“She’s a bit shy.” Noah fought the urge to shield her from the mayor’s overly enthusiastic greeting.
“No problem at all.” Mayor Collins straightened and offered his hand to Miss Wright. “A pleasure to meet you as well.”
“You too.” Her tone was much warmer than any she’d used with Noah in the last two weeks.
“We should get you to the stage.” The mayor checked his watch. “The ceremony starts in twenty.”
“I’ll be right there.” When he walked away, Noah turned to Miss Wright. “I’ll find you after the presentation. It shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes.”
“Take your time.” She looked down at Charlotte. “We’ll explore the festival, won’t we? And find that face painting.”
Charlotte was eyeing a booth selling cotton candy.
“No sugar until after lunch,” Noah said automatically, earning an eye roll from his niece that made him smile. She’d picked up that particular expression from one of her new playmates, and while he should probably discourage it, he couldn’t help finding it endearing.
“We’ll stick to the crafts,” Miss Wright assured him. “Good luck with your presentation.”
He watched them walk away, Charlotte skipping beside her nanny, and felt that now-familiar pull in his gut. They looked like they belonged together—his family.
No. Not his, not Miss Wright. But he wanted her to be.
He’d been so focused on his inappropriate attraction to her that he hadn’t fully processed the deeper truth. His desire for Miss Wright—Delaney—was more than physical. He wanted this—the three of them, together.
What was he supposed to do with that? Never mind that Miss Wright was from Maine and planned to go back there in a year. Never mind that she was too young for him—and far too innocent.
Even if both of those things weren’t true, she was his employee. It wasn’t…fittin’, as Granny Aylett used to say.
Miss Wright and Charlotte disappeared around a corner, and he shook off his crazy thoughts, then glanced around, hoping nobody had spied him staring at his niece’s nanny like some kind of lovesick teenager.
He headed for the bandstand. Rows of folding chairs faced it, most already filled.
He was just about to start up the bandstand steps when a woman stepped into his path. Long brown hair, large hazel eyes. She was attractive and somewhat familiar, though he couldn’t place her.
“Noah Aylett, the man of the hour.” Her words came out breathy as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, sending awaft of perfume his way. “You probably don’t remember me, but we met at a fundraising dinner last spring.”
Last spring felt like a decade ago.
“Elle Baker?” She phrased it like a question, as if she weren’t sure of her own name.
He didn’t remember her, but he didn’t want to be rude. “It’s nice to see you again, Elle. I hope you’re enjoying the festival.”
“Of course! It’s always a pleasure to celebrate the Ayletts! What an honor to know you!”
Her enthusiasm was giving him a headache. “Well, thanks.” Or something. “I’d better go?—”
“Yes! You don’t want to be late. I’ll look for you tonight. Maybe we can dance?” She ducked her head and watched him through her eyelashes, adding, “Or get a drink?”
“Oh, uh…” He looked around, desperate for rescue, and spotted Richard in the first row.
The man seemed to be enjoying the show, based on the chuckling. No help there.
“Maybe,” Noah said vaguely. “See you later.”
StupidMost Eligible Bachelorarticle. As if his life weren’t complicated enough, he now had random women throwing themselves at him.
He hurried up the steps of the bandstand and took a seat in one of the folding chairs behind the podium. Several town officials nodded in his direction. The Aylett name still commanded respect in Driftwood, but it’d taken some hits in recent years. Jasper’s behavior, the lies Lena had spread, and Noah’s divorce had all added fodder to the rumor mill.
It was a wonder he was still welcome on this stage.
