Susan dragged over a chair for Troy. “Would you like some lemonade?” Then she winked. “Or, if you’re going to stay for a while, you might like a margarita.”
With this much estrogen around him, he needed to keep his wits. “Lemonade would be great, thank you.”
After he’d taken a sip, she asked with a smile, “You were very mysterious about what you wanted to talk about. Tell us, Troy, how can we help?”
He wanted to say there was no we about it. He wanted only Susan. This felt like showing his underwear to the entire Maverick clan. Before he knew it, all the guys would know too.
But he couldn’t wimp out now. “I know you’ve become friends with Flo Killian.”
“She’s a lovely woman,” Susan enthused. “She came over for coffee the other day, and I so enjoyed getting to know her better.” Then, before Troy could even ask for advice, Susan launched into a litany of glowing comments about Flo. “She came from such humble beginnings. Flo supported herself and Michaela as a seamstress back in Modesto. She could work at home, you see. Though she worked for a dry cleaner, that was never enough, and she had to hustle to find clients.” She leaned forward and tapped Troy’s hand. He was aware that the other women around the table listened as avidly as he did. “Some of the women she did alterations for at the dry cleaners wanted her to make clothing designed just for them, choosing fabrics and patterns, and Flo was so good at picking out what would enhance their features.” She squeezed Troy’s hand. “But, oh my gosh, the one who was best at matching a pattern and fabric to a woman’s figure was Michaela. Even when she was just a child. She even brought in business,” Susan said with a smile that spread across her face. “From her school friends and their mothers. She and Flo went to thrift stores and found the most amazing things they could revamp and resell. They made an incredible team.”
Troy realized he’d heard only part of the story from Michaela on Friday. There was so much more to admire.
Lyssa leaned forward. “Did you see the outfits they were wearing at the gallery?”
Troy only had time to nod before Harper added, “Flo designed those dresses herself.”
Ari added, “And she’s going to make kids’ clothes for us.” She turned a fond gaze on the playpen where her daughter was smearing chocolate on her dress. “Although at the rate they’re growing and the amount of dirt they get into,” Ari said dryly, “I’ll need a new outfit for every day of the month.”
All the ladies laughed.
Susan set down her margarita after a sip. “But Flo doesn’t need to work anymore. Michaela takes care of them both now. Flo sews for her own enjoyment.”
Paige winked. “And for our pleasure.”
He knew Michaela was an incredible woman, and so was her mother. But Susan fed him more tidbits that revealed what an amazing, generous, caring woman Michaela truly was. She’d mentioned that her mother was a seamstress and that they’d gone to rummage sales for things they could turn into marvelous pieces of clothing, but this was so much more. Even as a young girl, Michaela had been an industrious worker.
It made him all the more eager to give her the best cruise and picnic of her life.
Which meant he couldn’t wait out the Maverick ladies. They were entrenched in the gorgeous afternoon and the fun of watching their children. Though all the Maverick and Harrington ladies were welcome to drop by, Tasha, Daniel Spencer’s girlfriend, was working on a project with a deadline, Saskia had flown with Clay to some undisclosed city where a street mural would soon pop up to the amazement of the art world, Cammie and Gabby were all the way down in the south Monterey Bay area, and Ava… Well, Ava never took a day off. He was glad his sisters weren’t available, or he’d never hear the end of it. But the rest of the ladies wanted in on the fun, even if it meant taking a day off work. Or maybe because it was a day off.
There was nothing for it but to get to the point, even if he had to do it in front of them all. He cleared his throat. “I came to ask for some help, Susan.”
She clapped her hands. Susan was always enthusiastic. “What can I do for you?”
Damn. This was going to be embarrassing with the audience. But he had a plan, and nothing, not even all the lovely Maverick ladies bearing witness, could deter him. “Michaela is matching me with a yacht. We’re going on a cruise tomorrow to check it out. For all her hard work, I thought I’d bring a picnic including her favorite drinks, food, and dessert. But I have no idea what those are.”
A warm and twinkling look grew in Susan’s eyes. “Do I smell romance in the air?”
He could have lied and said this was just a business deal, but he didn’t want to belittle his intentions with a denial. “I’m trying.”
Susan gave another excited clap, smiling broadly. “But it sounds as if you’ve caught a reluctant one if you’re asking for help, is that right?”
The ladies were all leaning forward, waiting with the proverbial bated breath for his next words. “Yes,” he admitted. “She’s a bit reluctant.”
The twinkle in Susan’s eyes grew to an outright sparkle. “Has that ever happened to you before? Someone turning you down, I mean.”
If he hadn’t had a will of iron, he would have blushed. “No. It hasn’t.”
She laughed, and the ladies giggled with her. “A little hard work in a romance helps build character.”
It probably would. If it didn’t kill him first. “Will you help me? I thought you could call Flo.”
Susan clasped her hands, completely delighted. “I’ll call her right now.” She grabbed her phone off the table. “I’ll go inside. I won’t be able to hear her over all the laughter and fun these children are having.” Her statement was punctuated by another splash in the pool and squeals from the toddlers.
When she was gone, he was left with all the ladies. And dammit, he felt a flush creeping up his neck.
Rosie set her glass on the table. “When I was pregnant with Isabella, I was dying for some Brie, slightly warmed and topped with red pepper jelly.”
