“That’s
signora
, if you don’t mind.”
Swinging her gaze upward, Addie fell once more into haunting brown eyes. The color of burnt-sugar candy and as clear as a handblown demijohn, they latched onto her, and she couldn’t pull away.
“We frightened you,” he said. “I apologize.” Some men’s voices didn’t suit them, despite a pleasing appearance or manner of dress. This man’s deep rumble served him well, melting in Addie’s ears like a match on candle wax.
Her traitorous mother had moved on, chatting with her new companion like an old friend. Addie scowled after them, her brows drawn to a tight knot.
“After you,” the man behind her said, interrupting her pout.
She lifted her glare to him, and he waved his hand with a flourish, his once-friendly smile now more of an amused grin.
Before Addie reached the entrance of the hotel, her mother had disappeared.
The stranger stepped onto the boardwalk in front of Addie to hold the door.
Careful to avoid brushing against him, she slipped past and hurried inside. As she gazed around the high-ceilinged lobby, her heart sped up. Instead of weaving through the milling crowd or waiting her turn tospeak to the clerk, Mother was nowhere in sight. Frantic, Addie searched the big room, her head spinning and panic crowding her throat.
The stranger touched her shoulder, nodding toward an arched doorway. Inside the dining hall, the dark-skinned man held a chair for her mother as she settled gracefully against the padded cushion.
Weak with relief, Addie reached for her bags. “Thank you. I can manage from here.”
He held them out of her reach. “They’re pretty heavy. Go on, and I’ll carry them to the table for you.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“It’s really no trouble.”
Her jaw tightened. “I wouldn’t dream of detaining you. I’ll take them now, so you and your friend can be on your way.”
He tilted his head, the effect on his appeal mesmerizing. “This is on my way. We were headed to the Ginocchio to eat.” He glanced toward her mother, holding a menu and conversing with a waiter. “I’m guessing the two of you were, too.”
Defeated more by his searching gaze than his answer, she bit back her objections and made her way to the table.
Mother seemed to miss the quizzical look Addie fired as she crossed the room. Instead, she nodded and smiled at something her new friend had said.
Incredibly, he had pulled out the chair next to her, draped a napkin over his arm, and proceeded to pour her a glass of water from a cut glass pitcher. Setting the container aside, he lurched to his feet as Addie approached.
“Say hello to Theodoro Bernardi of Galveston, dear,” Mother said. “By way of Sicily, that is. Theo’s family owns a restaurant near the shore. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Explains his accent
, Addie thought.
And his finesse with a pitcher
. She returned his nod of greeting, fighting the urge to shake her head in disbelief. Given three minutes or less, her mother had unearthed the man’s family history.
Mother lifted a dazzling smile to the man at Addie’s side. “According to Theo, this gracious fellow is Pearson Foster from Houston. It was his idea to help us, Addie.” She held out her hand. “Allow me to offer our thanks.”
Cupping her slender fingers in his palm, Mr. Foster gave a slight bow. “Like I told your sister here, it’s no trouble at all.”
Raising her hankie, Mother sought to hide a pleased grin. “Gracious, you do flatter. I’m her mother.” She blushed prettily. “But of course, you knew that.”
Genuine surprise flashed in his eyes. “On the contrary. It’s obvious you’re related, since you favor, but I’d never have guessed.”
Mother had met her match.
She withdrew her hand. “I’m Mariah McRae from Canton, Mississippi. The pretty and much younger girl at your side is my daughter, Adelina Viola.”
Addie cringed at the use of her formal name but stifled the urge to correct it. It
signora
, if you don’t mind.”
Swinging her gaze upward, Addie fell once more into haunting brown eyes. The color of burnt-sugar candy and as clear as a handblown demijohn, they latched onto her, and she couldn’t pull away.
“We frightened you,” he said. “I apologize.” Some men’s voices didn’t suit them, despite a pleasing appearance or manner of dress. This man’s deep rumble served him well, melting in Addie’s ears like a match on candle wax.
Her traitorous mother had moved on, chatting with her new companion like an old friend. Addie scowled after them, her brows drawn to a tight knot.
“After you,” the man behind her said, interrupting her pout.
She lifted her glare to him, and he waved his hand with a flourish, his once-friendly smile now more of an amused grin.
Before Addie reached the entrance of the hotel, her mother had disappeared.
The stranger stepped onto the boardwalk in front of Addie to hold the door.
Careful to avoid brushing against him, she slipped past and hurried inside. As she gazed around the high-ceilinged lobby, her heart sped up. Instead of weaving through the milling crowd or waiting her turn tospeak to the clerk, Mother was nowhere in sight. Frantic, Addie searched the big room, her head spinning and panic crowding her throat.
The stranger touched her shoulder, nodding toward an arched doorway. Inside the dining hall, the dark-skinned man held a chair for her mother as she settled gracefully against the padded cushion.
Weak with relief, Addie reached for her bags. “Thank you. I can manage from here.”
He held them out of her reach. “They’re pretty heavy. Go on, and I’ll carry them to the table for you.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“It’s really no trouble.”
Her jaw tightened. “I wouldn’t dream of detaining you. I’ll take them now, so you and your friend can be on your way.”
He tilted his head, the effect on his appeal mesmerizing. “This is on my way. We were headed to the Ginocchio to eat.” He glanced toward her mother, holding a menu and conversing with a waiter. “I’m guessing the two of you were, too.”
Defeated more by his searching gaze than his answer, she bit back her objections and made her way to the table.
Mother seemed to miss the quizzical look Addie fired as she crossed the room. Instead, she nodded and smiled at something her new friend had said.
Incredibly, he had pulled out the chair next to her, draped a napkin over his arm, and proceeded to pour her a glass of water from a cut glass pitcher. Setting the container aside, he lurched to his feet as Addie approached.
“Say hello to Theodoro Bernardi of Galveston, dear,” Mother said. “By way of Sicily, that is. Theo’s family owns a restaurant near the shore. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Explains his accent
, Addie thought.
And his finesse with a pitcher
. She returned his nod of greeting, fighting the urge to shake her head in disbelief. Given three minutes or less, her mother had unearthed the man’s family history.
Mother lifted a dazzling smile to the man at Addie’s side. “According to Theo, this gracious fellow is Pearson Foster from Houston. It was his idea to help us, Addie.” She held out her hand. “Allow me to offer our thanks.”
Cupping her slender fingers in his palm, Mr. Foster gave a slight bow. “Like I told your sister here, it’s no trouble at all.”
Raising her hankie, Mother sought to hide a pleased grin. “Gracious, you do flatter. I’m her mother.” She blushed prettily. “But of course, you knew that.”
Genuine surprise flashed in his eyes. “On the contrary. It’s obvious you’re related, since you favor, but I’d never have guessed.”
Mother had met her match.
She withdrew her hand. “I’m Mariah McRae from Canton, Mississippi. The pretty and much younger girl at your side is my daughter, Adelina Viola.”
Addie cringed at the use of her formal name but stifled the urge to correct it. It
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