Page 16 of Nanny for the Damaged Ex-SEAL

I thank her for the wonderful evening, and she waits until I’m in before she speeds off.

Is this what my life has come to? Looking to a man who obviously doesn't like me for a job? Does he even want me to be his son’s nanny? Has he agreed to it? Because the last time we saw each other, he was warning me off his kid.

I plunk onto my leopard print sofa, put my face to a throw pillow and roar loudly into it.

Chapter 6

Connor

"Don'tjumpoffthechair," Amy says to Ethan, who's already leaping off the arm.

"Ethan, stop," I say, and he crouches like a tiger before getting up.

"Sit nicely. What do you want to watch?” Amy asks him, the remote in her hand.

"Paw Patrol!" Ethan yells with his fist in the air.

"I'm not sure, Paw what now?" she asks, looking to me for help.

"Patrol," I answer.

"Oh, alright. Let's see if it's on. But if it isn't then I'm sure there will be something else to watch." She points the remote at the tv.

Ethan sits in the chair he'd just leaped off of and drags himself up against the backrest, his little legs barely touching the edge. Then he crosses them.

After a lot of channel flipping, they finally settle on Bluey. With Ethan sated, Amy turns to me.

"He's energetic. Reminds me of when you were a kid."

I snort out a laugh. "I think he gets a lot from me."

Amy nods. "He does." She looks at him and I follow her eyes. Ethan's eyes are glued to the screen, transfixed.

"So, is he warming up to the nanny now?"

I shake my head. "Nope. I really don't know what it is about her that he doesn't like."

"Maybe she’s mean to him when you're not there."

"I don't think she is. It started the night she came."

"Which reminds me. I found someone who's really good with kids and who Ethan loves."

"Someone he loves? Who could that be?"

"Aria. He just adores her. And she's worked as a teacher. She’s wonderful with children. She's in between jobs right now and I think she'd be the perfect person."

"Ethan likes Aria, but…"

Ethan’s voice cuts me short. "I love Aria, Daddy."

Amy and I smile and he turns his attention back to the TV.

"But…" I continue. "I can't work with her."

"She said the same thing."

"Good. We’re on the same page."

---