Page 41 of Mister Daddy

But it’s the girl herself who makes me catch my breath because this is a new Abby. This Abby has flushed cheeks and a peachy pink pout that looks like it’s often kissed by a man. This Abby has long lashes that sweep down demurely, and also big brown eyes that tell stories of love. Who is this girl? Can it truly be me?

Yet, I know that’s what Carter does to me. He transforms me and makes me into someone I can’t even recognize, he’s so compelling. I gasp again, as one large hand touches the sparkler in my left lobe.

“You look amazing,” he growls. “Absolutely ravishing. We’ll take them,” he announces to Truthers.

The shop keeper chortles because this is probably the biggest sale he’s going to make for the duration of the cruise.

“Of course sir,” he says, bowing a bit again. “These earrings are sourced from the mines of Africa, but they are conflict-free, I assure you. The lady looks ravishing,” he compliments.

Carter nods.

“Yes of course. I make sure that all diamonds carried by my ships are conflict free. It would be crazy for us to have blood diamonds on board.”

Truthers looks startled and then his eyes squint a bit with confusion.

“I’m sorry sir, what did you say your name was?”

Carter grins.

“I didn’t, but just in case, my name is Carter Jones. I own this cruise ship,” he says with a half-smile. “In fact, I own the entire cruise line.”

Truthers look like he’s about to blow a big one, but he manages to get himself under control.

“I’m so sorry sir,” he begins apologizing with tears practically in his eyes. “If I knew it was you, I would have brought out our finest gems first. Would you like to see them? The rubies perhaps, or the emeralds? We also got a lovely aquamarine stone in at our last port. Perhaps the lady would like to try a few items on?”

Carter merely smiles with amusement.

“No, it’s okay,” he says. “These diamond earrings are perfect, and like you said, Abby looks stunning. Maybe next time, we’ll take a look at the emeralds,” he says with a sly grin at me. “But for now, I think we’re okay.”

“Shall I bill this to your room?” Truthers asks with excitement. “The Platinum Suite?”

“Yes,” says Carter. “And while you do, we’ll also take the necklace, the bracelet, and a few of those charms. Definitely the whale one that Abby was looking at.”

By now, the shopkeeper looks like he’s going to explode with joy. His face is red, and his eyes bulge from his sockets, like he’s about to have a conniption. But the older man manages to keep everything in check and scurries off with giggles, ready to pack things up.

I turn to Carter again.

“You didn’t have to,” is my laugh. “Especially not the whale charm. That’s not necessary.”

“Oh but it is,” he says, winking at me. “I thought that little whale had meaning to you.”

“It does,” I say seriously this time. “You know I love scuba diving, and once, a long time ago, I saw a whale while I was underwater. Well, I couldn’t see it too clearly, but there was definitely a massive dark shape in the water.”

Carter stares at me.

“You weren’t scared?” he says with surprise. “I would have been scared shitless. I probably would have rocketed to the surface from surprise.”

I laugh again.

“No, you can’t, remember? You’re scuba diving, so you can’t go up and down without getting decompression sickness. But I wasn’t scared,” I say, thinking back. “I remember being below surface and looking up. The water was sky blue, and I could see the sky overhead. It was beautiful and really quite magical. The only thing I could hear was my own breathing. And then a shape passed by overhead. I’m still not sure what kind of whale it was, but it was definitely too big to be a porpoise. I guess that’s why I have this connection to whales now. The animals remind me of my dreams, and of the amazing time I always have in the water.”

Carter leans down to kiss my forehead tenderly.

“Abby, I want to help you make those dreams come true,” he says with fervor in his voice. “I’ve never heard someone speak so passionately about what they love, and clearly, this accounting job isn’t cutting it. You should have a life at sea, like a mermaid. You should be freed from Corporate America, with its soul-destroying jobs and stultifying routines.”

I laugh gently, patting his broad chest.

“I know Carter, but I can’t afford to leave my job. Sure, it’s boring because it’s just about crunching numbers, but I can’t just peace out on a whim. I have obligations.”