Page 24 of Honeymoon for Seven

“If she doesn’t wake up, then no.” Ginnie shrugged, pulling the little one’s shoes off, then her shorts and shirt. “Where’s her pajamas?”

Rachel came running over with her sister’s PJs. “Here you go.”

Another few minutes and all the kids were brushed, washed, changed, and tucked into bed. Nick’s mom had ordered room service so she was content to remain on the sofa with her leg propped up and the dish of chocolate-covered strawberries in front of her.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Holding a strawberry to her mouth, his mom grinned at him. “Strawberries are good for you.”

“Chocolate too.” Ginnie reached for one of the strawberries.

“Have more if you like. They bring us a fresh dish daily.”

Ginnie shook her head. “One is plenty, thank you.”

“Suit yourself.” His mother opened her paperback book and didn’t bother looking up. “Go have fun. I’ll be here if the kids need anything.”

“We’ve been gone long enough.”

Now his mom looked up and shook her head. “Youth really is wasted on the young. Just go. You’ll figure it out.”

Ginnie turned to face him. “I think you’ve been evicted.”

“Sounds like it.” He swiveled around to face his mother. “Mom. You really—”

Her hand shot up, but her head remained in the book. “Go.”

Spinning back to face Ginnie, if he’d learned one thing in his life, he knew there was no point in arguing with his mother. “Looks like we’re out of here.”

“Guess so.”

He sure hoped that smile on Ginnie’s face was sincere, because right now he couldn’t think of anything he wanted to do more than spend time with Ginnie Ummarino.

Chapter Ten

If she could have, Ginnie would have gone over and kissed Nick’s mother. Neither the idea of going back to her cabin to watch a movie or some shipboard updates, nor sitting alone in a lounge pretending to enjoy the piano player or adult games, held any appeal. Even though climbing into bed early and getting some much-needed rest would probably have been a good idea, spending more time with Nick sounded even better.

Pulling the door shut behind him, Nick pushed to double-check it had latched and then turned to face her. “So, where do you suggest we find something fun to make my mother happy?”

Somehow, she wished Nick hadn’t phrased their time together quite that way, but it was the truth after all. “That depends on what you like to do.” Flipping her wrist, she glanced at the time. “There’s usually music in several of the lounges.”

He smiled. “I like music.”

“There’s also a few games.”

“Games?”

“One of my favorites is the music trivia, but I think that’s earlier in the evening.”

“Trivia buff?” He raised his eyebrows at her.

“Well, yes, but this is a little different. Every night is a different artist or era. Like it could be Elvis songs, or it could be movie themes, or hits of a particular decade.”

“That does sound fun.”

Standing at the elevator, she pulled out the daily planner she kept folded in her neck holder with her keycard. “Yep. That was an hour ago.”

“Maybe tomorrow?”

“Maybe.” She ignored the tingles running down her back at the thought of another day with Nick. Especially since this time it was his idea and not his mother’s.

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