Page 168 of The Nanny and the Beefcake
Good question! That nanny matchmaker was one hell of an enigma.
“I’ve lived an interesting life,” the woman said with a coy twist of her lips. “Now, Finola, dear, I see two of my former clients. I’ll leave you here with your family. I’m sure you’ll be in good hands,” the woman purred, waving toward the street where Rowen and Mitch and their families had pulled up.
He returned his attention to his grandmother. “Are you feeling all right? How’s your hip?”
“Yeah, Gran, you’re walking fast,” Sebastian added.
“You’ve been keeping up with the yoga moves, haven’t you?” Libby asked, embracing his grandmother.
“That I have. They’ve done wonders for me, and Madelyn and I have been walking every day. There might be something to this fresh air.”
“And who is this lovely creature?”
Raz turned to find the question came from Wobbly Bob. The man had removed his cowboy hat and smoothed his white tangle of beard as he gazed upon none other than Granny Fin. The man might as well have had hearts in his eyes.
What the bloody hell was this?
“I’m Finola Cress, Erasmus’s grandmother.”
“Folks around here call me Wobbly Bob, but you can call me Robert or Robbie. That’s what my Annie used to call me, but I’ve been a widower for twenty-six years now,” the man sputtered, looking downright lovestruck.
Ew!
Robbie?
And was that Wobbly Bob’s weird way of saying he was on the market? That he was bearded, single, and ready to mingle?
He chanced a look at Libby. She caught his eye and flashed him,aren’t they cuteeyes to which he flashed back,bloody hell, no, they aren’t!
“You couldn’t be Erasmus’s grandmother—his sister, sure, but not his grandmother,” Bob gushed.
Wobbly Bob was laying it on thick.
Maybe there was something to this crazy energy vortex scrambling brains.
“Take a breath, Raz,” Libby said softly, watching him as she pressed her lips together, suppressing a grin.
At least someone thought this was entertaining.
“I’ll take a breath when Wobbly Bob stops making moves on my granny,” he mumbled.
“Granny, I’ve learned how to care for Beefcake and Plum,” Sebastian began, and bless the lad for interrupting Bob, orRobbiethat is. “I brush them every day and clean their stalls. They’ll be here for my donkey birthday party. Libby says we can put hats on them,” Sebastian reported, pride written on his face.
“Aren’t they lovely creatures?” Granny Fin replied, patting Beefcake on the nose. “They look like the pictures you mailed to me in the post, Sebastian. And speaking of birthdays, let me look at you, lad. I think you’ve grown since I last laid eyes on you.”
“And I’m stronger. I’ve been training with Dad and Libby. Check out my jab-cross.” Sebastian widened his stance and knocked out the quick combination of punches.
Raz nodded to his boy. “He’s a natural, Granny.”
“Is he now?” his grandmother answered with a curious glint in her eyes.
“Five minutes. Racers and burros, please make your way to the starting line,” Maud called.
Bob offered his arm to Granny Fin. “It would be an honor to escort you to the seating area. We have chairs and tables set up near where the race starts and ends. You’ll get to see all the action by my side, miss.”
“All the action? Aren’t you a proper gent? I’d be delighted,” his grandmother answered, rosy-cheeked.
Bloody hell. He’d never seen the woman blush like a schoolgirl.
