Page 34 of Off Limits Daddy

My brain short-circuited for a moment as a zap of electricity crackled through me. What the hell was I doing? There were so many other responses to Duncan's challenge I could have gone with. Yet, here I was, kissing him.

I pulled away and tried to maintain a smile for appearances, even though I was feeling extremely unsettled.

Duncan laughed. “I'm convinced."

I swallowed. “Good.” I used the time as we walked into the building to get my wits about me.

We checked in with the receptionist, and a few moments later, Aiden’s social worker, Ms. Thomas, came out and greeted us. "Thank you for coming in on such short notice.” She led us to a small meeting room. "Is Aiden with you today?" She motioned for us to sit at the table as she pulled out a chair across from us.

"No, he's playing at a friend’s house this afternoon."

I studied Mrs. Thomas to see if that was going to be a problem for her. Apparently, it wasn't as she continued with her friendly attitude. "Now, I understand that you're an FBI agent and you probably have more clearances than I do, but this is how the system works."

"Of course."

"And the sooner we can get it done, the better. As I had told Mr. Ashworth, my supervisor was concerned about Aiden and thought he should be in a two-parent home. So, the sooner we can make this official, the sooner she'll be placated."

I studied her, a little surprised by how openly she was suggesting she didn’t agree with her boss. "I have to admit I'm a little surprised in this day and age that anyone would think that way. Has your supervisor met Duncan? I mean, look at him." I reached over, squeezing his meaty bicep. "Duncan doesn't justhave a lot of love to give and a solid, stable home, but he'd scare anyone away. I can tell you from experience that Aiden feels very safe and secure with him."

Duncan smiled, patting my arm.

Ms. Thomas nodded. "I know, and that was part of the reason I really like this placement and I want it to work.”

“So, why the change of heart? Especially since it was your supervisor who sent you to talk to me when you found Aiden’s picture, right? She knows he’s in possible danger, and someone like Duncan will make anyone think twice about taking him on.”

“That was my immediate supervisor who sent me to you. It’s the director who felt Aiden would be better with a two-parent family.”

That seemed odd to me. I understood the hierarchy of social service enough to know that there was another level between her supervisor and the director. Directors ran area offices. There were administrators. So, why was her director getting involved in Aiden’s placement?

"Does the director usually get involved in the details of placements?"

"The position is much more a management position, of course, but you know she has to review our cases and make sure that we're doing things properly and not missing anything."

“She felt you were missing something? It’s normal for her to tell you how to manage your case?"

Duncan glanced at me with one arched brow. I imagined he was wondering why I was pushing the social worker on this. Perhaps it was just the agent in me wanting to have all the details. Aiden was under my protection now, so I needed to know about everything involved in the decisions of his life, and that included Social Services. I’d already checked out Carrie Thomas, who while young, had been a DSS worker for six years. She wasn’t new or inexperienced. She also didn’t have anythingin her record to concern me. Maybe I needed to check out her director.

“Well, not as a matter of course, but Aiden is a special situation, isn't he? I mean, the FBI is questioning him."

That made sense.

“Now, here are the papers.” She started to go over them with me when the door opened and a chic middle-aged woman with short silver hair that had to have help from a bottle entered the room.

"Please excuse my interruption," the woman said, entering the room with an air of authority. “I’m Julia Racine, the area director.”

Duncan rose from his chair and extended his hand to her. "Duncan Ashworth, and this is my fiancée, Veronica Marsden. I can't tell you how wonderful it has been to have Aiden with me… er… us."

I stood and extended my hand as well. "It's lovely to meet you.” Her handshake was firm, but her eyes were narrow as she studied us.

"It's a strange coincidence, isn’t it, that the FBI agent who questioned Aiden is now engaged to Aiden’s foster father?”

Next to me, Duncan tensed. I reached over and put my hand in his, partly to hide the fact that he could be revealing this was all a scheme, but also to cover for the fact that it was a scheme.

"I don't really believe in coincidences, do you?”

She scrutinized me. “So, it’s a plan? Is this a cover for some sort of covert operation? Because I don’t want any of our children used?—”

“You didn’t seem to mind having them used by Wally Creighton.”

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