"But I can't exactly pull from my usual models here and I can't afford to fly them in."
Hell, right now I can't even afford to pay them.
"I've put my feelers out, but, no surprise, Camden County isn't the sort of metropolis where you find a lot of up and coming models looking for gigs." I'd take some wannabe actors at this point, if I could find them. Honestly, I'm barely clinging to ‘not desperate enough’ to show up at the nearest college with pizza boxes to seewho will work for a free meal and professional pictures to boost their social media accounts.
"What would modeling entail exactly?" Cas asks, catching both me and Jovi off guard.
"It's so easy," Holly says, already sidling up to him. "And, of course, I'd be there to help you. Plus," she says, reaching up to slide a finger under his shaggy, dark hair to swoop it off his forehead and reveal the entirety of his handsome face, "I have a feeling you're going to be a natural."
"He didn't agree to it," Jovi cuts in.
"I could," Cas says, locking eyes with me. "If it would help."
JOVI
I shouldn't care that Cas is playing model for Liz. Hell, I should be grateful he's willing to help her out like this. I had no idea she was struggling with her business since the move. Which is eating away at me too as I watch her direct Holly and Cas into different positions before snapping pictures of them from every available angle. Meanwhile, all three kids are buzzing around holding up their little light props, giggling or oohing and aahing every time Liz asks Holly and Cas to embrace in some way.
Another reason I should be thrilled Cas jumped in to help out. I sure as shit wouldn't want to be the one pretending to make googly eyes at Holly. I doubt I'd even be capable.
But despite all rational thoughts pointing toward the positive in this situation, I can't shake the nagging irritation over seeing Liz's focus honed in on him like this.
Appreciating him, maybe in ways she hasn't before. Or fuck, has all along but never had the opportunity to express.
And fine, maybe all her compliments are actually directed at both of them.
And, if listened to in detail, are all centered around how good they look together and how convincing they are as a couple.
So much so, she asks if Wyatt can join the shots, because apparently, ‘single dad falls for the nanny’ romances are a real hit right now.
Holy shit. What is wrong with me?
Am I really getting jealous over Cas? When every word out of Liz's mouth is in regard to him and her friend? Would she really be suggesting he look perfect with another woman if she wanted him all to herself?
I might be losing my Goddamned mind here.
CHAPTER TWENTY
LIZ
"Ithink you and I should convince Cas and Jovi to take us out on a double date tonight," Holly announces as she strolls into the living room, having showered and changed after our photoshoot ended earlier this afternoon.
"I'll go on a date with Jovi when hell freezes over," I mutter, bending down to pick up the last of the toys the kids scattered after breakfast this morning.
Some mornings I make them tidy up themselves, chores and responsibilities and all that. Others, I decide they're fucking kids and they've had plenty of grown-up shit to tackle already. They can go another few years being messy gremlins who leave trails of chaos in their wake.
Holly lets out a laugh. “It was worth a shot.” After a moment she quiets down, looking around the downstairs living area. “Unrelated, where are the kids? Shouldn’t they be easy to locate based on noise alone?”
She’s not wrong. The house is uncharacteristically silent. “They’re in the yard.”
“By themselves?” Holly cocks a brow, her mind clearly already guessing at the full scenario at play here.
“They’re not alone,” I grumble, tossing an armful of plushies into a basket.
“Then who’s with them?”
“Jovi.” Obviously.
“Jovi?” She tilts her head, curious, and it occurs to me she might have been expecting me to say another name. Mention another cowboy. “I thought he took off an hour ago for some work thing.”
