LITMIR.BIZ

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when it comes to my girls—”

      “You don’t have to say it, Aiden,” Taryn interrupted. She wanted to tell him that she’d had students whose parents were dealing with their own personal issues and were unable to protect their children. She forced a smile. “Now, are you going to let me see your man cave?”

      Aiden returned her smile with a bright one of his own. “Of course.”

      “This is ni-ice,” Taryn drawled, drawing the word out in two syllables when she stepped off the last stair, her shoes sinking into the plush pale-gray carpeting that matched the fabric walls. Aiden flipped a wall switch and high-hats bathed the space in soft light. The basement had been transformed into a media/game room with black leather reclining chairs, sofas and love seats. A flat screen measuring at least seventy inches was mounted on a wall for viewing throughout the expansive space. There was a wet bar fronted with a quartet of stools, a glass-fronted credenza with highball and cocktail glasses and fully stocked with spirits, along with a portable refrigerator and wine cellar. The game area contained pool and air hockey tables and additional side tables with checkers and chess pieces stood ready for willing players.

      “How often do you entertain down here?”

      “It varies. I usually host Super Bowl Sunday and alternate with my sister for Thanksgiving. My brother and his wife always have Easter and Christmas at their home. What about your family, Taryn? How do you celebrate the holidays?”

      Taryn rested a hip against the mahogany bar. “My father is a rabid football fan and his guilty pleasure is attending the Super Bowl.”

      Aiden lifted questioning eyebrows. “He goes every year?” She nodded. “What does he do?”

      “He’s a family court judge.”

      Aiden grimaced. “Been there, done that,” he mumbled under his breath. “What about your mother?”

      Taryn knew if he’d gained sole custody of his children, then he would’ve had to have gone through the family court system. “She’s a social worker.”

      “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

      “I have a brother who’s active navy.”

      Aiden’s expression brightened as if someone had suddenly turned on a light. “Where is he stationed?”

      “Base Little Creek.”

      Recognition stole its way over Aiden’s rugged features as he stared at Taryn as if she had spoken a language he did not understand. “Your brother is a SEAL?”

      “Yes.”

      “He’s SEAL Team 8?”

      A soft gasp escaped Taryn’s parted lips. “You know?”

      “Yes, because I was a member of SEAL Team 5 stationed in Coronado, California.”

      She pressed her fingertips to her mouth. “I knew it,” she said between her fingers.”

      “Knew what, Taryn?”

      “I knew you were special ops because your body language is the same as my brother’s. Do folks around here know you were a SEAL?”

      Aiden shook his head. “Only my family knew. It was something my ex complained about because whenever I was assigned a mission I couldn’t tell her where I was going.”

      Taryn thought about her sister-in-law who didn’t complain when Langdon received his orders; she knew when she married him that she wouldn’t hear from him for weeks at a time. “Didn’t she know this when you married her?”

      “Yes.”

      “I don’t understand—”

      “There’s nothing for you to understand,” Aiden said, cutting her off. “The only thing I’m going to say, and after that the topic is moot, is the best thing to come from my marriage is my children.”

      Although Aiden hadn’t raised his voice, Taryn felt as if he had. She clenched her teeth to keep from reminding him that he had been the one to mention his wife. And she resented that he’d spoken to her as if chastising his children. “I’m ready to leave now.” And she was. She’d spent almost two hours with Aiden, longer than any normal interview, and suddenly she felt as if she’d worn out her welcome.

      “Don’t you want to see the rest of the basement?”

      “I’ll see it at another time. I need to get back to the house and walk Bootsy.” Taryn hadn’t lied because she’d promised the puppy that she would walk him. Turing on her heel, she headed for the staircase, Aiden following. It only took minutes for her to return to the kitchen and retrieve her jacket and tote. “What time are we meeting tomorrow to go to Beckley?”

      “Does ten o’clock work for you?”

      She looped the handles of the tote over her shoulder. “Yes, and thank you for breakfast.”

      Aiden inclined his head. “You’re welcome. I’ll walk you to your vehicle.”

      Taryn wanted to tell him she could find her car without his assistance but decided to be gracious. “Thank you.” Aiden walked her to where she had parked the SUV.

      “Drive safely,” he said when she opened the driver’s-side door.

      “I will.”

      She shut the door, started up the SUV and maneuvered away from the curb. Taryn acknowledged that she’d closed the door on one phase of her life, and when she signed the contract, agreeing to homeschool two preschoolers, she had opened another. Interacting with Aiden had been comfortable and easygoing until he’d mentioned his wife. And it wasn’t for the first time she wondered, what had the woman done to result in her losing her children? Were the townspeople right when they claimed her family was bad news? And why, Taryn mused, did Aiden marry her when he knew her family’s history, whatever that was?

      The questions tumbled over themselves in Taryn’s head, until she was forced to mentally dismiss them when she reminded herself that although she would share a house with her students’ father, their relationship would be strictly professional. He was her employer and she his employee. It was something she could not afford to forget.

       Chapter Three

      Taryn stood at the French doors in Jessica’s kitchen enjoying her second cup of coffee while watching the snow covering the backyard. Last night’s lightly falling frozen precipitation had intensified into a full-blown blizzard. Her cell phone rang and she walked over and picked it up off the countertop. Aiden’s name and number appeared on the screen. She answered the call after the second ring.

      “Good morning.”

      “Is it really?” Aiden asked, chuckling softly.

      She smiled. “It is for polar bears. It looks as if we’re going to have to cancel our trip to Beckley.”

      “That’s why I’m calling. The mayor has declared a snow emergency, which means all non-essential vehicles aren’t allowed on the road. This is my only day off until after the New Year, so we won’t be able to order the furniture until you return.”

      “Don’t sweat it, Aiden. I’ll order whatever I need once I get to New York and have it shipped to you. Do you want me to ship it to your home or the Wolf Den?”

      “Can you arrange for it to be delivered to the house after you come back? Because I don’t want to become a target for porch pirates.”

      “That shouldn’t be a problem.” There had been an escalation of porch thefts all over the country, despite homeowners installing security cameras. “Have you thought of installing cameras around your property?” Sawyer had wired the house with a system where he could view the house and greenhouses from remote locations.

      “Yes and

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