Page 4 of Possessive Bodyguard Summer

“You busy?”

I looked around the kitchen. Kaleigh was feeding Maverick her leftover eggs and telling him an elaborate story about pirates and dolphins. At least the dog was fully invested.

“I’ve had quieter mornings in the middle of 110-degree deserts.”

A rough laugh came through the speaker. “I found a sitter for you.”

I coughed as coffee went down the wrong pipe.

“You mean you found someone I could interview?”

“No. I found a sitter for you,” he repeated.

“Is there a difference?”

"It is when I already did the homework."

I leaned against the counter. "Meaning?"

"Background's clean. CPR certified. Early childhood experience. References checked out."

"You hired her already?" I barked.

"Damn right I did," he said, sounding like the smug bastard he was.

A muscle ticked in my jaw. I trusted Sloane, but this was a bridge too far. "You hired a nanny for my kid without asking me?"

"I hired an admin."

That caught me off guard. "What?"

“She came in to interview for the admin position. Rafe had already vetted her and gave his stamp of approval over the phone. Then I noticed her resume.”

“I don’t trust people just because their resume looks good, Sloane.”

I’d interviewed at least a dozen nannies over the last month. Most were highly qualified. A few had excellent references. Another had decades of experience. None of that mattered when Kaleigh cowered behind my legs and wouldn’t speak to any of them.

None of them were the right fit, and I was running out of hope that I would find anyone who was. There was no way I was going to leave Kaleigh with someone she was afraid of.

“I appreciate the effort, Sloane, but I can’t hire just anyone.”

“I’d be disappointed if you did. But listen, I've got an administrative coordinator starting Monday," Sloane continued. "I've also got one stubborn Marine who won't start work because he doesn't have anyone he trusts with his daughter. That’s why I’m asking you to meet her.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Is that an order?”

“You know what? As a matter of fact, it is.”

I groaned, my Marine instincts kicking into overdrive. “And if she’s not interested or isn’t a good fit?”

"Then she starts behind the front desk, and we keep looking."

That...actually made me feel a hell of a lot better.

"Drop Kaleigh at preschool and get your ass to the Beacon."

Before I could argue, he added, "And wipe that resting murder face off before you walk in. You're gonna scare the poor woman."

The line went dead.