I fold my arms. “Is there any point when you’re clearly not going to give it to me?”
“Aye, well... who knows? I’ve not exactly been flooded with applications.”
Under my breath I mutter, “Why does that not surprise me?”
He chooses not to hear that and steps back, giving a little jerk of his head toward the kitchen. “At least have a coffee.”
I hover. My gut saysbad idea. Everything about him radiates prickly energy. But I wanted this job before I knew I’d be working for him, didn’t I? And if the role is to look after his kid while he’s off at work, how much contact would I really have with him anyway?
Before I can decide what to do, a boy edges into view, peering around the doorway. Same dark hair as his father, but with wide brown eyes and an adorable gap-toothed smile that just about knocks the wind out of me. “Are you the new nanny?” he asks.
Lachlan coughs. “Well, we’ll see about that. I was just asking Blair if she’d like to come in and chat about it some more.”
Oh God. There’s no way I can bolt now. Not with the kid watching me. His dad may be all storm clouds and scowls, but the boy beams like it’s always summer inside. I can’t say no.
So I force a smile, nod, and step on in. The dog—Gus, was it?—bounds inside too, tail wagging in welcome.
Lachlan leads me through to the kitchen. The space is spotless. Countertops gleaming, not a crumb or coffee ring in sight, not even a rogue Lego or bit of kibble on the floor. It’s the polar opposite of what I glimpsed through the window of Granny’s old house the other day. That place was all scattered toys and delightful domestic mayhem. Here, everything is neat almost to the point of being sterile.
The only pop of colour comes from a cork board on the wall, covered in children’s drawings: neon-bright dinosaurs, stick figures with enormous grins, a rainbow that tips drunkenly to one side. Otherwise, the kitchen is muted greys and careful order.
“Take a seat,” Lachlan says, gesturing to the oak table. “How do you take your coffee?”
“Milk, no sugar. Thanks.”
As he busies himself at the counter, the golden retriever flops onto a bed in the corner, and the boy slides into the chair beside me, legs swinging, eyes bright with curiosity.
“Oi,” Lachlan says without turning around. Classic parental superpower: eyes in the back of the head. “This bit isn’t for you, Finn. It’s grown-up business. Go play for a bit.”
“But I’mreallygood at asking questions,” Finn protests.
I can’t help but smile. Honestly? I’d rather be interviewed by the kid.
“Off you go,” Lachlan says, not unkindly but firm.
Finn drops to the floor with a quiet, “Fine.” He shoots me a quick grin before hurrying off.
Lachlan sets a mug in front of me, puts down another for himself, and takes the opposite chair, folding his broad arms across his chest. Interview stance: defensive, expression neutral, all business.
He doesn’t waste time with pleasantries. “Right, then. What sort of childcare experience do you have?”
“Well, I worked in children’s publishing for years,” I say, aiming for breezy confidence. “Thinking deeply about what kids want, what they respond to, what engages them...”
His expression doesn’t change. At all. I plough on.
“And I babysat through high school. Board games, bedtime routines, the works.” Ten years ago, but it still counts, right?
Lachlan takes a slow sip of coffee, like he’s giving my answer time to marinate. “If you used to work in publishing, what are you doing applying to mind a bairn? Seems a bit of a step sideways.”
I shrug, keeping it light. “Needed a break. Figured it was time to remind myself there’s more to life than the inside of a Manhattan office.”
His expression doesn’t shift, but at least he doesn’t press. He does, however, say, “References?”
“From my babysitting days?” I laugh a little too brightly. “I could track down one of the families, if you really want. Their kid’s probably in college now, but hey, nobody died on my watch.”
One dark eyebrow lifts, unimpressed. I’m definitely not winning him over with my sparkling wit.
“I’ve also become friends with Ellie Macpherson,” I try. “She’d vouch for me.”
