Page 26 of An Unexpected Match

And he’d seemed startled when Avery had crawled into his lap after eating and asked him to tell her a story.

“Hi, Arden. I’m hungry,” Hailey said, walking slowly into the kitchen.

Arden looked up and smiled. The day would begin in earnest now. If Hailey was up, Avery would follow any minute.

Brendan threw down his pen and stared out of the window. He found it difficult to concentrate. There were plenty of reports to read, decisions to make, correspondence to answer. His secretary had left everything just the way he liked it. And he enjoyed his work.

But today he kept visualizing the young woman who was watching his children.

He wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting when he returned home last night, but it hadn’t been the strong urge to sweep her up into his arms and kiss her, to wrap himself around her and absorb her lightness, her laughter, her sunny outlook.

After days of delicate negotiation with people’s lives in the balance, he welcomed the serenity and safety of his home. That was all.

Scowling, he rose and paced to the window. The view was one he was used to, other office buildings, a couple of small trees by the sidewalks. The sky was a clear blue. The day promised to be hot.

What was he doing here instead of being at home with his children? Arden was right he should spend time with them.

But that might entail spending time with their nanny, and he was reluctant to do that.

He didn’t like the feelings that were stirring within him. He’d loved his wife. Yet the feelings he felt around Arden were different. He was attracted to her. What red-blooded man wouldn’t be? Yet, she was as opposite to Lannie as a woman could be. If he’d been asked, he would say he liked petite, dark-haired women.

Yet just thinking about Arden had him envisioning scenes that should be x-rated. He’d been on the edge all week, and now that the danger was past, he was feeling the anti-climax. That’s what was causing his wild imaginings.

He headed for the door, grabbing his suit jacket as he passed the coat rack. He’d finish up on Monday. Today, he’d spend the afternoon with his children and ignore the allure of his nanny. By Monday morning, he’d be back to normal.

“Let me,” Avery said, pushing Hailey.

“It’s my turn.” Hailey stood her ground, sheltering the mixing bowl in her arm.

“Avery, it is Hailey’s turn. You had a turn. Now you must wait,” Arden said firmly, scooping up the little girl and resting her on her hip.

“There will be plenty of turns,” Aunt Love said as she patted Avery’s cheek. “Don’t go through life being so impatient.”

Arden laughed. Like a three-year-old can be any other way. She looked up and froze. Brendan Ferguson stood in the doorway to the kitchen.

“I thought you were working all day,” she blurted out.

She cringed at the mess everywhere. Flour dusted the girls’ clothing and faces. A light dusting coated the counters and the floor. Dozens of cups and bowls were haphazardly stacked around. Each child had her own mixing bowl for the brownies that were now baking. The delicious aroma filled the room.

Aunt Eugenia looked up from rolling out the cookie dough. She glanced first at Brendan, then swiftly at Arden.

“Is there a problem?” she asked.

“Come on in, young man. Though watch out for the flour, wearing that dark suit. Maybe you should change first. Then you can join us,” Aunt Love said genially.

“Hi, Daddy,” Hailey said, beaming at her father. “We’re baking cookies. It’s my turn to stir.”

“I want a turn,” Avery said from Arden’s arms.

“I see,” Brendan said.

It was clear from his expression this was not the scene he’d expected to come home to.

“Arden, may I see you for a moment?”

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked down the hall.

Arden sighed.

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