Ask Anyone

Tommy stared at her with a puzzled look. “I don’t even know what that means.”

Daisy winked at Jenna. “I’ll explain it to you back at our table. Nice meeting you, Jenna. You, too, Darcy. I’ll look forward to tomorrow.”

“Me, too,” Jenna responded. Especially if, as Walker had implied, her visiting Daisy was going to drive Bobby Spencer up a wall.

“They’re out there, right now, together?” Bobby repeated, staring at Walker with dismay. “Jenna Kennedy and Daisy?”

“Oh, yeah. And they’re making plans, big ones from the sound of it,” his brother-in-law warned him. “Some sort of get-together tomorrow for lunch. Just so you know, it was actually Tommy’s idea. I don’t think he realized what he was setting in motion.”

“I’m surprised Daisy let you loose to warn me.”

“Oh, I think that’s part of her strategy. She wants you nervous.”

“Why?”

“Because it will be proof that she’s right about Jenna being the woman who can shake you out of your complacency,” Walker said. “I’m only beginning to grasp just how devious your sister’s mind truly is. If I’d known a few months ago, I might not have been so quick to jump into marriage.”

Bobby laughed at that. “As if you had any choice in the matter! You were a goner from the minute you hit town to meet Tommy and try to take him away from her. She had no intention of letting that boy leave with you, even if it meant luring you into falling in love with her.”

Walker shrugged. “Let that be a lesson to you. The circumstances might be different, but Daisy sees the same fate befalling you.”

“Not a snowball’s chance in hell,” Bobby insisted, though his denials—which should have been improving with practice—were beginning to lose a little steam instead. Even he could hear the change. He didn’t need Walker’s prompt grin to point it out.

“Well, consider yourself duly warned,” Walker said. “I’ve done my bit in terms of family loyalty. You know the score. I’m sure you can handle things from here on out.”

Bobby sighed. “I wish I were half as confident of that as you are.” He picked up the orders that had been prepared for Walker, Daisy and Tommy and handed them to Walker. “Take these with you.”

“Hey,” Walker protested. “I thought this place was renowned for its good service, as well as its excellent food.”

“Like you said, you’re family. You can help out.”

“See if I ever give you fair warning about any schemes afoot again,” Walker grumbled as he left with their meals.

Once his brother-in-law had gone, Bobby went back to work with a vengeance, but nothing he did blocked out the image of his sister and Jenna conspiring behind his back. Just the thought of it made him shudder. The only thing worse would be King getting in on the act.

He could think of only one way to keep the two women apart. He could make Jenna a better offer—maybe dangle the prospect of a noontime tour of the waterfront before her. It was better than leaving her alone with Daisy. At least if he was with her, he’d know what she was up to.

He didn’t wait until he’d cleaned up the kitchen to execute his plan. The second the last order had been sent to a table, he slipped into the dining room, glanced around until he spotted Jenna and headed her way. His step faltered only when he saw the girl with her. A grin slipped across his face. Green, spiked hair. He had to admire the child’s daring. Jenna must be an incredibly liberal mother, or the girl was being taught a lesson. He suspected the latter.

When Bobby reached their table, he pulled out a chair, turned it around and straddled it. “How was dinner?” he asked.

“Excellent,” Jenna conceded.

“It was okay,” the girl muttered, her scowl firmly in place.

“Darcy, don’t be rude to Mr. Spencer,” Jenna chided. “By the way, Bobby, this is my daughter, Darcy.”

“I can see the resemblance,” he said with a pointed glance at the girl’s hairdo.

“It was a little experiment that went awry,” Jenna explained.

“I like it,” Darcy insisted. She turned to Bobby. “Is there anything to do here?”

Bobby studied her with an assessing look. “How old are you? Ten? Twelve?”

“Nine,” Jenna said.

“Then at this hour of the night, there is nothing for you to do,” Bobby said.

“Normally she wouldn’t be out this late,” Jenna said defensively. “But I couldn’t leave her at the hotel by herself, and you were the one who refused to talk to me earlier in the evening.”

Bobby could have debated endlessly who was at fault for the late meeting, but right now he needed to concentrate on preventing that meeting between Jenna and his sister. “Why don’t we get together tomorrow?” he suggested. “Say, around noon. I’ll take you on a tour of the waterfront area.”

Immediate interest sparked in Jenna’s eyes, but faded almost as quickly. “You know I’m supposed to meet your sister at noon, don’t you?”

He feigned ignorance. “Really?”

“Oh, don’t try that with me. I know Walker couldn’t wait to run into the kitchen to warn you.”

“So, what’s it going to be? Are you more interested in lunch with Daisy or in seeing the land I’m planning to develop?”

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