“Experience with recent loss is one reason you made the shortlist,” he replied gruffly.
Sunny’s stomach dropped — she hadn’t expected that. It was a personal detail, and the ache over her father’s passing was still fresh.
Liam seemed to read her mind.
“I did my homework, too,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
An awkward silence stretched between them as Sunny felt his heavy gaze appraising her.
“I’ll make this simple,” Liam finally said. “This isn’t really my forte. So just tell me, why should I hire you?”
Taking a grounding breath, Sunny launched into her background, emphasizing her child psychology training and dedication to creating structured yet nurturing environments.
Liam’s face remained impassive as she spoke, those intense blue eyes watchful and evaluating. When she finished, he leaned forward.
“You’ve got an impressive resume, no doubt. Early childhood education, multilingual skills, references that check out. All great on paper. But you’re a twenty-five-year-old kid yourself, still wet behind the ears. How can I have faith in leaving my daughters in your hands?”
Her mouth hung open, stung by his bluntness. It was a valid point, but he could have phrased it more delicately. Sunny lifted her chin, refusing to be intimidated.
“With all due respect, Mr Anderson, my passion and experience transcend any number on an application. I may be young, but I’m ready for this.”
She glanced around the living room, noting the top-of-the-line furniture but also the scuffs, pen marks, and drink stains.
“I wouldn’t consider myself ‘wet behind the ears,’” she added, meeting his gaze directly.
Something flickered across his chiseled face — sympathy, curiosity, anger, surprise? She couldn’t quite read him.
After a pregnant pause, he seemed to come to a decision.
“Fair enough,” Liam said, rocking back in his seat and tapping his palms on his knees. “I think it’s time you met the little hell-raisers.”
He rose, and Sunny quickly followed. They navigated a long hallway adorned with expensive modern art until shrieks of childish laughter reached her ears. Liam swung open a set of French doors to reveal a playroom filled with every toy imaginable. In the center of the chaos were two cherubic blond-haired girls engaged in a rowdy tussle on a plush rug.
“Maddie! Hailey! Listen up!”
Liam’s stern bellow brought the wrestling match to a halt.
The slightly taller girl — Maddie, Sunny guessed — looked up withmischievous blue eyes.
“Who’s that?” she asked bluntly, pointing at Sunny.
“This is Miss Sunny,” Liam replied. “She’s interviewing to be your new nanny. Why don’t you introduce yourselves?”
Hailey, the younger daughter with pigtails, hopped up off the floor.
“Hi Sunny, I’m Hailey, and I’m five!”
“And I’m Maddie, I’m six years old,” chimed her older sister. “Are you gonna be our new bossy babysitter?”
“Girls…” Liam’s tone carried a warning.
Sunny laughed lightly.
“It’s nice to meet you both. I’d love to be more of a fun friend than a bossy babysitter, if you’ll have me.”
She gave them a conspiratorial wink, watching as their distrustful expressions softened. Moving with easy grace, she joined them on the floor amid their scattered dolls, books, and blocks.
“Looks like I interrupted an intense battle. Mind if I pick a side?”
