“What?” I grinned. His excitement was infectious.

“Vaughn Tremaine helped me get some great bands from New York. Apparently he knows people.”

“Vaughn Tremaine? Helped?” I was amazed.

“Oh yeah,” Kell said. He looked up at Jake. “And wasn’t he lovely? He was lovely.”

Jake grinned. “He was lovely.”

“Lovely how?”

“Oh, he’s charming. I don’t know why more people don’t realize that. Everyone thinks he’s got a giant stick up his butt, yet he was so down to earth with us.”

“How much time did you spend with him?”

“He invited us to have dinner with him at the hotel and asked us how he could help with the events this year,” Jake said.

Shock held me to the spot.

Vaughn had listened to my advice. Wow. “Okay then.”

“Anyway, sweetie, I’d love to stay and chat but we have to get on. We’ll catch up later, yes?” Kell kissed me on the cheek and then smiled mischievously at Rex. “Be sure to show this young man a good time.”

I laughed as Rex and I walked away but I was still kind of in a daze.

“So, Vaughn, huh?” Rex said.

Oh no. It was music festival day and I did not want to discuss Vaughn with Rex.

“Bailey!”

I had never been more thankful for the sound of Jessica’s voice. Following it, I zeroed in on Jess standing near the market stalls where Dahlia had set up her jewelry to sell. Jess stood beside Cooper with Louis at their feet, surrounded by Cat, Joey, and Emery.

Emery was at the festival.

Progress.

I rushed toward my friends and playfully nudged Emery. “You’re here.”

She blushed, smiling at me. “I didn’t know it would be like this . . .” She gestured around. “It’s quite atmospheric.”

“I know, right? Guys, you all know Rex.”

Everyone nodded but Joey. “I don’t,” the kid piped up, staring shrewdly at Rex.

“Well let me rectify that.” I laughed. “Joseph Cooper Lawson, this is Rex McFarlane, my friend from Dover.”

“Everyone calls me Joey. I’ll let you know by the end of the day if you can, too.”

Rex grinned. “I’ll try my best to make that happen.”

“How you doing?” Cooper held out his hand to him.

They’d already met but this was Cooper. He was reminding Rex that I had a Cooper in my life, a Cooper who would do him bodily harm if he hurt me.

I rolled my eyes at Jessica but she just snuggled deeper into Cooper’s side, loving him for being protective of the people he cared about.

What wasn’t to love about that?

“Forgive him.” Cat ruffled her son’s hair. “He’s playing today at the festival and he’s full of beans and smartbuttery.”

“Smartbuttery?” I said.

“Mom doesn’t want to use the a-s-s word around me,” Joey explained.

“Ah, smartassery,” I deduced. Everyone groaned in amusement as I made a face at Cat. “Oops. Sorry.”

“It’s not like I don’t know what the word is,” Joey blustered. “Mom is just being silly.”

“I quite like the word ‘smartbuttery.’ I think I’ll add it to my personal vocabulary,” Em said.

Joey, who worshipped Miss Tall, Blond, Kind, and Beautiful, stared up at her. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. I guess it is kind of funny.”

“Oh, sure,” Cat said. “I say it, it’s embarrassing, Elsa says it and it’s kind of funny.”

“Watch it, Catriona.” Cooper tapped her nose. “Your envy is showing.”

She grunted at her brother and turned to Em. “Do you want to come live with us? Make it a permanent thing?”

Emery rolled her eyes at her, which was a vast improvement, too. Cat could be a little intimidating and Em still wasn’t too sure how to act around Joey’s mom.

“When are you playing?” I said to Joey, looking forward to hearing him.

“In a couple of hours.”

“Can’t wait.” I turned to Rex. “Joey is a pianist and somewhat of a protégé.”

“Is that so?” Rex looked impressed. “Well I can’t wait to hear you.”

“Are you Bailey’s new boyfriend?”

“No,” I said so Rex wasn’t left floundering in awkwardness. “Have you all had ice cream yet?”

“Vaughn!” Cooper shouted instead, staring off to our left.

I froze. Rex followed Cooper’s gaze with intense focus. Jessica caught my eye and winced sympathetically. Emery surreptitiously squeezed my wrist and I gave her a grateful smile.

This all happened just before Vaughn appeared, Jessica and Cooper moving back to let him into our circle. I drank him in like a parched, parched woman.

In deference to the hot weather and the casual event Vaughn was wearing a polo shirt that showed off his great physique, and slim-leg light-colored chinos and boat shoes. Even casual he reeked of money. It had something to do with the quality of his clothes, his confident air, and the beautiful Rolex Submariner on his wrist.

The unfairness of his good looks made my heart pound fast and my stomach flutter.

Worse still was his complete lack of annoyance when Louis jumped up on him for attention. Vaughn just laughed and rubbed behind his ears, making me melt a little. Once Jess had pulled Louis back down, an awkward silence fell over the group.