Page 15 of Kiss Me at Midnight
“He’s not mine. And I’m assuming you mean theporthole.” Which you could only look out if you stood on one of the beds.
“Peephole. Porthole.” Grandma Dotty shrugged. “You knew what I meant.”
“Yes. But I don’t mind if Rachel is interested in Jud.” That felt like a lie, as unsettling as her mission to talk Rachel out of getting married.
This isn’t me.
Grandma Dotty seemed to agree. Her brow was puckered as if she was confused by Lily’s words.
There was a knock on the door.
“Ladies.” Not only did Jud look handsome as sin in his khakis and black polo shirt, he looked pleased to see them. “Can I escort you to the lounge and the embarking party?”
Grandma Dotty took three steps to the door and opened it. “Only if they’re serving sandwiches, preferably egg salad.”
“I’m sure whatever they’re serving is wonderful.” The last thing Lily wanted was to be difficult.
“Shrimp cocktail, I’m betting.” Grandma Dotty shrugged. “Shrimp gives me the toots.”
“I’ll risk it.” Lily adjusted her glasses, avoiding meeting Jud’s gaze lest she succumb to a smile. “I just need a few more minutes to unpack.”
“Take your time.” Her grandmother nodded her head slowly as she considered Jud. “While you finish, I’ll check out Jud’s room. If it’s larger than ours, I’m not giving this trip a good review.” She sashayed out the door.
“I don’t think Abe has a review page, Dotty,” Jud said, blue eyes twinkling. He shut the door behind them.
Their footsteps receded. Their voices grew faint. Lily was left alone with a mindless task and too much weighing on her mind. The pit in her stomach said she was crossing a line, no matter how many times her head argued it was worth stopping a rushed wedding to feed and shelter so many people and to help Rachel see her way to making better choices. And if it turned out Rachel and Paulo were madly in love? Well, Lily hoped Abe would support Hot Meals and Shelter anyway.
The cabin door burst open just as Lily hung up her last blouse.
Grandma Dotty barged in. “Jud’s room is bigger than ours–bigger bed, bigger closet, and he has a soaker tub. And to answer your unspoken question–I checked, and no, he didn’t bring his supersuit.”
“That depends on your definition of supersuit.” Jud’s sultry glance gave his words layers of meaning.
Oh, my.
Lily’s doubts sailed away. And they’d keep sailing if Jud continued to drop those flirty lines.
Grandma Dotty was stuck on Jud’s hero gear. “Young man, my definition of a supersuit is gunmetal gray tights and that black body armor of yours. How could you leave it at home? What if they send up the Titanium Talon signal while we’re on this cruise?” Grandma Dotty tsked, as if Jud might neglect his superhero duties. “I suppose in a pinch, I’ll let Jud borrow my support hose and you can let him wear your one piece, Lily. It’s black, isn’t it?”
Jud’s mouth dropped open.
“Now, come on. Let’s go. I’m famished.” Grandma Dotty marched out the door and toward the oval staircase that rose four stories through the center of the yacht.
Lily felt obligated to clarify things. “Grandma Dotty, you’re confusing Jud with the role he plays on TV.”
“I’m not.” Grandma Dotty waved a hand above her head. “Jud arrived with a sidekick. I think it’s you who’s confused.”
Uh-oh.Was Grandma Dotty losing touch with reality?
“Look at me.” Lily caught her grandmother’s arm and turned her until they were facing each other. She stared deep into her grandmother’s faded, slightly unfocused eyes. “Count backward from one hundred.”
Worry flashed across her grandmother’s features. She opened her mouth and then closed it again.
“Grandma Dotty…”
Her grandmother reached up to place her cool palms on Lily’s cheeks. “I’m still here. I’m not going to count backward to prove it.”
“Okay, but you were talking as if superheroes were real.”
