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Ifiddle with my tie, dissatisfied with the way the knot comes out. There’s a reason I never liked wearing suits like my brothers. Before CyberFort was bought out, I never had to worry about dressing formally. Working in the tech sector of the company meant I could come and go as I pleased, and nobody particularly cared about my appearance.
For better or for worse, that changes today.
There’s a knock on my bedroom door. Dani walks in with Willa in her arms. One side of our daughter’s face is pink and covered in a couple of sleep lines from her favorite blanket. She has her mother’s raven black hair, her locks pulled back into a cute pair of pigtails atop her head.
“Someone woke up from her nap just in time to see us go,” Dani says with a big grin. “Look at Papa, Willa. Doesn’t he look so handsome?”
Willa whines, reaching for me while flexing her tiny little fingers. I can’t help but chuckle. “Someone’s in a grumpy mood. Come here, sweetheart.”
My daughter latches onto the lapel of my suit jacket with a vise grip. She may be young, but my little girl is incredibly strong. While I press a loving kiss to the top of her head, Dani steps forward to adjust my tie.
“Is Tabitha on the way?” I ask her.
My wife nods, the diamond ring on her finger glinting in the morning light. “She said she was caught in traffic, but she should be here in another ten minutes.”
“If this goes well, we’ll need to seriously look into hiring a nanny. I’m assuming this job will have me on site most days?”
Dani nods. “I’ve got a couple of references from a co-worker. We can take a look when we get home.”
“We’re not going to be late, are we?”
“You sound nervous.”
I shrug. “You made this sound like a very big deal.”
“Itisa big deal, but you can relax. They all know who you are and what you’re going to help us do. Besides, you technically already have the job, so why stress?”
Dani speaks so confidently that all my worries almost tumble out of my head. Almost. Even though she’s running the New York division now and has worked hard for the respect of her colleagues, I don’t want this next move to harm her career in any way. She is first and foremost the love of my life. I would hate to see my past somehow tarnish her sparkling reputation.
“Papa,” my two-year-old mumbles sleepily, resting her head on my shoulder. “Papa go work?”
I chuckle. “That’s right, sweetheart. Papa’s going to work with Mama today.”
“Isn’t that exciting, sweetie?”
“Yay!” Willa exclaims, suddenly alert and excited. She’s so cute with wide eyes and endless energy I think my heart might burst.
When the doorbell rings, Dani and I both head to the front door of our three-floor brownstone in Brooklyn. The commute to the office is a pain and a half, but one of the perks of Dani’s position is she gets a private car to carry her to and from. She’s far too important a player to risk public transit.
Tabitha all but squeals at the top of her lungs when we open the door, her arms outstretched to lift Willa into her lap. “There’s my baby!” she greets giddily. “Are you ready for a fun day with Auntie Tabby?”
Willa laughs, wriggling on Tabitha’s lap. “Yeah!”
Dani smiles. “Thanks so much for doing this. I know you’ve been really busy with work.”
Tabitha waves her sister off. “Don’t be silly. It’s no big deal. Besides, it’s only a couple of hours and I’dmuchrather spend it with my niece than myveryspecial bridezilla.”
“Call us if you need anything,” I tell my sister-in-law. “We shouldn’t be too long.”
“Good luck. I know you’re going to knock ‘em dead.”
I take a deep breath. “Here’s hoping.”
* * *
I stay near the back of the conference room, earning a handful of curious or suspicious glances—most of the time, it’s a combination of both. I’m not nervous, per se. I don’t care what these people think of me and my past.
I pay them no mind, instead listening to Dani give her debrief. She speaks eloquently, with such pride and expertise it’s hard for me to stay purely professional. I hope she doesn’t become a distraction with her pretty lips and that fire in her eyes. She looks damn good in a pencil skirt, too, those long legs of hers helping her stride across the room with ease.
