Not having a room to rent wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Far from it. In fact it wasn’t the worst news she’d had that day. That news had been delivered bright and early by John. Apparently, there was labor strife at the parts factory and he didn’t know when he would receive the part he needed for her Beetle. He’d tried calling around to other suppliers but hadn’t been able to get his hands on it. He had no idea when her car would be ready.
At this point, Arden had a decision to make. She could hire a tow truck and return to Baltimore. That thought roiled her stomach. She was not ready to return home and face the situation with Michael-the-peanut-brain. She also wasn’t ready to deal with her smothering brothers. Especially not since she was finally able to breathe freely. She needed the distance, which was why she’d been going to Florida in the first place. Going back home wasn’t an option.
Hopping a flight and going to her parents’ winter home in Florida had also lost its appeal. She no longer wanted to spend her days alone in that big house while her parents traveled through Europe. She no longer craved the solitude.
She could remain in Sweet Briar. Brandon had said she could stay with him and Joni until her car was ready. Of course at the time they’d all believed it would be only a day or two, three at the most. Surely he wouldn’t have made such a generous offer had he known it would be open-ended. She didn’t want to become the houseguest who wouldn’t leave.
She could always go somewhere else, but Sweet Briar was growing on her. It had taken only a couple of days to discover why this place had become a tourist destination. There were so many cute shops to explore, fun places to visit and, of course, the beach. This was a wonderful place for a vacation.
More than that, the people were warm and welcoming, making her want to stay. Unlike the Hotel California, she didn’t want to check out. She definitely wasn’t ready to leave. She could envision spending a few more weeks here. But she had to find another place to stay.
She didn’t feel right staying in Brandon’s home. There was something very intimate about that. And the more she was around him, the more attracted she became. He was unlike any man she’d ever met. Sure, he was strong and hardworking. But, more than that, he gave his best in everything and expected others to do the same. His high standards and belief in others inspired them to give their all.
How could she help but admire him? She couldn’t. Which was why she needed to put some physical distance between them so she could maintain her emotional distance.
Joni seemed to know everyone and she had her finger on the pulse of this town. If anyone had a place for rent, she would know.
Slipping her phone into her pocket, Arden headed for the youth center. Over the past few days she had spent many hours volunteering there. She was quite impressed with Joni and what she managed to do on a shoestring budget. The place was filled with kids of all ages engaged in a variety of activities. A group of young teenage girls walked slowly by two older boys. One of the boys smiled and the other said hello. The girls burst into giggles and hurried away.
Arden shook her head and bit back a smile.
“Ah, young love.”
Arden turned at the sound of Brandon’s voice. “What are you doing here?”
He held up a round tray with a clear plastic cover. “One of the kids is having a birthday today and Joni needed cupcakes.”
She looked closer at the treats. “You baked them?”
“Perish the thought. I stopped at Polly Wants A Cookie and picked them up for her. What are you doing here?”
“Looking for Joni. I was hoping she knew of a place I can rent for a couple of weeks.”
“Oh.”
She couldn’t tell what that one word meant, but a crazy part of her hoped it was disappointment that she wouldn’t be staying in his guest room any longer. That thought only proved that she was losing her mind and that she needed to put distance between them.
“Yes. There’s some sort of labor dispute at the place where the part for my car is being manufactured. Long story short, John doesn’t know when he’ll be able to fix my car so I need to find a place to stay. Joni knows everyone so...” Arden’s voice trailed off as she realized that Brandon was staring mutely as she babbled. She clamped her jaw shut, refusing to let another word escape.
“Did I hear you say you were looking for a place to stay?” Joni asked from behind Arden, making her jump. She’d been so entranced by Brandon that she hadn’t heard the other woman approach.
“Yes.” She quickly summarized her conversation with the mechanic. “Since you know everyone, I figured you might have a lead on a room I can rent.”
“You know you can stay in the house.”
“Three days for fish and houseguests. Any longer and they start to smell. I’ve been in your house for a week. I don’t want you to hold your nose when you see me.”
Joni laughed. “I get your point although I don’t agree. But I can do better than a room. Brandon and I have a garage apartment. It’s renovated and just sitting empty. You’re welcome to stay there as long as you need. Isn’t that right, Brandon?”
Arden’s eyes flew to his. His poker face was firmly in place but he nodded. After a long moment he replied, “Sure.”
“I don’t want to impose.”
“You’re not imposing,” Joni replied before he had a chance.
“If you’re sure.” Arden glanced at Brandon again.
He nodded, but a part of her wondered if he really was envisioning strangling his sister. “Stay as long as you need.”
“Thanks.”
He handed the tray of cupcakes to his sister. “I need to get going. I’ll catch up with you two later.”
Brandon was gone so fast Arden didn’t have a chance to thank him for his continued hospitality. “Are you sure it’s okay? Brandon seems kind of reluctant.”
“Positive.” Joni juggled the tray of pink-iced cupcakes. “Do you have time to hang out for a while? I need to set up a party for one of our little girls, then I’ll be available to show you the apartment in about an hour.”
“Sure. If you need an extra hand, I have two.”
“I always need help.”
Arden helped Joni decorate a room for the party. They draped streamers from the ceiling and taped some on the walls. Next they blew up blue and green balloons and bundled them into centerpieces they placed on the paper tablecloths covering the long table. They blew up pink balloons and tied them to the back of the gray folding chairs. Finally they hung up a colorful banner, then stood back to admire the festive room.
“Impressive, if I do say so myself,” Joni said, folding the step stool and carrying it to the closet.
“I agree, but not only about the room. I mean you. I didn’t know youth centers hosted birthday parties.” Arden would have smiled, but blowing up balloons was hard on the jaws. They needed a helium tank something fierce.
Joni closed the door and leaned against it. “We’re an all-purpose center. Sweet Briar is prospering, but there are still some families that are struggling. We try to help out when we can. Like the party for this girl. Her mother has cancer and is fighting to live. The father is not in the picture.”
“Hence the party.”
“Yes.”
Arden followed Joni from the room, her mind busy. She wanted to make a donation to the youth center to help them continue their good work. Because she wanted to maintain her anonymity, she wouldn’t be able to make the gift until she returned home. But she didn’t want to wait. They could do even more good if they had the funds. She would contact her brothers and convince them to give, as well. They were always supporting worthy causes and she couldn’t think of one more deserving than the youth center.
Arden and Joni chatted nonstop on the ride to the apartment. Joni ran into the house for the keys, then met Arden outs
ide the garage. Arden followed Joni up the flight of stairs, holding her breath until she opened the door.
“It’s beautiful,” Arden said as she stepped inside and looked around.
“Do you think you’ll be comfortable here?”
“Definitely.” Arden ran her hand across the black granite breakfast bar that separated the kitchen from the living room, then straightened one of the three stools with black-and-white-striped cushions that comprised the dining area. The living room was quaint with a cream love seat and matching chair with gray, black and red decorative throw pillows. A small bookcase overflowed with a variety of paperbacks.
“Okay. It’s yours for as long as you want.”
“Thanks. Now about rent.”
“Arden.”
“Joni.”
“You’re my friend.”
“Exactly. Friends don’t take advantage of friends.”
Joni sighed and named an absurdly low figure. Arden raised her eyebrow and Joni doubled the number.
Arden smiled. “Agreed.”
“You drive a hard bargain.”
“I just want to do what’s fair.”
Shaking her head, Joni handed over the key and left. Arden walked through the apartment again, her home for the foreseeable future. Of course, if there was one thing life had taught her, it was that nothing about the future could be foreseen.
Chapter Six
Brandon leaned against the back door and stared across the dark yard. A ribbon of light filtered through the window of the garage apartment. He wondered what Arden was doing. He hadn’t seen her since this morning at the youth center when he’d run away like his pants were on fire.
Despite the fact that she’d stayed with them for only a week, he missed her presence. He’d grown accustomed to her easy laughter and quick if somewhat offbeat wit. Her wicked and quirky sense of humor matched his and he found himself relaxing around her. In fact, he felt more at ease with her than he did with anyone besides Joni. The feeling of rightness that filled him whenever they were together caught him off guard and he wasn’t sure how to handle it. Thus, the race away from her this morning.
After Sylvia, he’d sworn off relationships, choosing instead to focus on his restaurant. Sure, he had dated in the past three years, but he was always careful to let the woman know the rules. No hearts were involved under any circumstances. He didn’t do love. But dating an endless stream of women, no matter how beautiful or charming they were, had become tiresome and left him empty. Being alone had become preferable.
No woman had attracted his interest until Arden stumbled into his life. She’d already found a way into his mind and was consuming his thoughts. He wasn’t ready for anything serious or emotional. What he needed was to reinforce the barrier around his heart before she tunneled her way in there, too.
And now he stood here in his kitchen like some teenager, lurking in the shadows hoping to get a glimpse of the object of his affection. This was pathetic. He was pathetic. He needed to get a grip.
“I’m all packed and ready to go,” Joni said, sauntering into the room. He spun around, but not fast enough to fool her. She smirked. “My brother, the Peeping Tom.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Could he sound any guiltier?
“Uh-huh. Sure. I can spell it out if you need me to.”
“Leave it alone.”
She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a tight hug. “Not all women are like Sonya.”
“Sylvia. Her name was Sylvia.”
“Right. Not that it makes a difference. My point is the same. Not every woman is a liar.”
“I never said they were.”
“You don’t need to. Your actions speak loud and clear. You never let a woman get close enough to find out what her character is.”
“I don’t have time for that. I’m concentrating on my restaurant.”
“Hiding behind it is more like it.”
He pulled out of her embrace and sat at the table. The garage apartment was still visible from his chair and he forced his eyes to look anywhere but there. He should have sat somewhere else. It was too late to switch seats with Joni watching and interpreting his every move. “That’s not what I’m doing. I need to work hard so I can succeed.”
“You have more than succeeded and you know it.”
He shrugged. “Maybe, but you know how tough the restaurant business can be. I have to work hard to keep from growing stale and losing ground. If I want to grow my reputation in the industry, I have to continue to create and innovate. That takes time and energy.”
He’d taken out a loan in order to buy out Justin. He was making his payments, but a decline in business would make that difficult. He needed to stay focused on what was important, and that wasn’t the woman currently occupying his garage apartment.
“Even if you need to work, you still need to make time for love.”
“Love? I finally got the folks off my back and you want to start in? I’ll tell you what I told them. I’m not interested in love anymore.” He stood to his full height. He always needed every advantage when debating with Joni. “And speaking of love, I don’t exactly see you marching down the aisle.”
“Touché. Consider the topic closed.”
Now that he’d won the argument, he smiled at his sister. “You need a ride to the airport?”
“No. Lex is going to drop me.”
“Ah.”
“Ah, nothing.” Joni hopped to her feet, proving that a good offense was the best defense. “I’d better get some sleep. I have an early flight. But before I go, I need you to do something for me.”
“What’s that?”
“Look after Arden.”
“Joni.”
She raised a hand. “I’m just asking you to spend a bit of time with her. She’s alone in town with no transportation or friends. I’m going to introduce her around when I get back, but in the meantime, you’re all she has. Remember, she just broke off with her boyfriend. Don’t let her spend all her time alone in that apartment. Be nice to her. Please.”
“Joni. I don’t need you matchmaking.”
“I’m not. I’m just imagining how I would feel in her shoes.”
He shook his head. Joni drew people to her without trying. She would always have friends, new to town or not. But Arden was more reticent than Joni. She didn’t seem to make friends as easily as his sister. Knowing he’d been played but unable to fight back, he huffed out a breath and nodded. “I won’t leave her alone.”
“You’ll hang out with her?”
“Didn’t I just say that?”
“You’re the world’s best brother.” Joni kissed his cheek then bade him good-night.
When he had the kitchen to himself once more, Brandon wondered why he had agreed. He hoped it was because he shared Joni’s compassion. Somehow he didn’t think that was the entire reason. Still it was the best he could come up with on short notice.
* * *
Brandon sniffed the soup, spooned a bit of it into his mouth, let it settle on his tongue for a few seconds and then swallowed. Frowning, he set the spoon beside the bowl and leaned against the kitchen counter. Something was missing from the new bouillabaisse recipe he was creating, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
One of the things he really enjoyed was putting a new spin on old favorites. Anyone could follow a recipe and make a good meal. It took a special gift to create a dish that people made reservations weeks in advance in order to try. He had that gift.
He took another taste. He wished Joni was around so he could ask her opinion, but she was in Chicago visiting their parents and no doubt getting grilled like a good steak. They wanted grandchildren and none of their three children were cooperating. As the oldest, Russell should have been the
ir target. A career military officer, he was currently stationed outside the United States and safely out of nagging range. After the mess with Sylvia, Brandon’s parents were giving him a reprieve. Thankfully, they’d stopped trying to introduce him to the unmarried daughters of their friends. That left Joni the sole focus of their attention. She always took their pressure with a smile in her good-natured way. No doubt she was enjoying her visit and catching up with her friends, coming up with creative ways to avoid countless blind dates with men, each of whom their parents were sure was the one.
Still, he wished she was here so she could serve as his taste tester.
A movement outside the window caught his eye. Arden. Dressed in a short denim skirt that showcased her world-class legs and a white T-shirt with a gray design that fit perfectly over her perky breasts, she was skipping down the steps like a young girl. His window was open and he could hear her singing a song he always turned off whenever it came on the radio. His music preferences ranged from jazz and blues to his preferred classical but didn’t include pop.
Brandon remembered his promise to Joni. He’d said he wouldn’t leave Arden to her own devices until Joni returned. And he did need someone to taste his soup. Before he could change his mind, he called out to her. “Do you have a few minutes?”
She paused, one foot on the bottom step, met his eyes through the screen, then nodded. Even from this distance, he could see the brilliant smile on her face and his body responded. There was just something about Arden that appealed to him on a basic level. Despite knowing it would be better if he kept her at arm’s length, part of him longed to draw her closer. And not just physically. Sexual attraction could be easily understood and dismissed. But more than wanting her body, he wanted to know her. He wanted to discover what made her laugh and what upset her. He wanted to hear about her dreams and share his with her. Given the fact that he didn’t want to open his heart to anyone, the last thing he should have done was give her a place to stay.
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