Chapter Seven

"You two already know each other?" Captain Reagan asked with an approving smile.

"Yes, sir. We met on my way down here," Daisy replied to him, though she was looking at Wyatt the entire time, unable to even blink.

"Well, then, this is perfect," the captain said.

The group had been standing there a few moments and Captain Reagan had explained everything to Wyatt. It hadn't taken any convincing for Wyatt to eagerly agree to help.

"Are you two all good? I need to check on a few things around the ship," Reagan said.

"She's in good hands," Wyatt assured him.

"I don't doubt that," the captain said.

Nelly and Daisy solidified their plans to meet in thirty minutes for some fun at the swimming pool before the captain and his Little left. Once it was just Daisy and Wyatt, she threw her arms around him, giggling as she squeezed him tightly.

"I was hoping I'd see you again!" she said.

He swayed her gently. Both silently noted how wonderful—and natural—it felt for her to be in his arms.

"I was hoping that, too. In fact, I was bound and determined to make it happen. I just didn't think it would be on the ship.

"I was thinking about you today, wondering how you were. I texted you," he admitted.

"I haven't seen it yet. I left my phone in my cabin while I ran the store." She was somewhat embarrassed when she said, "I'm not in the habit of checking my phone very often. I don't really know that many people. No one who would text, at least."

Wyatt wanted to know more about that, but he didn't probe it right now. There would be time to get to all that.

Right now, they were together. And that was all that mattered.

"What's all that?" he said, eyeing the packages as he let her go.

"I just went shopping," she said with another giggle. "I got lots of Little stuff."

"I bet you're eager to go change," he said, seeing part of an outfit poking from the top of a bag.

"Walk me to my cabin?"

"Of course."

Along the way, they passed Evan, who was standing on the deck, talking to a group of guys. Daisy couldn't be sure, thanks to the dark sunglasses he now wore, but she was pretty certain his eyes followed her.

Would he back off now that he'd seen her with Wyatt? Or would he only try harder? She supposed time would tell.

They went to the correct level, inside, and down the narrow corridor that housed staff members' cabins.

"Do you want to meet after you hangout with Little Nelly?" Wyatt asked. "No pressure. You might be tired after that time in the pool."

Daisy thought it over for a moment and then, not knowing where the burst of confidence came from, said, "I want to hang out with you right now."

Wyatt smiled. "But you have plans with Nelly."

"Not for a little while. And then you can come, too. You can watch me in the pool and on the slides. I'm going to do the highest one! The one that's big and swirly."

He grinned as he brought his hand up and gently brushed a strand of her hair back, tucking it behind her ear. "I'd love that, honey. Do you want me to stay out here in the hallway while you change or wait for you on the deck?"

Daisy most certainly did not want him to wait outside. But while she'd found a little boost of confidence, she still couldn't bring herself to admit all of her desires to him.

So, she simply said, "Here is fine. I won't be long."

"I'll be right here."

She had no doubt. Wyatt was a man who always kept his word. She also had no doubt that she was perfectly safe now.

No one in the whole world could hurt her. Not when Wyatt McCall was around.

Not when Daddy was there.