Page 7 of The Bossy One

Sinead stood and took Catie’s suitcase. “I’ll make sure you have everything else you need.” Then she left. I caught her wiping at a tear as she stepped out of my sight.

Searching for something to distract Catie, I remembered Olivia’s business card in my pocket. “Want to help me pick your new nanny? They’ll look after you while I’m at work, so I want it to be someone you like.”

Catie hesitated. “Can we find someone whose favorite color is also purple?”

I smiled, my heart cracking a bit. I wanted to make sure Catie only ever remembered this as a fun summer holiday when she’d been spoiled rotten. “Absolutely,” I promised.

2

OLIVIA

One day after the most unpleasant flight of my life—including the flight where a child threw up on me—I was lying on my couch, re-watchingYou’ve Got Mailfor the millionth time. I was still feeling like crap after being fired for the fifth time in two years, and I needed a comfort movie. And this was the ultimate comfort movie. Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, and the cutest children’s bookstore in the whole world.

But today as I watched Tom Hanks flirt with Meg Ryan, introducing her to the adorable kids playing his aunt and his brother, I sat straight up, suddenly realizing I never sent @DBCoder the picture book recommendations he’d asked for. I’d gotten his message when I was stuck on that hellish flight, but had completely forgotten about it, distracted by the rudest seat mate ever.

Imagine trying to give career advice to a complete stranger, then telling her to shut up when she gently pushed back.

Sure, his accent had been hot. Okay, all of him had been hot. He’d worn an expensive cable-knit sweater that made him look cuddly and strong at the same time, and brought out the piercing blue of his eyes. His jawline was strong. His hair was thick and dark. His skin was flawless. He looked, frankly, a little photoshopped.

But no amount of hotness could make up for bad manners, as far as I was concerned. Lusting after a hot, rude guy was a mistake I would have made at 21. Not 28.

No, at 28 I preferred to focus on fictional men played by Tom Hanks who understood that the way to a woman’s heart was discussing books—and buying books for kids. That was what had brought @DBCoder and me together in the first place.

I crossed the room to inspect my bookshelf, looking for something new I could recommend to him. There wasn’t much of a room to cross. Since I spent most of my time living with the families I nannied for, my own “apartment” was just the spare room over my friend’s garage that I rented at a deep discount. It had a bed, a toaster oven, and almost enough room for all of my books. I’d amassed quite a collection of titles for kids of all ages, but picture books were definitely my favorite, and I prided myself on being something of a connoisseur. Occupational hazard of being a nanny—if you’re going to read the same book to a toddler fifteen times in a row, you want to stack the deck in your favor by making sure you have books on hand that won’t make you lose your mind. I’d started the @1000words blog on the suggestion of a friend, and it had blossomed into a really fun hobby—which had, in turn, led to some great virtual friendships.

I was trying to remember if I’d recommendedTacky the Penguinon my book blog yet, when my phone started buzzing. I glanced at the screen and my stomach knotted painfully.

Sunny Days Childcare.They were probably calling to tell me they were going to drop my nanny profile from their app. They’d threatened to before, but the mom of the first family I’d nannied for had the wealth and influence to convince them to give me another chance.

Apparently, I’d run out of second chances.

I took a deep breath, sat down on the rug, and answered my phone. “Hello?”

“Olivia. This is Vanessa from Sunny Days Childcare. We need some additional information not included on your profile.”

Wait, I thought.They’re not getting rid of me?

“Are you right or left-handed?” she asked briskly.

“Left,” I answered.

“Which is Eric Carle’s best book?” she asked.

I blinked. That was a highly specific question. Most people would have saidThe Very Hungry Caterpillar, which was certainly a good one. But I liked the writing in one of his less popular ones better. “I likeBrown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?”

“Hmm,” Vanessa said. She didn’t sound happy. I wondered if that had been the wrong answer.

“What’s your favorite color?” she asked.

This was such a weird conversation. How could any of this possibly speak to my qualifications as a nanny? “I love all colors,” I said diplomatically. “It’s important to enjoy colors the child likes.”

“Your favorite color,” she demanded.

“Purple,” I said.

“Dammit,” she muttered.

I let my head thunk back against my bookshelf. It would be just my luck if I got kicked off of their bougie platform because I had the wrong favorite color.

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