Page 23 of Single Dad's Hot Nanny

“Nope. She’s Daddy’s assistant.”

“Ah, I see. Where’s your mom?”

She shrugged tiny shoulders and went back to pouring pretend tea.

I lifted an eyebrow.Interesting. My curiosity was piqued. However, it seemed wrong to use the little girl to pry into her family’s business, so I only asked one more question. “How old are you, Poppy?”

“Six. Would you like some more tea, Miss Mia?” she asked in a prim, grown-up voice that made me grin.

“Why, yes, Miss Poppy,” I replied, holding out my tiny cup. “I’d love some more of your delicious tea.”

She carefully poured the imaginary tea from a pink plastic teapot. The way her brow furrowed in concentration made me want to laugh.

“Here you go. It’s my special blend.” She beamed.

I chuckled. I could tell Poppy was a riot and smart, too. “Thank you,” I said, taking a pretend sip and smacking my lips. “Mmm, just perfect.”

Her giggles floated around the room, and I smiled.

“You’re lots of fun, Mia. I’m gonna tell Daddy and Amber I want you to stay with me.”

I snorted and lifted my tiny cup. “Poppy, if your recommendation lands me this job, I guarantee endless tea parties. Cheers to wishful thinking and optimism, kiddo.”

She gazed at me with bewilderment, and I instructed, “Tap your tea cup against mine.”

She did, and we grinned at each other.

Amber practically careened around the corner and into the room. Her wide eyes darted from me to Poppy and then she blew out a long breath that resonated with relief. I lifted an eyebrow in amusement.Sheesh. Did she think I had kidnapped Poppy?

Amber shook her head and looked skyward. “I have Michael’s kid hanging out with a stranger in his house. He’d kill me for this.”

I almost got whiplash when my head snapped to Amber.“Michael?”

“That’s Daddy,” Poppy shared with the brightest smile I’d seen from her yet.

“Right…”

I gave myself a mental kick in the ass. I was still so hung up on the Michael I’d had a one-night stand with weeks ago that I was ready to lose it when I merely heard the name as if there weren’t millions of Michaels in the world. I really needed to stop thinking about my Michael… I had to stop referring to him asmine, too. I just couldn’t get the man out of my head, and it was frustrating. For all I knew, he’d used a fake name just like me.

Amber clapped her hands. “Okay… Mia was it?”

“That’s right?”

“There seems to have been some kind of miscommunication at the agency because I was specific about who we’re looking for and?—”

“It’s not me. Yeah, I got that.” Getting up, I faced Amber. “I’m not from the agency.”

Amber’s eyes widened slightly as if she thought I was some random crazy lady who walked in off the street. I hurried to put her mind at ease.

“I heard about the job through a friend who works there.”

Her eyebrows elevated. “I see.” Amber’s phone went off again, and she glanced at the screen. “Oh God,” she muttered. “This is just what I need.”

As she rapidly tapped on her phone, I said, “You seem to be having a busy day, Amber.”

She spared me a glance. “Yes, you just walked into total chaos. I’ve been having a hell…” she glanced at Poppy. “A heck of a day, and now I have to hightail it to the office, but I have Poppy and…” She stopped and studied Poppy and me as if she was just hit with a realization. “She invited you to a tea party. Notjust anyone gets an invitation,” Amber added with amusement injected into her tone.

“Uh-uh.” Poppy shook her head emphatically. “They’re elusive.”

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