Page 5 of Mountain Man's Secret Crush

“Whatever.” Cassi flips her long bleached blonde hair over her shoulder, causing a cloud of hair spray chemical scent to drift through the warm summer air.

“I want to go to the petting zoo.” Molly tugs on my right hand as Cassi jerks my left hand toward the beer garden.

“Why don’t you let her go to the petting zoo alone, and we can go see who’s at the beer garden?”

“Cassi, I told you, Molly is staying with me this weekend. She’s part of the deal if you want to date me.”

Cassi’s face contorts into a snarl as she prepares to launch into another complaint about today’s outing. But before she can say anything, Molly points at something behind me.

“Look, it’s the unicorn lady!” Molly shouts. “I wonder if she brought any cookies with her.” Molly waves excitedly, calling out for Junie to join us. “Over here!”

I swivel my head around, needing to catch a glimpse of Junie and her mystery boyfriend. But when I turn, she’s alone.

“Hi, Molly, Cassi, Brooks.” Junie’s voice is polite, but her eyes show apprehension as she stops in front of us to say hello.

My eyes wander down her body, taking in the short peach-colored sundress that highlights her curves, making my mouthwater. It’s the first time I’ve seen her in anything other than jeans and a bakery T-shirt.

Cassi rolls her eyes and keeps pulling on my hand. “Have the unicorn lady take the kid to the petting zoo.”

“Can she, Uncle Brooks?”

Unable to tear my eyes from Junie, I answer Molly, “Junie is here with a date. I’m sure she doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

“I’m not on a date, and I don’t mind taking Molly to the petting zoo if you and your date want some alone time.”

Hell no, I don’t want any alone time with Cassi. But my brain can’t get past Junie saying she isn’t on a date. “But yesterday at the bakery when David asked you out, you said you already had a date.”

“David is a nice guy. But I’m not interested in him, and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.” She trails off with a shrug over her bare shoulders.

“So, you lied to him about having a date?” I press, needing to hear it from her lips.

“I didn’t lie to David. I had planned to ask the guy I’m crazy about when he came into my bakery like he does every day, but somebody beat me to it.” Her eyes shift to a bored-looking Cassi, who has given up all pretense of caring about our conversation.

Am I the guy Junie is crazy about and wanted to ask to the festival?

Junie’s eyes flick to my hand still holding Cassi’s. I want to let go in disgust, but I hold back only because of years of being taught to be a gentleman.

“Come on Molly. Let’s go to the petting zoo.” The woman of my dreams takes my niece’s hand, and for a split second, when our eyes meet over Molly’s head, everything feels right.

“Great. Let’s go.” Cassi finally realizes Junie’s offer as she pulls me away from the two people I’d rather spend the day with.

“Molly, be good and listen to Junie,” I yell after Junie and Molly as they walk hand in hand to the petting zoo.

“Thank God we’re finally rid of that brat.” Cassi plops down on a chair in the beer garden, letting go of my hand in the process and motions for a waiter to bring us some drinks. “How can you stand to be around that kid all the time?”

I instantly get angry at Cassi's nasty comments. Now I remember why I avoided her in high school — she’s a self-centered, spoiled brat who only cares about herself. “Cassi, that’s enough. Molly is a sweet girl and if you have a problem with her, you have a problem with me.”

“Settle down, Brooks, you’re making a scene.” She waves her hand as if I were a pesky little fly she’s trying to brush away. “What will the town think of me hanging around with someone like that?”

“You know what, Cassi? I don’t care what they think, but I do care about Molly and Junie.” Without even a goodbye, I leave the beer garden and Cassi behind in search of the two people I really want to spend the day with.

five

Junie

“Iwish you weredating my Uncle Brooks, not that old meany.” Molly gently pets the baby goat's head as she feeds it a bottle of milk.

“Molly, it’s not nice to call people names, even if they probably deserve it.” I can’t help but add.

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