Make a Wish (Spark House #3)(6)

Despite my high level of mortification and my desire to be beamed up by aliens, I can fully appreciate how good the past seven years have been to him. He’d only been in his late twenties when he became a dad. Back then, I’d thought he was attractive, but now, he’s moved to a whole new level of hot. It’s clear that he’s spent a lot of time at the gym, or something. He’s all broad shoulders and biceps, with thick forearms, and I’d have to guess he’s sporting some sweet abs under that navy polo.

He’s paired it with gray shorts and casual sandals. His dark hair is a little longer than I remember and definitely the kind of wavy and thick that makes you want to run your fingers through it.

Awesome, not only am I ogling him, I’m also thinking about doing inappropriate things like touching him. It’s as if I’ve gone back in time seven years, and I’m still the misguided woman who made the embarrassing mistake of almost kissing my charge’s grieving father. I’d like to say I’ve gotten over that, but clearly I haven’t.

His smile falters and he tips his head to the side, brows pulling together as he scans my face, then lifting in surprise as recognition dawns. “Harley? Harley Spark? How didn’t I put it together until now?” He touches his chest. “Gavin Rhodes. I don’t know if you remember me.”

I don’t know how I could ever forget him. Not when I lived in his house and took care of his daughter for nearly a year and a half. But right now would be a great time for him to develop selective amnesia and not remember me. I raise my hand in an awkward wave as my stomach flip-flops. “Hey. Hi.”

“That was Peyton who just ran by.” He motions to the dress tent.

I state the painfully obvious, my mouth desert dry, my heart hammering around in my chest like a raver on Molly. “She’s growing up fast.”

“Yeah. She is.” He runs his hand through his hair and grabs the back of his neck, eyes moving over me. “You’ve done some growing up of your own.”

Lynn’s eyes go wide, and Gavin makes a face. I choke on a cough and feel a smidge better about my own mortification. Not enough that I stop sweating or wishing that a UFO would pass by, but I’m slightly less interested in being probed.

He rushes on, possibly trying to ease the mounting tension. “I just mean, it’s been a long time.” His gaze shifts to Ella, as if he’s suddenly realized she’s not actually part of my body. “Is this your daughter? Did you get married?”

“Oh, uh, no. I’m not married; this is my niece, Ella. My sister London’s daughter. My other sister Avery is having a baby too. Babies all around. But not mine. And I’m closer to thirty than I am twenty these days.” Why is my mouth still moving?

I turn to Lynn, who’s still standing off to the side, witnessing this very awkward reintroduction. “I used to be Peyton’s nanny, before they moved to Boulder. That’s where you went, isn’t it?” I phrase it as a question, even though I already know the answer is yes.

“Yeah, that’s right.” Gavin nods.

“Oh! Well, isn’t it a small world!” Lynn looks between us, smiling, but I can see the questions in her eyes.

And frankly I have questions of my own. None of which would be appropriate to ask right now.

“It is. Apparently, very small,” I agree.

“I think we must have met before. I thought you looked familiar,” Lynn says.

And now that I have a frame of reference, I do remember her. I knew she’d seemed familiar when I met her in the planning stages, but we were focused on her daughter’s party. And back when I was Peyton’s nanny, any previous meetings had been in passing. Sometimes her husband, Ian, would pick Gavin up for dinner events, and Lynn would be there, but the memories are vague at best. “Oh yes, I’m sure we did, but it’s been a while. It feels like a lifetime ago, really.” At least it felt that way until five minutes ago. Now it feels as fresh as a papercut and almost as painful.

I shift my attention back to Gavin, wondering how much more small talk is required before I can do a runner and hide among the safety of the children. “Are you visiting, then?”

“No, actually, we moved back to the area a few weeks ago. Lynn and Ian are old friends, and Ian works for Greenscapes, my dad’s landscape architecture company.”

“Oh, well that’s … good?” The question comes out all high-pitched. It’s one thing for Gavin to make an appearance at Spark House, but another to find out that he’s moved back to Colorado Springs. It’s a big enough city, but it doesn’t mean I won’t run into him again. As if I need my past coming back to haunt me in the form of mortifying memories on a regular basis. And now my arm is starting to itch in a distracting way. I glance down and notice a couple of raised bumps. We spray for mosquitos, but it looks like we didn’t get them all.

“It’s been a good move so far.” He smiles and tucks a thumb into his shorts pocket.

Thankfully, I’m freed of the responsibility to keep up with the small talk when Lynn’s daughter, Claire, drags Lynn off to the photo booth and Peyton bounces our way, dressed in her fairy outfit.

“Dad! Look! They have a costume just for me! And we get to take pictures! It’s like being in a play, but I don’t have any lines to remember!”

“You look fantastic!” Gavin says, with nothing but genuine excitement on his face.