The Marriage Adventure. Hannah Bernard

and her father were standing behind them, carrying piles of dishes. She didn’t care he’d heard. In fact, all the better. It would rid him of any misconceptions he had after that terribly embarrassing dinner conversation. “Don’t call me kid!” she snapped.

      “Look, honey…” he said, and she gritted her teeth even harder because he’d called her honey and she liked that much more than kid. She held up a hand and cut him off.

      “Eddie, I’m sorry about my parents’ nostalgia, but don’t worry. I’m not in on the plot. I don’t want you.” She smiled to show it was nothing personal. “No offense. If you’re ever the last man on earth, I promise to reconsider. You know, for the future of mankind.”

      Eddie put the dishes away and clutched his chest in pretend pain. “Ow! That’s the only loophole? You’d only have me in order to save the human race from extinction?”

      “You’re being silly, Maria. And you’ve got it all wrong,” her father said, frowning. “This has nothing to do with you. Eddie is buying Intrepid Adventurers. The deal should be final next month.”