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Sixty-Four
“I want you,” the man said.
Robin practically rolled her eyes. He was going to have to get in line. Nick had just said the exact same thing to her. And Aaron Masterson had implied as much when she’d danced with him.
She was suddenly a very popular girl around here.
Now here she was, getting Nova another piece of cake. Just to get caught by Rowland Bowles, big-shot Hollywood director, once again. “You troll weddings looking for redheads often?”
“Something like that. The Tylers just keep having them. So what is your answer?”
“Robin! Robin! My cake!” Nova suddenly screeched. Robin turned.
Just in time.
To see disaster happening.
Red velvet cake with pale mauve icing landed straight in the center of the greatest director in Hollywood’s perfectly pressed dress pants that probably cost more than Robin’s van ever had.
Followed by the mints.
Two rose-shaped mints stuck in the icing. Right over the man’s fly.
She grabbed napkins as fast as she could. And handed them to him. She wasn’t about to help him clean that up. Not there…
“Mr. Bowles, I am so sorry. I guess the cake slipped.”
“No kidding.” He just shot her a rueful grin. “No harm, no foul, of course. I’m sure the mini-Nikki can get another piece of cake, if she wants. There is plenty to go around, but if you’ll excuse me—I’m going to find a spot to retreat. We will speak again soon. I haven’t changed my mind. I want you.”
“Well, you can want all you want—but you can’t have her,” a male voice said from behind her.
Nick. Forever and always Nick. Robin turned to him, in time to see Nova give a little wicked smile unlike any Robin had seen her give before. Well. That child was up to something.
“Retreat is the better part of valor. Have a nice…day.” Rowland Bowles almost bowed to her, he really was quite charming, and took off. Nova’s cake had accomplished its mission.
Then he was gone, and Robin was turning toward the man she wanted to want her forever.
Nova giggled. “That was funny.”
“Nova Lynn,” Robin said as something occurred to her. “Did you do that on purpose, young lady?”
“You are my Robin. And he can’t have you. Just my daddy can.”
Why, the little girl wasn’t repentant at all. Robin’s eyes met Nick’s and her lips twitched. Nova had just acted out for the first time, in front of them. Because she felt safe enough to do it. She knew she was loved now, no matter what.
Robin hugged Nova close and laughed. “Let’s not do that again, sweetie.”
Nick pulled Robin closer. “I couldn’t have planned it better myself.”
The boys were there, from somewhere. And Becky, demanding more cake, too, if Nova got some. Robin pulled away from Nick as the crowd got quiet for the DJ, who was about to announce something. She scooped Becky into her arms.
Just as the crowd got quiet.
Wesley’s voice rang out above the crowd. “Nick! Are you going to marry our mom or not?”
“Are you going to be our real dad like you’re Noah’s, too?” Philip just had to chime in. Even louder than his brother.
Robin felt her eyes widen as every person under the tents turned to stare.
But it was the groom who made it even more obvious something monumental was going on now—from clear across the tent, when he yelled. “Yeah, answer the boys’ questions, Nick! When are you going to marry Robin? Inquiring minds want to know!”
Phil always had been a bit of a butthead sometimes.
