The man nodded to Noah, then headed across the park to the white medical tent.
He watched Ethan go, telling himself he had no right to be jealous. A few deep breaths, and he turned back to Miss Wright.
“Thanks for keeping an eye on her.”
She looked like she wanted to say something, but then her gaze slipped away. “Charlotte asked if she could have a pretzel for a snack.”
He was thankful Miss Wright was too kind to call him on his irrational reaction. “What do you think? Didn’t you bring one of those protein bars?”
“I did, but it’s a special occasion. And she’s so much healthier than she was. It’s your call, of course.”
“One pretzel,” he said.
“And cotton candy? I think if she has to choose one or the other?—”
“It’s fine.” He couldn’t help but smile at the nanny, who was fighting his niece’s battles for her. “But if she gets sick tonight?—”
“I’ll handle it,” she said quickly, a tiny smile quirking at the corner of her mouth.
He had the urge to kiss that corner, to see if he could coax a full smile out of her.
He forced his gaze back to her eyes. “Fair enough.”
Maybe she read his thoughts because she took a step back. “Why don’t I let you and Charlotte enjoy some time together? You don’t need my help now that your speech is over.”
He might not need her help, but he craved her company.
“I’ll need you to take Charlotte home?—”
“Okay. I’ll meet you back here later. You two have fun.”
She practically ran away from him.
Was his attraction that obvious? And if so, was she running because she was horrified by it?
Or because she felt the same way?
CHAPTER TWENTY
Delaney hurried away from the playground as fast as she could move without breaking into a jog.
Mr. Aylett’s jealousy had been so clear that he might as well have carried a placard announcing it.
She hoped and prayed her own jealousy hadn’t been that obvious.
She and Charlotte had been on their way to meet him after the mayor’s speech. Delaney had seen women buzzing toward him like bees to a honeysuckle vine. Beautiful, accomplished women with sweet Southern accents, allbless your heartandy’all come back.Women who belonged in his world.
Women who weren’t employees.
The sight had sent a wave of jealousy so intense that Delaney had changed course and taken Charlotte to the park. She didn’t want to witness the parade of bachelorettes who couldn’t resist him.
She knew exactly how they felt.
Now, as she walked randomly among the booths, she admitted that all her avoiding Mr. Aylett had done nothing to change how she felt about him. If anything, her feelings had only grown since their kiss. He was kind and gentle andunderstanding when she pretended to be too busy to eat dinner with them. The compassion and regret in his eyes made it increasingly difficult not to give in to her desire to just be with him. To sit with him and watch him love his niece so well.
The chilly air nipped at her cheeks. Strings of lights crisscrossed overhead, already illuminated, the sun having dipped below the trees. A band played on the stage where Mr. Aylett had spoken, the music adding background noise to the conversations and laughter of townspeople who wandered among the vendors. The scent of hot dogs mingled with the salt air from the nearby bay, turning her stomach.
The whole atmosphere reminded her of home. Except…except she didn’t belong here.
