Maddie

With the start date for my job rapidly approaching, Cameron and I agreed to hire a nanny.

At first, the thought was troubling. Sure, she attended daycare while I was studying in Germany, but there, she had multiple teachers guiding her in day-to-day learning. Now it will be dependent upon one person, and what if Izzy grows to like this person more than me? I won't be able to bear it.

We don't have another choice, though. It's not like Izzy could attend daycare here. The minute paparazzi followed us there, they'd be camped outside of it day and night for a photo opportunity. I would never subject my daughter to that sort of attention, so a nanny just seems like the best fit.

Seated next to Cameron in an office he rented out downtown, we're both exhausted from the countless interviews we've held. No matter who walked in, they didn't seem right. Some had the right qualifications but didn't have the personality to match, and vice versa. We've been stuck in an endless loop of people who just aren't the right fit.

Izzy fell asleep in Cameron's lap about a half hour ago, and with the time ticking away, the anxiety sits like a heavy weight in my stomach. What if we don't find someone? Cameron has an away game this weekend, and I start my job on Monday. Today is the last day we have to figure this out.

"It'll be fine," Cam reassures, using his free hand to give mine a squeeze. "Her nanny is out there. I just know it."

Before I can reply, Moira, Cameron's assistant, pokes her head in. "Are you ready for the next interview?"

"Yes," we both say in unison.

Moira opens the door wider to let in a young woman who seems to be around the same age as us. Her brown hair is slicked back into a neat bun, and her smile is dazzling as she crosses over to us, reaching out a hand to shake. "I'm Nina," she says cheerfully. "It's a pleasure to meet you both. The Duncans have told me so much about you already."

"Ah, you're Ryan's former nanny, right? He said he'd reach out to you." He turns to give me an explanation. "I told the team we were looking for a nanny. Nina used to work for Ryan and his wife before she went off to school, and he couldn't say enough good things about her."

The woman smiles tentatively, crossing her slender legs and keeping her hands folded in her lap. She's got striking green eyes almost as bright as Cameron's. They take my breath away.

"And you decided to come back to being a nanny?" I ask.

"Yes. Well, I recently graduated and found out the hard way just how expensive student loans can be. I could really use the extra income."

"And you're aware this will be a live-in position once we're settled somewhere?" Once we get our house, of course. Although Nina is only in her mid-twenties. Does she really want to be a full-time nanny? Then again, she did this before for the Duncans, so she has experience. It's a definite perk that she's worked with a famous family before, too. Obviously, she's discreet and can keep her mouth shut from the press.

"That works even better, honestly. Rent in Los Angeles can be..."

I laugh. "Trust me, I get it." Glancing down at her resume, which we already have a copy of, I scan it over, searching for any red flags that stand out, but the woman has all the necessary training and qualifications we're looking for. Experience, CPR certified, content with a live-in position...

She might be the first candidate worth hiring.

"How young were Ryan's kids when you worked for them previously?" Cameron asks.

"Four and seven," she gushes. Her green eyes become even brighter, and I can see just how fond of them she is. "They were rambunctious, but I never had a boring day. That's what I love the most about being a nanny. No day is ever the same, you know? Not like a typical nine-to-five office job."

"And are you wanting to be a nanny long-term?" This is the most important question. I don't want Izzy to get attached to someone only for them to walk out on her. If she's planning on leaving in a year or two, it isn't going to work out.

"Well, my student loans certainly aren't going away anytime soon. I'd love to be your nanny for as long as you let me." She smiles at Izzy, who is still asleep on Cameron's chest. "Her blonde curls are the cutest. A mini Shirley Temple, almost."

Cameron searches my face, silently inquiring if I have any more questions. I shake my head, and he takes the lead, clearing his throat and turning back to Nina. "Thank you for coming in," he says. "We'll give you a call back later today after the rest of the interviews are completed. If we decide to hire you, would you be willing to have an introductory session this weekend with Izzy? See how things go? Maddie will be present, of course. We just want to ensure you're the right fit for her."

"That's not a problem," she replies. "Thank you both for your time. I look forward to hearing from you." Rising from the seat across from us, she slims out her pencil skirt just as Moira opens the door for her to exit.

"I'll give you a few minutes to discuss," Moira replies, slipping out behind her.

When we're left alone, Cameron raises a brow, anxiously awaiting my opinion. "Well? What do you think?"

"I like her," I reply. "A lot, actually."

"Really?" He scrunches his brows together, dumbfounded.

"Why wouldn't I like her? She has all the qualifications we're looking for, and she's worked for a teammate of yours, so it's not like she's a complete stranger. As long as she gets along well with Izzy, I'd say she's perfect."

"I just..." He shakes his head, thinking better about what he's going to say. "I thought you'd say no."

"Why would you—" I'm cut off when the image of Nina comes back to mind. Long, slender legs, fitted skirt, alarmingly beautiful green eyes. To me, she was a pretty young woman in search of a job, but to a jealous, insecure housewife? "Oh my god. You think I wouldn't hire her because she's attractive?"

Cameron shrugs. "I wouldn't blame you. For the record, I didn't say she was attractive, but to another man who isn't hopelessly infatuated with his wife, she might be classified as above average."

I scoff. "Nina seemed professional enough. Did she make a move on Ryan?"

"What? No."

"Exactly. She can't help that she's downright gorgeous."

"Slightly above average," Cameron corrects.

"You're ridiculous. Just admit she's stunning! Come on."

When he huffs a laugh, I narrow my eyes. "I'm not falling into this trap, Mads. Again, to another man who isn't me and doesn't already have a smoke show as a wife, she would be considered slightly above average."

"I won't be mad if you admit it," I tease.

"I have nothing to admit," he retorts. "The only woman I'm attracted to is sitting right beside me."

Damn him and his unnervingly gentleman-like responses.

Does it annoy him that it's not bothering me? If a six-two-jacked football player applied for this position, I have a feeling Cameron would have some feelings about hiring him, but I'm not the same girl I was in high school or college. Our love and our bond have strengthened so much since getting married. Other women aren't a competition to me anymore because I won. The sexy man sprawled out in the folding chair with a toddler in his lap is mine, and any woman who tries to interfere with our relationship will be kicked to the curb. I don't doubt that.

"Whatever," I concede. "Anyways, hiring a young, attractive nanny wasn't even on my list of concerns. I have so much trust in you, Cam. I know you'd never go for someone else. All that matters to me is she treats our daughter well, and if Ryan was speaking the truth when he hyped her up, I say we go for it."

"Yeah?" He smiles, and my heart flutters at the sight. "And you're positive about this?"

"I wouldn't be telling you to hire her if I wasn't certain, Cam. Unless someone else waltzes in with a pristine background with sensational reviews, we've found our nanny."

With a dip of his chin, he shifts Izzy onto his other leg. "Alright, then. I'll call her when we're finished up here. You can all spend the day together on Saturday and see how she does."

"Perfect." Shuffling all the resumes from three hours of interviews, I get out the next one, but deep down, I feel we've already found our perfect nanny.