.

wish there was that kind of explanation for my weaknesses.”

      Compassion squeezed his heart as he studied her. She was wealthy and carefree on the surface, but there were layers upon layers to uncover in her, that much was clear.

      Also, it was clear that he was a little too interested in exploring those layers.

      “Here you go, sir.” The waiter placed a large piece of cherry pie in front of him. Gooey, rich with fruit, the ice cream melting down the sides of the large triangle.

      Fiona eyed it. “Wow, that looks delicious.”

      “Want a taste?” Without waiting for an answer, he cut her a small slice and slid it onto her saucer.

      “I shouldn’t, but...twist my arm.” She took a tiny bite and her eyes widened. “This is fabulous!”

      He felt absurdly happy to have given her something that brought her pleasure, however small.

      “Let me look at the figures while you eat,” she said. “Maybe I can get it through my thick skull.”

      He scrolled to the cover sheet and handed her the tablet. “That’s the overview of what I’d recommend. I should’ve started with that, anyway, rather than bombarding you with a million details and choices.”

      She took another tiny bite of pie and smiled. “So good. Thank you.” And then she focused on the tablet, frowning, asking the occasional question.

      As he finished his pie, she nodded decisively. “I like what you’ve recommended. I’d be interested in hiring you if you’re still willing.”

      “I’m willing and honored.” Then his neck heated. Honored? That wasn’t the kind of thing he’d normally say to a new client.

      An elderly couple who’d been sitting at a table in the corner of the restaurant stood and headed toward the door. The white-haired woman used a walker, and the African American man who followed her held her shoulder. And they seemed to be arguing.

      “Is that Mr. Love from the hardware store?” Eduardo asked, glad for a change of topic.

      Fiona twisted to see, and then her face broke out in a smile. “Yes, and he’s with Miss Minnie Falcon. I wonder...” She trailed off as the couple neared.

      “I don’t want to hear one more word about it,” the woman said.

      “Now, Minnie, don’t shut me down cold. Hear me out.”

      Fiona stood and reached out a hand as the older couple started to pass by. “Miss Minnie. Mr. Love. It’s nice to see you.”

      Eduardo stood, too, interested to see that Fiona was acquainted with the pair. He was grasping for signs that she was a good person to work for and rent from, and he needed to weigh the situation carefully. His kids deserved that.

      “Well, well, is that Miss Fiona Farmingham?” Mr. Love asked.

      “Yes, it is, and I’m with Eduardo Delgado, who works at Hinton. Do you both know him?”

      “I certainly do,” Mr. Love said. “I believe you stopped in two weeks ago for some crabgrass treatment, didn’t you?”

      “I’m impressed that you remember.” Eduardo stepped closer, which brought him close enough to Fiona to notice that she was wearing perfume.

      “Not all senior citizens are forgetful,” the older woman said, her voice tart.

      “Now, now, Minnie,” Mr. Love soothed. “That’s not what the young man meant.”

      “I was just surprised he remembered my order better than I did when he has so many customers,” Eduardo said truthfully.

      “Miss Minnie, have you met Eduardo Delgado?” Fiona asked, the tiniest hint of a smile in her voice. “He works at Hinton Enterprises.”

      “And he does some work at the Senior Towers. We’ve met,” Miss Minnie said, “but the two of us can’t stop to chat. We’ve seen quite enough of each other today, and our ride is waiting outside.”

      Mr. Love grasped Fiona’s hand, then Eduardo’s, smiling apologetically as Miss Minnie hurried him away.

      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.