Page 64 of Bad Nanny

Josie put her hand on my arm. “She was just curious.”

I shook my head, still feeling like an idiot for not thinking about how a kiss might confuse Delaney. “I wasn’t thinking.”

Josie gave me an understanding smile. “I hope it wasn’t too much, getting the matching dresses. I saw them and couldn’t resist.”

I took her hand in mine, lacing our fingers together. “Not at all.” The sight of Josie and Delaney dressed alike made me feel an emotion I couldn’t yet name.

Delaney came bounding back down the stairs with a purple sequin heart-shaped purse slung across her body. “I got her! Now we can go.”

“A purse?” I hadn’t seen it before, so it must have come from Josie too.

Delaney sighed dramatically. “Every girl needs one for her ’longings.”

“What belongings could you possibly need to take with you?” I tried to grab the purse to look inside, and she twisted away from me.

“You should never touch a woman’s purse, Daddy. There are secret things inside.” She grabbed my hand. “Let’s go, we’re missing the party.”

“Did you teach her this nonsense?”

“Nope.” Josie laughed as she went into the kitchen to grab her fruit skewers from the refrigerator. “She’s not wrong, though.”

“Penny will be safe if I keep her in it.” Delaney ran her hand over the sequins, a happy face appearing and then disappearing.

“That’s a smart idea. Did you thank Josie for all the things she bought you?”

Delaney nodded. “Josie said, in a few weeks, maybe we can go shopping for school. Do I have to wear a uniform?”

I hadn’t even broached the subject of school yet, thinking it would cause her too much stress. “No, your school doesn’t have uniforms.” It would have been easier on me if they did have them, but if Josie wanted to take charge of clothing, I wouldn’t argue.

There was definitely a learning curve to being a girl dad, and I hadn’t quite mastered it yet. If I started thinking about all I’d have to handle as she got older, I would probably break out in hives.

“We can talk about all that later.” Josie had the large container of fruit in hand now. “Ready to party?”

Delaney ran to the front door, looking back at me. “Can I open it?”

“Yes.”

I took the fruit from Josie as we stepped outside. Delaney skipped across the driveway to the gate. Even when we went for walks, she was always right by my side. But how much of that had been me, and how much of it was her?

The sight of her enthusiasm melted away the last of myhesitation. For the first time in months, I was finally starting to feel like I could handle being a dad.

I’d once hoped Josie would be a bad nanny, so I could fire her and continue to live inside the confines of the box I’d built. But now, the thought of her not in my life was unimaginable.

Chapter 21

New Friends

Josie

I wasglad I’d joined the neighborhood group and found out about how family-oriented the area was. Gabriel wasn’t the type to go out of his way to meet the neighbors—but was anyone these days?—so this was the perfect opportunity to build some connections.

We walked about a block down the street to where sawhorses blocked off a cul-de-sac. It was the perfect spot for neighbors to gather without worrying about traffic. There were two large speakers, several grills and cooktops, and games on different lawns.

Delaney skipped in front of us, stopping as soon as her eyes landed on the bounce castle. “Can I go?” She turned around, her hands going into a prayer.

Gabriel didn’t seem as uneasy as he had been, but there was no way he was going to let her wander off.

I took the fruit back from him. “I’m going to scope out thefood and introduce myself.” There was a group of women congregated by one of the food tables, and I recognized a few faces from their profile pictures.

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