The Ashtons - Cole, Abigail & Megan

instinct he had clicked in and only revved up as Spencer stared his daughter down and continued talking.
    “I waited for you to come to your senses,” the man growled and his deep voice reverberated through the house like a dank, thick fog. “Two days. Two days, Megan, and you didn’t come to apologize.”
    “Apologize?” she echoed.
    “Finally, it became apparent that that wasn’t going to happen.”
    “I’m glad you understand, Father—” Megan stiffened her shoulders and lifted her chin. She swung her hair back from her face and Simon felt a stab of pride. She looked like a damn queen, even in a dark green bathrobe.
    “On the contrary. There is nothing about this I understand.” Spencer’s eyes narrowed and his features went grim. “Your sudden marriage is nothing more than the act of a rebellious child.”
    “Child?”
    Simon heard the outrage in Megan’s voice and wondered why in the hell her father couldn’t.
    “You listen to me, Megan.” The older man shook one finger at her as if it were a pointer in the hands of a surly teacher. “I want you to pack your things. I’ll take you home, start the annulment procedures tomorrow and by the end of the week, this marriage will be forgotten. Senator Jackson owes me a favor or two. He can expedite things.”
    “So I can marry his son?” Megan’s hands clenched and dropped to her sides.
    “Of course. As we’d planned.” Spencer checked his watch as if he’d already wasted enough of his time on this.
    Simon gritted his teeth. Neither of the Ashtons had noticed he was there, listening. And though he wanted to rush downstairs and ride to the rescue, he also wanted to hear what Megan had to say. Would she cave in to her father’s demands, or would she honor the agreement they’d made?
    “I can’t do that,” she said and her voice got firmer with every word. “No, I won’t do that.”
    The man looked as surprised as he would have been if a dog had suddenly told him to go fetch his own stick. “I beg your pardon?”
    “I said I won’t leave my husband.”
    “Your husband.” Spencer snorted. “You don’t even know the man.”
    “I’ve known him for six weeks, Father,” Megan retorted and instead of backing up again, she actually moved in a little closer to her father. “I met himat the estate while I was planning…” Her voice trailed off.
    Simon smiled to himself. She wasn’t about to admit that they’d met while she was planning his wedding to someone else. And it was only then he realized that she was right. They had known each other for six weeks. He’d watched her do her job, balancing her skills with organization and her ability to soothe people in already tense situations.
    Hell. She’d stood up to him. And not many people were able to say that. He liked her. More than that, he respected her. Still, he wanted to shout encouragement, but he also didn’t want to distract her.
    “I’m married, Father,” she said. “You’re just going to have to deal with it. Simon’s my husband and he’s going to stay that way.”
    That was all he needed to hear. Simon cleared his throat and when the two people in the foyer turned to look at him, he started down the stairs again and gave Spencer a stiff smile. “Good of you to drop by,” he said, as he moved to stand beside Megan.
    Spencer breathed deeply, quickly and the color in his face darkened furiously. “This is no social call.”
    “Then why don’t you explain to me exactly why you’re here, in our house, shouting at my wife?” Simon dropped one arm around Megan’s shoulders and pulled her close. She leaned into him as if grateful for the support.
    “Your wife.” Spencer nearly snorted the words.“I’m here,” he said, dismissing his daughter and focusing his fury on Simon, “to end this charade. Megan is engaged to the son of an old friend of mine and I intend to see to it that that marriage takes place.”
    Simon laughed. He knew it was the one thing that could either deflate or enrage an opponent and at the moment, he didn’t care which effect it had on the man. He didn’t like Spencer Ashton. He’d heard enough rumors and innuendos over the years to make it a point to steer clear of him. And the last few minutes had convinced him that had been a good decision. “Since Megan’s already married, I don’t see the point of this visit. You’re wasting your time and ours.”
    “You forget who the hell you’re dealing with, Pearce,” Spencer said,