Page 20 of An Unexpected Match

Sighing softly, Arden shook off her pensive mood. The world was the way it was, and nothing she could do would change things.

The girls ran around the wide lawn, playing tag and shrieking with laughter, stopping from time to time to chat with the different residents, then racing back to Arden to inform her of their brief conversations.

“They’re adorable,” Love said, watching their antics with a wide smile.

“And they have so much energy,” Eugenia added.

“Not all the time. They can be fairly quiet and subdued at home. I was worried I wouldn’t fit in that first afternoon. I don’t know if that was Ella’s influence or not. Their father seems to like a strict routine.”

“How does he deal with his daughters?”

“He’s crazy about them, but doesn’t seem to know quite how to relate. And in the few conversations we’ve had, it sounds as if his wife took care of Hailey and he had little to do with her. His wife died giving birth to Avery.”

“Hmm, most men aren’t much use around babies,” Eugenia said.

Arden laughed softly.

“That’s being sexist. I guess it isn’t only men who have definite views along those lines.”

When asked to clarify what she meant, she told them about her first night in the Ferguson household, the row with Brendan about his comment about women’s work and how she thought she’d almost lost her job before it started.

Eugenia regarded her with some speculation, but Arden knew she'd given nothing away. There was nothing to give away. She enjoyed working for Brendan.

And their kiss would remain her secret.

Chapter Five

The weekend passed swiftly. Arden didn’t mind working through her days off. She and the girls had so much to learn about each other, and she loved spending time with them. Their fresh innocence and curiosity were delightful.

In contrast, the early days of the next week seemed to drag. Arden attended her classes, relieved to discover after the first day that the girls really enjoyed the day-care center at the university. They found it to be a treat, which simplified matters.

She had several art projects to complete by the end of the semester and found working on them took most of her free time. So it wasn’t a question of being bored.

Yet she thought about Brendan at odd moments during the day. And of course when he phoned each night.

Wednesday, she actually delayed starting her homework after the girls were in bed. Instead, she sat on the sofa, her phone at the ready. He’d called each night at eight-thirty. Since it was his own schedule that had the girls in bed by eight, Arden knew he didn’t expect to speak with them.

Which meant he was calling to talk to her.

Her nerves hummed in anticipation. She loved these nightly calls, though she had to admit there was nothing special about them. Each one was predictable. He’d ask after the girls, then she’d ask about the negotiations. When they’d exhausted those topics, there’d be a long silence. She wished she could see him. Guess what he was thinking. Did he want her to talk about something else? Or did he just like having the connection with home?

Then he’d tell her to take care of his children and hang up.

Yet hearing his voice energized her. And gave her that soft feeling in her heart. She’d spent more time talking with him on the phone than they’d spent talking in person. Was she growing to know more about him from the way he described the negotiations? The brief descriptions he gave of the others on the rescue team? Or was her fantasy world kicking in again?

Lost in thought, Arden was surprised when she noticed it was already past nine. Disappointment flared.

He wasn’t calling tonight. Not that he had to. It was just that she’d grown used to his calls. He’d probably think she was silly to look forward to them so much.

Slowly, she rose. Maybe things had gotten out of control where he was

Her phone rang.

Arden snatched it up.

“Hello?”

“Arden? It’s Brendan.”

---