Brendan stayed home the next afternoon. He’d had his secretary rearrange his schedule so he could be there with his daughters when Arden Glover arrived.
He’d called Arden last night to confirm her references had checked out perfectly and to request she come around one o’clock, just after lunch. That way, he reasoned, she could get settled and spend time with the girls while his sister, Ella, prepared dinner. If they all hit it off, maybe Ella could leave earlier than originally planned to finish her own packing.
Brendan stood in front of the picture window of the home he’d bought after Lannie’s death. The yard was pristine, the grass cut into a uniform two inches. The shrubbery by the house was neatly trimmed below the window. The flower gardens in two symmetrical plots were weeded. Their colorful blossoms livened the deep green of the grass.
It had been impossible to remain in the house they shared after his wife’s death. But sometimes he felt it had been harder to leave. At least there he’d been in a place she’d known. She’d never seen this house. The difference made the break seem even more final.
Not that it got more final than death.
When a dusty old station wagon turned into his driveway, he studied it curiously. Someone turning around, no doubt. But when it stopped and the driver’s door flew open, he looked more closely.
Two seconds later, Arden Glover climbed out.
He’d been right about the long, sexy legs. Encased in stretch pants, they seemed to go on forever. The sleeveless tunic hit her mid-thigh, but when she leaned back in the car, the tunic rode up, revealing a taut, rounded bottom.
Brendan was used to making snap decisions for corporate accounts worth millions of dollars. He was known for his acumen and ability to cut through any problem and find a solution. His new nanny hadn’t even walked through the front door, and Brendan suddenly became convinced that he’d made a huge mistake.
And it was entirely personal. There was something about Arden Glover that made him aware that he was a man and she was a very attractive woman.
Too late to do anything about it today. She was here and ready to start work. But one look at her and he knew he needed to continue to search for a more suitable nanny. One he wouldn’t mind sharing a house with for years on end. A woman who didn’t remind him he was still fairly young, and had his whole life ahead of him. One who didn’t prompt feelings of loneliness and awareness.
Resolutely heading for the front door, he called up the stairs to the girls. He’d get Arden settled, then stay out of her way.
“Your directions were great,” Arden said when she spotted him.
She'd already taken a large box from the back of the car and was balancing it with one hand against the dusty side.
Eyeing the ancient vehicle with some trepidation, Brendan joined her at the rear. He took the box from her, surprised at the heaviness.
“Oh, thanks. I wanted to carry something in when I went. We can unload everything later, but I thought why waste a trip inside empty-handed? Now that I’m staying and all.”
She took another box out of the car.
“I’m glad my previous employers all gave me a good reference or I know I wouldn’t be here now. Mrs. McFanney at the flower shop told me you sounded very stern. But I assured her I was here to watch your girls, not you.”
She laughed, and Brendan felt an odd quickening of his breath. She chatted nonstop as he led the way into the house, commenting on the pretty houses and the mature trees in the neighborhood. Her observations had him looking at his neighbors’ homes in a new light.
Exclaiming over the flowers in the garden, telling him how excited she was to be moving in, she seemed to go on forever. Did she ever stop for breath?
Pausing just inside the door, she did just that–stopped talking as she turned around, gazing at everything.
He wondered how long the silence would last before she rushed into speech again. He wasn’t used to such chattiness and considered timing this brief pause.
The house was nothing extraordinary, certainly not enough to leave her speechless. Two stories, with five bedrooms, four upstairs and one off the family room. He’d been specific with the bedrooms, knowing he’d eventually need live-in help.
“This is great. Light and airy.”
She dumped her box and walked into the living room with a suppleness that he enjoyed watching. Did she dance he wondered, as he placed the box he carried beside hers and followed her into the room. She moved as if she did, lithely and gracefully.
“Hi, I’m Arden,” she said, crossing to the wide sofa where two little girls sat side by side. Sinking onto the floor in front of them, she drew two small books from her voluminous shoulder bag.
“I brought you each a present to celebrate our first day together.”
She smiled and held out one book to the younger of the girls, whose brown hair was contained in two curly ponytails on either side of her head.
“This is a favorite of mine. Do you already have it? Green Eggs and Ham.”
She waited while the little girl looked at the book and then at her father.
Brendan nodded, surprised. He hadn’t expected Arden to bring the girls anything. He was oddly touched she’d thought of it.
“And this one is for you. It’s another favorite, Go, Dog, Go. Maybe we can have a big dog party one day.”
Arden held out the book to the older child. Her glossy brown hair hung down her back like silk. Pulled back from her face, it moved when she ducked her head bashfully.
Brendan nodded to Hailey, and she took the book, a shy smile for Arden.
“Thank you,” she said. “We don’t have a dog. How can we have a dog party?”
“We’ll have to work on that,” Arden said, smiling at the child.
Avery clutched her book to her chest, but hadn’t said a word.
“Avery, say thank you,” Brendan prompted.
“Thank you.”
Her voice was quiet. She was the child who reminded him the most of Lannie. He wished her mother had known her, had seen how precious she was. But Lannie had died giving birth to Avery.
“Arden, Hailey is five, and Avery is three. Say hi to Arden, girls. She’s come to take care of you,” Brendan said, squatting near Avery.
He felt his heart swell with love for his daughters.
“Are you our new mommy?” Hailey asked.
Arden shook her head. A pang blasted through her at the words, and she had to work to keep her smile in place. She’d never be anyone’s mommy.
“No, honey, I’m not,” she said gently. “I’m your new babysitter. I’m going to watch you and your sister when your daddy’s not home. We’ll have lots of fun together. What’s your favorite game?”
Arden tried to concentrate on the girls and ignore the male hunk beside her. He wasn’t wearing a suit today. Instead, the jeans that molded his legs looked old, worn and fit as if he’d been poured into them and certainly delineated the powerful muscles of his thighs better than the trousers had yesterday.
But it was what was revealed by the white T-shirt with the sleeves ripped out that had her catching her breath. The smooth skin of his upper arms moved as the muscles expanded and contracted. She longed to run her fingertips over those muscles, feel the heat and the strength. The very thought had her stomach in knots and her brain finding it difficult to think clearly.
She was here to watch his daughters, for heaven’s sake, not fantasize about their father.
Fantasize? No, it was an appreciation for an excellent example of human anatomy, that’s all.
Yeah, right.
“I thought I heard voices.”
Arden glanced over her shoulder to see a tall, striking woman enter the room. She had the same dark-colored hair as Brendan Ferguson and looked a bit like him around the mouth, but her eyes were a lighter gray and friendly.
“You must be Arden Glover. I’m Ella Robinson, Brendan’s sister. And I’m so glad you’ve come. We were running out of time. My husband swore we were leaving next Saturday no matter what, but I know he secretly thought I’d end up staying here until Brendan found someone.”
Arden scrambled to her feet and shook hands with Ella.
“Now you can leave without worrying. I’ll take great care of them. I understand you’re moving to San Diego?” she said.
“That’s right, clear across the country,” Ella said in a friendly tone. “Ever been there?”
“No. I was born here in Norfolk and I’ve never been anywhere outside of Virginia, except for a school trip to DC.”
“We’re from here, too, originally. But our father is Navy. I take it Brendan told you I married a career naval officer. I expect I’ll see a lot more of the world during the next couple of decades. My lot in life, I guess, constantly changing duty stations. I’m glad you didn’t have to give notice elsewhere so you could start right away. Brendan could have found day care somewhere close, but there’s always the chance he’ll be called away in the middle of the night.”
Brendan rose and headed for the archway.
“I’ll unload your things. Ella can show you your room and go over the schedule with you.”
Arden nodded, following Ella as she wound through the house to a spacious bedroom off the family room.
The two girls tagged along, each carrying her new book.
“This is it. Bathroom’s over there,” Ella said as she stopped in the center of the large room. “It’s separate from the rest of the bedrooms, so you’ll have some privacy. Brendan has a baby monitor in the girls’ room. When he’s not home, you can take the speaker and listen for them from down here.”
Arden nodded, dropping her shoulder bag on the bed and gazing around at what would be her room for the next three years. Windows lined one wall, overlooking a huge backyard where tall elms and poplars provided shade from the hot Virginia sunshine. There were no paintings on the walls, she noted, but she had plenty she could put up to feel at home.
Studying the furniture, Arden liked the light oak, and even though the bed was queen-size, there was plenty of open space in the room. Enough for her easel and paints. The windows would give her plenty of natural light.
For a moment she felt a regret for losing her old room. She missed the huge old maple tree that brushed against the house in the wind. Missed the flowers Aunt Love had so patiently tended. Missed the floorboards that creaked comfortably underfoot whenever she walked.
But it was gone, and there was nothing to be done about it. This was much better than the tiny bedroom she’d been using in Patti’s small apartment.
“Come on in,” she said to the girls who hovered in the doorway. “You can help me unpack and tell me all about what you like to do, which are your favorite games, and maybe tell me a story.”
By dinnertime, Arden knew the job would not be quite as she’d envisioned it with her optimistic imagination. The children were wonderfully behaved–maybe too good. Ella had gone over their schedule in great detail. Everything seemed outlined down to an exact science what time they got up, when they played, when they napped, when they bathed. Even meals were at specific times each day.
“Brendan doesn’t always get to eat with them,” Ella said when the girls had gone upstairs to play and she and Arden had moved to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
“Since they eat right at six each evening, if he’s delayed at the office, he gets something to eat before he comes home. He’s good about getting here before they go to bed. Of course, if he’s out on an assignment...” she trailed off and looked at Arden. “You realize he can be called away at a moment’s notice? If there’s a problem in Latin America or something, he’s often called in for hostage negotiations. Or if threats have been made and clients want instant security measures installed. Sometimes he goes, other times he delegates the assignment to one of the people who works for him. We never know when he’ll be called. That’s the price he pays for being one of the best in his field.”
Arden nodded, wondering how she could tactfully question the girls’ schedule. It seemed too rigid for young children. Structure was important, but flexibility had its place, too.
“You’ve written everything,” Arden said slowly. “Did Brendan tell you I’d be taking classes at ODU? I’ll put the girls in child care there when I’m attending class.”
“No, he didn’t mention it.”
Ella frowned and gazed out the kitchen window for a moment, tapping one finger against the counter.
“I guess he knows what he’s doing,” she said at last. Turning to face Arden, she continued, “You’ll be going to class at the same time each day, so that’ll be fine. Brendan runs a tight ship, and he thinks routine is important for children.”
“This is a ship?”
Ella laughed softly.
“No, sorry, that’s just an expression our father always uses. He’s an admiral. The entire time we were growing up, he made sure Mom kept our household on strict schedules. I guess Brendan picked it up from Dad. Anyway, with routines established, things run more smoothly. Making up for when they don’t, I suppose.”
“How did the girls’ mother die?” Arden asked bluntly, knowing it’d be far easier to question Ella than her formidable brother.
Ella looked surprised, then glanced toward the empty doorway as if to see if Brendan was there.
“We don’t talk about Lannie. Brendan hasn’t gotten over losing her. She had an embolism and died unexpectedly delivering Avery.”
“That was three years ago?” Arden asked.
She’d worked in a hospice for a while, and understood the stages of grief and recovery. Three years seemed like a long time to avoid talking about a loved one who had died. Not that there was any set length of time. Each person had to heal in his or her own way. But still Ella nodded. “She never even got to hold Avery. It really shook us all up. She was so young.”
“That’s sad. I’m sorry for your loss and the girls’. It’s tough not having your mother when you’re growing up. I know because mine died when I was seven. I guess I just didn’t notice pictures of Lannie in the girls’ room when you gave me the house tour.”
“There aren’t any. Brendan couldn’t stand to be reminded at first. He was so crazy about her. I guess we never thought later to put any out. I know he has lots of photos somewhere unless he destroyed them after she died. He was devastated. They were the perfect couple, and he adored Lannie.”
Lannie was a pretty name. Had his wife been pretty? Arden wondered. For a moment she envied the woman. She’d never have a perfect marriage. In fact, she didn’t plan to marry at all. But it didn’t stop her from wondering what it’d be like to be adored.
At least he has his daughters.
“What are their favorite foods?” Arden asked, trying to ignore her curiosity about Brendan Ferguson’s wife. Or her new employer. She was here to care for his children, nothing more.
Arden considered all Ella had told her when they sat down to eat promptly at six o’clock. She watched Hailey and Avery, pleased to note their table manners were superb. Nothing like some children she’d seen in the restaurant. These young ladies were quiet and well behaved.
Maybe too quiet.
“Did you tell your daddy we read the new books?” she asked when there was a lull in the adult conversation.
Brendan looked at her, then at the girls.
“Arden read us the new books, Daddy,” Hailey said.
“That was nice. Did you enjoy them?” Brendan asked.
She nodded.
Avery looked at her sister, then nodded.
Arden waited for Brendan to ask them what the books were about, or where they’d been read, or something to continue the dialogue. But he resumed eating, saying nothing.
Arden glared at him.
He looked back at her, narrowing his eyes at her expression. “Something wrong?”
She sighed and shook her head. If he didn’t know, it wasn’t her place to tell him tonight.
She continued to observe the interaction between the family members. She had little to go by; her aging great-aunts were the only living relatives she had. And they had all talked at mealtimes, sharing their days.
She missed living with them.
Feeling very homesick for a house that no longer was hers, she finished her meal, looking forward to slipping off to her room for the night. This was only the first day. There’d be time enough to think things through and make any changes she felt necessary in the weeks to come.
By late afternoon the next day, Ella had left to finish packing her own household to prepare for moving. Brendan had departed for his office. And Arden had spent the day alone with two little girls.
Delighted to discover they were not the perfect little angels she’d thought yesterday, Arden chased after them all day. Playing ball in the backyard had been a hit. So had hide-and-seek.
After a lunch of peanut butter and banana sandwiches, which they had never tried before and declared a new favorite, they’d settled in the queen-size bed in Arden’s room and she read the new books again. Both girls had dropped off quickly, giving Arden time to tidy their room and have a quiet moment sipping a glass of iced tea.
Now they played on the kitchen floor while she prepared dinner. Contrary to Ella’s assessment that they liked pretty much everything, the girls had favorites. Hailey loved spaghetti and meatballs, and Avery loved pork chops.
Since she was unsure whether or not Brendan would be home for dinner, she elected to make spaghetti. It was easy to stretch or to cook just enough for the three of them.
The girls played pickup sticks with a few uncooked noodles. Every so often, one would break, and Arden would toss a whole one to them. She’d sweep the mess up in a second when they were finished.
They were thrilled with the new game, and their laughter was a delight to hear as she stirred the sauce.
“How did things go today?” Brendan asked, standing in the doorway to the kitchen.
Arden spun around and felt her heart skip a beat. He looked as potent as ever. There was definitely a lot to be said for an exquisitely tailored business suit that revealed wide shoulders and cried to be taken off.
Stop it, she admonished herself, banishing fantasies until she was alone and could give free rein to them. She had a job to do.
“Hi.”
Was that breathless voice hers? She cleared her throat and took a deep breath.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d be home for supper or not. It won’t be much longer. Avery, Hailey, go give your daddy a hug and a kiss. He can tell you all about his day while I finish making dinner. And you can tell him all we did.”
Brendan looked at the pan on the stove, frowning. “Isn’t dinner ready yet? It’s almost six.”
Arden waved her hand around vaguely.
“Actually, it’s almost ready. Another ten minutes or so. And I doubt anyone will perish if dinner isn’t on the table precisely at six. Do you help set the table, or are the girls supposed to do that?”
“I thought you would. Isn’t that woman’s work?”
Arden froze. Her eyes locked with his, and she felt a stirring of complete disbelief. Her temper simmered. Before she could remember her great-aunt’s admonition to count to ten before giving in to her anger, she spoke.
“Excuse me? Did you say it’s woman’s work?”
Brendan hesitated and then nodded slowly, his attention focused completely on her.
“I don’t believe you said that.”
Slamming the spoon down on the counter, Arden dusted her hands together.
“I can’t believe it. I won’t believe it.”
“What?”
“That anyone in this day and age would even think something like that, much less say it. Woman’s work? What a sexist remark. If that’s the way you feel, I need to reconsider this position.”
“What’s to reconsider? You signed on for three years. Quitting is not an option. You just started.”
Was there a hint of panic in his voice?
“I did not know I’d be working for a, a, a Neanderthal. Thinking like yours went out during World War Two when women went to work to keep America going while men went off to fight. If you think for one second I could continue working for anyone who thinks like that, you’re nuts. Obviously, you misled me in the interview.”
“Whoa, time out.”
He stepped closer, crunching his way through dried spaghetti noodles. Frowning, he walked around his daughters until he was close to Arden.
“I meant nothing by it. I thought–”
“Ha. That makes it even worse. You just say things like that and not mean them?”
Brendan shook his head, rubbing his hand over his face. Looking at her again, he took a deep breath, obviously controlling himself.
“Let’s start over. I thought you’d set the table based on the fact Ella did every time. If you want me to, I will.”
“And who did it before that?” she asked, hands on her hips.
He hesitated a moment and glanced at the girls who were ignoring the exchange, busy playing their new game.
He met her eyes again.
“When the girls’ mother was alive, she always did. Lannie said a man had enough to do with bringing home the bacon. She enjoyed taking care of the house. It was all she ever wanted.”
Arden’s indignation died instantly at the bleak tone in his voice. It sounded to her like the women in Brendan’s life had spoiled him rotten. But she hadn’t been hired to be a maid. Just to watch the girls and take care of them. And teach them.
One thing she’d be sure to teach them was they were not on this earth to wait on men.
Unless, of course, they wanted to. Like his Lannie apparently had. And his sister.
“Well.”
She didn’t know what to say. Her temper was quick to flare, but never stayed hot for long.
“If setting the table becomes an issue, I’ll do it when I’m home. But you can’t quit.” The steel in his voice warned her not to push her luck.
“Okay.”
Clearing her throat, Arden tried to smile. “Sometimes I get a bit hot-headed and blurt out things I don’t always mean. Not that I didn’t mean that about not working for a Neanderthal because I did, but maybe there are extenuating circumstances here.”
“Run that by me again?” Brendan said, looking perplexed.
She laughed nervously and shook her head. Picking up the spoon, she stirred the sauce once more, checked on the noodles and glanced at the oven. The savory aroma of hot garlic bread filled the room. She prayed the heat in her cheeks didn’t show.
“Never mind. It’s not important, except I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions. Dinner is ready,” she said quickly.
In the end, everyone picked up forks and plates in the kitchen and each carried their own to the table.
Wondering what other pitfalls lay ahead, Arden waited until the children began to eat before looking at Brendan from beneath her lashes. She couldn’t react so impetuously every time something came up. She needed this job. He paid her salary. He had the right to dictate the rules of his household.
And she had signed on for three years.
“Maybe we should get together tonight after the children are in bed and go over some ground rules. Ella reviewed their schedule with me, but I have some questions and suggestions. And obviously I need to learn a bit more about you and how your family operates before I make another gaff like earlier,” she said in what she thought was a reasonable tone.
He nodded. “Fine. As soon as you get the girls in bed, come back down and we’ll talk.”
“Aren’t you going to tuck them in, or is this another aspect of woman’s work? Exactly what do you do with these kids, Mr. Ferguson?”