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“For as long as it takes,” Jenna told her.
“Have you considered buying a house and thinking ahead toward retirement?” Daisy said wryly. “My brother can be difficult.”
“So I’ve gathered,” Jenna said, her tone just as dry.
Tommy was eyeing Darcy with evident fascination. “Cool haircut,” he said admiringly.
“Don’t even think about it,” Walker said emphatically.
Daisy rolled her eyes. “Long story, but Tommy is actually Walker’s nephew. Walker is still adapting to his new role as Tommy’s father. He hasn’t quite grasped the concept that forbidding something only makes it more alluring.”
Jenna laughed and gestured at Darcy. “Sweetheart, tell Deputy Ames what I told you right before you dyed your hair green.”
“She told me I couldn’t dye it purple,” Darcy said, then added with a proud lift of her chin, “and I didn’t.”
Daisy bit back a smile. “Ah, the loophole defense. I’m a teacher. I hear that one quite often.” She tucked an arm around Tommy’s shoulders, then added pointedly, “It doesn’t work with me.”
Tommy shrugged. “I’ve figured that out.” His gaze went back to Darcy. “You want to come by and see my boat sometime? Walker and me have been working on it for a really long time. It’s almost ready to go in the water.”
Darcy nodded at once, her sullen expression vanishing at the prospect of finding a friend and having an adventure. “Sure. Mom, would it be okay?”
“Please,” Daisy said at once. “Jenna, you and I could chat.”
Walker groaned. “Agree at your own peril,” he warned Jenna. “My wife is not known for the subtlety of her grilling.”
Jenna was undaunted by that. “Neither am I,” she said at once.
Daisy laughed. “You and I are going to get along very well,” she said. “What about tomorrow at noon? We can have lunch.”
“I’d love it,” Jenna said, already envisioning the million and one tips she could get on handling Daisy’s brother. “We’ll be there.”
“I don’t suppose there’s any chance at all that Bobby’s name won’t come up,” Walker said in one last display of masculine loyalty.
“None,” Jenna and Daisy agreed in chorus.
“Then I’d better go in the kitchen and warn him he might want to consider abandoning any thought of developing the riverfront and concentrate on leaving town,” Walker said, heading off in that direction.
Tommy looked up at Daisy. “Why would Uncle Bobby want to leave town?”
“That’s just Walker’s way of being a smart aleck,” Daisy told him. “It is not an attractive quality. Don’t even think about emulating him.”
Tommy stared at her with a puzzled look. “I don’t even know what that means.”
Daisy winked at Jenna. “I’ll explain it to you back at our table. Nice meeting you, Jenna. You, too, Darcy. I’ll look forward to tomorrow.”
“Me, too,” Jenna responded. Especially if, as Walker had implied, her visiting Daisy was going to drive Bobby Spencer up a wall.
“They’re out there, right now, together?” Bobby repeated, staring at Walker with dismay. “Jenna Kennedy and Daisy?”
“Oh, yeah. And they’re making plans, big ones from the sound of it,” his brother-in-law warned him. “Some sort of get-together tomorrow for lunch. Just so you know, it was actually Tommy’s idea. I don’t think he realized what he was setting in motion.”
“I’m surprised Daisy let you loose to warn me.”
“Oh, I think that’s part of her strategy. She wants you nervous.”
“Why?”
“Because it will be proof that she’s right about Jenna being the woman who can shake you out of your complacency,” Walker said. “I’m only beginning to grasp just how devious your sister’s mind truly is. If I’d known a few months ago, I might not have been so quick to jump into marriage.”
Bobby laughed at that. “As if you had any choice in the matter! You were a goner from the minute you hit town to meet Tommy and try to take him away from her. She had no intention of letting that boy leave with you, even if it meant luring you into falling in love with her.”
Walker shrugged. “Let that be a lesson to you. The circumstances might be different, but Daisy sees the same fate befalling you.”
“Not a snowball’s chance in hell,” Bobby insisted, though his denials—which should have been improving with practice—were beginning to lose a little steam instead. Even he could hear the change. He didn’t need Walker’s prompt grin to point it out.
“Well, consider yourself duly warned,” Walker said. “I’ve done my bit in terms of family loyalty. You know the score. I’m sure you can handle things from here on out.”
Bobby sighed. “I wish I were half as confident of that as you are.” He picked up the orders that had been prepared for Walker, Daisy and Tommy and handed them to Walker. “Take these with you.”
“Hey,” Walker protested. “I thought this place was renowned for its good service, as well as its excellent food.”
“Like you said, you’re family. You can help out.”
“See if I ever give you fair warning about any schemes afoot again,” Walker grumbled as he left with their meals.
Once his brother-in-law had gone, Bobby went back to work with a vengeance, but nothing he did blocked out the image of his sister and Jenna conspiring behind his back. Just the thought of it made him shudder. The only thing worse would be King getting in on the act.
He could think of only one way to keep the two women apart. He could make Jenna a better offer—maybe dangle the prospect of a noontime tour of the waterfront before her. It was better than leaving her alone with Daisy. At least if he was with her, he’d know what she was up to.
He didn’t wait until he’d cleaned up the kitchen to execute his plan. The second the last order had been sent to a table, he slipped into the dining room, glanced around until he spotted Jenna and headed her way. His step faltered only when he saw the girl with her. A grin slipped across his face. Green, spiked hair. He had to admire the child’s daring. Jenna must be an incredibly liberal mother, or the girl was being taught a lesson. He suspected the latter.
When Bobby reached their table, he pulled out a chair, turned it around and straddled it. “How was dinner?” he asked.
“Excellent,” Jenna conceded.
“It was okay,” the girl muttered, СКАЧАТЬ