Small-Town Nanny by Lee Tobin McClain Page B

then.” She stood up, looked around and gave a decisive nod. “I know a lot of kids, so we’ll work on filling up the playroom and pool with them this summer. This place is crying out for noise and fun.”
    â€œVetted by me,” he warned. “I don’t want a lot of kids I don’t know coming over.”
    â€œYou want to approve every playdate?”
    â€œFor now, yes.”
    She pressed her lips together, obviously trying not to smile, but a dimple showed on her face. A very cute dimple.
    â€œHey, look. I’m a control freak, especially where Mindy is concerned.”
    â€œNo kidding.” She raised her eyebrows in mock surprise. “It’s okay, Sam. We’ll figure out a way to manage this. But Mindy does need friends around this summer. She needs to work on her social skills.”
    â€œThere’s nothing wrong—”
    She cocked her head to one side and tucked her chin and looked at him.
    â€œHer social skills are okay.” He frowned at Susan’s pointed silence. “Aren’t they?”
    â€œIt’s not a big problem,” Susan said. “But she’s very sensitive about her disability and her mother, or lack of one. I’ve broken up several playground brawls. The best way to work on it is to give her lots of free-play experience with other kids.” She squatted down beside the bookshelves that lined one side of the room. “And there are books that can help. But these—” She ran a delicate finger along the spines of the books. “These are books for toddlers, Sam. She can read better than this.”
    Her criticism stung, but he nodded. “Her mother was the big book-buyer. That’s why I’m glad you’re here, Susan. I can see that you have an expertise the other candidates didn’t have. I want to do right by Mindy.”
    â€œWeekly trips to the library. Fern can help us pick out some good books, including ones about social skills.”
    â€œSure.” He led the way back through the kitchen. “Now, I don’t expect you to cook for us—”
    â€œThat’s good,” she interrupted. “Remember, I’m a disaster in the kitchen.”
    â€œI’m sure you can figure out how to make breakfast and lunch. I’ll do dinner, or order it in. But I do want you to eat dinner with us most nights.”
    â€œWhat?” She froze, staring at him.
    â€œIt’s better for Mindy,” he explained. “All kinds of studies show the importance of family dinners. I’d like to have you be a part of that.”
    She looked a little trapped. “I’m not your family, I’m a hired—”
    â€œFive days per week,” he bargained. “You can have a couple of nights off.”
    Through the open kitchen window, he could hear Lou Ann and Mindy laughing together in the backyard. He leaned back against the granite counter and watched an array of expressions cross Susan’s face.
    Was he being unfair, demanding too much of her? He’d looked over lists of nanny duties online, and while having a sitter eat with the family wasn’t common, he’d seen a few examples of it being done. He was paying her well, much better than the average.
    â€œYou have to eat,” he reminded her. “It’s free food.”
    She chuckled, a throaty sound that made all his senses spring to life. “We’ll give it a try.”
    He pushed his advantage. “And Sunday dinner is the most important meal of all, so I’d appreciate your being there. I think we agreed that you’d work Sunday afternoons and take a weekday afternoon off, correct?”
    â€œYou mean, like, tomorrow?”
    He nodded. Best to start out as you meant to go on. “Yes. Definitely tomorrow.”
    â€œWe’ll give it a try,” she repeated doubtfully. “But I’m not...well. We’ll see.”
    Score one for him. But her resistance proved this