Page 14 of An Unexpected Match

“Did you have a falling out?”

She glanced at him and frowned.

“Since you aren’t still living together.”

“No, the house they lived in for the last twenty-eight years didn’t belong to them. They rented from Mr. Phelps. He was a character, too. Old as the hills when I first moved there. Anyway, it leaked when it rained, let the wind whistle through some rooms because the windows didn’t close properly and cost a fortune to heat, but it was home. And inexpensive. Mr. Phelps had given them a low rent when they first moved in and never raised it.”

“Let me guess. Mr. Phelps is no longer with us and his heirs weren’t quite so generous?” Brendan guessed dryly.

Arden nodded. “Exactly right. His son couldn’t wait to raise the rent. Only we didn’t have enough to pay the extra amount he was asking, and it’d have been really dumb to spend so much rent on a house that’s falling apart. So the aunts decided to check out a retirement home. They can afford the one they chose and love being by the beach.”

“But that move left you out in the cold.”

Arden looked at him warily. Brendan almost laughed at the expression on her face. The story sounded like a soap opera. Couldn’t she see the humor in it?

“I have a good friend who invited me to stay with her. But her husband comes home soon from his deployment and I know they want to be alone. Besides, this great job opened up and here I am.”

“So your cryptic comment at the interview about taking care of others meant you cared for your aunts?”

“Somewhat. For the last few years, I cooked most of the meals, though Aunt Love is the world’s greatest baker. She makes the most marvelous cakes and pies. And her cookies are melt-in-your-mouth good. Eugenia has never been much of a cook and she has arthritis now, which limits all she can do. But both are sharp as a tack mentally. Their memory is much better than mine. You’ll love them.”

“What?”

“Oops, I meant, I assume I can invite people over occasionally? They’ll want to see where I’m living. And the girls will love them. That’s what I meant. Your girls will love them. Sort of like having grandparents around.”

“They have grandparents in California.”

“I know, Ella said your parents retired there.”

“And their mother’s parents live in Georgia. And come to visit twice a year.”

“Any aunts and uncles?”

“Two aunts, two uncles.”

“Well, if Hailey and Avery are used to relatives being around, they won’t mind a couple more.”

Brendan didn’t want them to share Arden’s relatives. He didn’t want her to make a place in his daughters’ lives that would be hard to fill once she moved on. And despite her assertion about not wanting marriage, he didn’t trust her to remain for the full three years. Wasn’t that why he was going to continue to search for a nanny who would fully meet his requirements?

That was the only reason. Not the feelings she engendered in him whenever she was near. He could handle that. It was to safeguard his daughters that he needed to find a replacement for Arden soon.

“Why did you say marriage wasn’t for you?” he asked, suddenly needing to know.

Maybe she could tell him something that would convince him she meant what she said and hadn’t just thrown out the words to make a favorable impression at the interview.

She shook her head.

“We’re not close enough to share something that personal. You’ll just have to trust me on this. I don’t expect to ever marry.”

Rising, Arden smiled politely, but Brendan saw the distance in her eyes, and felt as if a wall had been established between them. Interesting reaction to a simple question.

“I’ll finish up in the kitchen and turn in. Tell me where the bank is located and I’ll meet you there tomorrow.”

Brendan rose, standing close enough to her he could have reached out a hand and touched her shoulder.

“Want help in the kitchen?”

The words startled him. He’d never offered to help Lannie, though he’d enjoyed sitting at the kitchen island and drinking coffee with her while she worked.

---