Page 49 of Hearts Aweigh
“Yes, sir!”
The man skittered away, and Spencer strode off, the Shippers and Madeleine at his heels.
Abby squirmed in his arms. “It looks worse than it feels. You don’t have to carry me.”
“Madeleine, are you coming?” Spencer made sure his daughter was at his side and kept walking.
“Maddie.” Abby craned her neck over his shoulder. “Put your hat on. Your nose is getting sunburned.”
The visor dangled from the string around her neck. Madeleine scurried beside Spencer as she pulled it onto her head. He shortened his strides so she could keep up. Even with an injury, Abigail O’Brien was thinking of his daughter first. The motherly concern in her eyes was as foreign to him as the snowcapped peaks of the Himalayas. And just as beautiful.
His nose almost touched hers. From this close, Abby noticed his irises weren’t actually black but a really, really deep brown. Like hot fudge. Resting on a six-foot-plus sundae of gorgeousness.
She shook her head.Professional. Keep it professional.And make him put her down. Even if she kind of liked the view.
“I can—”
“Hush,” he murmured. “It would take you thirty minutes to limp to the infirmary.”
Should she take offense? A grown woman shouldn’t be hushed, but the man did have a point. She shouldn’t inconvenience the group. Her injury had already brought an abrupt halt to their family recreation. Next time, she’d be more careful.
Wait—next time? There wouldn’t be a next time. The cruise ended in three days. Spencer and Maddie would return home to Louisiana, and she’d never see them again.
The idea dampened the novelty of being princess-carried for the first time in her life. Abby slumped. As first a teacher and then a childcare worker, she was used to growing attached to the little ones and then having to say goodbye. But this felt different somehow. Was it because of Maddie? Or her attractive father? Or maybe both?
A soft hand squeezed her leg. Emily Windsor contemplated her from below. “Are you all right, dear?”
“Oh”—Abby shook off her melancholy—“don’t worry about me. My ankle will be good as new in a few hours.”
Emily studied her with eyes that held a lifetime’s worth of wisdom. “I wasn’t talking about your ankle.” Her glance cut toSpencer. “If you need to talk to someone, I suggest the Lord first and me second.”
Embarrassment sucker punched Abby. Were her emotions that easy to read? Had Spencer also guessed her thoughts? She sneaked a peek at him, but he was focused on Daisy, suggesting she take Madeleine by the hand.
Abby looked back at Emily. “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Twenty minutes later, she left the exam room with an elastic bandage around her ankle and a bottle of ibuprofen. Her crowd of well-wishers sat in the waiting room.
Abby tottered to the group. “Good news. I’ll live. Dr. Grant said to wear this lovely bandage a few days and not to walk too fast.” She wobbled over to where Spencer sat with Madeleine between him and Daisy. “Mr. Masterson, I understand if you’d prefer to have the ship assign you a different nanny.”
He stood. “I don’t want to overtax you. Will you be staying in your cabin until your ankle heals?”
“Oh my word, no.” Abby laughed. “They’ll put me on desk duty at the childcare center, but I’ll still report to work.”
“If that’s the case, then I’d prefer you continue as Madeleine’s nanny. You can sit in our suite as easily as you can at a desk.”
Althea clicked her tongue. “I guess this means no moonlight walk on the beach with Cedric the sous chef. Such a pity. He was raring to go.”
“Oh.” Abby’s mouth drooped. “Bummer.”
“Don’t you worry.” Emily patted her arm. “I’ve already worked out a plan B.”
“Plan B?” Spencer’s tone matched his sardonic expression.
“Yes. The best operations always have a backup.” Emily dug her phone from her handbag. “I’ll text Cedric and have him meet you at Cloud Nine.”
“Cloud Nine?” Abby’s jaw swung open. “That’s the most expensive private venue on the ship. Exclusive VIPs use it.”
“I know, dear.” Emily winked. “This is when it pays to be friends with the owner’s son. After we helped Jon win the woman of his dreams, he said he owed us for life. Borrowing Cloud Nine for a midnight picnic is hardly too much to ask.”
