Page 12 of One Hot Daddy

"Yes, I am."I smile, trying not to show how nervous I actually am."Your dad hired me this morning.I thought he must've told you."

"Probably forgot.Dad's scatterbrained sometimes."

"I can understand that.He works very hard, doesn't he?"When Charlotte nods, I add, "I'm here to help your dad---and all of you.How does that sound?"

Charlotte shrugs."Sounds okay, I guess."

I smile and touch her arm gently."I bet we'll be friends very soon."

"Did you sign a contract?"Amelia pipes up from behind her brother.She's the oldest at fifteen and has blonde hair."The last nanny didn't sign a contract, and she only lasted two weeks."

"Yes, I did sign a contract.I'm here for the long haul."

The youngest---Henry---peeks out from behind Joshua.His eyes are so wide they seem ready to burst out of their sockets."Are you gonna stay?"

His whisper somehow carries across the entire living room.

My heart melts a little at his question."I'm going to try my very best to stay, Henry."

"The last nanny said that too," Amelia mutters, but there's more hurt than hostility in her voice.

I crouch down to Henry's eye level, ignoring the way my skirt bunches awkwardly."You know what?I don't blame you for being suspicious.But I'm different from the other nannies."

"How?"Joshua crosses his arms, still playing the role of family protector.

"Well, for starters, I reorganized your spice cabinet and found some jars of cinnamon.The biggest one was almost empty.That's either a sign of extreme dedication to baking or complete chaos.I'm betting on chaos."

Joshua cocks his head to one side, considering me."Dad says we're not allowed to have cinnamon after The Incident."

"The Incident?"I raise an eyebrow.

"Henry climbed onto a stool to get a bottle of cinnamon, but he dropped it and the cinnamon got all over his hair and even in his nose."Charlotte explains."He sneezed it all over Dad's work laptop and got in deep doo-doo for destroying it."

I bite my lip to keep from laughing."Well, that explains the empty cinnamon jar in the cupboard.Maybe we should stick to sugar from now on when we bake.It's easier to vacuum up."

This earns me a tiny smile from Henry, who's still partially hidden behind Joshua.

"Are you guys hungry?"I ask, glancing at the clock."I could make a snack while we wait for your dad."

"We always have cookies after school," Henry pipes up, suddenly more animated.

Amelia sighs dramatically."Henry, we don'talwayshave cookies.Dad says too much sugar makes you bounce off the walls."

"But I bounce really good," Henry argues, demonstrating with a little hop that nearly knocks over an umbrella stand.

I catch it just in time, steadying both the stand and Henry with one practiced move."Careful there, buddy.How about we compromise?Cookies today to celebrate my first day, and something healthier tomorrow?"

Joshua narrows his eyes."You're trying to bribe us."

"Absolutely," I admit with a grin."Is it working?"

A reluctant smile tugs at his lips."Maybe."

I lead the parade of suspicious children into the kitchen, where I'd already spotted a package of chocolate chip cookies in the pantry.As I arrange them on a plate, four pairs of eyes study my every move.

"Where are these cookies from?"Charlotte asks, peering at the package like she's conducting a forensic investigation.

"Your pantry," I assure her."I found them while I was cleaning up."