had their backs to her and didn't dare to turn to see who entered, but the foreman was quick to note any invasion of his turf. Fortunately, he was on the other side of the room and had to dodge boxes and machinery before reaching her. Georgina waved tauntingly and opened the maintenance closet door.
She had the required equipment in her hands before Emory could reach her. Praying that her father had not mentioned her disgrace, knowing he wouldn't breathe a word of it for the sake of his own pride, she pretended she was still the spoiled daughter and merely smiled at the foreman's shout.
Gathering up her tools, she called, "I'll bring them back shortly. Don't worry about me! I can handle them." Then with an insouciant calm she didn't feel, she deliberately swung her hips and walked out.
Georgina waved at Doris as she passed by. She didn't realize she was holding her breath until she got outside and let it out again. She had done it. She hadn't exactly bearded the lion, but she had staked a claim. And she would keep on staking that claim until they realized they couldn't keep her out.
It was just a matter of time until she ran into her father, but she would worry about that when she got there.
When Daniel returned to the press room sometime later, it was to find his bedraggled wife covered with the grime that had once coated the floors and walls of his home. The pale gold of her hair was hidden behind a scarf sporting cobwebs instead of spring flowers, and a smear of dirt instead of powder adorned her nose. But her lips carried a smile brighter than dawn, and beneath the smudges, her cheeks were as pink as roses. He hoped the tug at his heartstrings at the sight was just admiration for her pluck.
He gestured for the men behind him to enter, and she squealed as they began carrying in the bedposts.
"Not in here!" she cried, shooing them away with her feather duster as if they were dust balls and not two-hundred-pound men with arm muscles bigger than her waist.
They halted and turned to Daniel for direction. He shrugged and turned to Georgina. "Where else would you put it?"
"In the bedroom." Skirting around the movers, she crossed the hall and threw open the door to the spacious room she had just finished cleaning.
The windows sparkled in the sun, flooding the room with light, and on one wall, Daniel noted the outline of the missing fireplace. She was right. This would make an ideal bedroom. Daniel's gaze swerved to take in his remarkable wife. He wondered how she would react if he moved in here with her.
But he let her bustle and peck like a mother hen without disturbing her excitement. It was kind of nice having a woman to look out for his creature comforts. He hadn't thought Georgina would be the type to give in to housewifely instincts, but he certainly wouldn't complain. He had fully expected to come home and find her curled up in the chair with a book, waiting for him to take her out to lunch. That she had made an effort to make this place into a home warmed him inside.
When the bed was where she wanted it and the mattress tested for plumpness and the movers gone, Daniel crossed his arms and waited for Georgina to remember he was still here. The flush on her cheeks and the way she took the duster to an imaginary cobweb told him she was having some difficulty accepting the fact that he wouldn't disappear and leave her to this playhouse she was creating.
"The place looks great, Miss Merry. I appreciate it. I suppose now I ought to get a desk for the other room so we can work like professionals."
She swung around and eyed him uncertainly. "I thought you were saving your money for the paper."
Daniel leaned against the doorjamb and shoved his hands in his pockets. He was suddenly aware that he wore only shirtsleeves and not proper gentlemanly attire. He didn't know why he should think of that when she looked at him that way, but he moved his shoulders restlessly beneath the light cotton. It was suddenly very, very warm in here.
"The paper won't make money for a long time, but I've got a number of printing jobs already. That's another reason you'll be good to have around. You can go out and gather information