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Fiona sat back down, watching the two seniors depart. “I guess the marriage proposal didn’t go well.”
“They’re contemplating marriage?” Wow. Amazing that two elderly people had that much faith in the future.
“Love is ageless, or so they say.” She turned back to face him. “I don’t suppose you were able to look at my carriage house the other day.”
“I did take a look. It seems like a great place.” He tried to keep his ambivalence from showing in his voice.
“It’s cute. I love the front porch.” She shrugged. “It’s not much. It’s small, but it’s solid and clean.”
“You’d mentioned before that you were using it for your business. Won’t you need it for that again? Are you sure you want a tenant?”
“I might give entrepreneurship another go if...well, if I can get someone to help with the numbers part.” She laughed self-deprecatingly, gesturing toward the tablet that had confused her. “But that won’t happen for months. If ever.”
“Then...I think we’ll give the place a try.”
“Great!” She smiled at him. “You can move in anytime. We’ll deal with the lease then.”
That smile was dazzling. Way too dazzling. “I have references if you’d like to check them.”
She waved a hand. “I don’t need references. I know you.”
“Yeah, but you don’t know whether I pay my bills.”
She blushed. “I’m really not much of a businesswoman, am I?”
“Nothing wrong with being trusting.”
Her expression darkened. “Believe me, there is.”
The stories he’d heard about her husband came immediately to mind. How could a man have two separate families, deceiving both of them? What a jerk. Hard to fathom anyone so lacking in honor and morals.
The waiter brought their check, and Eduardo took it and reached for his wallet.
“I’ll take that,” she said. “It’s on me.” She fumbled in her purse.
“Fiona, I’m paying.”
“No, really, it’s no problem. I have plenty—”
Heat rose up the back of his neck. “I may not be at your level of affluence,” he gritted out, “but I’m not going to let a lady pay the check.” He extracted a bill and handed it to the server.
They both watched him walk away, not looking at each other.
“I’m sorry, Eduardo,” she said after a moment, quietly. “I didn’t mean to insult you.”
And of course, she hadn’t. It was just that he needed to keep in mind their relationship: landlord/tenant. Employer/employee. They lived on different planets, economically speaking.
And even if that barrier hadn’t existed, he needed to remember how vulnerable Fiona was. She’d been hurt badly. She didn’t need any more problems in her life.
Especially not a problem like him. Because despite her wealth—yeah, and her beauty, too—Fiona seemed like a woman who needed protection and support. And if he hadn’t been able to provide that to Elizabeth, he definitely couldn’t provide it to Fiona and her four kids.
Chapter Four (#u5c785a29-f9c6-535c-879b-5d6caaac1d1e)
“Hey, Mom, they’re here already!” Ryan burst into the kitchen, where Fiona was making Saturday-morning pancakes. “And they’re carrying stuff inside. Can we help them move in?”
Maya slid off her chair and headed toward the window. Lauren shoved away her plate. “Can we, Mom?”
Fiona glanced up at the clock. Eight o’clock, a full hour before she’d expected Eduardo and his mover-friends to arrive. Briefly, she regretted her makeup-free face, ancient concert T-shirt and ripped jeans.
She went to stand behind Maya, looking out into the sunny yard. Sure enough, a midsize rental truck sat in front of the carriage house beside Eduardo’s overloaded pickup. A couple of unfamiliar cars were parked along the edge of the alley road, and six or seven people milled around, along with Sofia and Diego.
Two men opened the back of the rental truck while another fumbled with the hinges of the carriage house’s front door. Eduardo climbed into the back of the truck, then emerged a moment later holding a long metal ramp. He set it down, leaped nimbly to the ground and moved it so it made a walkway from the back of the truck. Diego and Sofia pulled boxes from the piled-high back of Eduardo’s pickup.
Standing easily a head taller than the other men, Eduardo called out instructions as he moved to take a too-heavy box from Diego and steady a tall plant Sofia was carrying.
Even from here, Fiona could see his wide smile. Her mouth suddenly felt dry.
“Can we go out, Mom?” Now all three of her older kids clustered around the window.
Poppy banged her sippy cup on the table and pointed at her empty plate. “More pancakes first!”
Fiona clapped her hands. “Back to your seats, everyone.” She hurried to the stove to flip pancakes that had gotten just a shade too brown. “We’ll give the Delgados a chance to get started moving in. Once we’ve finished breakfast...”
The kids all started shoveling pancakes into their mouths.
“...and cleaned up, we’ll stroll over there and see how they’re doing. It looks like they have a lot of helpers, so maybe Sofia and Diego could come play here while the men work.” She brought the last plate of pancakes to the table and sat down. She considered pouring herself a bowl of low-calorie cereal, but the pancakes smelled way too good.
Half an hour later, she followed the kids over to the carriage house. As they greeted Sofia and Diego, Eduardo approached her. Though the morning was still cool, sweat had gathered on his brow.
“We got started early,” he said. “Hope we didn’t wake you guys up. Some of the men have to work this afternoon.”
“No, it’s fine. We were up,” she said. “In fact, the kids were ready to come out and offer their assistance the minute you pulled up. It’s exciting for them.”
“For us, too.”
Diego and Ryan dodged in front of a pair of guys lifting a couch, and both Fiona and Eduardo spoke simultaneously with words of caution.
“Hey, careful there.”
“Stay out of the men’s way.”
The men set the couch down in front of the carriage house’s little porch and conferred, pointing at the door, obviously discussing how to get the couch inside.
“Come over here and meet my buddies,” Eduardo said and started over toward the two men.
Fiona followed, feeling self-conscious in her Saturday-morning finest. She’d considered changing into better clothes, but that would have evoked notice from her kids. And she had to get used to the idea of being herself around Eduardo, who was, after all, renting her carriage house, not taking her out on a fancy date.
The men greeted her and one of them lifted an eyebrow and grinned, then said to Eduardo, “I see why you liked this place.”
Eduardo opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Fiona gave the man a wide vacuous smile. “Tim! I remember you. I’ve done some of the food banks with your wife.”
“Right.” The man’s expression changed to bland friendliness.
“I’m Tony,” said another man. “Pleased to meet you. I’d shake your hand, but mine’s pretty dirty. I think I’ve seen you at the soccer field.”
“That’s right, you’re Hailey and Kaylee’s dad, aren’t you?” The presence of another parent eased her discomfort.
“Hey, you guys letting me do all the work? How’s that fair?” A young woman, pretty and muscular and dressed in Hinton groundskeeper garb, put down a box and marched over. “That’s what you get, working with a bunch of guys,” she said to Fiona with mock-disgust. “I’m Angie, and I’m guessing you and I could finish this move-in in half the time while these guys stand around shooting the breeze.” She gave Eduardo a friendly nudge.
Fiona’s senses went on high alert. Was Angie Eduardo’s girlfriend?
And what business was that of Fiona’s? Why did she care?
Angie grabbed the other two men’s arms. “Come on, I don’t know about you, but he’s paying me by the hour. And not to stand around.”
“Fine, fine.” The others grumbled and left.
Which left her alone with Eduardo.
“Sorry about Tim,” he said.
“I know him. It’s not your fault. Look, how about if your kids come play at our house? They’d be out of your hair, and my kids would love it.”
“That would be a huge help,” he said gratefully. “Just while we’re moving the big stuff. But, Fiona,” he added as she started to turn, “I don’t expect you to babysit my kids on a regular basis. It’s a nice offer for today, but in the future, I’ll either return the favor or keep the kids over here. That’s not part of the contract.”
“Um, okay.” She felt unaccountably hurt. Was that what this was? A contract?
* * *
Late in the afternoon, Eduardo stretched as he watched the truck drive away. Between his friends and his coworkers, they’d finished the move on schedule. Not only that, but the beds were all set up and the furniture in place. Someone had even unpacked some of his kitchen boxes so there were dishes, pots and silverware ready to use. He sent up a prayer of thanks for the good people in his life.
Fiona being one of them now. She’d kept his kids busy and happy all day, fed them lunch and snacks, shown them kids’ room decorating ideas on her computer. He had to be careful not to take advantage of her kindness, because she was obviously a caregiver to the core and great with kids. He grabbed his phone and called for pizza, enough for all of them.
Forty-five minutes later, he texted Fiona.
Pizza’s on me. Come on over and bring your kids.
The kids consumed the pizza in record time, and the older four ran upstairs for the great task of room arrangement. Eduardo got the TV set up, and Fiona settled Maya and Poppy in front of a movie.
It was all very homey and too, too comfortable. Having Fiona and her kids here made Eduardo realize how lonely he’d been.
The problem was that in his loneliness there was the dangerous possibility he’d lead this wonderful woman on, make her think he was interested in a relationship when he wasn’t. Or shouldn’t be, anyway. He cast about for something to talk about, something serious and businesslike and impersonal.
It didn’t take long for him to think of a safe topic. “Stay here,” he said, “I found something in one of the closets.”
A moment later he was back at the dining room table with a box in hand. “This was on the shelf in the room you said you were using for an office. Up high, pushed back. I took a peek and realized it might be important. Don’t worry, I didn’t read anything.”
Fiona reached for the box with an expression of extreme distaste. “Is that what I think it is?” she murmured as she opened the lid.
Inside was a mess of receipts and envelopes and papers. “Ugh,” she said as she shuffled through the papers aimlessly, then closed the lid. “Thanks for finding it.”
“Sounds like you’d rather it had stayed lost.”
“No,” she said, “it’s a good reminder, in case I ever get serious about starting another business. I can just pull this out and all those ideas will go away.”
“That’s from your business?” Eduardo tried to keep any kind of judgment out of his voice, but in truth, the jumble of paperwork horrified him. He thought of his own carefully organized spreadsheets, his neatly labeled file folders, the app he used to keep track of small receipts.
“Yeah.” She sighed. “I... Well, like I mentioned, I’m not too great at math. Or at being organized. So I kept putting off getting the money side of things straightened out. That was one of the factors that led to the dog-walking business failing.”
He nodded. “A lot of people hire a bookkeeper if numbers aren’t their thing.”
“I tried. She quit!” Fiona rolled her eyes. “I had too many kids, too much going on. I got overwhelmed and botched the details.”
“Don’t get down on yourself,” he said, putting a hand over hers. “It’s hard enough running a business with two kids, and I can’t imagine doing it with four.” Then, when his hand wanted to squeeze hers tighter, he pulled it back. None of that, he told himself sternly.
“Mama?” Poppy came over and leaned against Fiona’s leg, and Fiona pulled her up onto her lap.
“How’s it going, kiddo? Where’s Maya?”
“She went upstairs.” Poppy stuck her thumb in her mouth, which seemed like a young thing for a three-year-old to do. But she was awfully cute. And she provided a good distraction, wiping the sadness off Fiona’s face.
“I remember when Sofia was that age,” he said. “And then Diego. They grow up so fast.”
“I know. I want to cling on to my baby as long as I can. But she’s getting big.” As proof of that, Poppy wiggled hard to get down and started to slide to the floor.
Eduardo reached over and caught her, hands around her upper arms. “Careful there, young lady,” he said, steadying her.
She wiggled away and grabbed Fiona’s leg, looking back fearfully at Eduardo.
“I’m sorry.” He looked from Poppy to Fiona. “I didn’t realize...”
“She’s not much used to men, that’s all.” She pulled Poppy up onto her lap. “Mr. Delgado is a very nice man.”
Poppy shook her head. “Not nice.”
Oh, great. Now Fiona would think there was something wrong with him. Because kids and dogs always know, right?
Fiona tapped Poppy’s lips gently and shook her head. “We use kind words,” she said and then reached out to Eduardo and patted his forearm. “She wasn’t around her father much at all, and... Well, we were in a lot of turmoil shortly after she was born. It’s had its impact.”
“I understand. Diego went through a phase where he was nervous around strangers.”
“I thought she’d have outgrown it by now.” Fiona looked out the window, seeming to see something disturbing through the deepening twilight. Absently, she stroked Poppy’s head until it rested against her chest. The little girl’s eyes were barely able to stay open.
Eduardo wanted nothing more than to comfort Fiona, but that wasn’t his place...was it?
He’d been fortunate enough to have a good marriage, with a wonderful woman. But he hadn’t been able to keep her safe.
Yes, it had been bad timing. When the small landscaper he’d been working for had gone bankrupt, the minimal medical coverage he’d had for his family had been gone. It had taken time to get replacement coverage. To get a new job, too, what with a sick wife and two little kids. Once he’d finally found work, his new job had provided great benefits, even covering Elizabeth’s preexisting condition. But the three-month gap had meant spotty treatment at a crucial stage of Elizabeth’s illness, and although a couple of doctors had told him it wouldn’t have made a difference, he knew better.
