Steven looked in desperate need of another beer.
“Which wedidn’t. It was the first thing that came to mind when Dalton asked how we knew each other. Ford doesn’t wanthis son involved in his past or his current security business, so he didn’t want to admit I was his arresting officer. We sort of blanked on the obvious competitor’s angle. So, for Ford’s sake—forDalton’ssake—I went with it.”
“Do the lies just take on a life of their own with you?”
“Ford started it! I just…” Andrew did not want to tumble back into being confrontational. “I trust him. I trust Dalton. I will invite them over to prove to you that I’m right about Ford. He’s a good man deep down. Mostly. Now he’s trying to be a good dad.”
Silence settled over the table again. They’d need to reheat the noodles at this rate, and that was sacrilege.
“Fine,” Steven conceded. “Invite them. I mean it. Whole family affair. Kevin and Candace included. I want their opinions on Ford and son too.”
Ford and son. For family dinner.
When Candace didn’t know any of this.
Ford was going to be so pissed.
“And since when do you wear such woodsy cologne?”
Andrew took a bite of noodles to keep from answering.
Mondaymorning,Andrewbeateveryone to the office. He was scheduled to meet with Ford and Dalton early and did not want to be caught unprepared. Originally, he’d planned to take Kevin with him again today and continue keeping Candace in the dark, but if family dinner was in their future, he had to come clean about Ford. He just needed to figure out how.
His building was different from Ford’s in that instead of a large, renovated warehouse, he rented space with multiple businesses, including laser hair removal and a spiritual healer who sold essential oils. Not ten minutes after he arrived,sitting at his desk, working through scenarios in his head about Candace, his office line rang.
“Wen Security, Andrew Wen speaking.”
“Aren’t you adorably professional. Don’t you have a secretary?”
Ford.
Andrew couldn’t help but smile—and since when did Isaac Ford have that kind of instant reaction on him? “All lines redirect to my phone until Candace gets in. And if you ever call her my secretary to her face, she will punch you.”
Ford chuckled.
“I’m just waiting for Kevin,” Andrew said. “We’ll be on our way soon. And…” How exactly did he transition to—and my brother wants you over for dinner to prove you’re a no-good criminal and always will be?
“Don’t bother. We’re coming to you.”
“What?” Andrew spun in his chair to face the window, like keeping a dirty secret with the blinds closed. “I thought we were meeting at your place.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Kevin said Dalton—”
“Is trying to undermine me? I’m aware. I don’t like him at my offices where anyone who might be watching could see him.” The faintly plaintive tone caught Andrew’s attention.
“I’m sorry, Ford. Of course, you can come to my office.”
“What?”a new voice swung Andrew around again.
Candace, standing in his doorway.
“Thank you,” Ford said, not having heard her. “We’ll be there in thirty.” Then he hung up, leaving Andrew to deal with the aftermath.
“Uhh…” he fumbled as he replaced his phone. “I can explain.”
He did, though messily, with Candace never once taking the seat in front of his desk but standing there, arms crossed andbrow pinched, which looked especially severe on her since she shaved her eyebrows and drew them in.
