day.”
“What makes you say that?” he asked.
“When we dock at noon at the first island on our stop, we’ll be scouting some possible new homes. Marie sent me a list while I was in the shower.”
“You’re going to move to the Caribbean?”
“Possibly. Depends on how we like it.”
“And if you do, does that mean the cruise might be over by dinner?”
“No. It would cause too much attention for us to miss the ship’s departure. But the shore leave gives us a chance to house hunt without drawing notice.”
“What about your work in the States?”
“I’ll find another lab, or KM will start one. I’ve got enough money socked away to not really worry about that stuff for a while. Have you thought about where you’ll go after the cruise? You do realize you can’t return to your old life, right?”
“Yeah, I know.” But he’d not given it much thought.
“Are you going to be okay? Do you need help getting set up somewhere?”
He arched a brow. “Are you offering?”
“Not me, but I’m sure Mother could manage something.”
“If I need anything, my buddy Ben will take care of me. But thanks.”
Macey didn’t reply. She stared at the buffet and the girls.
An older man with his hair combed back from a receding forehead, and a camera around his neck talked to the twins. He pointed to the device then at the girls, and Ted could see Macey readying to go mama bear on his ass.
Ted rose before she could act. “Finish your breakfast.”
“I should—”
“Keep your ass in that chair. This is the kind of job made for an overprotective father.” He winked. “I met enough angry daddies in my youth to know what to say.”
As Ted neared the twins, he heard the man spouting a line of bullshit. “…modeling opportunities for beautiful ladies.”
Fucking perv. Ted didn’t smile as the guy noticed his approach. As soon as he neared, Lin tucked close to his side. “Hi, Daddy.” She smiled up at him.
“Hey, baby girl.” He put a hand on Mae’s shoulder and found her stiff. “Everything okay?”
“This man wants to take our picture.”
“Oh, he does, does he?” Ted eyed the man, whose pale skin sweated.
“You must be the twins’ dad. I was just telling them about my photography business. Always looking for new talent. Your daughters are quite beautiful.”
“I know. However, we’ve chosen to focus more on what’s inside than outside, especially given their impressionable age. Girls, why don’t you bring Mom that bacon. She was just saying she was craving more.” He waited until they were out of earshot before smiling and saying in a deadly tone, “Listen, you pervy fucking bastard, and listen good. Stay away from my daughters, or you’ll be one of those unfortunate souls who falls off the ship at sea and is never found again.”
The fellow’s eyes widened. “Is that a threat?”
“A promise. Don’t come near my girls.” Damn, there was something awesome about calling them his. About taking on a role he’d never even considered.
The other fellow, too cocky by far, sneered. “We both know they’re not yours. Or your wife’s. Was it your idea to adopt Oriental? In-home dining rather than takeout.”
If they’d been anywhere else, Ted would have decked him. But he couldn’t get tossed off the ship. It took iron control to murmur, “Say one more word, and you won’t live to see the sunset.”
“You can’t threaten me,” the man blustered.
Crash. Joanna accidentally bumped into the fellow, sending him reeling into the buffet.
“Oops. Sorry about that. Clumsy me,” she exclaimed without a hint of apology.
When the perv would have whirled from the mess to freak on Joanna, she subtly hooked his ankle, sending him crashing to the deck.
“You fucking bitch. How dare you touch me?”
“I dare because those are my nieces, asshole,” she said, leaning down so that only Ted and the perv could hear.
“You’ll pay for this,” threatened the man as the ship’s staff came running.
Joanna pointed at the perv. “That man touched me without my permission.”
“Did not!”
When the staff looked at Ted, he nodded. “And he tried to get my daughters to go somewhere private with him. You might want to check his camera.”
The very idea led to the perv being taken away with Joanna following behind, threatening to sue if he and his wandering hands weren’t put ashore.
Ted returned to the table and the girls, who sat quietly with their mother. She wore a bemused expression, but Mae nodded at him as if she approved, while Lin beamed. “Way to go, Daddy.