Page 35 of Single Dad's Hot Nanny

I had no idea whatmo stoirínmeant, but I figured it was a term of endearment. Poppy beamed at her aunt and shook her head. She couldn’t speak because her mouth was currently stuffed with something called barmbrack, a type of baked bread popular in Ireland.

“Okay, good because I’ve been wondering why Michael brought me along for such a short visit.” I flushed when I realized I let that slip. “Not that I mind. It’s just… I’ve only been Poppy’s nanny for a few weeks, and I hate to impose on family time…”

“He invited you because he planned to sneak away and work all along.” Neddy rolled her eyes and then took a sip of her tea, which I was sure had alcohol in it. It seemed the Irish loved their liquor and Neddy held on steadfastly to the culture, despite living in the states for decades.

I chuckled. “Uh-huh.” He’d done just that this morning after breakfast. “I’m sure he’ll put the work aside this evening for your party.” Neddy glanced at Poppy before putting up a hand to shield her words from the little girl. She leaned in slightly and said in a conspiratorial whisper, “You might have to cheer Michael up this evening after he spends time with his father.”

I stared at Neddy. “What? Me? Why?” Oh God, did she think Michael and I had something else going on? Was it possible that I wasn’t doing a good job at hiding my feelings for him as I thought I was? Did she notice the sexual tension that simmered between us? That we both pretended didn’t exist…

“It’s just that he seems to like you. You’re not the first of Poppy’s nannies who I’ve met. Both Michael and Poppy seem to have a different dynamic with you than the others.”

“You noticed that in less than a day?” I asked.

She studied me as closely as a scientist would a specimen under a microscope. “Yes. You genuinely care about them. I can tell.”

My gaze slid away from her. I guess it was obvious that I’d fallen in love with the little family already. I wasn’t sure if that was such a good thing. Getting caught up in a fantasy world where I saw them as the family I always wanted was just asking for disappointment in the end. They weren’t reallymine.

Neddy chuckled. “There’s nothing wrong with that, Mia.”

“Your nephew might beg to differ,” I said.

“Oh, don’t you mind that grouch. He’s a big teddy bear to those he loves.”

I gave Neddy a slide glance, wondering if she knew she’d implied Michael loved me. Why on earth would she think that?

“And don’t let him push you away, either. He’s stubborn, but he needs someone who won’t back down from him. Someone who can keep him on his toes.”

I blinked, taken aback by her comment. “Oh, well… I’m just the nanny…”

Her lips lifted into a smirk that was way too mischievous.

Just as I felt a blush creeping up my face, Michael walked through the back door. He looked scrumptious in shorts and a t-shirt. It was my first time seeing him dressed down like this. His broad chest and biceps were visible through the shirt. Images of his muscles flexing as he thrust into me flooded my mind.Holy cow!Why would my mind go there when I was sitting at a table with his daughter and aunt? I tore my gaze away from him and grabbed my glass of water.

As I chugged, Poppy giggled. “Mia, you’re really thirsty.”

Putting my glass down, I smiled sheepishly. ”Yup.” I sure was… thirsty for her dad. Plus, that kiss last night kept replaying in my mind.

Michael ruffled Poppy’s hair as he took the seat beside her. “Ladies.”

I noticed that he avoided making eye contact with me.

“Hi, Daddy!” Poppy was out of her chair and hanging from her father’s neck like a little monkey before Michael even got settled. He didn’t scold her or tell her to behave like my father would have. He simply caught and secured her in one arm as he reached for the pastries in the middle of the table. He allowed his daughter to just… be a kid.

Watching them always left me with a pang of longing. For one, their interactions reminded me of how much I ached to have a father who doted on me the way Michael did on Poppy. I mean, Michael was as serious and stern as my old man was, yet he managed to tone down that side of his personality to make his daughter feel cherished. Was it so hard for Dad not to treat me like some random subordinate in the army?

“Are you alright, Mia?”

Michael’s question pulled me back from the usualthinking-about-my-dademotional vortex I always got sucked into.

I looked at him, shocked that he addressed me directly. The way he’d avoided me since last night, I thought he’d never look at me, let alone speak to me, again. “Sure. Now that you’re here, I can go…” I wasn’t sure if I should stick around for more family time. Besides, it would be hard to sit at the table with Michael and pretend that nothing happened between us.

“You’re fine,” he said. He still watched me with a look of curiosity and concern, and I immediately wiped away the sadness that almost engulfed me.

“I already told her we don’t mind having her,” Neddy said. She smiled at me. “And you can’t leave when I’m about to share childhood stories about Michael.”

“For the love of God, Aunt Neddy,” he groaned.

His warning glare only made her laugh and fan him off.

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