger he’d encountered. Now that she knew he had money, she was going to milk it for everything she could, even if it meant using her daughter to do it. “I wasn’t aware you and Ali were all that close.”

  Zelda waved her hand in dismissal. “She’s over dramatic sometimes. We talk all the time. We’re like sisters.”

  It was hard not to react to that one. Sisters his ass. “Even still, I’m sure you’ll be needing your own place and a job soon enough if you’re planning to stay in St. Louis. Bradley here can help you with the job search and maybe you can take over Ali’s lease. It’s a nice apartment, despite the noisy neighbors.”

  He saw her mind working, but before she could formulate a comeback, he heard Ali’s car come up the drive. “Excuse me.”

  Bradley opened his mouth to say something, but promptly shut it. His son wasn’t stupid. Anything he wanted to say, he wasn’t going to say in front of Zelda.

  Ali was climbing out of her car when Daniel walked out. He came to her side and pulled her into his arms. He knew how hard it had been for her to quit. “I’m proud of you.”

  She chuckled. “Is it wrong I feel relief and anxiety at the same time?”

  “Not at all.”

  He had many of the same mixed emotions. Not about her or her quitting her job, but about their future. She’d said earlier she wanted her well-being to always be his responsibility. Was he reading too much into that? Looking into her eyes now, he didn’t think so. He knew the connection they had despite their age difference.

  Cupping her face in both hands, he pressed his lips to hers. “I—”

  The door that led to the house opened. Not releasing her, he turned his head to see who it was. Bradley. “Get out.”

  His son blinked but backed away and closed the door behind him.

  Daniel returned his attention to Ali. “Now, where was I?”

  She leaned into his hand. “You were kissing me.”

  The feel of her mouth moving against his brought home what he’d been about to say before their interruption. Not moving his lips far from hers, he met her gaze. “I love you.”

  Her fingers stilled on his back. “I love you, too.”

  A slow smile pulled at his lips a moment before he kissed her again.

  They broke apart a few moments later, and he carried her things inside. Bradley was standing by the kitchen island, waiting for him. “Dad, can I talk to you?”

  “I’ll take this to our room,” Ali said, lifting the box of her things out of his arms.

  Once she disappeared down the hall, Daniel turned on his heel and headed toward his study. Bradley followed, closing the door behind him. “Did Ali lose her job?”

  Ever the observant one, his son. “She turned in her resignation.”

  “Did you find something out about her boss in the file?”

  Daniel walked to the other side of his desk and sat down. “He’s been having an affair for at least the last seven years. Every time he gets a new job, he hires her to fill a recently vacated position.”

  Bradley processed that information. “How did you figure that out?”

  Removing the papers from his briefcase, Daniel laid everything out for his son.

  “So that’s why he was treating Ali like shit? To get her to quit so he could give his mistress a job?” Bradley asked.

  “Yes.”

  Bradley tucked the papers back into the folder. “What are you going to do?”

  His son knew him well. There was no way he was going to let this go. It was bad enough what Jacobson had done to him years ago, but after treating Ali the way he had and leading another woman to feel as if suicide was her only option, he was feeling the need to make the man pay. “I have plans.” Then he steepled his fingers together as he sat back in his chair. “Now, tell me what’s been going on with Zelda today?”

  Bradley shared how his morning had gone keeping track of Ali’s mother, including how she’d made herself very much at home.

  After they were finished, Daniel went to find Ali. The work he needed to do could wait and he wanted to make sure she really was okay.

  It wasn’t hard to locate her. The raised voices coming from her old room carried throughout the house.

  Or, should he say one raised voice. The only one yelling was Ali.

  The door to the room was open when he approached, which helped the sound to carry. Bradley was a step behind him, also taking in the women's conversation.

  “I told you, I don’t know, Mom. It just happened. Daniel and I will figure it out,” Ali said.

  Zelda laughed. “There’s nothing to figure out, honey. He’s loaded. You just need to dress yourself up a little nicer and before you know it, you’ll have a nice ring on your finger. You’ll be set for life.”

  “Mom, it’s not like that.”

  “Of course it’s like that. Men like him expect to be used. They get it. It’s part of the deal.” Zelda paused. “I mean, you must be a decent lay. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”

  Ali gasped. “I can’t believe you said that.”

  “Why not? It’s true. You have that man wrapped around your finger. Now, all you need to do is make it all legal so if he loses interest somewhere down the line, you’ll get a nice paycheck out of it.”

  He heard a loud smacking sound followed by a shriek from Zelda. He rushed into the room. Zelda sat on the end of the bed, a hand cupping the left side of her cheek. They both looked up at Daniel’s and Bradley’s entrance.

  Daniel didn’t wait for an explanation. He'd heard all he needed to hear. “I think it’s time for you to pack your bags and leave,” he said to Zelda. He’d tried to give her the benefit of the doubt because she was Ali’s mother, but this was too much. Ali didn’t need this.

  “I’m not sure what you heard, but—”

  “I know what I heard.” Daniel moved to Ali’s side, placing a hand on the small of her back. “I also know you had no qualms asking me about my finances last night after knowing me for less than three hours.”

  “What?” Ali stiffened under his hand. He hadn’t shared the conversation he’d had with her mom the night before when he’d gone into the kitchen.

  “I wanted to make sure you’re good enough for my baby girl.”

  “Even if I was dirt poor, I’d be willing to do whatever it took to make your daughter happy. My bank account has nothing to do with that.”

  “I’ll drive her into the city,” Bradley said.

  Moisture filled Zelda’s eyes, but Daniel wasn’t sure he could trust it was real. She was used to using manipulation to get what she wanted. “I don’t have anywhere to go.”

  Daniel turned to Ali. “Get your mother’s things together for her.” Then he addressed Zelda. “Ali’s apartment is paid for till the end of the month. You can stay there until then. After that, you’ll have to make other arrangements.”

  Realizing she wasn’t getting anywhere with him, she turned her attention to Ali. “You’d throw your mother out on the street.”

  Ali stopped what she was doing and faced her mom. “I love you, Mom. I always have, but you can’t stay here.”

  He knew by the look on Zelda’s face that Ali had never pushed back against her mother’s wishes before.

  Ten minutes later, Zelda slid into the passenger’s seat of his son’s car. Bradley looked at his dad. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to let her stay at Ali’s apartment?”

  “No,” he answered honestly.

  Bradley nodded.

  Ali held out a hand and dropped a key into his son’s palm. “She’ll need that to get in.”

  Closing his fingers around the key, Bradley placed it in his pocket. Then he got in his car, started the engine, and backed out of the garage.

  Ali buried her face in Daniel’s chest the moment Bradley’s vehicle was out of sight. She couldn’t believe her mom had said those things. Okay, she could, but that didn’t make it any better.

  Daniel’s arms enveloped her, holding her tight against him. His lips brushed against her hair. “It’s been an eventful day.”

  That got a chuckle out of her. “Yes, it has.” Ali let the warmth of his arms seep through her. She hadn’t been able to lean on anyone like this since her grandmother died.

  “Why don’t we see if they left us any cinnamon rolls? I think we could both use a little sugary comfort food.”

  She nodded and went to separate herself from him, but he tucked her into his side, keeping her close.

  There were three cinnamon rolls left. They each ate one and left the third for Bradley. The sugary goodness tasted great, but it didn’t do much to change the way she was feeling inside.

  Daniel cleaned up their dishes, then led her to the couch. He sat down, stretching his legs out, before guiding her onto his lap. She leaned against his chest, her head resting on his shoulder.