Page 24 of Nanny for the SEAL

Swallowing, I try to smile—though I know it doesn’t reach my eyes—and I nod back. “Yup. And you are?”

The woman barely bites back a scoff. “I’m Amy.”

My stomach clenches, and I remember the warning Sam offered.Shit, so this is his close “friend,” huh?

Straightening my spine, I’m silently thrilled that I managed to swipe on some mascara and lip gloss before I left the house. Everything about his woman is tailored and pristine, and I do my best to at leastlookconfident even if I don’t feel it in the slightest.

“Of course,” I offer, pinning that retail grin in place. “It’s lovely to meet you, Amy. Xaden has said nothing but the best about you. Here, allow me to get the door.”

I step around her, shoving my bag back up my shoulder, and go for the screen door and then use my key to get inside. Holding things open for her, I wait as Amy takes a moment to survey me before entering.

“Thanks.”

There is no gratitude behind the word, but there’s certainly expectation—like everyone should always be opening doors for her.

It takes everything not to let the door fall and smack her in the face, but I force down the frustration nagging me. Amy’s sour expression persists as she steps inside, and I know one thing for sure.

We arenotgoing to get along.

“Oh, hey.”

I turn to see Xaden behind me, likely having come in from the other room because he heard the door.

“Xaden!”

Amy shoves past me, leaving me in the proverbial dust with an unnecessary knock against my left shoulder, and I bite my tongue so hard as I shut the door that I taste copper.

But there’s nothing more I can do. So, I turn around, taking this last chance to stare daggers into the back of Amy’s head before I have to pretend to be nice to her.

It’s going to be a long day.

EIGHT

Xaden

“I just wasn’t expecting you. That’s all.”

I smile at Amy, holding out my hand as I walk her back to my office. Surprised is definitely an understatement, but I can’t be all that shocked.

Amy has a habit of just dropping in unannounced. After a few weeks of not seeing her in person, Ishouldhave expected her to pull another one of her “visits.”

“Oh, fine. Fine. But seriously, that’s who you replace that thief with? I mean, come on. She’s like twelve. She can’t possibly know how to handle a four-year-old, let alone one that’s such a special case.”

My stomach clenches as I instinctively duck my chin back toward myself. Amy’s words hit like a slap in the face, and I’m not sure which claim to address first.

“She’s not twelve, Amy. And Ivy has several certifications and a degree in early childcare.”

Waving her hand at me, Amy perches on the arm of the wingback chair in my office, her weight making the leather squeak.

She’s always been such a presence in my life, and I remember her being exactly this loud and independent in college, even during freshman year.

Tucking her blonde hair behind her ear, Amy tilts her head at me, raising her brows up to her hairline. I know she doesn’t believe a word I’m saying, and I really don’t have time for this.

“And what exactly did you mean by ‘special case?’”

That makes her swallow, and Amy looks down at the floor before glancing back up at me with an overly sympathetic expression.

“I just mean it takes care to handle a child that’s been through a significant loss. Without Maeve…Daisy just has different requirements than others.”

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