Page 38 of Failure to Match

I smiled at the sisters. “I really appreciate the offer, but I think it’s best if I skip this one. The first week comes with an adjustment period for the client, and it’s important that Mr. Sinclair still has some normalcy and space.”

“All right,” Mabel said with a gentle nod. “That’s reasonable. But you will join us next week, won’t you?”

He ate with them often, then. I wondered who else was frequently invited.

“Of course,” I assured her.

She snatched Jackson’s thick arm, pulling him into the kitchen while she muttered about her sauce needing a quick stir.

It wasn’t until I was halfway down the hall that I realized Molly had lingered, the oven mitt wringing in her hands as she watched me leave.

11

Why wasit that every time I spent a night somewhere that didn’t have my name on the lease, my brain was adamant that the tiniest noise or movement was an immediate prequel to my violent murder? Was it an evolutionary thing? Were my ancestors really that?—

It happened again, the secretive shuffle outside my room.

My comb froze midway through my damp curls, my head twisting toward the door as I held my breath. Toebeans had heard it too. His ears were twitching, gaze pinned to the door.

After a few beats, someone knocked.

I frowned. It was only ten, but still. A little late to show up at someone’s door unannounced, no? Unless you were Ria.

“Yes?” I placed my comb down.

There was a hushed response from the other side, but I couldn’t quite make out the words.

“I’m sorry?” I called.

“It’s Molly,” she whispered again, a touch louder this time.

“Oh.” I got up, half-jogging to open the door for her as I stuffed my ringlets into a bun. I hated the feeling of wet hair sticking to my neck.

“Hello, dear.” She was holding a silver tray with two steaming cups of pale tea and a plate full of pastries.

“Hey. Everything okay?”

She tried to give me her most convincing smile, but it twitched before it could reach her eyes. “I thought maybe you’d like a nighttime snack.”

“Why are we whispering?”

She shook her head like she didn’t know what I was talking about but refused to confirm it with her words.

I eyed her before stepping aside. “Come on in.”

She shuffled in and nudged the door shut with her foot right away. Her voice was back to a normal pitch when she said, “Thank you. I’m sorry to—oh, hello little darling.” She stopped when she spotted Toebeans, her round cheeks expanding. “Bensen wasn’t exaggerating, was he? Youarea very handsome boy.”

Toebeans whipped his tail, unimpressed. He knew he was pretty. This wasn’t news.

“Not too fond of strangers, though, is that right?” she asked me.

“Unfortunately not.”

“Oh, well, that’s okay.” She straightened, wiping her hands down the front of her apron. “Neither is Young Master Sinclair. We’re well used to that in our house. You can have all the space you need, Mr. Maguire, rest assured.”

She wiped her hands again.

Shifted on her feet.

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