Page 54 of Ardently Yours

Arden zipped his pants while his back was turned. I bend to pick up his shirt for him, and a piece of gold-embossed cardstock under his desk catches my eye. “We probably knocked it on the floor earlier.”

I pass it to him, and he shakes his head. “I dropped it when I realized you’d arrived.”

The way he keeps looking from the paper to me and back again makes me curious. “What is it?”

He rotates it so I can see the writing more clearly. “It’s the invitation to my parents’ annual All Hallow’s Eve Masquerade.”

The corner of his mouth lifts. “What do you think, Cinderella? Can I convince you to go to the ball?”

None of Your Business

Charlotte

The next morning, Isit at Arden’s huge kitchen island, sip tea from a china cup, and watch his “Hampton’s chef” work on preparations for lunch.

“Are yousureI can’t do anything to help?” I ask the chef a second time.

Phyllis appears to be in her late thirties. Her ash-blonde hair is tucked into an efficient bun at the nape of her neck, and she wears a black chef’s uniform. She gives me a kind smile as she arranges fancy little ribbons of cucumber on a platter. “I’m sure. I have a routine.”

A large expanse of windows commands one wall, looking out over a rolling lawn, several outbuildings, and a winterized pool and tennis court. The ocean is slate gray on the horizon, and a light drizzle leaves fog thick on the ground.

Arden told me the indoor pool and tennis courts were available should I need them. I assured him I wouldn’t.

Of course, that was last night, and before I realized I’d have six hours to fill until he returns.

Arden left before the sun came up to be home when the boys woke. He’s taking Henry to his appointment, then his return will depend on how Henry takes it, and if he needs Arden there.

I explored what I could for hours already. There were convenient staff members nearby at all times, ready to redirect me to tour the library or billiards room and other “public” spaces.

I’m not privy to the “private quarters” in this house when he’s not here. I wasn’t snooping, but the house is a grand Gothic-Revival mansion with a lot of original features. The temptation is real.

I took a walk outside, planning to circle the house and get a good look at it. Unfortunately, his security guards seemed to think I was casing the place, so I abandoned my mission before someone could slap me in handcuffs and interrogate me about why I was so curious about the layout or the roof pitch and number of gables.

I finish my last sip of tea and startle when, through the window, I see two men and one woman, wearing what looks like tactical gear, walk from an outbuilding toward a garage bay.

Phyllis glances at me, then outside, before giving me a sympathetic smile. “I imagine it must be hard to see them and not think of Steve and how different your lives would be if he’d lived.”

I frown, not understanding her meaning at all. “You knew him?”

“I split my schedule between here and the place in Upstate New York. Sooner or later, I feed the whole team. He talked about you a lot, and your baby girl. I was looking forward to getting to know you. The wives and girlfriends stick together. We’d go crazy if we didn’t.”

She has to be confused. Steve was in school for pre-law. He got a job at Arden’s office as a clerk. He wasn’t a bodyguard.

Before I can correct her, she goes on. “I know Steve didn’t die in the line of duty, but I’m glad Arden is willing to take you on as one of his strays, anyway. The McRae expects unwavering loyalty, but he returns it too.”

I set the teacup on the saucer with a rattle. “Excuse me?”

She looks up from the platter in front of her and grins. “Don’t tell me you don’t know about ‘The McRae’?”

I shake my head.

“Technically, I think Mr. McRae and his father do have some titles and land in Scotland, but they were both born here. Reese started calling him ‘Laird’ to yank his chain. It snowballed from there.”

She chuckles, then changes the subject. “So what kind of job are you looking for, Charlotte?”

I frown. “I’m an architect.” I shake my head. “I’m a senior in college. Iwill bean architect.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh, that’s perfect. You were smart to reach out now. I’m sure he’ll get you squared away with a great career at one of his family’s companies. Job security is so important when you have kids. If you need something part-time while you’re in school, we have an opening in housekeeping here. He won’t mind if you bring your daughter with you. He’s generous about things like that. There are groundskeeper’s cottages, and apartments here for staff. My husband Clay and I live with our kids in one of the cottages. It makes the daily commute easy,” she says with a wink.

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