The Daddy Box Set

“Not when I want to keep my job,” I said. “Besides, he’s way out of my league.” And that part was right. I’d had enough of these jobs to know that sometimes the parents treated the nannies like furniture. Something to be overlooked. He was a busy executive; sure, he was kind to me today, but he was motivated to get someone to watch his kid.

“I’m not telling you to marry the guy,” Sierra said, wrinkling her nose. “But you could be his naughty nanny.”

I looked around us, my cheeks flushing. “Sierra!” I hissed.

She giggled and lowered her voice into a husky tone. “Sure, I’ll go get your laundry, Mr. Stone. Do you want it freshly pressed?”

I lightly slapped her arm. “Stop it.”

She laughed uncontrollably, and everyone in the store looked over. If it was possible to be more embarrassed, my entire body lit up in flames.

“Everyone is looking at you,” I said.

“Whatever,” she said. “You’ve always been so easy to embarrass. You probably won’t see anyone in here ever again.”

That didn’t matter. I wasn’t sure how prominent Noah was in this area. What if he knew one of these people? Would they tell him that his new nanny was making fun of him? I knew it was a minuscule chance, but a chance I wasn’t willing to take.

“Do you want to get lunch?” Sierra asked, changing the subject.

“As long as you agree to stop calling me a naughty nanny.”

“I can’t promise that.”

I couldn’t help but smirk. “Come on then,” I said, looping my arm in hers.

“Harold, I’m taking lunch!” Sierra called into the back office.

After lunch, Sierra went back to work, and I went home. I wasn’t sure what my schedule would look like as of yet, though I had an idea Noah that would need me a lot. I didn’t mind working six or seven days a week, but the cleanliness of my apartment would suffer.

So, I rolled my sleeves up and got to work. The mindless motions of cleaning made my mind wander. From the impression that I got from Gina and Noah, I knew I was going to enjoy working for them. Gina had an infectious energy and a silent creativity that I wanted to explore. I made a mental list of places I wanted to go with her.

I briefly wondered about the nature of the former nanny’s termination. From what I saw at the interview, Noah and Gina seemed perfectly fine. The fact that he had a little section for her in his office showed his love for her. Most corporate types who I’d come in contact with never wanted their children at their work, never mind setting up a corner in the office for them.

By the time I’d finished cleaning my apartment, it was past supper time. I made a grilled cheese and watched an episode from my DVR before getting ready for bed.

While brushing my teeth, I couldn’t help a smile from forming my lips. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow. I loved my job as a nanny. Taking care of kids was my passion.

Recalling Sierra’s idea of the naughty nanny made me laugh so hard that I spit out a little toothpaste onto the mirror. I scrubbed it off. There was no denying Noah’s attractiveness, but I knew he’d never think of me that way. He was too desperate to keep a nanny to ever screw it up.

But that didn’t deter me from thinking about his gorgeous green eyes as I fell fast asleep.

Chapter Seven

Noah

I woke much happier on Tuesday morning when my alarm went off at four. I took the monitor for Gina’s room and went downstairs to my home gym. Even though I hadn’t worked out since Friday, that extra day had made me a little sluggish. But I pushed through. This small bump in the road was over, and I could get myself and Gina back to a schedule, something that eased my mind immensely.

After I showered and made myself some breakfast, I glanced at the clock. Five forty-five. I gritted my teeth. Allison had called Jess with my home address and asked her to be here around six, so I could meet with her before Gina woke up.

Though if she were going to be late, that wouldn’t sit well with me. Punctuality was a pet-peeve of mine. And I needed this to work out.

I finished the rest of my coffee and placed the mug into the sink just as I heard a knock on my front door.

I raked my fingers through my damp hair and headed over to the door.

“Good morning,” Jess said. “I didn’t want to ring the doorbell if she’s still sleeping.”

Punctual and thoughtful. This working relationship was already starting off on the right foot.