Page 55 of An Unexpected Match

“We’ll leave around seven-thirty. Since you forgot, I expect you didn’t get a babysitter?”

“No.”

“Jamie Sue Morton used to watch the girls if both Ella and I needed to go out. She’s in the address book in the drawer beneath the phone. I’ll call her to see if she can watch them.”

“It’s short notice,” Arden said. “If she can’t, I could ask my aunts. They’d have to stay over. There’s a curfew at their retirement home. They can’t stay out to all hours and then show up. Stupid rules, if you ask me.”

Brendan nodded, amusement glimmering in his eyes. “I think you mentioned those stupid rules before.”

By the end of the week, Arden thought she’d imagined the kiss at the airport. Brendan had done nothing since he returned Wednesday afternoon to show he even remembered kissing her. He came home early Thursday and spent time with the girls before dinner. After they went to bed, he disappeared into his office.

Arden couldn’t complain because it gave her time to study. Not that she could concentrate. She spent most of the evening listening for him. If he came into the kitchen, she could go out for a glass of iced tea. If he watched television, she'd be able to see him through the opened door.

But he didn’t come near her.

Friday, she finished her exams, picked the girls up at the university day care and headed for the mall at Military Circle. She had a dress to find for that night.

She wanted the perfect creation. One that would stay in Brendan’s memory long after she’d gone.

She also wanted something that would give her the courage to tell him she was leaving. She’d go to the party, enjoy as much of it as she could, and then tell him when they returned home.

Of course, she wouldn’t leave immediately. She’d give him time to find someone else. But the sooner he got started, the better.

And she had to look for another job, as well.

For a moment, doubt rose. Did she have to leave? Could she get over the feelings she had for Brendan without leaving?

She didn’t think she’d ever get over falling in love. She’d never wanted a special man to share her life with. Knowing she could not have children, she’d resigned herself to a single life. Nothing had changed just because she’d fallen in love.

She’d tell him tonight.

“You look pretty, Arden,” Hailey said, looking up at her with a wide smile. Both girls had followed Arden to her room to watch her get dressed for the party.

“Are you a princess?” Avery asked.

“No, sweetie, same old Arden. And thank you, Haley, I’m glad you think so.”

Arden looked into the mirror, turning from side to side to see as much as she could. She tried to quell the butterflies in her stomach. She did look nice. She hoped Brendan thought so.

The dress was perfect, a deep rose color, soft and feminine yet wildly sexy. It was short, showing off her long legs nicely displayed by the high heels.

Brendan was tall enough so she could wear the highest heels and still not be eye to eye with him.

She’d coaxed her hair into an elaborate style, piled on top of her head with wavy tendrils on either side of her face. It left her neck bare and showed off her dangling silver earrings perfectly.

“I’m pretty, too,” Avery said, leaning close to the mirror, examining the makeup Arden had put on her.

Both girls had wanted to dress up. With loads of eye shadow and lipstick, they almost looked like clowns, but both thought they were perfect.

She wondered what Brendan would say. Maybe she should warn him to be complimentary.

“Ready?”

It was time. She’d heard Brendan arrive with the babysitter a few minutes ago.

They walked into the family room. Jamie Sue turned and greeted the girls. They ran over to her to show off their makeup. She was enthusiastic in complimenting each girl.

Brendan looked at Arden, his eyes darkening to deep silver as his gaze ran from her hair to her toes.

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