Page 17 of An Unexpected Match

Brendan turned and strode away. He needed to gain some perspective. The walk would give him time alone and provide an outlet for the restless energy that seemed to envelop him.

Arden settled Avery in her bed that night and pulled up the covers. What darling little girls Brendan had. Did he know how lucky he was? They were so quiet and polite unless unleashed in the yard. There they ran and yelled and laughed like the children she often saw in the park. Like she had done when she’d played with her friends as a child.

As she had once thought children of her own might one day behave.

“Where’s Daddy?” Avery asked again.

Arden smoothed the spread and smiled at the child.

“He’s late coming home tonight, remember? He’ll be here soon and come up to kiss you goodnight. If you’re asleep, he’ll still come up.”

“Sometimes he goes away on a trip, then he doesn’t tell us goodnight,” Hailey said from her bed.

“I know. But he always comes home, right?” Arden said, suddenly wondering what would happen if Brendan didn’t come home one time.

What would these girls do without at least one of their parents?

The same as she had done, she supposed. Go to live with relatives. They had their aunt Ella, and both sets of grandparents. It wouldn’t be the end of the world, just the end of their world as they knew it.

Her own life was full and rich, but she still missed her parents.

Arden wandered back down the steps, the baby monitor in hand. Had Brendan stayed away deliberately? Had it been something she said at lunch?

Or maybe this was just part of his job. His sometimes dangerous, fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants job. How had he come to make a career of hostage negotiations and top-level security setups? Would he tell her if she asked?

By eleven, Arden gave up waiting. She’d kept a plate warming in the oven but turned off the stove and put the food in the refrigerator. By now, he surely had eaten.

She checked the doors and windows and went to bed.

“Arden?” The knock on the door sounded again.

Disoriented, she rose on one elbow. “Yes?”

“Arden, it’s Brendan. Wake up.”

She pushed back the sheet and glanced at the clock. It was three in the morning. Crossing swiftly to the door, she opened it. Was there an emergency? Was something wrong with one of the girls?

Brendan stood there, looming in the faint light from the kitchen. He hadn’t turned on any lamps in the family room.

“What’s wrong? Is it one of the girls?”

“No, they’re fine. Still sleeping. I just came home to pack. I’m leaving in a few minutes and need to talk to you before I go. A madman has a family barricaded in a hacienda. We’ve been working on the situation all night. It’s not working. I need to get there in person.”

He named a Latin American country noted for instability.

“The local officials have requested my help and I can’t say no. I have to leave in,” he glanced at his watch, “less than ten minutes. One of the men from the company is waiting out front for me. I’ll leave my car here. Use it if anything happens to your old station wagon. Or use the one in the garage. Any last-minute questions? You know where all the paperwork is. Don’t worry about the girls. They already know I take trips.”

“I don’t have any questions. You left a list of contact phone numbers, I know the routine. I have the papers that give me custody when you’re gone. I’ll take good care of your daughters. Did you peek in on them? Kiss them goodbye?”

“Yes. They’re both sound asleep. You’ll be all right with them? If you need anything, call my folks.”

“I know, but I won’t need them. You’ll be home before we know it, right?”

“I sure hope so, but I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”

Arden didn’t know what prompted her, but she flung her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Reaching up, she kissed him lightly on the lips.

“Take care of yourself. Don’t be a dead hero. Your daughters need you,” she whispered.

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