Nanny Behaving Badly Read Online Free PDF

dawn. His curls were something from the heavenly realms. Like a pocket cherub.
    ‘You have hair like Barney Blue Hair Bear,’ Josh observed. ‘And you talk like him too.’
    The latest U.S. export TV marketing monstrosity wasn’t on Maddie’s personal “things to love” list. Being likened to a man-sized bear with on-end dazzling blue hair who sang with a band of raccoons wasn’t something every woman dreamed of. Unless she’d gotten the women’s wish list manual all wrong.
    She nodded at Josh, trying to encourage his engagement and trust. ‘I’m Barney’s biggest fan. It’s why my hair’s this colour. Glad you think it’s cool.’
    Josh’s smile vanished. ‘No, I’m his biggest fan! You’re a grown-up so you don’t count.’
    ‘True. Maybe if we get you a pair of magic blue mittens from the market, you’d be easy to spot as his biggest admirer? Will we get some if Daddy says it’s okay?’
    ‘Please Daddy? Can I, can I?’ the boy asked, a glint of firmness in his gaze.
    Lyle tried to smile but it didn’t fool her for an instant. His face belied tension, trouble, tiredness. He shook his head. ‘You don’t have to – ’
    ‘I want to. You can trust me; I’m a trained childcare worker and I’ve got references you checked up recently. I’m even towing the line at café work. But I’d far rather be having fun and occupying Josh than cleaning tables if you’ll let me?’ She bit the corner of her lip to push the cheeky vibe as encouragement.
    Lyle closed his eyes briefly and shook his head at himself. ‘I suppose this is karma for me being such a pain to you before.’
    Maddie chanced a grin. ‘It’s the simple offer of a helping hand while you make calls. Plus it’ll be fun.’
    Lyle rubbed his jaw, where dark shadow was starting to form. It suited him lots and she suddenly wished she hadn’t gotten so close to notice.
    He glanced at his watch then thanked her. ‘I’ll be twenty minutes tops. You’re an angel and I owe you one.’
    ‘Take as long as you need, boss. We’re going to have a blast.’
    Maybe his hard surface was starting to melt. Lyle just needed to permit a thaw, admit it wasn’t weakness to go with the conditions. Everyone encountered black ice at some point. She’d navigated plenty herself. Black, black ice that had seen her run away from Boston and never dare to go back.

    How does she do that?
    Waltz in with no warning and turn a tricky situation into a fun, easy one without any effort at all? Muster up a fun activity for Josh that had him laughing uproariously with nothing but pencils, paper napkins and a smile? They were making pirate hats and she’d bought him blue mittens.
    Maddie had clearly been gifted at her prior job, the one she’d trained for.
    But then she didn’t have a million other priorities twisting for attention in her head, a phone buzzing in her pocket demanding instant action, lots of business commitments to mastermind. A new son in her life without a manual on the finer points to ensure success.
    Lyle straightened his stance as he completed calls. Focused and attentive.
    He rang his mother to explain the situation and, as luck would have it, Isobel Sutherland was shopping in the city centre and said she’d happily fetch Josh. Crisis averted, thanks to Maddie’s window of reprieve. Thanks to her cool, capable, blue-haired head.
    On a whim Lyle then flicked through his cell phone numbers to find Maddie’s agency boss. Did they deal with nanny placements or could they recommend an agency?
    His finger paused on the dial button, watching the woman who was singing songs to his son. Achieving gales of laughter. Seeing Josh so happy and relaxed caused a lump of emotion to thrum somewhere above his breast bone.
    Josh needed the best.
    Josh needed to smile like this all the time.
    Was he being crazy here? Or was there a golden opportunity sitting with Josh at a café courtyard table, colouring in and making paper pirate hats right now? Was this a