“Seems you can’t do anything without causing a commotion, Ruby Banks.” Drew shouts over the music blasting from the ancient jukebox as she sips her lemonade.
She’s holding Gray’s arm and her eyes sparkle. Everything about her glows. Her hunky hunky boyfriend—sorry, fiancé—is busy talking to my guest.
Remi is not my date.
“What are you talking about?” I shout back, doing my best not to blow her eardrum. “What commotion?”
“All the old church ladies are up in arms because Dr. North is interviewing nannies now. The scuttlebutt is he wants a nanny as hot as you.”
She bursts out laughing, but I feel slightly ill. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Isn’t Dr. North Serena’s husband?”
“Don’t tell me you care what happens to that bitch Serena.”
My lips twist into a frown. She’s a horrible, horrible person, but it doesn’t mean I want her husband bragging about hiring a sexy nanny.
“What’s up?” Remi rotates around to face us, holding a tumbler of whiskey.
I kind of like th
at he drinks whiskey. It goes with his lead-singer vibe. I’ve got another Tequila Sunrise… and I have an idea of a song I could sing…
“I was just telling Ruby about Dr. North desperately seeking a hot nanny.” Drew leans forward, making a face over her drink like it’s the most hilarious thing ever.
I guess it would be if I weren’t the reason behind the nonsense.
Remi shifts in his seat, and one glance at his face tells me he knows exactly what she’s talking about.
“You knew about this?”
“I heard something about it from Eleanor.”
“Oh my God!” I throw my hands up, falling back in the seat. “Baby Jesus, deliver me from these goddamned old church ladies!”
Gray laughs. “Did you just take the Lord’s name in vain in a prayer?”
Sometimes I’m so glad he’s back. Right now isn’t one of those times. “You should know what this is like. You were the target of their crap for a while.”
“Longer than a while.” He puts an arm around Drew and pulls her closer. “Now I don’t really give a shit.”
Drew melts into his side, and the jukebox switches off, leaving the room momentarily silent. Loud music filters through the ancient bar, and a gameshow-style announcer steps to the center of a brand-new stage.
“I can’t believe they actually invested money in this place.”
The guy calls out some woman named Elizabeth, and I feel Remi’s arm snake around my waist. He pulls me closer and speaks low in my ear as Elizabeth launches into a pretty decent rendition of “Hips Don’t Lie.”
“Hey, I’m really sorry about all that bullshit with Phillip. I had no idea he’d do something so stupid.”
My jaw tightens, and I know I shouldn’t be mad at Remi. It’s not his fault.
“Is he serious?” I look around the room, wondering who here is going to add to the rumor mill. “Or is he just taking a cheap shot at me?”
Looking over my shoulder, my eyes meet Remi’s and I see real anger there. “He’d better not be doing it to hurt you. Maybe I should have a talk with him—”
Shifting around, I grasp his forearm. “Don’t. Serena’s been making cracks at me all my life. If this is just adult bullying, I can deal with it. The last thing I want is to play their game.”
His brow lowers, and I have to say, angry, protective Remi might be the sexiest version I’ve seen so far. “I don’t like people being shitty when it comes to you. I won’t put up with it from Eleanor, and I sure as hell won’t put up with it from Phillip North.”
“You probably shouldn’t put your arm around me like that. We’re just friends, remember?”