Page 59 of Life, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness

“But I don’t want help. I want to do it—”

“On your own, I know,” he said. “You shouldn’t have moved to Bell Cove, then. By the way, Mildred and her gang are anxious to help with the grand opening of your diner, when you’re ready. She said to tell you that they’re willing to act as waitresses and waiters to help serve the super crowds you’ll have at first. Free of charge. The guys will even dress up in glitzy Elvis jumpsuits and grow long sideburns, and the ladies will wear wigs and skimpy Ann-Margret utfits.” He grinned as he relayed that message.

She groaned. “See what I mean. And don’t you dare mention this around my grandmother, or she’ll be planning the whole shebang.”

“Where’s your grandmother now?”

“She and Maggie are taking a nap.”

His eyes lit up. Pushing away from the wall, he walked over to the door, put the chain lock in place, then turned to her. “What say, we create our own shebang?”

She laughed. “My daughter and my grandmother are here. Your friend is next door. We have a ton of shopping to do this afternoon. You need to go into the office, and I have arrangements for Maggie’s school looming. You can’t be serious.”

He was.

His clothes were off and folded on the other bed so fast she was lost for words for a minute—because of his speed, and he’d actually taken the time to fold his clothes, probably a military habit, and because of the really sexy body he was exposing. Yeah, she’d seen it last night, but the light in her bedroom had been dim. And, in the close confines of the shower, she’d barely been able to move her head, let alone give him a full-body appraisal. But now—oh, my!

“We don’t have time for this,” she protested.

Not only did they make time, but he tortured her until she choked out in surrender, “Shebang!”

Chapter 13

Being a sugar daddy isn’t always sweet . . .

Knowing that Delilah was anxious to get back, to spend as much time as possible with her daughter before returning to the salvaging site tomorrow, Merrill did his best to help speed their errands. Trips to the supermarket; the elementary school where Delilah registered Maggie for kindergarten; and the lawyer Matt Holter’s office, where Delilah picked up reversal of guardianship papers for her daughter.

He had some questions about that—why Delilah had needed to grant her grandmother guardianship for the short time she’d been in the Outer Banks, but he supposed it was a necessary precaution where a kid was concerned. Emergency medical care and all that.

He’d even bought a half dozen stackable plastic patio chairs in vivid colors of red, blue, green, and white, at the supermarket of all places. Amazing what they sold in grocery stores these days! The hard resin chairs, along with a matching chaise, coffee table, and utility stand, would serve their purpose temporarily until better quality outdoor furniture could be bought, he’d told Delilah, who protested every little purchase he’d made.

She’d insisted that they separate their orders at checkout so that he wouldn’t be paying for anything going to her place, not realizing that the plastic furniture was for her place, not the motel units. The only thing she had there now was an old metal patio table and a couple folding chairs.

“How am I going to make a hamburger feast for me, you, K-4, Maggie, and the Glam Gram with one flimsy table and two rickety chairs?” he asked.

“Feast . . . what feast?” she sputtered, then repeated, “Glam Gram?” and had to smile, despite herself.

The unexpected arrival of her grandmother and daughter posed problems for Delilah that she refused to discuss with him. He didn’t have to be a genius to see how conflicted she was about leaving her daughter so soon. He’d already suggested that she take a few days off, but she’d refused, as he’d known she would. She was bound and determined to earn that advance salary he’d given her.

A salary which he was beginning to suspect had gone to her grandmother for debts yet to be explained. He was pretty sure he’d heard the words loan shark mentioned.

Truth to tell, Merrill was enjoying the hell out of this whole melodrama that had become his life. Especially now that he’d scored in the sex department.

When they were on their way to Bell Forge to drop off those items destined for the boat, Delilah turned to him and said, “Do not . . . I repeat, do not dare buy a dog for my daughter.”

“Huh? What? Me?” He put a hand to his chest in fake offense.

“Yes, you! I mean it, Merrill. You’ve become like a good fairy. All a person has to do is rub your lantern and poof you’re off to grant wishes. The sugar daddy for all mankind!”

He laughed. “I think you’ve got your fairies, genies, and Daddy Warbucks confused.”

“Bite me!” she said, and didn’t even try to correct her language, like she usually did.

“Anytime, sweetheart,” he tried to joke.

She didn’t smile. “If, or when, I decide that Maggie should have a dog, I’ll be the one to get it.”

Even though he was driving the pickup, he raised his hands, momentarily, in surrender. “Okay, okay. But there is this cute little schnauzer puppy in a litter over on Nags Head that I just happened to see on my computer this morning.”