Page 12 of Love vs The Ooze Monster!
“No, thank you, ma’am. I’m just here for the charming company.”
Mrs. Patten was thrilled with his phony manners. She clearly wanted to polish Boyd with white vinegar and baking soda. Then, she’d set him on her mantle, so she could talk at him forever, just like she did with poor, dead Mr. Patten.
“I would never go out with someone I worked with.” Frances opined, undressing Boyd with her eyes. “Not after my last beau.”
“Mr. Cassiday is not my beau.”
Frances talked right over Mabel’s protest and Boyd didn’t bother to correct the misunderstanding. “It’ssucha pain to go to Woolworths’ every day and see Cooper, after I started going with Dave. He will justnotaccept that I’m on to bigger and better things. It reminds me of that film with Gloria Swanson, where she wassopretty and popular that every boy in town was after her.” She tilted her head at a coquettish angle. “Do you ever go on dates, Mr. Cassiday? I justadoremotion pictures.”
“No, I’ve sworn off dating, for the time being.” Boyd told her vaguely.
Which was anexcellentanswer for him to give. Mabel nodded in satisfaction. If she ever caught him fixing his vivid blue eyes towards another woman it would be the last time that harlot ever…
She frowned, cutting off her own thoughts.
No. She didn’t carewhatBoyd did, because she was fully invested in hating him forever. Obviously. He was just confusing her with his big handsome presence. Why was he here, anyway? What was happening?
Norris watched Boyd with a speculative air. “I’ve seen you in the tabloids, haven’t I?”
“Nope.” Boyd lied without a flicker of an eyelash.
“Maybe at the funeral home, then? Paying respects to some shady character or other? I work there and you look very familiar.”
“I don’t attend funerals. I saw enough graves in the war.” Boyd kept his gaze on Mabel, not even looking Norris’ way. “It’s why I didn’t go to Lew’s.”
“He wouldn’t have minded.” Mabel said honestly. “He hated funerals, too.”
“Catholic funerals are far too raucous for my tastes.” Mrs. Patten announced, eager to get a word in edgewise.
Boyd smiled at Mabel. “Miss Harrison, would you care to go for a walk with me?”
“No, I…”
“Yes, of course she would.” Mrs. Patten interjected, overriding Mabel’s refusal. “You two young people go for a stroll. Very appropriate. I’ll hold dinner for you, Mabel dear.”
Boyd’s smile became a smirk. Amused by the older lady’s assistance, he got to his feet, holding out a hand to Mabel.
Drat.
She stood up, ignoring his proffered palm. At least this was an escape from the tiny parlor. “We’ll go around the park. …Once.” She stressed the time limit, as she headed for the door. Whatever he was up to, she needed to nip it in the bud quickly and make it clear that he couldn’t come calling whenever he pleased. Distance was the very best choice, going forward.
Lew had beenwrongabout Boyd Cassiday.
Chapter Three
The Wrong Gee: (1920s slang) Mr. No-Way, No-How
Since Boyd was the Wrong Gee in every possible way, Mabel did her best to not notice how his hair glistened in the afternoon sun. She was committed to going on a very short walk with him, but she wasn’t about to be hypnotized by his miasma of attractiveness.
Boyd ignored her less than enthusiastic trudging and fell into step beside her, as they reached the street. The summer day was blistering hot. Mabel reluctantly tugged on her gloves and adjusted her veiled hat.
Boyd fixed the mass of black crape with a jaundiced eye. “Do you really think Lew would want you decked out in all that jazz?”
No. He would laugh if he saw her wearing such heavy, somber clothing in August. Her stepfather was a man who cared about practicality, not elaborate, outdated traditions. He would have pitched out all her ugly dresses and told her to honor his memory by collecting her inheritance.
Which she’d beentryingto do, until a certain blue-eyed moron ruined it all.
Her lips pressed together in irritation, Mabel silently headed down the block. The sooner they rounded the park, the sooner she could be done with Boyd Cassiday for good.
