Page 9 of Nanny Crush
“Xander, that’s a cool name. How old are you, Xander?”
“Six. I’m in kindergarten.”
“Oh, that sounds fun. Do you like school?”
He shrugs. “I like recess and movie time.”
She laughs. “You get to watch movies in school?”
He nods. “Yeah, I like that part, but all the sitting and doing work isn’t fun.”
She giggles. “And who are you?” she asks as Maddy makes her way over.
“I Maddy.”
“Hi, Maddy. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You play dolls?”
“Not right now, Madison,” I say, cutting her off. “Daddy and Sasha have to talk right now. Why don’t you two go upstairs and play while we talk?”
Xander takes his sister’s hand and leads her up the stairs.
“Before I get into the job description, why don’t you tell me about yourself and why you think you’d be a good fit here?” I can’t stop myself from staring at her beautiful face as she thinks over how to reply.
She nods and wets her lips. “Okay. Well, I was born and raised here, so I know the area and the people really well. I’ve had several jobs over the course of my adult life. I worked at the market when I turned sixteen. I worked at the bar and grill when I turned twenty-one, and then I started caring for an elderly lady here in town. When she passed, I found myself out of work, so I got a temp job at the toy store, helping over the holidays. They laid me off about a month ago and I’ve been unemployed since.”
“Do you have any experience with children?” I ask.
“I have several little cousins that I’ve babysat numerous times over the years.”
“And you are aware that this is a live-in position, correct?”
“Yes.”
“That won’t be an issue?”
“No, the timing is perfect actually. The lease on my apartment is up next month so it’s now or never.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
Her brows draw together at this question, and I feel I need to elaborate.
“It’s just that whoever you put yourself around will also be around my children, and I’d like to know who’s going to be involved in their lives. For safety, of course.”
“Oh, absolutely. I don’t have a boyfriend. I never really have friends over, either. I hang out with Kinsley from the coffee shop a lot, but we usually go out so no worries about people coming in and out of your house.”
“Are you on drugs?”
She laughs, thinking I’m joking. When she sees the seriousness in my eyes, she stops and clears her throat. “No, I do not use drugs.”
“A drinking problem?”
“No,” she says quickly, almost offended.
“I just wanted to make sure the person watching my kids doesn’t need a babysitter herself.”
She presses her lips together and lifts her brows.
