Keera knew the moment Arden passed the hotel that he was bringing her to his house. She also knew she should protest, tell him there was no way she could stay at his place. If the neighbors hadn’t already caught the two of them the other day in the parking lot, then her moving into his place was sure to spread gossip across town.
But she was afraid. She might not want to admit her fear, but someone had broken into her office, and then they’d broken into her home, destroying everything in it. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to so much as salvage her underwear. She didn’t know what she was going to do.
Yes, she had money in her savings account, but if she bought an entirely new wardrobe, she’d be left with little. Keera didn’t need a lot in life. She’d learned young that anything you had could be taken from you without notice. But a person did need the basics to get by. And she was a high school principal and had worked hard for years to have a wardrobe she was proud of.
And just like that, it had all been taken from her in the blink of an eye. She felt like that fifteen-year-old girl again, being told that nothing was hers, that it had all been obtained illegally. She hadn’t been able to understand then what had been happening.
Sadly enough, she couldn’t understand now, either. Because this was such a senseless crime. She had nothing of value—no reason for someone to come into her private space and destroy it. She might not be the best person in the world, but she wasn’t cruel, she didn’t inspire vendettas in others. It had to be because of her past.
That scared her enough to allow Arden to bring her home. She in no way wanted to put him in danger, but his words ran through her mind, and she knew it was time to lean on someone. She’d get strong again, she assured herself, but maybe she could allow him to carry the weight of her burdens for this one night.
“I won’t argue for now because I don’t have it in me,” she told Arden when he pulled into his garage. “But I can’t stay here long,” she warned.
Arden just smiled at her in that knowing way that tended to infuriate her. She had no doubt whatsoever that Arden wasn’t a man used to hearing the word no. He was a man of action, and once he set his mind on something, he was determined to carry it out. The thing he didn’t quite understand about her yet, though, was that she was the same as he was in that sense. She could certainly be just as stubborn.
As the two of them walked into his house, Arden was close behind her. With Max knowing the danger was gone, he trotted ahead, going to his food bowl and getting a bite to eat.
With Arden so close to her, and Max not there for a distraction, Keera’s nerves jumped. She moved away from him, walking into the living room and gazing out the window at his monstrous backyard. He truly lived in a beautiful area, with far more home than a single guy needed.
Of course, Keera had no doubt he wouldn’t be alone in the place long. He might want to take his time to settle down, but eventually he’d want to marry someone, want to start a family. The person he chose would need to be respected, would need to be good enough to carry the Forbes name. That person would never be her.
Keera shook her head as she fought more tears. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe in herself. It wasn’t that she felt one human being was better than any other just because of their social status. It was just that she lived in the real world, and a family like the Forbeses was well known. One of them couldn’t get married without the tabloids looking for juicy details.
They’d have a field day with her story, and she’d be the cause of horrific embarrassment for Arden and the rest of his family. She had far too much respect for this man to put him in a position where he’d have to choose between her and his reputation. She now understood that would tear at him.
She’d begun to share her story with him, but she’d in no way finished it. When she did give him the rest, he’d be grateful he hadn’t gotten more serious with her than a fantastic night in bed. Men like the Forbeses could certainly get around, and it didn’t matter that much who they slept with—it only mattered who they put a ring on.
Arden gave her time to gather herself, and it was just one more thing she appreciated about the man. He made her feel safe, protected, and secure. He made her feel cared about—and most important, he made her feel as if she wasn’t alone, as if she truly did have someone she could turn to.
These thoughts about him were dangerous on so many levels. But it didn’t matter if she tried to stop them because it was how she felt, and it was too late to turn back. She’d opened herself to him, and no matter what she did to try to stop it, she was going to hurt when he wasn’t a part of her life. Keera had no doubt she’d have to eventually move from this town. It would simply be too painful for her to stay, to watch all this slip so easily from her fingers.
“I called my brother Kian. His wife is about your size, so I asked them to bring over some clothes until we can get to the store,” Arden said.
That drew Keera’s attention. “You didn’t need to do that,” she told him, embarrassed. She didn’t want to feel like a charity case.
“That’s what we do here. Last year, one of the students from a very large family had an electrical fire. They lost everything two weeks before Christmas. The town came together that night and took care of their immediate needs,” Arden said, smiling at the memory.
“I’m not surprised, from what I’ve learned of this town already,” she said.
“Those kids also had the best Christmas they could’ve ever imagined. It was going to take a while for the insurance to kick in and get their house rebuilt, but an anonymous donor came through, and the people of this town gathered, working night and day.” His smile grew. “Have you ever watched that show where they build a house in a week?”
She nodded. “It seems impossible.”
“Well, I guarantee it can happen. The family was woken Christmas morning from the house they’d been staying in, a place far too small for a family of eight. They were driven home to find a new house, fully furnished with a living room so packed with gifts, the kids might still be opening them.” She was amazed when she saw a sparkle in his eyes. He blinked and turned, and when he looked at her again, he’d pulled himself together.
“I’m sure you were a big part of this,” she said, her admiration for him growing even more.
“A lot of people were,” he said noncommittally. “The point is that the family was a good family, the mother a nurse at the hospital, the father an owner of an accounting firm. They were proud people who have always worked hard, with good children who have been taught well. But sometimes in life we get knocked down, and it doesn’t hurt to accept help. They were more than grateful, and gracious as they accepted the town’s gift. They have also paid it forward a dozen times since. We’re a community that doesn’t leave each other out in the cold.”
Keera couldn’t keep her tears back any longer. She had been there such a short time, and he already considered her part of their town. She wasn’t sure she’d be brave enough to walk away—even if it was what was best for this man. Maybe she truly was as selfish as her father had called her the last time they’d spoken.