Page 30 of Piece Of Me

“It’s a keeper. You did good, kid.” Ollie’s expression was serious. “I know how hard it is for a single mum.”

They’d had many heart to heart chats when the musician was last in Big Bend. For whatever reason, Scarlett had found it easy to open up to the man. He was a walking, talking confessional.

“Thank you,” she replied, softly, searching the bouncy castle for Nora. Once she spied her niece she relaxed a bit. “How long are you here?”

“As long as it takes. I think the plan is to try and get these new songs down before the next little Bridgestone makes an arrival.” Ollie raised his chin, eyes somewhere behind her. “Here they come now.”

Scarlett turned and immediately felt her heart drop all the way down to her toes. She gripped the stroller, thankful to have something to hold on to. It was that or wrap her arms around Ollie.

She spied Benton and Cal walking slowly, deep in conversation, each of them holding onto trays of fries and hotdogs. By their side Millie Sue looked adorable with her baby bump and eyes that told the world she was the happiest woman on the planet. But it was the man several feet behind them who had all of Scarlett’s attention. Mouth dry, she watched as the blonde child, Ryan she thought, twirled in a circle chatting animatedly at her father while he fixed Cameron’s ponytail.

He was focused. Unaware of the interest he stirred. And somehow, that made him hotter. Scarlett wasn’t the only one who couldn’t drag her eyes away. Heck no. There was a crowd of women by the refreshment booth, all of them focused on Taz and his girls, whispering, pointing, giggling like a bunch of teenagers.

“You’ll catch flies if you don’t close your mouth.” Ollie’s amused voice broke the spell and she blushed, clearing her throat, and making a show out of rooting for some unknown thing in Hank’s diaper bag.

Benton, Cal and Millie Sue arrived, with Taz and the twins not far behind. For a moment or two, Taz’s eyes were solely on Scarlett, then he introduced himself and shook Ollie’s hand. She didn’t realize she was holding her breath until he smiled at her.

“Hey,” Taz said softly. “Nice surprise.”

The butterflies that had exploded in her stomach were now in her throat making it impossible to say anything. She made a noise, a grunt or something close to it, and felt her cheeks redden more than they already were. Aware that everyone was staring, that Cal’s eyes had narrowed, and even Benton, who was oblivious to most things, was looking at the two of them questioningly, she finally managed a hello.

“I know you. You’re daddy’s friend.” Cameron did a pirouette, while Ryan looked up at Scarlett.

“Did you bring your baby?” Ryan asked.

Good. Babytalk she could do. Scarlett moved out of the way so the girls could see her stroller. “I did, but Hank is sleeping.”

They inched forward, both of them whispering gibberish to each other as they peeked over the top. Ryan wanted to touch his head, but Taz pulled her away. “We don’t touch unless we ask, remember?”

“Can I touch him?” Ryan looked up at Scarlett, her round eyes hopeful.

“When he’s awake, you can hold him.”

Cameron backed away from the stroller, eyes still on Scarlett. “Did you say the F word when you were growing your baby?”

“I…” Good Lord. She raised an eyebrow at Taz.

“You don’t want to know,” he said, trying to hide a smile as he turned to the girls. “We don’t need to be talking about the F word anymore.”

Cameron opened her mouth, but he put his finger on over her lips. “And we really don’t need to be talking about growing babies either.”

“Can we go in the bouncy castle with Nora?” Ryan asked, tugging on her sister’s arm.

Taz nodded. They took a few steps and then both of them turned back around, exclaiming together. “Watch me, Daddy!”

He pointed two fingers at his eyes and then back to the girls. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Cal motioned toward an empty picnic table under the old oak tree by the water fountains. “We’re going to head over there. You coming?” The question was aimed at Scarlett.

“No. You guys go. I’ll watch Nora and bring her over when she’s done.” Were her cheeks as red as they felt?

“I’ll take the wee one,” Ollie said, reaching for her stroller. He didn’t give her a choice and after a few lingering looks from her brothers, she was left alone with Taz.

It wasn’t fair that a pair of jeans could look that good on a man, but then his long legs and round ass showed them off to perfection. Coupled with a plain white T-shirt and ball cap, he was dressed simply and had opted not to shave, his square chin and chiselled jaw shadowed with dark hair.

He dipped his head and Scarlett froze, bottom lip between her teeth, because she knew his mouth was inches from her neck.

“What are you doing?” she whispered, eyes darting here and there, watching folks watching them.

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