Page 12 of Nanny for the SEAL

Daisy skips away, crossing the space between our large yards and heading over to our porch, where I can still see her. As I turn back toward Ivy, I regard her, sighing as I nod.

“So?” Ivy asks, raising her brows at me as she smiles.

She has a damn beautiful smile. And she made Daisy laugh, which is a feat all on its own.

“Can you start Monday?”

FOUR

Ivy

My heart is pounding so hard that I think it might actually punch through my ribcage. But I’ve gotten this far.

And by this far, I mean I walked the short distance from my porch to Xaden’s, and I’m standing in front of his door, trying to muster up the strength to knock.

Ugh, come on, Ivy. It’s just a job.

But as much as I know that logically, it is just a job, and as much as I know that Ireallyneed the money and Daisy is so great, I can’t get the butterflies in my stomach to calm the fuck down.

I barely slept, too. That made for a rough start this morning, and I just know that my makeup isn’t doing a good enough job of hiding the bags under my eyes.

I just really need this job, and I genuinely like Daisy. She’s a great kid, and her father is…

Well, okay, we’re not going to start down that road. No, no, no.

Sure, I have some extra savings, but I’ve been using it to get here and survive until I could find a job. It’s definitely running thin at this point.

I want to live comfortably in Red Lodge. I want to make this my home. And yes, I know that I had wanted to make NYC my home, but I couldn’t stay there.

Not withhimlurking in the shadows.

No, the city isn’t happening, so I want to make the best of this move. I know I can enjoy the country life, but I need a steady income to do that.

And Xaden is exceptionally well equipped to offer me something to keep me satisfied.

I flinch as I hear my own thoughts and the innuendo they’re coated in.Dammit, Ivy, no. You will not think of your boss like that.

After I’ve stood there for far too long, I knock on the door, my heart now firmly lodged in my throat.

Xaden appears on the other side of the door in a flash, a wide grin on his face.

“Hey, Ivy. Come on in. I’ll give you the tour.”

The tourof Xaden’s house, which is significantly larger than mine and certainly in better shape, goes off without a hitch. Quickly after that, I’m left alone with Daisy for the day.

I fall right into step with her, like we’ve been seeing each other for years. In no time flat, we’re playing dress-up in her room, then tea party downstairs, and even a little chase the evil pirate, played wonderfully by me, in the backyard.

After a whirlwind of a morning, it’s time for her nap, and Daisy actually goes down really well.

I wouldn’t have been surprised if she fought it, considering how much fun we were having. Still, she listens to me readThe Bad Seedand then drifts off in her dim room while a nightlight, which is apparently new according to her, covers the walls in spinning multi-colored unicorns.

As I head downstairs to make myself some lunch, since I forgot to eat even though Daisy got fed, I let out a pleased sigh.

It’s been so long since I’ve been relaxed like this. Well, not that long. Just the move across the country, but somehow, that week-long trip felt like eons.

Probably because I kept checking the rearview mirror for any indication of someone following me.

Which is ridiculous.

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