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noticed and commented on. But whatever it was, it remained just beyond her reach.
    â€œAfter Christmas she goes back to boarding school,” he continued. “They’re giving her one more chance.” Jackson checked his watch and made a sound of frustration. “I’ve got to go. I’m already late.”
    Bentley’s stomach sank at the thought of being left alone with Chloe. She worked to keep her distress from showing. “Wait…” She sucked in a quick breath. “What do you want me to do with her today? What do you expect?”
    Jackson met her eyes. “Just keep an eye on her. Keep her out of trouble. Keep her…safe. Last week she ditched one of her sitters by climbing out her bedroom window. Scared me to death. She was gone all day.”
    â€œOh.” Bentley’s stomach plunged a bit more. “Is the mall okay? Or a movie?”
    â€œSure, whatever.” He breathed a sigh of frustration. “If this doesn’t work, I don’t know what I’ll do. I have a trip to Washington scheduled…never mind.” Jackson pulled out his wallet and dropped a couple of twenties on the counter. “See that she gets what she wants.”
    Jackson looked at his watch again and started for the front door. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked up, his expression hesitant. Bentley found herself hoping he would take a moment and go up to talk with his daughter. He didn’t.
    â€œI’m late,” he said. “I’ve got to go.”
    And then he left. Without talking to Chloe, without even calling out a goodbye. Bentley didn’t know why that made her so sad, but it did. Jackson wanted it to be right with his daughter; she felt his frustration, his pain. Bentley shook her head. It made her—
    â€œI bet you want to get into my dad’s pants.”
    Shocked, Bentley swung around to face Chloe. The girl stood at the top of the stairs, chin tight, eyes narrowed in challenge.
    And now, Bentley thought, the fun began.
    Bentley narrowed her own eyes. “I don’t believe I’m going to dignify that with an answer.”
    â€œThat means you do.” Chloe laughed. “Mama says women always fall for his big, macho type. And then they want to get into his pants.”
    â€œWell,” Bentley said breezily, not wanting the child to know just how disconcerted she was, “your mama’s wrong. Because I have no desire to, as you so delicately put it, get into your father’s pants.”
    Chloe sniffed and sauntered down the stairs. “Mama says women lie.”
    Bentley drew in a deep breath. She didn’t know Victoria Reese, but she knew she didn’t like her. “Then perhaps she’s the one who’s lying here.”
    Color flooded Chloe’s cheeks. “Don’t call my mother a liar!”
    â€œThen don’t call me one.”
    Without waiting for a reply, Bentley turned and stalked to the kitchen. There, needing something to occupy her hands, she poured herself a cup of coffee although she detested the stuff. She counted to ten. Then twenty. Finally, when she heard Chloe crossing the parlor, she pretended great interest in the coffee and the scene from the kitchen window.
    A moment later, Chloe stomped into the kitchen. When Bentley didn’t look at her, the child huffed and sighed and muttered to herself. Finally, she plopped noisily onto one of the kitchen chairs. “What are we going to do today?”
    Bentley took a sip of the coffee and angled the girl a glance. “I’m open to ideas.”
    â€œThere’s an R-rated flick playing over at the mall. Take me.”
    â€œSure.”
    Chloe’s eyes widened. “Really?”
    â€œCertainly. We’ll just call your dad to make sure it’s okay with him.”
    â€œYou’re old enough to get me in.”
    â€œTrue.” Bentley took another sip of the bitter-tasting brew. “But an R rating