Page 18 of Military Daddies' Nanny

Chapter 7

Nancy

Dinner was a chaotic affair — as chaotic as one could hope to expect in Drew’s military camp excuse for a house. Bella and Jason were actually conversing in a light tone, their soft voices barely audible over the din of clattering cutlery, and Nathan and the men were talking about something that had happened at the shop.

Drew sits at the head of the table, occasionally interjecting orders to keep the kids in line, while Nathan and Carlos add to the conversation with their own anecdotes and jokes.

I'm absorbed in making sure everyone has enough to eat, my mind still replaying the earlier tension with Drew.

After dinner, I start clearing the table, determined to keep busy and not dwell on the mix of frustration and attraction that Drew seems to effortlessly stir up in me.

My eyes linger for a moment on Carlos, who catches my eye and flashes a grin. The sight sets my heart racing furiously and I look away, embarrassed at the thought of getting caught staring.

While he would never be mistaken for a magazine cover model like the Johnson brothers, Carlos does have a rough sort of handsomeness about him, and at six feet tall, he’s anything but small next to the other men.

His brown, intelligent eyes always look like there’s mischief lurking around somewhere, while his muscular, stocky buildgives him the impression of a career brawler—which is in direct opposition to the sweet person he has been since the moment we met.

"Need a hand with the dishes?" he asks, already stacking plates.

"Sure, thanks," I reply, appreciating the help. I find Carlos’ easygoing nature refreshing, his laid-back charm a stark contrast to Drew's more intense demeanor.

We move to the kitchen, and I begin washing while Carlos dries. The warm water and rhythmic motions are soothing, and for a moment, I can almost forget the earlier argument.

"So, how are you settling in?" Carlos asks, leaning against the counter as he dries a plate. "The kids treating you all right?"

I nod, scrubbing a stubborn bit of food off a pan. "They're great. Bella's a handful, but she's got a good heart. Jason's just a sweetheart."

Carlos chuckles. "Yeah, Bella's got a lot of spirit. I imagine that Drew was similar as a kid. Always wanting to have the last word."

I smile, imagining a younger, equally stubborn Drew. "That doesn't surprise me."

Carlos's expression softens. "You know, Drew means well. He's just...protective. Especially after everything that's happened."

I pause, looking up at him, but his silence tells me that’s all he intends to say on the topic. "I get that. Being a single dad is not the easiest job in the world. But sometimes it feels like he's questioning everything I do."

Carlos nods sympathetically. "He's not used to letting go of control. Give him some time. He'll come around."

I appreciate Carlos' insight, though it doesn't completely ease my frustration. "I hope so."

We're quiet for a moment, the only sound in the room the clinking of dishes and running water. Then, the kitchen door swings open, and Drew walks in. His presence immediately changes the atmosphere, the tension from earlier still lingering.

"What's going on in here?" Drew asks, his tone more brusque than usual.

"Just helping Nancy with the dishes," Carlos replies easily, unaffected by Drew's mood.

Drew frowns, his gaze settling on me. "You don't have to do everything, you know. We can manage the dishes."

I frown too. "I know that, Drew. But I wanted to help."

He crosses his arms, his expression hardening. "You don't need to. It's not part of your job."

Okay, he's really starting to push me, and the calm I'd mustered was fading.

I set down the dish I was washing, turning to face him fully. "I know my job, Drew. But that doesn't mean I can't help out where I see fit. It's called being part of a household."

Carlos presses his fingertips over the bridge of his nose, clearly uncomfortable at the mood in the room. “Does anyone else feel that? It's called tension, and it's brewing between you two. Can you dial it down a little?”

Drew ignores Carlos, his focus entirely on me. "That's not the point, Nancy. The point is you're doing too much."

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