"She smells like warm bread and sunshine." A happy humming sound came deep from Noah's chest. "Better than expensive perfume any day."
Noah always said the right thing. Andi realized what made his words resonate with her was how naturally they flowed from him. Without calculation or artifice, he was sincere. A quality she didn't find very often in the opposite sex.
"Milk." Mrs. Finch didn't ask. She set a filled glass in front of Noah. "What can I get you, Andi?"
"I'd kill for another cup of tea."
"And…?"
Mrs. Finch waited, hands on hips. As a child, Andi would cave under the unblinking stare. As an adult, she wasn't intimidated. Or so she told herself. Not the least bit hungry, she found herself giving in.
"A cinnamon roll. If you have any to spare. Don't you have a date tonight? Your boyfriend will be disappointed if Noah and I eat the last of them and you show up at his place empty handed."
"Dougal will survive. Besides, I already set aside a few for him."
Andi wasn't surprised. For close to two decades, Mrs. Finch kept company with Dougal Sheen, a butcher whose shop was part of her bi-weekly shopping excursions. Both had been happily married, both were content with their exclusive, but legally non-binding relationship.
Mrs. Finch kept him supplied with baked goods, Dougal returned the favor with choice cuts of meat. What they did the rest of the time was a secret Andi didn't want to know. He made one of her favorite people happy. Nothing else mattered.
"Help yourself." The plate of rolls Mrs. Finch set in front of Andi and Noah was enough to last a week. "Let's see. Fruit. Biscuits filled with ham and cheese. Chocolate chip cookies, and a fresh batch of blondies. Anything else?"
"A flatbed truck to haul away our bloated bodies?" Andi teased.
"I don't hear any complaints from Noah."
"No, ma'am." Plate full, Noah sighed with pleasure as he took his first bite of cinnamon goodness. "Best thing I ever tasted."
Delighted, Mrs. Finch patted his shoulder.
"Here's your tea, Andi. If you need anything else—"
"I'll call you… in a month or two."
"Funny girl." She cupped Andi's face, her smile indulgent and filled with affection. "Food may not be your thing, but it's mine. And, from what I can see, Noah's in my corner. If you don't need anything else, I have to check on the new maid."
"Problem?" Andi sipped her tea. She wasn't worried. Mrs. Finch had good instincts where people were concerned.
"First job/first day jitters is all. The young woman is terrified she'll break something."
"Why'd you hire her if she doesn't have experience?" Noah asked. "Must be dozens of people who'd jump at the chance to work here."
"Everyone needs to start someplace." Mrs. Finch paused by the door. "What if your first employer turned you away? Where would you be?"
Mrs. Finch didn't wait for an answer. Alone, Andi gave Noah a speculative look. She knew next to nothing about him. He was an orphan, a fact he shared with little fanfare. But his eyes couldn't hide the pain he still felt by the loss. If Mrs. F. hadn't hugged him, Andi would have. She often lamented her parents and the choices they made. But she had a home and people around her to love and take care of her. Obviously, Noah hadn't been as lucky.
Andi didn't consider his childhood a subject for casual kitchen conversation. His work history seemed safe enough ground.
"What was your first job?"
"Nothing special." Noah popped a strawberry into his mouth and reloaded his plate. "A farmer hired me as cheap labor one summer. Mostly, I shoveled a lot of shi—" Noah grinned. "Sorry. Manure."
"I've heard the word," Andi assured him with a chuckle.
"But have you ever said it?"
"You think I don't curse?" Her chuckle turned in to a full belly laugh. Boy, he really didn't know her. "Ask my sisters. Or anyone who works for me. When I get on a roll, I can get pretty creative."
"For instance?"
"Nope. I need motivation."
"Bet I could piss you off."
The teasing light in Noah's deep-blue eyes caused a funny flutter in Andi's stomach. She would bet he could make her feel a lot of things. In fact, she— Wait a minute. Andi bit into her sweet roll. How did the subject change from him to her?
"Nice pivot."
"What do you mean?"
Noah's expression was blank. Too blank. Her gaze narrowed.
"If you don't want to talk about yourself, simply say so. No need to change the subject in such a sneaky way."
"Sneaky? How was I sneaky?"
Andi wouldn't call Noah's expression innocent. He had too much of the devil in his smile. However, she gave him credit for the attempt.
"Doesn't matter. Finish your snack." Andi wiped her mouth. "Nice seeing you again."
Before she could slide from her chair, Noah placed his hand over hers.
"You're leaving?"
"Can you give me a reason why I should stay?"
Noah opened his mouth. Andi waited, but all that emerged was a huff of air.
"I know." She let out her own sigh. "We met at the wrong time. Maybe, for us, there isn't a good time. Either way, I wish you the best, Mr. Brennan."
For a moment, Andi thought Noah would stop her. She wanted him to. All he had to do was ask, and she would have stayed. He didn't ask.
"The same to you, Ms. Benedict."
Disappointed, Andi walked away without a backward glance. What might have been? Sadly, they'd never know. She had to console herself with the regret she saw in his eyes.
CHAPTER SEVEN
~~~~
NOAH DIDN’T HAVE time for regrets. Or so he told himself. He knew Andi Benedict wasn't for him. Best thing was to put her out of his mind. Trouble was, his wayward thoughts had other ideas. And her sisters didn't help.
"Have a job at the Benedict mansion," Mahoney called out from his office.
Without so much as a twitch, Noah remained in his seat when all he wanted was to jump to his feet. Third time in two days someone—not Andi—called with a job. Twice, he had a legitimate excuse not to go. His days—and most of his nights—were almost always booked solid. Until now. He had the time. He wanted the job. He didn't move. And gave himself a metaphorical pat on the back for the herculean effort.
"Send someone else."
"I tried. Like the other times, the lady asked for you. Insisted. Told her you weren't available, per your instructions. Thought I was the boss," Mahoney muttered. "Guess the monkeys are running the zoo. Or rather a large, surly one."
"I'm not surly."
Noah couldn't see Mahoney's grizzled face, but the snort he let out was loud and clear.
"You're always a pain in my ass. Lately, you're a bad-tempered pain. I can live with moody, but not the loss of money."
"I make you money, old man," Noah growled. "Hand over fucking fist. I'm the best worker you have."
"Were the best." Mahoney, arms crossed, leaned against the door frame. "Don't know what happened at the Benedict place to get your panties in a twist."
"My panties are just fine."
"Whatever happened, you must have impressed the ladies of the house. They want you or nobody. Can't talk them into a substitute." Mahoney paused for effect. "Kept upping the hourly wage, too."
"They?" Noah frowned. For the first time in his life, he ignored the lure of money. "As in more than one woman called? Check which ones."
"Don't have to. Bryce, Calder, and Destry. Not likely to forget such unusual names. Especially when Benedict is tacked on the end."
The news didn't improve Noah's bad mood. He doubted Andi knew about her sister's machinations to get them together. In fact, he'd bet a month's wages she was completely in the dark. Whatever their game, he wouldn't play—even if he wanted to.
Since his wife was at the dentist and couldn't complain that caffeine wasn't good for his heart, Mahoney poured himself a cup of coffee.
&
nbsp; "Tell ya, boy. If three beautiful women wanted me as much as those ladies want you, I'd get on my horse over there."
"What do their looks have to do with anything? And how do you know they're beautiful?"
"All those calls got me curious. Only took a couple clicks of my keyboard." Mahoney let out a low wolf whistle. "The Benedict women are prime beef."
Noah winced at Mahoney's choice of words. Eagle eyed, his boss caught the expression.
"Something catch in your craw, boy?"
Born and bred in Brooklyn, at times, Mahoney's turn of phrase made him sound like a Deep South native.
"You're a dinosaur, Mahoney," Noah said with a wry shake of his head. "A freaking dying breed."
"Too much P.C. crap going around for my taste. Nothing wrong with saying what you think."
"Most women would disagree."
Andi Benedict was a prime example. She might not de-ball Mahoney if he called her a piece of beef, prime or otherwise. But he could easily imagine the layer of skin she'd flay from his back with a few searing words.
"Are you smiling or smirking?" Mahoney didn't sound pleased by either prospect.
"A bit of both, I suppose." Noah rolled to his feet. "I'll take the job."
"Now you're talking." Mahoney slapped him on the back. "What changed your mind?"
Even if Noah were predisposed to share details of his private life, hell if he would confide in Mahoney. The man couldn't keep his mouth shut to save his life.
"What do you think?" He shrugged.
"The money," Mahoney nodded, satisfied by the answer.
"What else?"
What else? Noah wished he didn't have an answer. How about a tall, green-eyed enchantress who had latched onto Noah's imagination like no other woman he'd known? The reason sounded crazy, but facts were facts. Andi Benedict was a rare breed. Smart, beautiful, funny. And worst of all. Utterly unforgettable.
~~~~
ANDI RUSHED DOWN the stairs. A stickler for punctuality, she was never late. Even her birth was ahead of schedule.
Due in late August, she surprised her mother several weeks early. Billie blamed the shock to her system when she found her husband screwing the hired help—in the bed shared since they returned from their honeymoon.
Some parents read their children to sleep with classics like Good Night Moon. Andi's bedtime story was the tale of her father's infidelity. Hardly typical material for a toddler, but Billie wasn't a typical mother. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
Rounding the corner, Andi almost tripped over a pair of legs that blocked her path. She saved herself, but her tote bag flew down the hallway, the contents splashed in every direction.
Curse words flew from her mouth in quick, colorful succession. Frustrated, more with herself than the person who caused her to trip, she didn't stop to think about her audience until after her verbal tirade ran its course.
As slow, rhythmic applause filled the silence, Andi closed her eyes, took several deep breaths, and turned, prepared to apologize for her outburst.
"Noah?" Never mind an apology. She was too surprised to do more than stare.
He smiled, wiping his hands on a paint-covered cloth.
"You didn't lie."
"Excuse me?"
"Told me you could cuss." Noah's grin widened. "Pretty creative. Can't say I've heard some of those words in combination before."
"One of my hidden talents."
The situation had a surreal quality. Was she dreaming? Andi poked Noah's arm. He was real, all right. Solid as a rock.
"Why are you here?"
"Floorboards needed sprucing up." He nodded toward the glistening wood.
Andi could have argued. She was certain the entire hall was painted less than a year ago. Yet, there he was. Brush in hand.
"You're the only painter in the city?"
"Don't ask me," Noah shrugged. "Ask your sister."
"Which one?" A nonsensical question. Her siblings worked as a team. Any one of them could be responsible.
"Calder?" Noah took a piece of paper from his pocket and nodded. "She's the one."
"Second question. Why did you take the job?"
"Money." Noah seemed to find his answer amusing. Andi didn't get the joke. "And the promise of another Mrs. Finch culinary bonanza. I made four solid meals out of the food she sent with me last time."
Not exactly the answer Andi wanted. The last time they said goodbye, she assumed would be the last time. Yet, a few short days later, here he was. She needed a better reason than food and money.
"I—"
Damn phone always rang at the wrong moment. Andi checked the screen—and let out another string of curse words.
"Trouble?" The delighted twinkle in Noah's eyes didn't help Andi's mood.
"I'm late. Very late."
She scrambled to reload her tote. The four-inch heels on her pumps didn't make the job go faster. To his credit, Noah helped. His long arm came in handy to retrieve the tube of her favorite lipstick from under the antique armoire.
"I have to go." Andi straightened her summer-weight tweed, pastel-lavender skirt. "Where will you be when I get back?"
"Interesting way to phrase your question."
"Noah—"
Eyes on the annoyed tapping of her shoe, he took pity on her and answered.
"Staten Island is my next stop."
Miles away—and by boat. Perfect.
"Goodbye. Again."
"Goodbye, Anderson."
"The name is Andi," she called over her shoulder as she hustled down the last flight of stairs.
Noah's laughter followed her out the door.
Andi muttered more curses under her breath. However, she left the house with a smile on her face. Damn him.
~~~~
A PATTERN DEVELOPED over the next month. Seemed wherever Andi turned, she found Noah. A bit of an overstatement, she admitted after she found him tightening a pipe under the kitchen sink. He wasn't in her path twenty-four hours out of the day. Only seemed that way.
Morning, noon, even in the evening, Andi would find Noah in the oddest places, doing the oddest jobs. True, a house the size of the Benedict mansion needed constant maintenance. But why in the world did Destry need her bedroom door sanded at seven-thirty on a Tuesday night? Out of town on business, her sister wasn't even around to appreciate the effort.
Of course, Andi knew what was going on. She knew the way her sisters' minds worked. They figured if she and Noah ran into each other enough, they would give into the attraction. What they expected to happen after, she had no idea. One and done? Seemed like a lot of effort and money just to scratch an itch.
Rather than confront her sisters, Andi ignored the situation. She didn't demand they stop their machinations. Nor did she confront Noah and ask what he thought he was up to. Instead, she went about her business as if his presence was completely normal. A nod or a quick hello were all she gave him.
Noah didn't seem inclined to go any further than a nod back. Or grunt a reciprocal greeting. He said he was there for the money and food. Maybe. If he wanted more—if he wanted her—he'd have to say so. Andi wasn't a mind reader. Nor would she make the first move.
Andi. Noah. Her sisters. Right now, they were at a stalemate. Calder was the first to break.
"Are you made of steel? What are you waiting for? Grab him. Lay a kiss on him."
Andi didn't flinch when Calder slammed her bedroom door.
"You're all dressed up. Who's your date?" she asked as she picked a pair of earrings.
Calder looked at herself in the full-length mirror. Frowning, she smoothed a hand over her figure-hugging, fire-engine red dress.
"Todd Rickers. Haven't decided yet if he's interesting or a dud. Guess tonight will tell."
"Well, have fun."
"Oh, no you don't." Calder waved an accusatory finger. "I asked you a question."
"Did you?" Andi tapped her chin as
if the gesture helped her think better. "Remind me."
"When are you going to grab him and kiss him?"
"Kiss who?" Cool on the outside, inside, her grin was a mile wide.
"Kiss who? Who?" Calder grabbed Andi by the shoulders. "Noah Brennan."
"Oh. Him." With a yawn, Andi slipped on a pair of silver hoops. "Is he still around?"
"Got ya." Calder did a happy dance around the room. "I wondered if you were as unaffected as you seemed. The yawn was too much, sister dear, even for a hambone actress like you."
"You should talk. The ridiculous reasons you've made up to get Noah here? You loosened the tile in your shower, didn't you?"
"Well…"
"The clog in the washroom sink? The stuck window on the third-floor landing? A broken floorboard in the maid's quarters? How many were real repairs and how many were manufactured."
"Every one was real." Calder's lips lifted in a sheepish smile. "After we gave them a little help toward broken."
"Unless Noah is a fool, and I doubt he is, he knew exactly what you were up to."
"Yet, he keeps coming." Certain she won the point, Calder raised what Andi could only describe as a smug eyebrow. "And you know everything he's fixed."
"Mrs. Finch ran down the list." After Andi asked.
"What's the problem? You want him. He wants you. Noah doesn't strike me as wishy-washy. Very much a take-charge guy. Great arms, too."
"I thought his back got your motor running."
"Every part of Noah Brennan is drool-worthy," Calder declared without an ounce of shame. "And those intense blue eyes. Hubba, hubba!"
"What's your point?"
"Ugh. Like pulling freaking teeth." Calder let out a frustrated growl. "If you really aren't interested, say the word. Billie's on the prowl. Noah's yummy. Can't guarantee how much longer until she takes a bite."
Calder knew which of Andi's buttons to push.
"Billie took her shot. Noah wasn't interested."
"Our mother isn't subtle. However, her kind of relentless pursuit is hard to ignore."
"True," Andi sighed. "But, Noah—"
"Is only a man. Bless his hunky heart."
"I don't want anyone who wants Billie." Just the thought made her stomach roil.
Three Wishes_A Second Chance at Love Contemporary Romance Page 7
