Page 9 of Hearts Aweigh
Daisy ignored him. “Her hair. Her delicate cheekbones. She inherited nothing from the Masterson side of the gene pool. I hope that’s also true of her personality.”
She reached to touch Madeleine’s face, but her granddaughter jumped in surprise. Daisy halted. She fumbled in her pocket for the envelope and then fanned her flushed cheeks. “What brings you here, Spencer?”
“Would you believe I’ve missed you?”
Daisy’s makeshift fan stilled, and her refined mask slipped a fraction. “I wish that were true.”
A shrill laugh sounded from the entrance. A woman in a floor-length sundress and floppy, oversize hat was recording with her phone as she explored the lobby. Children squealed. Mariachi music drifted from a balcony. The joyful melody contrasted with the silent standoff between mother and son.
Emily weighed Daisy’s offspring in the balance and found him wanting. How dare he come aboard their ship and upset the sweetest member of the posse? She’d like to give him the spanking he deserved, but that might embarrass his mother.
The sugary scent of fresh-baked cookies wafted from a nearby table. A tourist in a rainbow tracksuit and straw fedora jostled Spencer as he headed for the fragrant display of snickerdoodles. The crowd swelled around them, and a teenager bumped Madeleine’s shoulder. Spencer caught her in his arms and used his body to protect her from the swarm of people.
“Are you hurt?” He scanned her from head to toe.
“No, sir.” She ducked as another surge of passengers passed.
He placed a hand on her shoulder and turned to Daisy. “Let’s discuss the reason for our reunion when there are fewer distractions. If you give me your number, I’ll call you.”
Daisy resumed her fanning. “I don’t have a phone.”
“You don’t have a … Do you expect me to swallow that?”
Althea sprang from the sofa. “It’s true. She’s the most untechy person I ever met.” After scuttling to her friend’s left side, she put a protective arm around Daisy. “How ’bout I give you my number? We’re always together anyway.”
Althea exchanged phone numbers with him. Emily rose and drew close to Daisy’s starboard side, and Gerry filled the gap behind them. They flanked Daisy like a protective guard.
Her son eyed their cluster with the lift of an eyebrow. “I’ll call you, and we can meet for supper.”
“I’m sorry.” Daisy’s unconcerned face belied the words. “I’m dining with my friends.”
“What about afterward?”
“I have a prior engagement.”
He clenched his jaw. “I’ve traveled all this way to see you. Can’t you reschedule?”
“That’s impossible. I promised my roommate I’d accompany her to bingo.”
“To where?”
“Bingo,” Emily interjected. “You must have heard of it. Those squares with letters and numbers where you try to make a straight line.”
Althea sang, “B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O.”
He stared at them, mouth open. Daisy reached out and lifted his chin. His teeth snapped shut.
“You may join us if you like,” she said. “We’re meeting in the main lounge at seven.”
“I …” He buttoned his suit coat. “Yes. Thank you. Until seven, then.”
Althea gave him a thumbs-up. “See you then.”
“Yes.” Gerry crossed her arms. “Allof us.”
His face communicated his displeasure, but he strode away without another word, the nanny and little girl rushing to catch up.
Emily mentally deleted him from the prospect list. She liked Abby too much to couple her with a grouch like this one. No man that bad-tempered deserved their quality matchmaking services.
