“Seriously, Ethan,” Miles spoke before she could. “Can’t you see she’s a woman of finer tastes?”
There was nothing I could do to stop the hard eye-roll. It would’ve happened if I were brain-dead in a coma. He was so full of it, and I half-expected to find the same look on Maren’s face. Except… I was quickly learning hard lessons about that wily temptress called ‘expectation’.
She smiled at him. Her gaze soft as she considered him with careful curiosity. Maybe a dash of reluctant amusement. Taken in, is what she was. Miles lapped it up, and I watched the exchange with a little twist in my gut.
Who was this woman? She didn’t seem fazed at all. By any of it. Not the kids, the noise, or the grown man with a half-eaten sucker stuck in his hair. Maren Calloway had a calm, patient energy, the kind that probably worked well in a classroom.
“My tastes aside,” she said, taking a step toward her final exit. I fought the urge to physically hold her back. “As much as I want to help you guys out, there are logistics to this I can’t overlook.”
Then, when I thought she’d breeze out the door and out of my life, she did something else I didn’t expect. Instead of pushing past Miles to leave, she moved into his space completely. Hewasn’t ready for it either, and his whole body tensed as she lifted her hands to the sucker dangling on the side of his head. Gentle but confident, she untangled the sucker with the kind of skill that said she’d done this a thousand times before.
I couldn’t tell whether he was breathing, but I didn’t miss the deep red flush creeping up the back of his neck. The hard swallow when his gaze dropped to meet hers, and she locked in. That twist in my gut intensified, but I couldn’t look away if I tried. One last tug and Maren took a step back with a smirk, pressing the sucker into Miles’ open palm.
“There,” she said, laughing softly. “Now you only look half-crazy.”
He laughed too. Still dumbstruck, but warming up fast. “I’m Miles, by the way.”
“Maren.”
Something eased in the air after that. The knot in my stomach, Miles’ shoulders, probably. I wasn’t sure what the fuck just happened, but would leave figuring it out until the deal was sealed.
“You’re already fitting in perfectly,” I said, more brightly than I planned. I cleared my throat to bring down the manic vibe, and added, “Let me show you to your room.”
Maren shook her head with a laugh, and this time she did leave, moving down the hall with purpose. “You guys are relentless.”
Miles and I shared a look, then hurried after her, walking and talking, the three of us looking like one of those mismatched trios in a stupid sitcom. Maren shot down every attempt to convince her to stay, and by the time we got to the living room I was about ready to give up on it and just let her go.
But then her steps slowed. And she stopped.
Once I realized why, I did the same. Miles’ deliberate stride was a split second slower, and he bumped into me. He was about to let me have it, when my finger shot up to quiet him down.
And the three of us just stood there. In the quiet.
“Is this really happening?” I mumbled under my breath.
Miles shook his head. “I’m not buying it. It’s the calm before the storm.”
“Or… they’re just watching TV,” Maren said.
I was afraid to move in case it broke the spell. Emma and Sadie were sprawled on one couch, and even Will had turned off that damn video game to watch the show.
Adrian came over with the flourish of a magician revealing his final jaw-dropping act. “You’re welcome.”
“You couldn’t think of this five hours ago?”
He shrugged. “I don’t tell inspiration when to strike, but I’m always grateful that she does.”
“You know, screens aren’t exactly the best childminders,” Maren said, arms folded across her chest. “But good job.”
“You must be the new nanny.” Adrian studied her with a fiery curiosity that I recognized all too well. Can’t say I liked it too much. “Adrian Monroe… also known as Ace.”
“Maren,” she said, taking his hand. “I don’t have a cool nickname, but yes, I’m the new nanny.”
“Who isn’t about to leave, because she’s starting right away.” Miles stared hard into her eyes, giving his hypnotic tone even more weight.
“I told you, I don’t have any of my stuff,” she protested yet again.
I had no choice but to pull out the big guns. With the lightest of touches to her elbow, I guided her to the entrance hall. My intentions were to speak to her alone, but I should’ve known Miles and Adrian would follow.
