Page 53 of Hearts Aweigh
W AIT . W AIT . W AIT.
The word swirled around Abby’s brain, hemming her sensitive conscience like a needle and thread. She sipped her coffee and tried to forget Spencer’s forlorn expression. His eyes had reminded her of Maddie’s.
Bereft. Searching. Lonely.
She’d almost wavered, but a sudden mental picture had flashed in her mind of candles, a rose-petal heart, and the most unwelcome job offer of her life.
This man only wanted her as an employee.
If she kept spending time with him, she’d wish for more, and that made her a fool.
The memory had given her the necessary boost to pretend she didn’t hear him and walk out the door.
Abby thumped her menu against the white-and-chrome table. A fifties tune played over the loudspeaker to match the retro feel of the staff diner. Coworkers buzzed with early-morning chatter. She wasn’t sure she could eat when she was supposed to meet Spencer in a matter of minutes.
What if he looked at her that way again? Like he was drowning, and she was the only lifeguard.
Abby dropped the menu. She wouldn’t fall for his tricks again. No matter how sincere and personable Spencer appeared, he always had business on his mind.
“Do you know what you want?”
“Huh?” Abby focused on the waitress. “Oh. Just a refill on the coffee, please.”
The girl made a note and walked away, leaving Abby with her tortured thoughts. She shifted in her chair, glancing around the room for a distraction. At a nearby table, a woman with kinky black hair gawked at her.
Uh-oh. Maria.
Abby had spotted the woman in the hallway when she’d left Spencer’s suite shortly after midnight. Why did she have to run into a member of the gossipy housekeeping crew?
“Abby.” Maria left her table and slid into the seat across from her. “Are you okay?”
“What?”
“You seem nervous.” Maria latched on to Abby’s arm and leaned into her personal space.
“What? No.” Abby laughed. “I’m not nervous.”
Maria scrunched her face. “You were exiting a passenger’s cabin very late.”
“I’m fine.” She bit out the words. “I was helping with a little girl who couldn’t sleep. No big deal.”
“Oh.” The housekeeper let go. “Nothing strange happened?”
Disappointed?
Abby repressed the snarky side of her brain. “It was overtime for my nanny valet duty.”
“I see.” Maria paused. “I’m glad you’re fine.”
She returned to her table, and Abby exhaled.
“Please, Lord,” she said under her breath. “Don’t let her go spreading rumors.”
No longer in the mood for more coffee, she stopped by the counter to cancel her order. After exiting the diner, Abby met her supervisor in the hallway. Twila’s face looked even more peevish than usual.
“Abigail.” Twila spoke through pinched lips. “I’m relieved to run into you. There’s a problem.”
“Oh?” Abby got the feeling she wouldn’t enjoy what was coming.
“It’s been brought to my attention you’re spending an inordinate amount of time with Mr. Masterson.”
Good old Maria. She must’ve spread her gossip all night long for it to already have reached Twila’s ears.
Abby forced a nonchalant smile. “I’m merely doing my job to the best of my ability, caring for his daughter.”
“You were seen leaving his suite after midnight. That’s in direct defiance of our policies.”
“Maddie … his daughter was having trouble sleeping. I stayed to comfort her.”
“Nanny valets are not supposed to make themselves available after eleven p.m.”
“But she was sick. I wanted to—”
“Abigail.” Twila’s tone brooked no opposition. “I realize you’ll leave Monarch Cruises soon. Up until now, you’ve been an exceptional employee. Don’t sully your reputation in the last week.”
Sully her reputation ? Since when had her life become a Jane Austen novel?
Abby drew herself as tall as her five-foot-two inches allowed. “I promise you, Twila. I am not behaving in any way that would sully my reputation. My attitude toward Mr. Masterson is that of an employee.”
“Good.” Her boss gave a short, emphatic jerk of her chin. “Make sure it stays that way.” She started to walk past. “And no more after-hours childcare in his suite.”
Several emotions wrestled for dominance. Anger. Annoyance. Frustration. And the most unwelcome one of all—guilt.
Abby’s behavior had been above reproach the previous night, but her assertion she only considered Spencer an employer wasn’t exactly true. Regardless of how he’d dismissed her, she couldn’t stop her traitorous heart from drawing closer like a child to a forbidden dessert.
If she knew Maria, the scuttlebutt had reached the entire crew. Good gravy! She’d better get a hold on her feelings before she ruined both her peace of mind and professional reputation.