Page 8 of Nanny for the SEAL

Not for a single second.

THREE

Xaden

The window is cracked to let in the cool breeze, and the house is shockingly quiet compared to the frenzy of noise that existed before Daisy went down for her nap. She goes down like a champ most days, and this is the perfect time to get ahead of some emails I need to deal with.

There aren’t many, which is a bit of a surprise, but I can’t say I’m upset about that. With no nanny, I’m happier than ever that the business can run so smoothly without me having to babysit constantly.

You hired good people, Xade. Be grateful.

I sigh, reaching for my drink perched on the desk above where my keyboard pulls out. But when I try to take a sip, it’s empty.

“Well, I suppose it’s time for a refill then.”

I sit up straight at the desk, my back cracking, and as I stretch, I look at the clock. Shit, it’s already been an hour since Daisy went down.

At most, I have another hour left before she wakes up. I guess I was working longer than I thought.

Just as I stand up, I hear a gentle knock on the door. I’m not expecting anyone, and then part of me jumps at the idea that it might be Ivy.

My pulse flickering, I struggle to remind myself that she’s applying for the nanny position. There will be absolutely no funny business.

That’sunprofessional.

I make my way to the front door and pull it open, my heart in my throat. But it’s not Ivy. It’s Mason, and my shoulders deflate as I cock my head with a grin.

“Oh, hey, Mason. What’s up?”

He offers a familiar, kind grin and lifts forward a package. “Well, aside from the fact that you just went all sour puss on me, not much. This was delivered to me by mistake.”

I tense, admittedly a little embarrassed that I let my disappointment over who was at my door affect me so much. I take the package from Mason with an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry. I was…it’s not important.” I shake myself, waving off the awkwardness. “Thanks. Would you like to come inside for a drink? I was just about to pour myself a refill.”

He relaxes into himself, turning the corners of his mouth down as he nods. “Sure. I’m off for the rest of the day, and the girls are out shopping.”

“Oh, what for? Can’t be groceries. You have those delivered, and the poor old guy still has trouble remembering which house is which.”

I open the door the rest of the way and show Mason inside. As he steps through, I close things back up, setting the Amazon box on the console table.

It’s a new nightlight for Mia since hers keeps dying in the middle of the night, but I can’t exactly give it to her while she’s in there sleeping.

“Halloween stuff. Costume, decorations. It’s the first I’ve even considered doing it all up for Halloween, but Bridget insists, and Mia is way too excited about the idea to say no now.”

Pausing as I walk with Mason toward the kitchen, I rack my brain, concerned more time has passed then I realized.

“Wait, isn’t Halloween next month?”

Mason chuckles, pulling up a seat at the center island in my kitchen. “You’re not wrong. They’re ‘getting a jump on it,’ according to Bridget. She’s worried all the cute stuff will be gone if we wait too long.”

I can’t help but laugh at that, and I give Mason a good pat on the shoulder as I pass by him toward the fridge. Reaching inside, I pull out two beers.

Sure, I was going to make something properly, but I know Mason, and he won’t mind that I’m going with an old standby.

As I sit down next to him at the island, we crack open the beers simultaneously, and we click the tops together in an unceremonious “cheers.”

“So, aside from the Halloween obsession, how’s things? It sounds like you’re having a good time over there.”

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