She’d tried her best, but anger still shone in his dark eyes. “Perhaps not, but your fans surely do.”
“I’m touched you’re so considerate of their feelings, but I sure wish you gave a damn about mine.”
Before she could respond, Jeremy left the bathroom to join them. Eager to escape Griffin’s ire, Darcy walked up to the front door to look out. “The water’s reached the sandbags, and if it keeps raining this hard, the place is bound to flood.”
What Griffin heard was not merely a quick diversion, but a heartbreaking weariness that made him regret being so sharp with her. “Why don’t you go upstairs and take a nap on Christy Joy’s couch? The captain and I can handle the shop.”
Darcy remained by the door. “No, I couldn’t sleep.”
Griffin walked up behind her and rested his hands lightly on her shoulders. “Just think of us as part of your crew. You don’t mind ordering them around.” He took her hand then and led her to the stairs. “Just give it a try. Go on.”
The candlelight gave the whole scene an eerie otherworldly glow, and to escape his dark gaze, if for no other reason, she gave in. “All right, but if the shop floods, you must promise to call me.”
“Sure.” Griffin watched her slowly climb the stairs and couldn’t help but wonder when she’d last had a good night’s sleep. His stomach began to rumble and, distracted by hunger, he doubted any of Monarch Bay’s fine restaurants made deliveries by boat. Then he realized they wouldn’t have any power to cook either, which was another problem he couldn’t solve.
Christy Joy rubbed her daughter’s back, but Twink had thrown herself across her bed and stubbornly refused to acknowledge her mother’s presence. Rain pelted the window, but the faint ray of light falling across the braided rug only made Christy Joy feel more disheartened. Twink and the shop were her whole world, and she was ashamed to want still more.
“I know you were shocked to see me kissing Jeremy, but honestly, sweetheart, he’s such a nice man, and when I had the chan
ce, I just couldn’t resist.”
Twink rose slightly. “You kissed him?”
Pleased to have piqued her curiosity, Christy continued, “Yes, I sure did. He’s so shy that I was afraid he’d never kiss me, and I was really curious about how he’d kiss.”
“Is he better than Daddy?”
J. Lyle definitely knew how to kiss, but Jeremy had responded with a passion she’d never tasted with her ex-husband. “That’s a tough question. Daddy’s awfully good.”
“Then why don’t you love him anymore?”
She and J. Lyle had separated when Twink was only two and a half, but she’d expected her to raise some tough questions soon. Now she wished she’d prepared some answers which would make sense to the dear little girl.
“We hadn’t known each other long when we married, which was a mistake, but we were lucky enough to have you right away. I had such fun being your mommy, and I began thinking about opening a wonderful shop where I could sell all sorts of pretty things. Your daddy didn’t want me to work, though. He insisted that I spend my time entertaining clients and attending all the wonderful parties in San Francisco.
“So you see, except for you, we just didn’t want the same things. Neither of us was happy, and we can be much better parents apart.”
Twink’s lower lip was still stuck out in a defiant pout, but she didn’t ask another question and, relieved, Christy Joy stretched out beside her. “Let’s rest for a little while. Maybe when we wake up, the power will be on again, and we can make some popcorn.”
Twink snuggled against her mother, and in a moment she was asleep, but Christy Joy was wide awake. She and J. Lyle shared custody of their daughter, but he’d never made more than an occasional visit to see her. Still, when she’d left him, he’d been furious and sworn that she would come to regret it. It had been more threat than prediction, and she feared if he could have a hand in forcing that regret, then he would gladly use Twink to do so.
Her head began to ache, and she got up to take some aspirin and saw Darcy asleep on the couch. She covered her with a quilt, then went on downstairs.
“Are you hungry?” she asked the men. “I can make some sandwiches.”
“That would be great,” Griffin replied.
“I don’t want to be any trouble,” Jeremy hedged. “Or any more, at least.”
“No, it will give me something to do other than wring my hands. Just give me a minute.”
Jeremy watched her climb the stairs. She was dressed in a pretty pink jumper as though she’d expected to deal with customers all day. “Christy Joy,” he called softly. “Better put on something warm.”
She waved to him and disappeared into her apartment, and he turned to find Griffin eying him with an indulgent smile. “What? It’s cold in here.”
“It sure is, and I’d go out and get us some coffee, if there were shops open. What we need is a generator.”
“I’ve got one on my boat, but by the time I walked back here with something I’d cooked, it would be cold.”