Conor leaned away from the wall and walked to his uncle’s side. ‘Uncle Felix,’ he said softly, ‘please listen to me.’ He squatted down beside the wheelchair, took Felix’s hand between his, and looked into his face. Arden’s eyes narrowed as she took in the scene. If she hadn’t known better, she’d have thought he really did care for the old man. ‘How can I convince you that my only concern is for your welfare?’
‘You have never been concerned for my welfare!’
Conor sighed. ‘I know this woman has somehow convinced you she’s properly qualified for this position, but—’
Arden’s patience snapped. ‘Stop talking about me as if I were invisible,’ she said angrily. ‘I didn’t convince your uncle of anything! In fact, I didn’t even want this job!’
‘Really.’ Conor rose to his feet and gave her a quick, dangerous smile. ‘You mean you were kidnapped and brought here under duress.’
Arden’s lip curled. ‘Don’t be ridiculous!’
‘Miss Miller had doubts about me, as I had about her,’ Felix said, wheeling his chair forward. ‘But we agreed to set those doubts aside and try a temporary arrangement.’
‘Yes.’ Conor’s eyes glinted with barely suppressed anger. ‘She’s quite good at temporary arrangements.’
‘Conor, you are to stop this nonsense at once! Miss Miller is an excellent companion. She is not leaving.’
‘She is. I’ll find you someone else.’
Felix snapped his hand on the arm of his wheelchair. ‘No one else will be as well suited to this position!’
‘Miss Miller is suited to a great many things,’ Conor said sharply, ‘but playing at being your companion is not one of them.’
‘That’s enough!’ Arden’s cry of rage exploded into the room. She strode forward and stood between the two men, her eyes flashing. ‘I am not a—a bundle of laundry to be argued over!’ She slapped her hands on to her hips and glared at Conor. ‘You’ve done nothing but interfere in my life since the minute I first saw you, and I’m damned tired of it! As for you, señor,’ she said, swinging around to face Felix, ‘as for you—I’m glad you enjoy my company, but in all this battling over whether I’m to stay or to go you’ve neglected to once ask me if I’d even want to stay in a house where I’m so obviously unwelcome!’
A moment of silence followed her outburst, and then Felix shot his nephew a triumphant smile.
‘Such spirit,’ he said admiringly. ‘Where would you find me a companion her equal?’
Conor thrust his hand into his hair and brushed it back from his forehead. ‘I don’t know,’ he growled. ‘But I will, I promise you. Until then, Linda can keep you company. Isn’t that right, Linda?’
Linda Vasquez swallowed drily as she looked from one man to the other. ‘Of course,’ she said, after a moment, ‘I—uh—I’d be delighted.’
The old man snorted. ‘And what will we discuss? The latest gossip from Miami? The news on the coutur
ier front?’ He gave a bark of laughter. ‘What a wonderful idea.’
Linda smiled brightly. ‘We can talk about more than that, Papa.’
Felix scowled. ‘I am not your Papa. You were three when I met your mother. How could I be your Papa?’
‘I only meant—’
‘Tell me, my devoted stepdaughter, who is your favourite poet?’
The brunette’s dark eyebrows drew together. ‘I—ah—I’m not really much for—’
‘Your favourite writer, then. Whom do you prefer, among contemporary authors?’
Linda swallowed. ‘Well, actually, I—ah—I—’
‘And what would you think of the proliferation of nuclear power plants?’
Linda turned to Conor, her face reddening. ‘This is nonsense,’ she said. ‘Tell him to stop!’
Felix spun the wheels of his chair until he was facing Arden. ‘Have you a favourite poet, Miss Miller?’
‘Señor Romero, please. Thank you for defending me, but I think it’s time I went upstairs and packed my things.’ She gave Conor a withering look. ‘Believe me, if I’d known who this man was, I’d never have bothered to—’