Page 38 of Nanny for the Cowboy

All in all, ignoring the situation seems like the best plan, or at least the easiest. I know there’s something between us; no one could deny that, but I’m not sure if I want to be the one to change Brooks’s mind.

I mean, I’m certainly not in his age range, and there’s the he’s-my-dad’s-best-friend thing to consider.

Immature as it might be, we’re both going the avoidance route. And I don’t see that changing.

Shaking myself as I suck in a deep breath, I push off from where I was sitting on a low bench.

“I’m going to walk around. If you guys leave this area, come find me.”

Brooks nods. “Can do.”

Meandering with no destination, I find myself walking by a large stage that has been set up in the center of the park that splits this section of the street from the next. I can tell it’s been set up for a musical performance.

Amps and lighting are there, ready to go whenever the performer is up on stage, and I see Rosie standing with her back toward me.

I should go say hi.

Hurrying over so I don’t get trapped behind the crowd, I get up to Rosie, smiling as I tap her on the shoulder.

“Hey, Rosie. Thought I’d come—” She turns around, and my jaw drops as I see her face is bright red and stained with tears. “Oh, no. What happened?”

“Clover!” She snatches my hands, holding onto them like I’m a life raft. “My performer called like five minutes ago to cancel. Food poisoning! I don’t know what to do.”

My heart sinks. “Oh, hun. I’m so sorry. That’s terrible. There’s no one who you had on standby or anything?”

Rosie shakes her head. “No, we hardly ever have anyone sign up to perform. Ben was our go-to guy for these kinds of things, and now we’re screwed.”

“Jeez, I’m sorry. I wish there was something?—”

“Have Clover sing!” Darby cuts in, and I whip my head down toward him, my heart rate immediately spiking.

“Darby? When did you get here?”

“You heard her sing, Miss Lane. Clover should sing!” Darby doesn’t even look at me, his hopeful stare pinned on Rosie.

When I look back at her, she meets my eyes with cautious optimism, and I feel like I’m going to be sick.

“Clover,” Rosie squeezes my hands, “you’d be saving my butt. I’d owe you everything if you sang.”

Standing there with the ice cream I just mowed down churning in my stomach, Rosie and Darby just stare at me like I hold the keys to the kingdom.

Well, shit.

FOURTEEN

Brooks

Watching Clover walk over to the stage area was a test of strength. All I’ve wanted to do the entire day is get closer to her, but I know I can’t. Webothknow I can’t.

It’s been an incredible afternoon, and running into my friends was a delight, but Clover isn’t my date. I didn’t bring us all out here to get into her pants.

I just thought we needed some fresh air, a distraction.

Okay,Ineeded a distraction.

Darby rushes by me as I’m lost in my thoughts, and I see him heading straight toward Clover. I smile at first; it still tickles me how much that kid has taken to her, but that’s when I see Rosie’s face.

She’s been crying.

---