After a restless night filled with uninvited fantasies about her smoldering boss, Sunny felt the weight of exhaustion tugging at her this morning. No matter how hard she tried to suppress those wandering thoughts, they slipped through the cracks whenever her defenses were down.
The last thing Sunny needed was a repeat of the torturous mental spiral from the night before. She had vowed to maintain clear boundaries with Liam Anderson. Anything beyond a platonic, professional relationship was off-limits — for her own sanity, if nothing else.
Finally managing to wrestle the stubborn buttons into place, Sunny ran a hand through her tangled hair and left her bedroom. The mouthwatering aromas of bacon and freshly brewed coffee wafting from downstairs helped ground her in the moment.
Just focus on your duties and responsibilities. Do your job.
By the time Sunny reached the kitchen, Liam had breakfast laid out. The sight of him in snug athletic shorts and a fitted T-shirt did nothing to calm her frayed nerves. Nor did his artfully tousled bed-head. Even just rolling out of bed, he exuded a smoldering charm.
Sunny swallowed hard and took a deep breath.
“Good morning.” Liam’s gruff baritone sent her pulse racing as he glanced up. “Dig in before it gets cold. I promised the girls waffles, but…” He gestured vaguely at the stove with a self-deprecating chuckle. “My breakfast skills are limited to burning eggs and microwaving bacon.”
Sunny forced a smile and settled onto one of the stools.
“Don’t sell yourself short; this looks great,” she replied brightly. “Thanks for handling the first shift this morning.”
“Yeah, well…enjoy it in peace before I call the girls in.”
Liam scratched at the scruff on his chiseled jaw, and the simple motion made Sunny’s mouth go dry as she imagined how that rough texture might feel against her…
Down, girl.
To distract herself, she scooped up a forkful of eggs and shoveled it into her mouth.
“So what’s on the agenda today?” she asked after swallowing the slightly overcooked eggs. “I figured we could finally tackle straightening the playroom out this afternoon, but if the weather is…”
“Actually, I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” he interrupted.
Liam’s brow furrowed as he studied her over the rim of his coffee mug.
“Oh…yes,” she replied, lowering her fork and meeting his earnest gaze.
Liam straightened in his seat.
“Your resume mentioned prior childcare experience, right?”
Sunny raised her eyebrows, unsure where this was going.
“But the agency didn’t specify if you had any kind of certification in one-on-one unsupervised childcare,” Liam continued when shedidn’t respond.
Sunny blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected shift in tone. But she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. These were his daughters, after all.
“Oh! Well, no. I don’t have any specialized nanny certifications, if that’s what you mean,” she replied, finally finding her voice. “But I have my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education, which includes two years of training with preschool-aged children, plus countless hours logged in the classroom.”
“Sure, sure, I get that part.” Liam waved a dismissive hand, setting down his mug. “But actual hands-on caregiving for little ones? You’re not board certified, so to speak. Beyond those bachelor modules, there’s been no real experience?”
The condescending undertone immediately put Sunny’s back up. As if her years of intensive training and countless hours of study meant nothing. She dry swallowed and willed herself to remain calm.
“Mr Anderson,” she began, adopting a formal tone. She felt as though she were in a witness box. “There isn’t a formal nanny qualification. There’s no such thing as a board-certified nanny. CPR and first aid certification, plus a background check, are the baseline requirements. The agency wouldn’t have taken me on if I didn’t have the ability and aptitude for the job.”
Sunny could feel her resentment rising. She was blindsided by this discussion. Just days ago, Liam had entrusted her with the girls overnight. She recalled his exact words when he returned: ‘Looks like you had things handled just fine… the girls think the world of you.’
And now this? An interrogation about her qualifications and, by extension, her competency. It was unbelievable. Confusion morphed into humiliation, which began to boil over into anger.
“I’ve spent years gaining practical experience caring for toddlers and young children,” she said, feeling hot tears prick her eyes. “For you to suddenly…”
Liam’s gaze narrowed, cutting her off again.
