‘What can I do for you today, June?’ he asked as he approached their table.
‘Just a refill please, darling.’ Grandma smiled sweetly at Archer.
‘Oh, now he’sdarling…a minute ago he wasn’t even a real?—’
‘Oh hush,’ Grandma admonished, shooting Daisy a warning glare. ‘Just the coffee is fine, dear.’ She batted her eyelashes at Archer, and Daisy stifled a laugh.
‘Coming right up,’ he said with a smile.
‘Lord, he is so handsome,’ Grandma whispered, loud enough that Daisy heard Archer chuckle as he walked away. ‘The coffee isn’t even that good. I just come in to get a peek at that man walking away.’
‘Grandma, you’re married!’
‘For sixty long years, like I could forget it. But there’s no harm in looking.’ She winked at Daisy and Daisy just shook her head, feeling more like her great-aunt than her grandmother. As long as she’d known her, Daisy June had always been wild, and she’d married a sweet, quiet man just like Daisy May had.
A man kinda like Elliot…
Nope, Daisy was not going down that road. It was bad enough she was physically attracted to Elliot, she wasn’t going to let his personality win her over, too. Daisy was not going to get attached to her fake boyfriend.
Archer returned to their table with a pot of coffee and refilled their cups while lightly bouncing to keep Owen fast asleep.
‘Is it bring your baby to work day?’ Grandma asked.
‘Iris started taking Olive to school on Fridays, so Owen has been coming with me. It gives the girls some alone time.’
‘That’s sweet,’ Daisy said, happy that they’d figured out a way for Iris to spend more time with Olive. She knew it had been worrying her, balancing the new baby and a little girl that still needed plenty of attention.
‘How are you two handling everything?’ Her grandmother really did have that Dream Harbor nosiness down pat.
‘It’s been… a learning curve,’ Archer said with a rueful smile. ‘But we’re figuring it out.’
‘I’m sure you are.’ Grandma beamed at him. ‘There’s just nothing like a man holding a baby.’
‘Down, Grandma,’ Daisy whispered, but Grandma June ignored her.
‘You tell Iris I said she’s a lucky woman.’
Archer’s smile grew. ‘Will do. Anything else I can get you ladies?’
‘I think we’re all set. Thanks, Archer.’ Daisy took out her wallet to pay, but Grandma June slapped it away.
‘None of that,’ she said. ‘I know you don’t have a dime to spare.’
Daisy sighed as Grandma passed her card to Archer, and he left to ring them up. ‘It’s not that bad.’
Grandma scoffed. ‘How many weddings do you have booked for next spring?’
‘So far… none. But there’s still plenty of time!’
‘We usually book a year out…’
‘Iknowbut what can I do? If people aren’t hiring me…’
‘Break this curse, that’s what.’
‘Grandma, you don’t actually believe I’m cursed?’ But of course, her grandmother believed in curses. This was the woman who wouldn’t let Daisy kill a spider in the house because it was bad luck and insisted on blowing cinnamon through the front door on the first day of the month for prosperity and wealth. Huh, maybe Daisy needed to get some cinnamon.
‘I believe in good publicity, and this is not working in our favor.’ The way her grandma waved a hand in Daisy’s general direction, as thoughthe thing not working in their favorwas all of Daisy, was hurtful to say the least.
