Page 56 of Hearts Aweigh
“Must be nice,” she snarked. “I hope my supervisor will be half that agreeable.”
“Do you think it will take long? How about we meet you at the children’s area, and you can join us for lunch?”
Abby moaned. “Twila will be spitting fire.” Despite the unpleasant task awaiting her, happiness filled her voice as she held out a hand. “Welcome aboard, Mr. Masterson.”
“Please”—his hot fudge sundae eyes warmed as he took her fingers in his—“call me Spencer.”
CHAPTER 29
SPENCER ALLOTTEDABBY THIRTY MINUTESto placate her ill-tempered supervisor before he headed to the Kids Kingdom with Madeleine. They entered the cheerful open layout of the reception area, where a few parents and children milled about. A joyful squeal issued from his daughter. She bounced to a nearby bookshelf, chose a volume with a fairy on the cover, and flopped in a beanbag chair.
Spencer marveled at her laid-back manner. The first time they’d set foot in this room, she’d been like a frightened fawn avoiding a hunter. But one voyage on the MSBuckingham, and her comfort with the place was obvious. He suspected it had more to do with Abby than the lavish ship. The woman possessed an innate ability to set people at ease. She was partly the reason he’d committed to a second cruise. His primary objective was convincing Daisy to return to New Orleans. But allowing his daughter to spend more time with the skilled childcare worker would do her good. Who knew how Madeleine might blossom in Abby’s nurturing presence?
A bedazzled brunette pixie about the same age as his daughter skipped over to him. “Can I show you my pet?”
He squinted at the strange girl. “Pet?”
“His name’s Dwight.” She extended her purse. The top was made of glittered plastic, and the bottom was a rainbow-colored mesh.
Spencer peered inside. Two moist yellow eyes stared at him. A frog? The child had a frog in her purse.
He cleared his throat. “Do your parents know you brought Dwight on the cruise?”
“Not yet.” She giggled and threw her arms open. “Can I have a hug?”
Spencer reared back. “I …” None of the adults heeded the girl. Which one did she belong to? “No. No, thank you.”
“Hug.” She waggled her outstretched arms.
Should he call for help? He gulped. “I don’t work here.”
She extended her lower lip in an exaggerated pout. “Hug!” she demanded.
Spencer’s eyebrows lowered. “Do I look like your teddy bear? Find someone else to coddle.”
“Hello, sweetie!” Two arms caught the child from behind. Abby hovered over the precocious girl.
Spencer exhaled.
Abby squeezed the frog smuggler. “If you want a hug, come to me. That’s my specialty.” The child giggled. Abby bent near her ear and whispered loud enough for Spencer to hear. “There’s someone else who needs a hug. Her name is Maddie, and she’s sitting there on a beanbag chair.”
The girl skipped away, and Abby straightened. She put her hands on her hips. “A person might presume you seriously dislike children.”
“I don’t dislike children. But I’ve little use for the things that come with them.”
Abby’s mouth quirked. “The smiles and giggles and hugs?”
“The dirt and frogs and runny noses.”
“What’s the big deal? It’s just a hug.”
“I don’t know her.” Spencer relaxed with the departure of the uncomfortable child. “I doubt her parents would appreciate a strange man embracing their daughter.”
“Good point.” Abby shrugged. “But I’m a big believer in the power of affection.”
Spencer crossed his arms. “Do you always hug any stranger who asks?”
“If it’s a child, I do. Haven’t you read those studies that say people require a certain number of hugs a day to survive?”
