It was after nine by the time they returned home. Arden wondered if Brendan would comment on how late the girls were up. It was definitely a break in routine. But it was summer, and another happy memory had been made. Arden considered it well worthwhile.
She bathed them and had them in bed when Brendan came up to tuck them in.
She kissed the girls and started to leave, startled when Brendan’s hand grasped her wrist.
“Don’t go yet. I’ll just be a minute.”
She watched as he bid each child goodnight and tucked them in with a kiss.
They left the room together, reminding Arden of parents, of family, of things she’d probably never experience once she left the Ferguson home.
“We have some unfinished business,” he said as they walked down the stairs.
Unfinished business? The kiss.
“Do you want to sit outside?” he asked unexpectedly.
“That sounds good. It’s a lovely night.”
It’d be even better if she could keep two coherent thoughts in her mind. But his closeness seemed to draw the focus of every cell in her body. His shoulder bumped hers lightly as they walked. He shortened his stride to match hers.
They sat at the makeshift table, glasses of iced tea still sitting in condensation.
“I meant to discuss this with you earlier, but we got sidetracked,” he said, leaning back in the flimsy chair and stretching out his legs. He was quiet for a moment, then he looked at her.
“I have to go to Washington on business next week. I’ll be gone a couple of days. At least we have some advance notice this time, and I’ll leave at a reasonable hour.”
She smiled and nodded. “We’ll be fine.”
Arden fidgeted with her glass, taking a sip of the last little bit of tea, feeling the cold ice press against her lip. Too bad she couldn’t let it cool her entire body.
“Then there’s something else,” he said.
She set the glass down and stared at him, puzzled by the odd tone of his voice.
“What?”
“I have a dinner party to attend at the end of next week. Would you go with me as my plus one? I know it’s not part of your job description, but I’d rather take you than someone else.”
She held her breath. Brendan wanted to take her to a party? Introduce her to friends and colleagues?
“As a date? Brendan, you practically ignored me this week. Now you want me to be your plus one at some party. I thought we were getting to know each other a little better on the phone last week, then everything changed over the weekend. You blow hot and then cold. How does that relate to me going to a party with you?”
Surely she was misunderstanding.
“It’s more of a business arrangement. We discussed the situation earlier. Neither of us is looking for more than friendship. And since we both know the score, no false expectations would be raised. It seems if I invite a woman to accompany me to a business event, she immediately thinks there’s something more. I usually take a plus one so not to be odd man out. Often it was my sister, but I can’t do that anymore.”
She let her breath out in a whoosh. Glad for the darkness that hid her expression, she hoped her voice sounded normal.
“Probably a wise plan. No misunderstandings, and you’ll have an even number at the table.”
She would not feel disappointed. Hadn’t they both said earlier that neither one of them wanted anything to develop? Men and women usually went as couples to parties. If he needed to attend for business, she’d be glad he invited her instead of someone from his office.
“I’m happy to help. How formal is it?”
“Dressy. If that’s a problem, I can buy you a gown.”
“It’s not a problem. I have dresses.”
She frowned for a moment, looking at him, wishing she could see him clearly even though she was glad for the shadows.
“Still, won’t your bringing me give rise to gossip?”
“I don’t know why it should. Most of the people know I have a nanny for the girls. We’re living in the same house. We can’t help but spend some time together, get to know each other. And to help each other out if the occasion warrants.”
“But not have an affair,” she said firmly.
She needed to be very clear on that point because she was totally confused about everything else.
“Right.”
He was silent for a long moment. Then he raised his eyes until he gazed directly at her.
“You know I don’t want to get involved. I’ve been clear about that from the get go. So no false hopes raised. I won’t go through losing someone I care about again.”
He shook his head impatiently.
“Not that I don’t care about you, Arden. I do. You’re pretty and funny and vivacious and bring a breath of fresh air to this house. To this family. I like that.”
“But not enough to pursue a relationship,” she said shrewdly.
“It’s not that so much, as an attempt to banish the unsettling feelings I get when you’re around. That’s why I’ve tried to keep my distance from you this week,” he said softly.
That was unexpected. Was this attraction two-sided?
Slowly, she began to smile. Her eyes danced with amusement.
“And did it work?” she couldn’t resist asking.
If so, she’d take a page out of his book and try avoidance techniques.
He shook his head.
“So the next best thing is try to be friends?” she asked wryly.
“Do you have a better idea?” he asked.
“No. Are you hoping familiarity will breed contempt? I’m willing to try if you are.”
Impulsively, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek, then stood.
“Now that we’ve settled that, I need to get to work. I have an art project to finish by next Tuesday. It counts for a huge percentage of my grade.”
He stood as well. “You’re going in? I thought you’d want to talk some more.”
“I need to get to work on my project. These evening hours are essential for me. I can’t work on the projects while the girls are up. Don’t you usually bring work home with you?”
He nodded, reaching out and pulling her closer.
“Thanks for helping me out on Saturday,” he said.
With that, he swept her into his arms and kissed her.
Arden closed her eyes in startled surprise. Two seconds later, she relaxed and gave herself up to sheer pleasure. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back with all the pent-up passion that she had in her.
The world seemed to tilt, to spin, to shower them with a kaleidoscope of rainbow colors.
Both of them were breathing hard when they slowly pulled apart. Arden let her hands trail across his shoulders, down along the strength of his chest. Fingertips tingling, she finally broke contact.
The dark hid his expression, could he see hers?
“Goodnight,” she said breathlessly. Turning, she almost ran to her room.
Or was she floating? It was hard to tell.
She closed her door and drifted to the window. Was he still outside? No, the yard was empty.
Turning, she caught sight of herself in the mirror, eyes bright blue, cheeks flushed, lips rosy and damp.
And heart racing a million miles an hour. Slowly, she smiled.
It was several long minutes later before she calmed down enough to work on her project.
On Friday, Arden and the girls continued painting the mural in the afternoon. Hailey and Avery loved to paint and would have gone on well into the evening, but Arden wanted to clean up the mess before Brendan arrived home.
She’d have made it if the house phone hadn’t rung. It was Ella. She and her husband had arrived in California and she missed the girls and wanted to talk to them.
Hailey and Avery had so much to tell their aunt, they were more than an hour on the phone. They were still talking when Brendan walked into the kitchen.
Arden looked up, shot through with guilt, conscious of the mess left in the hallway. How late was it?
“Are you home early?” she asked, glancing at the clock. It was an hour earlier than his normal arrival time. “Are you sick?”
He shook his head, an eyebrow raised in question as he glanced at the girls.
“It’s Ella. She’s in California.”
“Ah.”
He kissed Hailey, lifted Avery while she was talking, and smiled at her.
“Can I have a turn to talk to Ella?” he asked.
Avery finished her story and then almost hit Brendan in the head with the receiver as she swung it away from her ear.
“It’s Auntie Ella,” she said. She squirmed around until Brendan put her down.
“Hi, Ella, how did the move go?”
Arden headed for the hall, purposefully leaving the Ferguson family alone. She had a few minutes to get the painting mess cleared up. Working swiftly, she was pleased at the way the children’s imagination was captured with their painting. While she stayed to be with the girls when they talked on the phone, she didn’t need to be part of the family once Brendan was home.
For a moment she felt a pang of regret. Sadness that she’d never enjoy a close family relationship. That she could never have a child or grandchildren. That her home wouldn’t ring with laughter or the thundering of feet dashing down stairs.
Maybe she’d take the mural with her when she left, to remind her of the happy days spent with Hailey and Avery.
Enough, she admonished. She’d known that was the way it’d be since she had been a teenager. She was comfortable with her plans for her future. What couldn’t be changed had to be dealt with.
In the meantime, she was crazy about Brendan Ferguson’s girls. They were bright, funny, and delightful to be around. And she thought she was bringing something to them that had been missing–a sense of adventure and gaiety. Not to mention art appreciation.
“I wondered where you went to,” Brendan said, walking into the hall.
He studied the mural.
“Progress, I see. It’s more than half completed. And I can spot Avery’s efforts a mile away.”
“I planned to get everything cleaned up before you came home, but you’re early, and they were having too much fun to quit.”
Hands full, Arden glanced his way.
“Afraid of my reaction to the mess?”
His eyes danced in amusement.
“Something like that. I know you like order and neatness and I didn’t want to get on your bad side,” she said with a grin.
He laughed.
“Right. I don’t think so. Something tells me you’re afraid of very little.”
“Hold that thought. Why are you home so early? I haven’t even started dinner.”
Brendan slipped his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels.
“I’m the boss, so I decided I could take time off if I wanted.”
He had no intention of telling her the real reason that he’d been impatient to see her again.
“Want to go out for pizza tonight?” he asked.
It was a treat Hailey especially loved. He knew that his explanation for asking her to his business event last night seemed flimsy. He was glad she hadn’t pushed for a stronger reason.
Like an explanation for that strong physical attraction, a voice whispered. He clamped down on the thought.
“I’ll change and we can head out,” he said.
“Don’t feel you need to include me. If you want to take the girls out, do it. I can get something for myself.”
She headed for the kitchen, one hand balancing the water cups, the other holding the damp rag and two brushes, with the folded newspapers held beneath one elbow.
“I want all of us to go. I wouldn’t have invited you if I’d only wanted it to be the girls and me.”
For a moment, he wondered if she’d refuse. The terms of the job were such that if he were home, she was no longer on duty.
Perhaps she’d rather not eat with them.
“Then I’ll get the girls ready. Thanks.”
She smiled almost shyly and disappeared into the kitchen.
Brendan remained standing in the hall, his gaze moving back to the mural. He refused to analyze the feeling her smile engendered. Focusing on the positive aspects, he was glad to have her here with his daughters. He like the way she was expanding things, like the painting they seemed to love.
He was intrigued by her. She seemed carefree and flighty sometimes, yet showed great patience with his children. And her devotion was obvious, even after so short a time. She hadn’t come with the background he wanted, but she suited.
More than he’d expected.
Frowning at that thought, he headed for his room.
He and Arden could enjoy a business relationship that let them share things like a night out for pizza with his daughters. He’d do the same with any woman who was watching his children.
And the kisses?