Page 144 of The Nanny and the Hothead
Rowen looked away. “Yes, I’m not ready for Phoebe to ask us any questions about the birds and the bees.”
Mitch nodded. “I can understand that. I’m not even close to being ready to go there with Oscar.”
“Which reminds me,” Rowen continued, then zeroed in on Phoebe and Oscar. “I need to talk to you about something.”
“Sure, what is it?”
The guy nodded toward the kids, who had taken a seat in the grass with their heads bent over Oscar’s pack. “It’s great that Phoebe and Oscar are best friends. But I should let you know that my niece won’t be dating until she’s thirty.”
Thirty! What the actual hell?
Mitch’s jaw dropped as he observed the children—who were six years old, chatting and laughing and tapping their feet. And holy shit! Did he have to start worrying about that now? Dating? Relationships? Girls?
“Rowen,” Penny chided. “We haven’t discussed this.”
“It never hurts to be ready,” the man stammered. “It’s imperative to have protocols in place and be prepared to anticipate any complications in the system.”
Penny poked him in the chest. “Oscar and Phoebe are fine. And you might want to rethink your protocols—especially your age requirement.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”
Penny cocked her head to the side. “I’m not even thirty.”
He studied her finger, his glasses slipping as the hint of a grin touched his lips. “Exactly.”
Mitch watched the exchange, then met Charlotte’s eye. Before she was his, couples’ bullshit like this would make him want to lose his lunch. But it wasn’t bullshit anymore. He got it. He understood what it was like to have a person, your person. He went over to Oscar’s sleeping bag that happened to be right next to Charlotte. “Can you help me with this?” he asked, crouching down, then messing with the tie.
“What do you need help with?” she asked.
He scanned the lot. Penny and Rowen had walked over to the kids, and he had a second alone with his favorite redhead. “I want you to know that I love you, and I’m glad you’re here.”
Her expression softened. She rested her hand on the sleeping bag mere millimeters from his. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” she answered, and for a split second, something flashed in her eyes, edging out the warmth. Was it panic, or was she emotional over Oscar leaving for camp?
“Charlotte,” he began, wanting to make sure she was all right when a bell rang out.
“Parents, guardians, Whitmore campers! Welcome to Bergen Adventure’s Outdoor Laboratory Telluride campsite. If you could join us in the clearing, we’ll go over a few instructions.”
Rowen, Penny, and the kids joined them at the cars as they gathered the sleeping bags and extra backpacks.
“Let’s go stand with our class,” Phoebe called when Rowen’s phone pinged.
He slipped it out of his pocket, stared at the screen, then frowned.
“What is it?” Penny asked.
“It’s the pilot. He says we need to go now if we want to get ahead of some weather that’s headed for the coast.”
“I can go with Oscar! Mitch and Charlotte can check me in,” Phoebe answered.
“Would you mind, Mitch?” Rowen asked. “I’ve got a lot on my hands with this blob.”
Jesus Christ! This nerd!
“Go ahead. We’ll get her squared away,” he answered, feeling like someone should award him parent of the year. Minus the whole car erection, he was killing it today.
Rowen and Penny said their goodbyes to Phoebe, and then it was the four of them.
“It looks like they’ve got cabin assignments on that board. Why don’t we check it out before the camp directors talk to us?” Charlotte offered.
