Page 3 of Nanny for the SEALs

I sniffed. “Ben.”

I didn’t know why I did it, but it was the first thing that came out of my mouth.

“Dear, he’s a jerk. I told Candy that she’s better off without him. I don’t even get what the girls see in him. Chris Hemsworth, one of the girls said, but just a darker version.”

It was then that it dawned on me as his words were pouring out that he’d told me all I needed to hear to get me into the car and as far away from here as possible.

He wrapped his arm around me. While we were nearly the same height, he made me feel as if he was bigger and, oh my, he had some big biceps covered in his dark blue suit.

“Please don’t tell me… he stole money from you, too?”

“Just my heart.”

He sighed. “That’s a big price to pay. Look, take this and wipe your tears.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. “Let’s get these little ones in bed. Okay?”

I nodded as I took the handkerchief and wiped my tears. I couldn’t believe, in this day and age, that men still walked around with them. He was a driver, but then, he was different from any man I’d ever known. Men in my family were not cavemen, but they wouldn’t hold the door open as I stepped into the Jeep, let alone as I sat down. Nor would they make sure I was strapped before they started the engine.

Rodney was polite, and I loved the way he was comforting me during my time of need. So maybe I wasn’t a nanny, and I had nowhere to stay—because one thing was for sure, I wasn’t about to move back in with Ben. I would go for my things tomorrow after asking my new boss if I can take a couple of hours to sort things out. I just hoped he would be reasonable about it.

“One thing you don’t have to worry about, and I’m not sure if the agency told you, but the Steeles are great guys.”

“Steeles?”

“Yeah, your new employers. They’re generous and kind, even if they appear all stiff and moody on the outside. Well, Stan is anyway. My point is—cause I do love to ramble, joys of being Scottish—you need to look after those two angels and put the past behind you. The Steeles will take care of you and make sure you’re well looked after, which is a lot more than could be said for Ben. I swear, that guy would try selling a coffin to a dead person, and then claim a tax rebate. He’s so shady.”

Rodney had answered my question, but then raised another. Why did he say my employers, as in plural? Did it mean there was more than one?

Of course, he must have been talking about a couple. Then again, why would he describe them as tough on the outside? I listened as Rodney rambled; he said it annoyed most people in his family, but he didn’t realize how funny he was, especially to someone as sad as I was.

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