“Ravens?” Frank repeated.
“Ravens,” Zoe said in a clipped tone, knowing exactly where her father was about to go with this. His thick dark brows rose with curiosity and his black eyes darted between the two of them. “The Ravens family?”
“The same one on the school report.” Will chuckled and pulled at her father’s hand. “We were just discussing the lengthy research she did.”
“Yes,” Frank said drily, “because that’s exactly what it looked like.”
“Daddy,” Zoe hissed. “Will is a guest.”
“He was certainly making himself at home.”
“I meant no disrespect, sir,” said Will. “I got carried away and took advantage of Zoe’s hospitality.”
Frank eyed Will skeptically. Zoe waited for what seemed like forever for him to say something. “Zoe,” he finally said, “go downstairs and let me and Mr. Ravens have a little chat.”
Even though she hadn’t been grounded in years, Zoe knew better than to argue with her father. She cast a pitiful glance back at Will, who winked at her. Funny how he wasn’t nervous at all. The last time Zoe had had a boy in her bedroom, Frank used the kid like a punching bag found downtown at Southpaw Shaw’s Gym.
“I’ll meet you downstairs,” Will assured her.
“We’ll meet you downstairs,” her father restated.
* * *
“I really came into town to finalize things for the reenactment of my summer engagement,” Frank Baldwin said, pacing back and forth in Zoe’s bedroom. “I’m not sure if Zoe ever shared with you, but Magnolia Palace is where I proposed to her mother. We’re still married but these things keep the spark, especially since we don’t live together.”
Of course Will remembered the story and the place. “Yes, sir.” Will nodded, trying to focus on Zoe’s father.
“No need to get all official with the ‘sir’ business. Call me Frank. It was kind of refreshing, knowing my daughter is not consumed with work all the time.”
Never in Will’s life had he ever come face-to-face with a girl’s father. Sure, he’d done the proverbial sneaking out of dorm rooms back in the day. But Frank Baldwin walking in on them almost took the cake. What did take the cake was Frank shaking Will’s hand and thanking him for getting Zoe out of her comfort zone.
“Excuse me, sir?” Will leaned close to make sure he’d heard correctly. “I mean Frank.”
Frank Baldwin folded his arms across his chest. “Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t enjoy catching her being pawed all over. But it was refreshing to see Zoe act reckless. My daughter has been insanely career-driven for a while.” Frank fanned his hand toward the family tree. “As you can see for yourself, she’s been a fan of the Ravens.”
Will held his hands in the air. “I apologize. What you saw was just a momentary lapse in judgment. I truly respect your daughter and I hold her work in high regard.”
“So you’re hiring her for your company and you’ll be keeping your hands off her?”
There went the whole hiring matter. Uncomfortable at being faced with Zoe’s father, Will cleared his throat. “I am considering it. The decision isn’t final.”
“I don’t understand,” said Frank. He crossed the room to the white-and-pink desk.
“I’ve already spoken with Zoe.” Will explained the situation with the board.
“You can’t lose if you go with Zoe.”
Those words resonated with Will as the two of them headed downstairs. Will liked that her father had decorated the upstairs hallway with framed photographs of Zoe’s work. If she hadn’t become a makeup artist, she should have been an artist.
The rest of the group was outside, but Zoe was seated at the large wooden table in the kitchen. Her eyes darted nervously between Will and Frank. As her lips parted to say something, the sound of a song by the late Prince sounded from Zoe’s cell phone.
“Hey, Lexi.” Zoe’s concerned look washed away. “Calm down. What? Okay, sure, I can be there in a few minutes.”
After she hung up, Will stepped forward, Frank close behind. “Is everything okay?”