“And may I speak to him man to man? You have no men in your family now. Let me make sure he treats you right.”
She laughed. “He will. Don’t scare him off.”
“I won’t,” he said, now actually smiling. “I promise. I justneed to make sure he’s good enough for you. I don’t imagine there is such a man, but just enough. Maybe half as good.”
“Don’t flatter me, Mr. Wilson,” she said, laughing.
“No, it’s a tease. I would never flatter a married woman, Mrs. Wains. Even if it’s you.” And he looked as if he wanted to say more—one might almost guess ‘I love you’—but chose not to.
CHAPTER 83
When they came to the dock, all she had to do was call for Kallias and he was there, appearing out of nothing like he reallywasa ghost. His eyes shifted from her to Mr. Wilson to back to her, and he looked nervous. Fair. At the moment, Mr. Wilson did not look per se friendly.
“It’s okay,” she said, kneeling down to the water. “Mr. Wilson understands. He’s not going to tell anyone.”
Kallias looked to Mr. Wilson and then back to her. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine. He brought the gun because he was worried about me and Mr. Runington.” She held up the gun. “This is a gun. It lights a little fire here and it explodes and shoots out a metal ball incredibly fast. That was the sound.”
He just glared at it, then at Mr. Wilson, then at her again. “This…kills?” he guessed and she nodded.
His eyes narrowed and he glared further at Mr. Wilson. “And you used this toward us?”
“No!” Mr. Wilson exclaimed, hands up. “I did it toward the sky. I thought you were a beast and it would scare you off of her. I would never have shot in her direction lest it hit her somehow. And I most certainly wouldn’t have thought it would make you cover her more.”
Kallias looked to her as if asking what the man knew, and when she murmured, “I told him everything,” Kallias glared at him all the more.
“Should I not protect my wife?” he asked.
“A man should.”
“Mr. Wilson,” she warned.
“What? I’m testing him. Mr. Kallias, will you take a walk with me? Or rather, swim along the shore while I walk? I want to talk toyou. Daria has already approved.”
“Hey, I didn’t approve of you picking on him. Mr. Wilson, you better behave, and Kallias, you better tell me if he so much as says a single rude word.”
Kallias laughed. He didn’t look nervous now at all. No, he had that shark-like look he got while on top of her, a look that reminded her he really was a predator too.
“And you better behave too,” she added. “In fact, I should probably come.”
She took a step, but Mr. Wilson put a hand up. “Daria, please. Just man to man for a minute. I have something I want to say to him.”
“Fine,” she huffed, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes. “But I’m not joking. You both better behave.”
Kallias nodded while Mr. Wilson said, “Yes, ma’am.”
“You can talk here,” she said, gesturing to where she normally talked with him. “Because I’m not dragging you back to town, Mr. Wilson, if you trip and fall. Aren’t you the one that claimed those rocks were dangerous to walk on, and now you’re going to do it talking to a mermaid?”
He laughed. “Fine, fine. As always, you make a good point.”
“I can go inside,” she offered, answering his unasked question. “I’ll get some tea and lunch going. But I’m keeping the dooropen,so don’t think I won’t hear it if it gets rowdy.” She motioned like she had her eyes on them.
“Yes, ma’am,” Mr. Wilson teased again, drolling it like a school boy.
“Daria, it will be fine,” Kallias said with that gentle smile. “He’s your friend, isn’t he?” He looked so confident, so sure that it truly would be fine, so sure ofherthat even her friends instantly earned trust and distinction as well.
“Yes, he’s my good friend,” she said and then looking to Mr. Wilson said, “And he’s my husband, so please behave yourselves.”
