Exposed by Fate (Serve #2)(43)

He took a centering breath and loosed his grip on the documents in his hand, before he crumpled them. “What are you two doing here?”

Caroline tossed her car keys into her purse and approached him. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“Paperwork for the scholarship fund.”

His sister brightened. “Finally telling him? I can’t wait to see his reaction.” She kissed him on the cheek. “I bribed Eliza with noodles to keep me company. Too bad we didn’t know each other’s plans. We could have driven together.”

“Too bad,” he murmured. Eliza hovered a few feet behind Caroline, looking unsure how to proceed. He raised an eyebrow at her and opened his arms for her to walk into. “Bunny. It’s been forever.” Goddammit, she felt perfect in his arms. He wanted to sit down on the dusty driveway and rock her in his lap. Under his sister’s discerning eye, he just barely managed to release her before it became inappropriate. Needing a breather, he led the way toward the front door and let them in.

“Father?” Caroline called as he flipped on the hallway light.

“I’m in my office,” her father’s wearied voice called back. “I’m in the middle of a chapter. Be out shortly.”

On cue, he and Caroline rolled their eyes. Their father lived his life between chapters and had uttered the same phrase at least a million times since they were kids. All three of them walked into the kitchen, turning on lights as they went. Automatically, Caroline went to the coffee pot and started making coffee, leaving him free to stare at Eliza for a few precious seconds. She just had to go and wear a skirt when he’d been owning a hard-on since yesterday afternoon, didn’t she? It hugged her ass like a second skin, ending only a short length below those round cheeks. No panty-lines meant a thong. Or nothing at all. Fuuuuck. As if she didn’t have a single care in the world, she braced herself on the kitchen island on her elbows and laughed at something Caroline said, making her breasts bounce and strain against her white blouse. He closed his eyes and prayed for the return of his sanity. His father and sister were in the same house, and they were the smartest people he knew. If he kept pondering the angle with which he could bang Eliza against the wooden island, they’d see right through him.

Caroline set four mugs on the counter and faced him. “So what’s the latest on your secret project? I’ve been dying to ask.”

“I, uh—”

“Yes.” Their father walked briskly into the kitchen, nodding at Eliza once. “Please tell me what dragged me away from Steinbeck.”

Everyone watched him expectantly. Eliza gave him a small, encouraging smile, and it made him feel about ten feet tall. He wished they were back in that cab, holding hands. “We started a scholarship in mom’s name. For women who can’t afford school, but deserve to go. Same as her,” he said, speaking over Caroline when she tried to interject, probably to point out that it had been his idea, not theirs. “I’ve found the scholarship candidate I’d like to accept. If you both agree with my choice, I’m dropping the paperwork to Columbia in the morning.”

His father looked surprised, Caroline delighted. “That’s awesome. Who are they?”

“You moved rather quickly on this,” Philip commented. “Why did no one inform me?”

“I wanted to bring you a candidate first,” Oliver explained. “Her name is Frankie De Luca. She’s twenty-four. A cab driver from Middle Village. Mom’s neighborhood.”

Caroline held out her hand for the paperwork, and he handed it over. “A cab driver? God, that’s a dangerous job for a girl so young. Have you met her?”

“I have.” He traded an amused glance with Eliza, knowing the other two were busy scanning the grant documents. “She’s tough as nails. She won’t take the chance for granted.”

Caroline looked up with tears in her eyes. “Would mom have liked her?’

“Without a doubt.”

His sister reached into her purse and took out a pen, ready to sign, but Philip stayed her with his hand. “Let’s not rush into this. We know how thoroughly your brother vets girls before approving them.”

His father’s sarcastic remark didn’t phase him. Not anymore. But he hated it being said in front of Eliza. He could feel her gaze on him, but ignored it. If he saw laughter in her eyes, he didn’t know how he’d handle it. “I’ve checked into her criminal background and that of her family’s. They’re decent, hard-working people. By signing those papers, she has agreed to a drug test to be administered before any transferring of funds. If her grades slip below a certain level, we have the option of reevaluating the contract. I’ve thought of everything. She’s the candidate. Sign it.”

Caroline looked like she might break out into applause. She signed the documents and handed the pen to her father. “You heard the man.”

He grumbled under his breath the entire time, but their father managed to put his signature in all the required spots. When he finished, he turned to leave the kitchen. “Caroline, I have some issues to discuss with you privately.”

She wanted to decline, Oliver could see that. They were equal business partners, but his father trusted Caroline more when it came to personal matters. Hell, everything. That’s how it would always be, and he’d resigned himself to it. “I’ll make some coffee and be right in,” his sister muttered.