Chapter Nine....
After dinner Luke and Tracy were dressing for their evening at the Haunted Star. Tracy was sitting at her vanity brushing her hair and fixing her make-up. Looking in the mirror she smiled back at the eyes that were watching her.
"I never get tired of seeing your transformations, Wife."
"I transform, do I?" she replied as she picked up her lipstick.
"Oh Mama, you are all sorts of women rolled into one, and I'm a lucky man! You keep me interested Spanky, that's for sure. So are you ready to go yet Mrs. Spencer?"
"So I'm Mrs. Spencer tonight – your appendage," Tracy snickered.
"You are no one's appendage, my dear. You are the wife of the proprietor..."
"And number one investor" she interrupted.
"That too, but lets not talk about money."
"As your number one investor I'm always interested in money. So did you break even today or do you owe me?"
Luke moved from the bed to stand behind her, and placing his hands on her shoulders he kissed the top of her head.
"It would seem that I owe you, Wife."
Tracy knew they weren't talking about currency. "What for, Husband?" she asked as she leaned back against him. His hands were lightly massaging her shoulders and he felt so solid behind her.
"I spoke with Lucky late this afternoon after the blow-up at the casino. But apparently I wasn't the only one."
"Oh, that" Tracy replied, wondering if she did more harm than good.
"What did you say to him anyway?"
"He didn't tell you?" Tracy was surprised.
"No, he just said he needed to be more laid back around me."
"Oh.... well I merely said the reason you two fought was because you were more alike than you thought, and he had to stop jumping to conclusions about any of us."
Luke nodded his approval of her conversation with his son.
"I didn't like the way it was left and I'm glad that's over. Anyway I told him to bring Rebecca by the casino tonight. Interesting that."
"Mmmm, yes I saw them together on the docks. I doubt Nicholas will be very pleased, but at least this one has more spark than Emily ever did."
"She's certainly got Lucky's interest."
"I spent some time with your daughter today too," Tracy offered.
"My, my Spanky, you were certainly playing attentive step-mother to my brood today. What's up with Lulu?"
"Lulu... is trying to figure out men."
Luke laughed. "Good luck with that. So what did you tell her?"
"That's something you will never find out, Husband. Some conversations are not for male ears."
"I probably don't want to know anyway."
"Probably not," she said with a grin.
"So are you ready? I don't want to be late."
"What's the rush? Ethan is getting everything ready and I'm sure it will be in order when we get there."
"I wish I knew what this kid did for you, Spanky – it would have saved me a whole lot of work."
"Excuse me?" she asked as she turned in her seat and grabbed her clutch.
Putting his arm around her to help her into a standing position, Luke quickly nipped at her ear. "If I'd known an easy way to get in your good graces, just think of how much fun we could have been having."
"You get in my 'good graces' frequently, Husband."
"Not often enough, Popsicle," Luke said as he gave her a light swat on her bottom.