Page 3 of Nanny for the Single Dad Player

It's how I grew up. My mom is a revered trauma surgeon, and my dad a name partner at his law firm. Since my childhood, the two of them have been wrapped up in their work, rising up the ranks and making names for themselves. To this day, I wonder why they even bothered having me if they weren’t going to be around. I had plenty of nannies growing up, but the one that stuck the longest was Camila. She had been my nanny from when I was eight to thirteen, after which my parents decided I was old enough to take care of myself and didn’t need a nanny anymore. I mean, we had the housekeeper and cook to make sure I stayed alive, but Camila wasn’t needed, and it had sucked because she wasn’t just my nanny—she had become a good friend. A parental figure when I felt like I didn’t have any.

I still see her every now and then; she still lives in Chicago with her family, and spending time with her now is just as fun as when I did when I was younger. She’s the reason why I decided to pursue this line of work, and why I love it so much. It’s so rewarding to look after these little kids and be there for them when their parents can’t—or won’t.

But the latter doesn’t apply for Leo and Lilah, I have realized in the month I’ve been working for them. Being a professional football player, it’s no surprise that Leo isn’t home as much. And every time he comes back, I can see how much he has missed Lilah, and how mutual the feeling is. Before they hired me, Leo’s sister would look after Lilah. I know nothing about football or the people who play it, but I know that Lilah’s mother hasn’t ever been in the picture. It’s just Leo, Lilah, and Andrea, Leo’s sister, who was the one who hired me on behalf of Leo.

I can tell that Leo loves Lilah so much, and it’s always a relief to see that. To know that the kid you are looking after is so clearly loved when you’re not around. “Yeah, she is,” I answer Sara’s question.

My best friend throws me a sly grin. “And what about Leo Mackenzie? Is he still as hot as ever?”

My face heats up as I reach for my soda. “Ridiculously hot,” I grumble before sipping my drink.

Sara lets out a loud laugh, eyes widening at me as amusement brightens her face. “Oh, my God, Alex—do you have the hots for your boss?”

Nose scrunching, I ball up a napkin and throw it at her. It bounces off her nose, but it doesn’t erase her grin. “First of all, no one says shit like that anymore. And second of all, I refuse to answer that question because I’m not trying to acknowledge the truth.”

“The truth that youdo, in fact, have the hots for your boss?” Sara asks, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively as she takes a bite of a French fry.

I let out a resigned breath. “You’ve seen him, right?” I ask with a raised brow. “Anyone who has eyes and is into men would want to get with him,” I say, leaning back against the couch.

“Amen, sister,” Sara mumbles an agreement, reaching for her burger again. “Oh, you’re going out for Pattie’s birthday tomorrow night, right?”

I nod, smiling. “Yeah. We’re meeting at her place, right?” When Sara hums a confirmation, I say, “I’ll be there as soon as I’m done for the day.”

“Good,” Sara grins. “It’s been a while since I’ve drank.”

I throw her a weary look. “Don’t black out again.”

“It happened once!” Sara exclaims, pulling a laugh from me. “God. You throw up in a McDonald’s parking lotone timeand you never hear the end of it.”

My stomach hurts from laughing, skin warm. “It was a core memory, for sure.”

Sara scoffs. “Maybe for you guys. I barely remember any of it.”

I lift my soda can up in cheers, grinning widely as I say, “Here’s to a repeat.”

The horrified look on her face sends me into another fit of giggles. “Absolutely not.”

3

LEO

“Okay, I’m heading out for the night,” Alex says with a smile, her phone in hand. “Is there anything you need me to do before I go?”

“No,” I say, gaze sliding to Lilah, who plays on the living room floor surrounded by dolls and other toys. The guys are on their way over, the four of us deciding on a night in with Lilah and Elaine, Caden’s daughter, who is really his soon-to-be stepdaughter but that’s just a mouthful. As Alex slips her feet into her house slippers, I find myself asking, “You’ve got plans?”

Alex nods, smiling as always. “A bunch of us are going out for a friend’s birthday.” She glances at her phone, probably to check the time because she winces and says, “I need to get ready. You guys have a good night.”

“Be safe.”

The two words escape me without much thought, silence following them as Alex pauses and glances at me over her shoulder. My muscles tense, jaw tightening at the careless way the statement was tossed out. And, realistically, I know there’s nothing wrong with telling her to be safe; I’d say it to any of my friends. Yet, it somehow feels different saying it to Alex, and when I meet her gaze, I don’t think I imagine the flash of surprise in her eyes.

She inclines her head, a small smile touching her mouth as she says, “Of course,” before walking out the door that leads in the direction of the guest house.

“Get a grip,” I mutter to myself, though it’s not quietly enough because Lilah looks at me with a curious look in her eyes. I smile at her, which comes easily, and ask, “Are you excited to play with Elaine?”

She nods enthusiastically, grinning. “Yeah!”

About an hour later, the guys start arriving. First Reed, then Caden and Elaine, and finally JJ. He plops down on the couch next to Reed and asks, “Where’s your nanny heading off to?” Off my curious raising of an eyebrow, JJ adds, “I just saw her getting into an Uber.”

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