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“No, thanks.” He searched her face, but she wouldn’t even look his way. When she finally stopped glaring at her father, she just stared at her breakfast, which it didn’t look like she’d much more than touched. So he met Senator Aston’s eyes and decided to cut to the chase. “You asked to see me?”
The man smiled and a shiver ran up Ty’s back.
“I wanted to meet the man who spent the night with my daughter.”
Ty didn’t wince or glance away from the man’s penetrating gaze. He wouldn’t show weakness around this man who was obviously used to everyone bowing to his command. “Eleanor is a grown woman and surely makes her own choices as to who she spends her time with.”
Which wasn’t what he should have said. He should have pointed out that they hadn’t spent the night together.
Only a very public evening. Something about the man got Ty’s hackles up.
“Until I saw this morning’s paper I hadn’t realized she was spending time with anyone,” the senator countered smoothly, taking a sip from his coffee cup. “She tells me you work together.”
Her shoulders having dropped at her father’s words, Eleanor’s face now glowed rosier than any bloom in the flower arrangement. Once again, Ty found himself feeling protective.
“Yes, she’s a brilliant pediatrician. One of the best Angel’s has.”
Senator Aston waved off Eleanor’s accomplishments and focused on the real reason he’d summoned Ty. “What are your intentions regarding my daughter?”
That’s more like what he’d come expecting to hear.
“Daddy! Please.” Eleanor scooted her plate back, stared at her father. “I told you that Ty and I are only work colleagues.”
Ouch. Why did Eleanor’s words sting?
“Ty?” Her father’s brow arched, then his dark gaze settled directly on Ty in question.
Here was his opportunity to set the record straight and get the hell out of Dodge.
“It’s too early to say what my intentions are regarding your daughter.” Which wasn’t what he’d meant to say, but those words had somehow come out anyway.
“What?” This had come from a very shocked, very red-faced Eleanor. “But you … you didn’t …” Her voice trailed off, not verbalizing that Ty hadn’t kissed her when they’d said goodbye.
Ty’s gaze remained locked with her father’s.
“I’m very protective of my daughters.”
Ty bit back a grin. “I imagine so.”
Eleanor’s father leaned back in his chair, eyeing Ty as if he were sizing up an opponent. He took a sip of his coffee and calmly announced, “I want you to accompany Eleanor to my fund-raiser ball next week.”
That surprised him, but Ty only shrugged. He wouldn’t be bullied by this man. “I’m busy.”
“Get unbusy,” the senator ordered, as if whatever Ty’s plans were they couldn’t possibly be more important than his.
“Eleanor may have other plans.”
“She doesn’t.” Had there been humor in the man’s tone? “This is important to my career and the perfect opportunity for me to get to know what type of man my daughter is spending her time with.”
Ty wasn’t sure how he felt about going to the fund-raiser. He liked Eleanor, but hadn’t he already decided that he needed to stay away from her? That she would expect more from him than he’d ever give? But there was something about the way her father was discussing her as if she weren’t in the room that got Ty’s hackles up, made him want to puff out his chest and stand in challenge.
What was it about the woman that gave him all these protective, testosterone-filled urges?
“I prefer to arrange my own dates.”
The senator sat his coffee cup down on the table and eyed Ty intently. “Fine. Arrange one. Now is as good a time as any. I’m sure Eleanor is available the night of my fund-raiser.”
“Daddy.” Eleanor’s voice sounded so humiliated Ty wanted to whisk her out of the room. Hell, he knew exactly how she felt. Hadn’t his own father loved to put him in his place every opportunity he got?
