“So you just up and leave?”

“Something like that.”

“So being a guardian is a temp job?”

“Not really. It’s contingent on the person, actually. Some of my guardians relocate and serve out their contracts, while others remain behind to run my businesses or take care of my affairs until I return,” Bennett said, shifting slightly on the swing. “And that brings me back to a question I asked earlier. Why are you so keen on being a guardian?”

“Because…because I really like you.”

Bennett’s eyes widened. “Fallon…um…I’m a little too old for you and—”

“What? Eew…yuck,” Fallon said, recoiling. “That is so not what I mean, and besides, you’re not my type.”

“It’s good to know you have one.”

Fallon’s cheeks heated instantly. “Yeah, can we just skip that part for right now?”

“As you wish,” Bennett said, doing nothing to hide her mirth. “Which brings us back to why your affection for me has anything to do with you wanting to be a guardian, especially since you're not even versed in what they do.”

“Because…because you’re like the bestest friend to all of us. My folks would do anything for you, and I see how they look at you. They adore you. We all adore you, and it sounds like…it sounds like my Dad, being a guardian, protects you somehow, and I thought, well, when he gets too old, I could take his place. I wouldn’t mind. My dad didn’t go to college, so that means I wouldn’t have—”

“You wait one minute, young lady. Just because your father didn’t go to college, don’t you think for one second I’d allow you to miss that opportunity. Education is extremely important, and even someone as intelligent as you still has things to learn.”

“Okay, so after college. How about then?”

“Fallon, you don’t even know—”

“Then tell me,” Fallon said, slapping her thighs. “How am I supposed to make a career choice if I don’t have all the facts—huh?”

Bennett shook her head at the girl’s determination. “Christ, I love you,” Bennett said, snickering. “All right, so your assumption was correct. Guardians are in place to protect people like me. In your father’s case, for the most part, he just acts as my driver and a chauffeur for the gallery’s clients when the need arises.”

“Why can’t you drive?”

“I can. I just choose not to.”

“Why not?”

“Because if I’m driving, I can’t pay attention to other things.”

“Like what other things?”

Bennett hung her head. “This is becoming tedious.”

“You said you’d answer my questions.”

“Yes, well, I didn’t know they were perpetual,” Bennett said, looking up.

“Only a few more. I promise.”

“All right. One more, and we call it a night. It’s getting late, and you have school tomorrow.”

“You sound like a parent.”