Page 104 of Hearts Aweigh
“Wait.” His voice was quiet.
That word again. But this time she couldn’t ignore it. This time she stayed.
He didn’t look at her. “I know we aren’t on the best of terms, but”—his jaw tensed—“I could really use a hug right now.” He drew himself taller like he was bracing for rejection.
Abby ached to hold him. Still, she hesitated.
It was a bad idea for a boatload of reasons. Big trouble awaited if she fraternized with a passenger. And her peace of mind might disintegrate if she allowed this man any closer. But his tortured expression beckoned her.
Don’t do it!
Her head argued even as her feet moved forward. She crossed the small distance between them, slipped her arms beneath his, and wrapped them around his waist. If she was going to throw away common sense, she might as well make it good. Abby pressed her cheek against his chest and held him close. She patted his back like a mother might do when sending her grown son off to college. Not that she felt motherly. Quite the contrary. Her body tingled where it pressed against his.
He hunched closer, his muscles providing a hard, delicious cocoon. A tremor shook him.
Abby squeezed tight and stayed there. Five minutes? Ten? She wasn’t sure how much time passed, but she sensed by the straightening of his posture when he regained control. Not wanting to add to his embarrassment, she released him and leaned away, but he held on. His arms remained around her as he looked down.
Bewilderment entered his eyes. Unsurprising, considering what he’d been forced to listen to from his own mother. It was a wonder he’d managed to stay on his feet.
Abby drew a breath. “Maddie’s hanging out upstairs. I’ll go play with her so you can be alone for a while.”
Again, she tried to step away. Again, he held her in place.
“Thank you.” Spencer studied her.
“For what?”
A wistful smile appeared. “For being you.”
The click of the door closing sounded behind them.
Priscilla’s unwelcome voice intruded. “Isn’t this cozy?”
Abby and Spencer jumped apart like a pair of naughty teenagers who’d been caught by the teacher.
“Shame on you, Spence.” Priscilla approached with a blithe attitude. “I never took you for someone who’d fool around with the help.”
“Thehelp?” Abby cringed at the antiquated put-down. “Did I stumble into a 1950s soap opera? Surely people don’t think that way anymore.”
“Unfortunately,” Spencer said, “it’s all too common in the circles where I grew up. The old-money crowd has centuries of snobbery ingrained.”
The towering Priscilla perused Abby’s short figure as she addressed her ex-husband. “I suppose I can’t begrudge you a little holiday amusement.”
“‘Amusement’?” Abby reminded herself this unbearably rude woman was a customer. “I assure you, I am not included on the MSBuckingham’s activities list.”
The statuesque blond sat on a nearby chair and crossed her legs at the ankles. Her serene disdain disregarded Abby as if she hadn’t spoken. Priscilla addressed Spencer. “Be sure not totake any pictures that might be embarrassing at a later date. My opposition has a history of digging up a candidate’s dirty laundry. I’ve been on my best behavior”—she deigned a sideways glance at Abby—“but I’m not so sure about you, Spence.”
Abby counted to four in her head. That was the number of workdays left on her contract. She wanted to finish her time on the MSBuckinghamwithout any demerits on her record.
A gentle pressure on her fingers distracted her. Spencer’s large hand enveloped her own. He leaned close and whispered in her ear.
“Go with me on this. Please.”
With a squeeze, he released her and pulled out his phone. “Here’s a picture you might be interested in.” He extended the screen to Priscilla.
Her lazy lean forward came to an abrupt halt. She jolted to her feet and swiped the phone. Her cold blue appraisal pointed his way. “You must be joking.”
For the life of her, Abby couldn’t dream of a single thing that would make the ice queen lose her composure. The only pictures she’d ever taken with Spencer and Maddie were on the pier in Cozumel. Was Priscilla horrified at the childish pose she’d struck with her tongue sticking out?
