“We might have been a little hasty with him,” her friend says.
I wink at Winnie, who scowls. “Stop encouraging them.”
“I’m trying to encourage you.”
“He looks like he can make babies.” One lady makes a grab for my crotch. “I thought you said Winnie needed babies,” she says.
“If she’s not going to take him, my grand-niece is single.” Another woman tosses her sign away.
“Well, now, wait a dang minute. Winnie saw him first. Winn, you need to stake your claim. This man has money.” One woman waves her sign at them threateningly.
“I thought you were on my side!” Winnie’s shocked.
“That’s a nonrenewable resource. Man like that doesn’t come along every day. Winnie, stop ogling his chest.” Frances pats my pec. “Pay attention, girl. Business is happening.”
“This isn’t business, it’s my life, and he’s not in it.”
“Her friend is getting married. She’s a little testy,” Frances tells me out of the side of her mouth. “You know how us gals get when we hit our thirties and no ring in sight.”
“Loony Laura is not my friend.”
“She’s difficult.” I gaze at an angry Winnie. “This is what I have to deal with on a daily basis.”
“You poor man.”
I accept their sympathy. Winnie’s about to grab a knitting needle and stab me.
“I told her to just come to dinner and we’ll discuss it. Businesswoman to businessman.”
“Psycho,” Winnie grumbles.
“Sounds like you have her best interests at heart.”
“I assure you I do.”
The elderly women start packing up their knitting.
“Glad we got that all sorted out.”
“I was going to donate all my old baby toys, but I’ll just keep them. Sounds like you’ll need them soon.”
“Your top, Irma.”
“Ooh, yes.”
“So, Winnie, sounds like you and I have a date.” I smirk at her. “I win,” I whisper.
She slaps my hand away when I reach for her.
“And I’m not dating you or moving in with you or having babies with you. Now, I’m late for a meeting.”
14
WINNIE
“You set your granny on Fitz?” Carolina is appalled. “You’ll never have a chance with him now.”
“Good.”
