Page 10 of Nanny for the SEAL

“Uncle Mason!”

She hops down from my arms, running over for a hug. He lifts her up, laughing as she squeezes him.

“Hey, cutie. I was just chatting with your dad. But I think I need to get back home. You think you can watch Daddy for me? Make sure he doesn’t get into trouble?”

Daisy giggles and nods. “Yes, Uncle Mason. No naughty daddies allowed.”

“Good girl.”

He sets her down, and she runs back over to me. I carry her as we show Mason out, stepping onto the front porch to enjoy a bit of the cool afternoon air.

Just as Mason and I are saying goodbye, I notice Ivy stepping out of her car with a small bag of groceries in her hand.

She walks toward her porch, smiling with her eyebrows up, when she notices us standing there. I nod my head awkwardly, offering a tight smile.

“Hey,” Mason taps me on the side of the arm, leaning in, “this is your chance. Go have Daisy say hi. You can see how it goes.”

I look over at him, a bit shocked. “Now? Seriously?”

“It’s always now or never, right? You said so yourself.”

Sighing, I roll my eyes at him. “I really hate when you use my advice against me. Fine. Fine. See you later.”

I gesture for him to go on back to his house, and Mason grins. “Let me know how it goes.”

“I will. Now scram.”

He laughs under his breath but quickly departs as I turn toward Ivy’s house. Squeezing Daisy a bit, I look down at her in my arms with a smile.

“Hey, so that’s the lady that might help watch you. Do you think we could go say hi?”

She looks nervous, which is normal for her. Daisy doesn’t love meeting strangers. It usually takes her a while to warm up to someone.

“Umm, okay, Daddy.”

“Hey, that’s a good girl. Good job being brave.”

She smiles, feeling a bit better as I acknowledge that she’s feeling shy, and we head over toward Ivy’s porch.

“Hey, Ivy?”

My neighbor pauses, looking back over her shoulder with her brows still raised. The sunlight catches in her green eyes, and I have to shake myself into focus.

“Umm, hi. What’s up?”

Setting Daisy down on her feet, where she immediately hides behind my leg, I try to offer Ivy the best nonchalant smile I can muster.

I’m not sure it’s working.

“Umm, I was wondering if you had a second to say hi to Daisy. Consider it part of the interview.”

Ivy regards me, her brows knitting together, but then she smirks lightly. With a smile that’s all amused suspicion, Ivy sets her grocery bag down near the door.

“For the sweetest-looking princess, I have all the time in the world.”

I grin, aware of how I just dropped this in Ivy’s lap. “Thanks.”

Kneeling down, I get Daisy to come in front of me. She’s a little hesitant still, but I can see curiosity in her eyes.

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