She swallowed and said, “Fine.” Was it fine? She wasn’t feeling very fine at the moment. She was feeling peculiar. She was not interested in Archer Boone.
“Fine?” Teddy asked. “Meaning you’re feeling better about the budget review, son?”
Eden’s heart picked up. He didn’t fit in her life. Her goal. And...he was only interested in what she could do for him—like every other man in her life.
“I have every confidence in Miss Caraway’s skills.” Archer’s answer was soft.
She glanced at him.
He looked at her.
She was fully aware that conversation kept going. But she had no idea what the topic of discussion was. Or who was talking. Archer was staring at her, his blue eyes intent and searching. And she was...desperate for air.
“Fester came back,” Archer said, his gaze wandering leisurely over her face.
“I’m glad.” She was glad. About Fester.
“I’d like you to reconsider my offer,” he said.
“What offer?” Teddy Boone asked.
“I want Miss Caraway to consider staying here as the new bookkeeper. And if she’s interested, help me with Fester.” His attention shifted to the food on his plate.
She couldn’t stay. Even setting aside the goal she’d set for herself, it would never work.
First, she was lying about her identity. Once he knew who she really was, any civility would go out the window. Second, there was this thing between her and Archer Boone, which made her vulnerable—she didn’t like being vulnerable. And finally, this was the sort of place, the sort of family, that would be easy to get tangled up in. She had enough scars on her heart; she didn’t want to risk her daughters, too.
“While I appreciate the offer, I know I’m not the right person for the job,” she answered. “Your biscuits are yummy, Ivy. Good job.”
“Fester might disagree,” Archer pressed.
“Fester is a horse,” she said, glancing at him.
“Fine, I disagree,” he continued.
“That’s unfortunate.” She put more cereal on Lily’s tray. “And that was a polite attempt to change the conversation.”
Archer sat back, crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at her. And she pointedly ignored him.
Teddy Boone chuckled.
“Where are you off to next?” Renata asked. “Do temps normally travel for jobs?”
Since she had no idea, she shrugged. She knew Clara was uncomfortable with her little deception, so she’d answer as honestly as she could. “Normally I’m in Houston. But occasionally I’ve been sent out for special reviews or audits.” Which was true.
“You like Houston?” Teddy asked. “I’ve been a few times, for stock shows and auctions, and the occasional rodeo. Big city. Lots of traffic. Nice people, for the most part.”
She’d never thought about it. It was where her family was. Yes, she’d thought about leaving after her mother’s death, but she knew her father would consider that a betrayal. And once you got on his bad side, there was no going back. “It’s home.”
“What about your husband?” Renata asked. “He’s got to be missing his ladies.”
“Dad’s on a trip,” Ivy offered. “’Mergency.”
“An emergency?” Renata repeated. “I hope everything’s okay?”
“Clark travels extensively for work,” Eden said. “This was his week with the girls, but something came up.” She smiled at Lily, her baby girl’s grin filling her heart with love. She was glad something had come up. Life was better, even in a state of chaos, with her daughters close.
“Got to meet goats,” Ivy said. “And make biscuits.”
“And they’re good,” Teddy Boone said. “Real good.”
“Tank you.” Ivy bounced in her seat. “I don’t cook at Daddy’s house. But I cook at Momma’s. She doesn’t mind messes. And she lets me lick the spoon.”
Archer was staring at her, she could feel it. Would she see disappointment or curiosity? Did it matter? She spooned more applesauce and oatmeal into Lily’s mouth. Lily promptly spit half back out. Before grinning.
“Are you done?” she asked Lily.
Lily slapped her hands on the tray, cooing.
“I am sorry, Eden,” Renata said. “Your personal life is none of my business. Lily’s so young I assumed—”
“It’s fine.” Eden smiled at Renata.
Most people didn’t divorce mid-pregnancy. Clark had wanted to wait, said he’d try harder—he’d be faithful this time. But Eden knew better. Clark didn’t have monogamy in his DNA. And Eden couldn’t stomach continuing to turn a blind eye to his constant indiscretions. They’d gone to counseling, taken a romantic vacation—Lily was the result—but they’d been back a month before Clark went back to his old ways. He couldn’t keep it in his pants. She’d petitioned for a divorce when she was fifteen weeks pregnant, against the advice of her father.
Clark didn’t fight it. But her father made the whole ordeal a nightmare. If he could choose, Eden had no doubt her father would pick Clark over Eden. In a way he had—giving Clark a promotion at the firm while Eden was moved off the main floor into the Audit and Review office.
Lily rubbed her eyes, smearing applesauce and oatmeal into the golden curls atop her little head. “I think it’s bath and bedtime for Lily. If you’ll excuse me.”
“I’ll keep your food warm,” Clara offered.
“Thank you. Finish up, Ivy, almost bath time,” Eden said.
“Okay, Momma.” Ivy nodded. “Night, Lily.”
Lily smiled at Ivy, her little legs kicking as Eden held her close and carried her from the kitchen. She kissed her baby girl’s temple as they crossed the great room and headed to their suite, loving Lily’s weight in her arms, her sweet baby smell a comfort.
“Ma-ma-ma-ma,” Lily said, tugging a fistful of Eden’s hair.
“That’s me,” Eden agreed, gently removing her hair from Lily’s hold. “I’m your momma, little bug.” She kissed her daughter’s temple, thinking about the kiss Renata Boone had given her own father.
She hadn’t wanted to get personal. She didn’t want to talk about Clark or her family. These were good people. And she was deceiving them. Something she’d never planned on doing. Something that was growing increasingly difficult to do.
Having dinner with the Boones was no longer an option. Or spending time with the family, beyond what was required for work. Her stomach felt leaden.
If only she could forget what Renata had said that first night. If she could forget that her mother was directly involved with the refuge, maybe she wouldn’t feel as conflicted as she was beginning to feel. And yet, she worried about what she might find out. Her mother hadn’t been happy in her marriage... She thought about Teddy Boone. The man was everything her father wasn’t. Warm, kind and handsome. Had her mother been unfaithful? And could Eden live with that? She knew how degrading it felt to be the one cheated on.
Maybe there were some things best left alone. Things like second-guessing her goals. And Archer Boone. Definitely Archer Boone. She needed to focus and finish up so she could leave—before things got complicated.
She pressed a kiss to Lily’s forehead and gathered supplies for bath. “Bath time, Lily.” Lily grinned, all dimples, blond curls and wide eyes. “Ba-la-ma-ba-ba.”
Eden giggled, wondering how Ivy would translate that one. No more focusing on things that didn’t matter. Her job, her girls—that was enough; it had to be.
* * *
ARCHER HELD A pink crayon out to Ivy.
“Tank you,” she said.
Archer watched her color like mad, not bothering to point out she was coloring outside the lines. She was three. And she was enjoying herself. That, to Archer’s mind, was enough.
“Baby goats are loud,” she said, not bothering to stop coloring. “Are horses loud, too?”
“They can be,” he said, trading her pink for a green.
“Horses are bigger,” Ivy said, looking at him. “Giants.”
Compared to a goat, yes. He nodded.
“Momma said the big black horse is sad.” She started coloring again.
The black horse? Fester? Eden had told Ivy about Fester? He smiled. “Why is he sad?”
“Momma says he’s scared of being alone.” Ivy sat back, inspecting her coloring book. “Pupple, please?”
He was scared of being alone... “Pupple?” he repeated, putting on his reading glasses to read the name colors on the crayon wrappers.
Ivy reached over him for a crayon. “Pup-ple,” she said.
He smiled, nodding. “Purple.”
She went back to coloring her flowers.
“All done, Miss Ivy?” Clara said. “How about I give you your bath so your momma can eat.”
“Okay,” Ivy said. “Put up my colors first.”
Archer held the box while she shoved all of her crayons inside.
“Night, Dr. Boone,” she said, smiling at him.
He had no choice but to smile back. “Call me Archer, Miss Ivy.”
“Night, Dr. Archer,” she said before running to Clara.
Clara scooped her up and carried her down the hall.
“It’s killing you not to organize them, isn’t it?” Renata asked.
“What?” He turned to find his sister perched on the arm of his chair, watching him closely.
“The crayons. All the colors mixed up like that. Your OCD has to be going crazy,” she teased. “You can sort them. I won’t judge you.”
He arched a brow at her.
“Okay, maybe a little judging.” Renata giggled. “You’re right about the blue mare. Sweetest ride ever. You’ve got to name her, by the way.”
“Her owner should name her,” Archer said.
“If Shawn doesn’t take her, I’d like to,” Renata said, moving to the chair across from him.
“Okay.”
“What’s up with Dad?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
She shook her head, rolling her eyes. “Nothing. I love you, big brother, but your cluelessness never fails to amaze me.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Dad’s all chipper,” she said, waiting.
“He’s always chipper,” he countered. “It’s damn annoying at five in the morning.”
Renata laughed.
Eden came into the room then. She walked straight through to the kitchen, nodding in acknowledgment as she passed. Archer watched, trying to think of something to say. But she disappeared behind the door and the moment was lost.
“What do you make of Miss Caraway?” Renata asked.
Archer shot her a look. He sighed. “Why do I feel like this is a loaded question?”
She smiled. “I’m just wondering how far the cluelessness extends.”
“Fine, clue me in. I’ll be happy to clear up any of your misconceptions.”
She sat back. “You like her. Enough to keep her around. And the fact that Fester likes her is driving you nuts—especially since she won’t jump on board with your plan.”
He didn’t say anything. Because there was nothing to correct.
His sister smiled. “What are you going to do?”
“Do?”
Renata shook her head again. “Archer, come on. Out of all my brothers, you are the most tenacious. You make things happen, change people’s minds, bring them around, get them excited. You talk people out of money. You—the surly one. When you want something, you are unstoppable.”
“This applies to Miss Caraway how?” He waited. He knew exactly what his sister was saying, but there was no way he was going to admit that his interest in Eden extended outside of work. Playing the obtuse card was his only option.
“What are we talking about?” Their father joined them.
“Where’s Eden?” Renata asked.
“She got a phone call so I thought she’d appreciate some privacy.” His father slid into his favorite leather recliner. “What are you two worked up over?”
Archer shot him a look.
“Fine, what’s Renata worked up over?” Teddy laughed.
“Eden,” Renata said, lowering her voice.
“Good momma, that one.” Teddy frowned. “That little lady has had more than her fair share of heartache.”
Archer stared at his father. “Why do you say that?”
His father looked uncomfortable, shifting in his seat before he answered, “Hell, son, she’s been through a divorce already. Her babies are still babies. You don’t throw in the towel unless something went seriously wrong. Not in my book, anyway. And she doesn’t strike me as the sort to do something without thinking it through.” He shrugged. “I caught some of her phone call... I’d say Miss Caraway’s life isn’t an easy one.”
Archer ran a hand over his face. He’d been so caught up in what Fester needed, what he wanted, that he hadn’t bothered to consider all of Eden’s circumstances. One more reminder that he was a self-absorbed ass. She’d had a long day. And he’d made it longer. Plus the scorpion. And his reprimand. He stood and headed into the kitchen. Eden sat at the table, her elbows resting on the polished wood surface, her chin resting on her palms.
“You okay?” he asked, sitting across from her.
She jumped, immediately wiping her face with her hands. Wiping away tears.
“Eden?” he asked, offering her the handkerchief he always kept in his pocket.
She took it, her murmured thank-you twisting his gut. He sat there, wishing she’d look at him—hoping he could gain some sort of insight into this woman. “Ivy likes purple. She colored all her flowers purple.”
Eden smiled. “It’s her favorite.”
“She asked if horses were as noisy as goats,” he continued.
She glanced at him, poking the chicken on her plate with her fork. “What did you tell her?”
“Sometimes.” He shrugged. “Maybe she should come down to the barn tomorrow? Meet one up close?”
She laid her fork down and crossed her arms. “Why?”
Her tone was a warning. He needed to be very careful how he responded to her. “She’d like it.”
She stood, carrying her still-full plate to the counter. “So it’s for Ivy?”
He followed her to the sink, watching her scrape the food into the trash. “Yes.”
“Not me?” She slammed the plate on the counter. “You’re not trying to get to me through my daughter? So I’ll stay and help you with Fester?”
He paused, frowning. “No, Eden. That...wasn’t my intent.”
Her hazel gaze searched his, brimming with more tears.
His chest felt heavy. He had two choices. Pulling her close, holding her against him, which wasn’t something he was comfortable with. Or trying to break the tension, tease her, even if he didn’t have the best record with that, either. “I might have tried it—if I thought it would work.”
Her eyes widened before she burst out laughing.
He smiled.
She shook her head.
“You didn’t eat much,” he said.
“Not hungry,” she answered, still looking at him.
And the way she was looking at him... He placed his hand on the counter, close to hers. Almost touching her. He wanted to, though. Damn it. He wanted to touch her. He wanted to chase away her sadness. Make her smile. Because her smile was powerful.
“You ever go horseback riding?” he asked.
She nodded. “When I was young.”
Which surprised him.
“My mother loved horses. She grew up around them.” She broke off suddenly.
My mother loved horses. Past tense. The
y had that in common. “How about I take you and Ivy for a ride tomorrow?”
She frowned and turned away to wash her plate in the sink. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she murmured. “I have too much work to do. And I think it’s best if my family eats with the other guests from now on, in the main dining room. I am, after all, an employee. Not family.”
Archer stared down at her. “If that’s what you’d prefer.”
“It is, Dr. Boone.” She nodded. “But I appreciate your family’s hospitality.”
She was doing the right thing, putting up boundaries and distance. But he’d enjoyed having her at the table tonight. Sitting beside her, watching her with Lily, and Ivy’s sunny laugh and chatter felt right. And damn good. “Eden, Renata shouldn’t have pried—”
Eden shook her head, her hazel eyes locking with his. “I pride myself on being a professional, Dr. Boone. That is what we are. Professionals. Working together for a common goal. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She left him standing in the kitchen, his sister’s words replaying.
When you want something, you are unstoppable.
Did he want Eden? He swallowed, leaning back against the kitchen counter. Yes. He did. In a way that was neither professional nor rational. A realization he was still struggling with. He’d known her only a few days, for crying out loud. What he was considering was rash and careless. He was neither.
But...in a few more days she’d be gone. And if the sense of panic that fact caused was any indication, he needed to decide just what he was going to do about Eden Caraway.
Chapter Six
“Mr. Boone says there will be a parade and pony rides and a carnival on Monday.” Clara was braiding Ivy’s long ringlets.
“I have to work, Clara.” Eden sighed. “I have to get Dr. Boone’s finances in order and the board presentation in order by next Friday.”
“Pony rides, Momma,” Ivy said. “Real ponies.”
“I’ll ask Dr. Boone. Considering it’ll be our last day here, I’m not very optimistic.” She hoped working through the weekend would allow her to finish the spreadsheets and scanning. And help her find something useful. In the time she’d been here, she had yet to find a single suspicious purchase or expense. Archer’s filing system, or lack thereof, was the only flaw. What she had learned had only increased her respect for Archer Boone and the work he did. The refuge was self-sustaining at this level. They sold horses, held clinics and riding camps, and participated in a large annual fund-raiser. Riders and horse lovers from all over came to participate in an annual scavenger hunt on the several thousand acres that made up Boone Ranch.
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