Page 38 of An Unexpected Match
She kissed the girls and started to leave, startled when Brendan’s hand grasped her wrist.
“Don’t go yet. I’ll just be a minute.”
She watched as he bid each child goodnight and tucked them in with a kiss.
They left the room together, reminding Arden of parents, of family, of things she’d probably never experience once she left the Ferguson home.
“We have some unfinished business,” he said as they walked down the stairs.
Unfinished business? The kiss.
“Do you want to sit outside?” he asked unexpectedly.
“That sounds good. It’s a lovely night.”
It’d be even better if she could keep two coherent thoughts in her mind. But his closeness seemed to draw the focus of every cell in her body. His shoulder bumped hers lightly as they walked. He shortened his stride to match hers.
They sat at the makeshift table, glasses of iced tea still sitting in condensation.
“I meant to discuss this with you earlier, but we got sidetracked,” he said, leaning back in the flimsy chair and stretching out his legs. He was quiet for a moment, then he looked at her.
“I have to go to Washington on business next week. I’ll be gone a couple of days. At least we have some advance notice this time, and I’ll leave at a reasonable hour.”
She smiled and nodded. “We’ll be fine.”
Arden fidgeted with her glass, taking a sip of the last little bit of tea, feeling the cold ice press against her lip. Too bad she couldn’t let it cool her entire body.
“Then there’s something else,” he said.
She set the glass down and stared at him, puzzled by the odd tone of his voice.
“What?”
“I have a dinner party to attend at the end of next week. Would you go with me as my plus one? I know it’s not part of your job description, but I’d rather take you than someone else.”
She held her breath. Brendan wanted to take her to a party? Introduce her to friends and colleagues?
“As adate?Brendan, you practically ignored me this week. Now you want me to be your plus one at some party. I thought we were getting to know each other a little better on the phone last week, then everything changed over the weekend. You blow hot and then cold. How does that relate to me going to a party with you?”
Surely she was misunderstanding.
“It’s more of a business arrangement. We discussed the situation earlier. Neither of us is looking for more than friendship. And since we both know the score, no false expectations would be raised. It seems if I invite a woman to accompany me to a business event, she immediately thinks there’s something more. I usually take a plus one so not to be odd man out. Often it was my sister, but I can’t do that anymore.”
She let her breath out in a whoosh. Glad for the darkness that hid her expression, she hoped her voice sounded normal.
“Probably a wise plan. No misunderstandings, and you’ll have an even number at the table.”
She wouldnotfeel disappointed. Hadn’t they both said earlier that neither one of them wanted anything to develop? Men and women usually went as couples to parties. If he needed to attend for business, she’d be glad he invited her instead of someone from his office.
“I’m happy to help. How formal is it?”
“Dressy. If that’s a problem, I can buy you a gown.”
“It’s not a problem. I have dresses.”
She frowned for a moment, looking at him, wishing she could see him clearly even though she was glad for the shadows.
“Still, won’t your bringing me give rise to gossip?”
