Page 28 of Honeymoon for Seven

“Be careful setting those on the table.” Mrs. Maroney smiled at the child.

Ginnie’s gaze lifted to the expanse of patio doors across the far wall. On the deck that was larger than her entire backyard, she spotted the patio table already decorated with a vase of flowers and what looked like the coveted chocolate covered strawberries.

Moving further inside to see what she could help with, a rap on the door sounded behind her. With a quick spin around, she opened the door. On the other side, the steward waited ready to push the loaded cart into the suite.

“Where shall I put this?” the young man asked.

Nick appeared at the man’s side, pointing to the balcony. “Outside would be great.”

With a nod, the man wheeled the cart forward, then, one by one, lifted the metal covered dishes and placed them on the large table. “If you need anything else, let me know.”

After a few nods, and thank yous, and small people moving about, everyone was finally seated at the table, including Nick’s mother, despite her son’s objections.

“There’s plenty of everything so eat up.” Nick slathered butter and syrup on the pancakes for Monica and Rachel, while his mother looked on smiling, and the boys insisted they didn’t need anyone’s help.

“What are the plans for today?” Ginnie cut into a slice of melon. It amazed her that Nick had not only paid attention to the food she’d been ordering, but had ordered food especially for her.

“What do you say, kids? Another day at the club?” Nick bit into his English muffin with honey.

“Yeah!” the boys cheered.

The girls didn’t look as convinced about the idea.

“What do you think?” Ginnie asked the two girls.

“Can we stay with you?” Monica said.

What the children did with their day was not Ginnie’s decision to make. Heck, she’d only been invited to breakfast. For all she knew, Nick intended to spend his day napping when Phoebe napped, or sunbathing, or finding some guys to play poker with. The possibilities on the ship were endless.

“Can we?” Rachel repeated.

Ginnie glanced in Nick’s direction, their gazes met, and she could read his eyes like the proverbial book. He wanted her to decide. She shook her head. “That’s up to Uncle Nick.”

This time he tipped his head slightly and cocked his brows at her. Okay. So, was that an invitation?

All she could do was smile and shrug.

Holding her gaze, he straightened his head, gave a slight bob of his chin, and smiled.

How she knew he was asking confirmation she had no idea. She felt like a poodle and a German Shepherd communicating in a dog park. Biting back the urge to laugh at the ridiculous conversation they’d just held, she nodded and grinned.

“Guess we’re hanging out together today.” Nick ruffled the hair on the top of the little one’s head.

“Wait,” the bigger boy chimed in. “What are you going to do?”

“Yeah,” the younger brother, who Ginnie noticed tended to follow his older brother’s lead, looked to Nick.

“I suppose we could play miniature golf?”

All four kids stared silently at him.

“Or how about cards or puzzles in the game room?”

Still no reaction.

“They have one heck of a water park. We could spend the day at the pool?”

Like the starting shot at a track race, all the kids bounced up from their seats and began running in different directions.

---