The Reluctant Beauty(26)
Rico smacked him on the chest. “A hottie and a nice guy. Ev, honey, why did you keep him from us so long?”
She folded her arms over her chest, mimicking Austin’s stance, and stared, long and hard, at him. Her direct assessment was unnerving. “You like her. You really like her.”
Heat whooshed over his cheeks now.
“Oh, he really likes her,” Rico chorused.
“Forget it, okay,” Austin bit out and stormed away.
Why had he even bothered?
***
Austin skirted his way around Peg, which wasn’t easy to do since she was everywhere all the time. But he steered clear of her, only to be zapped when she did glance his way. Once, she nearly stumbled when their gazes caught and held.
His gut coiled tighter.
Finding her father deep in conversion with an older man in uniform, Austin stood and waited it out. He was surprised to hear them discuss cars.
“Ah, nothing like a good heavy Chevy,” Peg’s father said. “I wish I had kept mine. But with a wife and two kids, that old gal had to go.”
“I’m a Ford guy, myself. Mustang all the way.”
“Now you’re talking. Can’t forget them. What year?”
“Older ones. Classics. Like me, I guess.”
That had them all chuckling.
The men finally noticed him.
“Austin, my boy, things settled down finally.” He winked.
He didn’t realize Peg’s father had a sense of humor. All he’d heard was the soundness of economics, what direction the country should take, and, of course, Peg’s mapped-out future with a family, house, and a white picket fence. “Sir.” He nodded to both of them.
Slapping Austin on the back, he said, “This is my future son-in-law, Austin Rhoades.”
Austin winced and rubbed the back of his neck. How had he let it get this far?
“That’s my little girl over there,” he pointed out.
The guy in uniform, Browne, by his name plate, turned to look. “Peg’s your daughter? You must be so proud of her. Griffin thought of this special celebration, knew what he wanted to do, but it was Peg who organized it all. She whipped us into shape. I could have used her in my unit.”
“Really?” Peg’s father asked, clearly taken aback. “I had no idea. I thought she only did that to us. Whenever she comes home, she’s ordering us around and getting the house organized or remodeled.”
She must have felt their stare; she finished up with a group of ladies and turned their way. Austin noticed she swallowed hard, but still marched their way.
“Got too much time on your hands, fellas?” She looked at the soldier. “Is your speech ready for the party tonight, Captain?”
“I’ve got the basics down.”
“Tell you what. Meet me half hour before in the hotel lobby and I’ll proof it for you. Make sure it sings.”
He smiled. “Thanks, Peg. I need to make certain I have the right tone.”
“Will do.” She scribbled a note on the top sheet attached to her clipboard. “Now, I gotta shake a leg.” She leaned over and kissed her father on the cheek. “Don’t overdo it, Pop, or I’ll have to get tough with you.”
Laughing, he said, “And you’re not now?”
Peg chuckled and rushed away, heading for the overflowing Beauty Bar.
“She’s something, isn’t she?” Austin spoke his thoughts aloud.
“That’s my girl.”
“You should be proud of her,” Captain Browne said. “Griffin tells me this place wouldn’t run like clockwork if it wasn’t for Peg. She’s got a heart of gold, too. My wife,” he stopped, choking up, “has been sick. Cancer.” He swallowed hard. “Peg’s been calling every day, checking in with her, keeping her spirits high, making her laugh, and even sending King’s care packages. You know—girl things, bubble bath, perfume, nail polish…just the right touch. No out-and-out sympathy, but real caring.” He wiped his eyes, nodding to the woman Peg hugged and whisked into the salon around the gathering crowd outside the glass doors. “That’s her. Lost all her hair this year to chemo.”
Shock rushed through Austin. The woman was small and frail, barely coming to Peg’s collarbone. And the wig she wore seemed too big for her head. But Peg looked down at her, smiling. The woman’s face had lit up.
Austin turned back to his companions. He nodded to the soldier. “Tough break. For both of you.”
“Why, I had no idea.” Peg’s father coughed, watching his daughter with pride shining in his eyes. “Sorry to hear your wife isn’t well.”
“On the last of the treatments right now.” He shrugged. “We never were able to have kids. Peg’s been like a surrogate daughter.”