Page 149 of Perfectly Matched: Harbor Falls Romance Collection

“Hire a nanny and be done with it,”

Jack Ruley told him.

“This is not the time in your life, or your career, to be swiping noses and wiping baby butts.”

Rob Black blew out a breath and glanced away while his business partner rattled off more advice. Rob pulled the cell phone from his ear and looked over the face of the phone, contemplating cutting Jack off—then thought better of it.

“Find some young thing and hire her,”

Jack continued.

“Lord knows you have the money. Talk to Gina, she probably knows about one of those places where you can get a fresh-faced little honey from Sweden or something. What do they call those girls? Something French. Just make sure she’s got a green card and you pay the proper employment taxes so there won’t be any trouble with immigration. Hell, you don’t need more trouble. And don’t screw her for God’s sake…”

“Don’t be stupid, Jack. I’m not screwing anyone.”

Jack harrumphed.

“That’s right. You’re looking for marriage now, if I remember correctly. Something about getting older and settling down with a wife and kids… Hey, how’s that kid thing working out for you this week?”

“It’s a challenge and you know it.”

Challenge, yes, and he actually loved every minute of it. Taking care of his nephews and niece was not exactly what he had expected but surprisingly fun and enjoyable at the same time.

“I love those kids so it makes it easier.”

Jack laughed.

“Bullshit. Two more weeks with kids and you’ll forget about the happily-ever-after, picket fence life you think you want. Shit, Rob, you’ve gone from playboy to domesticated houseboy in zero-to-sixty flat. This isn’t you.”

This is me, Jack. You have no clue.

“No worries. Look. I’m not getting married to anyone, anytime soon, and kids are far down the plan.”

“Well, the whole scenario might actually be good for you. Might calm you down at bit.”

“I’m calm.”

“Really.”

“Yes, Jack. Really. That was my whole purpose for moving back to Harbor Falls.”

How long was he going to have to convince people of that? First his family and now Jack.

“Look. Taking care of the kids is temporary and I can’t back out on my brother right now. A nanny wouldn’t be a good idea. You’ll have to do L.A. without me.”

“Hell no. Crews asked for you. He wants you.”

“Jack, seriously. I can’t do this one. Besides, I’m casting the play here in Harbor Falls this week.

“Small potatoes. Gina could do that homespun job with her eyes closed. Let her do it, get one of those au pair girls, and get your ass to L.A. That is what they are called, isn’t it? Au pair?”

“Yes. They call them au pairs.”

But Rob didn’t want an au pair or a nanny or any fresh-faced little honey from Sweden or Pittsburgh or Harbor Falls for that matter anywhere near the children, or him. He was off little honeys for some time to come.

He stood in the door of the theater and watched the lobby fill up with people. Actors. It was going to be a long day and he was only on the mid-morning break. Harbor Falls might be small town but actors came from across the nation to land a role in a Harbor Falls Actor’s Playhouse production. This was just as important to him as a Jerry Crews movie.

“Rob?”

Jack queried, obviously impatient with Rob’s silence.

“What.”

“Crews has set up a meeting on Tuesday. Get out here earlier if you can. Where the hell do you fly out of living in a place like Harbor Falls, anyway? I’ll meet you at the L.A. office and we can go to the meeting together. That gives you a few of days to find someone.”

A few days to find someone.

“Agreed?

Rob exhaled.

“Yeah, sure.”

He hit the end button to silence the call and blew out a second heavy breath. He perused the sea of actors milling about then turned and headed back into the theater. He rubbed his forehead—damned headache. As the door slammed behind him, the light in the cavernous room dimmed. He nodded to Gina as he hustled down the aisle between the theater seats and barked, “Next!”

Gina handed him a head shot and a file and mumbled a name. He sat behind the small table while the next hopeful actor stepped onto the stage, taking a little more time than his liking.

“Next!”

he barked again and tossed Gina an annoyed look. “Name?”

Gina smirked and said loudly.

“Wyn Hall, please.”

Rob glanced down at the headshot and quickly shuffled through some of the papers in the file.

****

Wynter Holly, aka stage name Wyn Hall, stepped toward the edge of the stage and looked down at the man with dark hair and the woman seated beside him. There were some other people milling about but she focused on those two. Briefly, the man—Rob Black, the new casting director she assumed, although one could never be certain who was at the table in these sorts of things—glanced up and gave her a once over. From then on, all she saw was the top of his head.

“Stand here,”

someone told her. She stepped to the mark.

A man moved in with a camera. They did still shots, front and side, and then started rolling video.

“Name?”

The man with dark hair spoke to the table.

“Wyn Hall.”

“Your last significant role.”

Wyn paused.

His head shot up.

“Ms. Hall?”

His gaze skittered off hers and then fell back to the table.

“My last role was three years ago. I played the part of Annelle in Steel Magnolias, here at the Harbor Falls Actor’s Playhouse.”

He stared at her head shot.

“The Darryl Hannah role.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Three years ago…”

he muttered, shaking his head.

“All right. Go!”

Wyn brought the script up she’d been handed only moments earlier and began reading.

“That’s enough. Sorry Ms. Hall. Not this time. Please try again.”

He gave her a wave of dismissal without even looking up, shoving her portfolio aside. Wyn stood spellbound at the stage, having not read ten words. “But…”

The woman at the table stood.

“Thank you, Ms. Hall.”

She knew her cues and this one was to leave. Numb, she moved on autopilot to the back of the stage and kept walking steadily until she was out the door.

At that moment, Wyn knew she was done.