Prince Daddy & the Nanny by Brenda Harlen Read Free Book Online Page A

princess didn’t need help with much of anything—certainly not with manipulating the adults in her life, a talent which she had definitely mastered.
    But she kept that thought to herself, at least for now.
    She didn’t want to lose her job on the first day.
    â€œRiley,” Michael chastised, embarrassed by his daughter’s belligerent response. “Hannah is only trying to help.”
    â€œActually,” Hannah interjected, speaking to Riley, “maybe you could help me.”
    The little girl’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “With what?”
    â€œFinding my way around this place,” the new nanny said. “I’ve only been here a few hours and I’ve gotten lost three times already. Maybe you could show me where you spend your quiet time.”
    Riley pushed away from the table, dramatically rolling her eyes as she did so. If Hannah noticed his daughter’s theatrics, she chose to ignore them.
    â€œIf you’ll excuse us, Your Highness,” she said.
    â€œOf course.” He rose with her, and watched as she followed Riley into the house.
    He wasn’t pleased by his daughter’s behavior, but he didn’t know what to do about it. As much as he loved Riley, he wasn’t blind to her faults. But the adolescent attitude in the preschooler’s body was just one more of the challenges of parenting a gifted child, or so he’d been told. Was Riley’s behavior atypical—or did he just not know what was typical for a child of her age?
    Surely any four-year-old going through a period of adjustment would need some time, and losing her longtime nanny was definitely an adjustment. He hoped that within a few days, after Riley had a chance to get to know Hannah and settle into new routines with her, her usual sunny disposition would return.
    After all, it was a new situation for all of them, and it was only day one.
    But as he made his way back to his office, he found himself thinking that he probably missed Brigitte even more than his daughter did. Everything had run smoothly when Brigitte was around.
    More importantly, he’d never felt any tugs of attraction for the former nanny like the ones he was feeling now for Hannah.

Chapter Four
    A ccording to Brigitte’s schedule, Riley’s quiet time was from two o’clock until three-thirty. When that time came and went, Hannah didn’t worry. She figured the little girl wouldn’t still be sleeping if she wasn’t tired, and since there wasn’t anything else on her schedule until an art class at four-thirty, she opted not to disturb her before then.
    Hannah was staring at her laptop screen when she heard, through the open door across the hallway, what sounded like drawers being pulled open and shut. She immediately closed the lid on her computer, wishing she could as easily shut down the shock and betrayal evoked by her father’s email announcement.
    He’d gotten married, without ever telling her of his plans, without even letting her meet the woman who was now his wife. But she forced herself to push those emotions aside and crossed the hall to the princess’s room, a ready smile on her lips, determined to start the afternoon with Riley on a better foot.
    Riley didn’t smile back. Instead, she scowled again and her lower lip trembled.
    â€œI want Brigitte,” she demanded.
    â€œYou know Brigitte isn’t here,” Hannah said, attempting to keep her tone gentle and soothing.
    â€œI want Brigitte,” Riley said again.
    â€œMaybe I can help with whatever you need,” she suggested.
    The young princess shook her head mutinously, big tears welling in her eyes. “It’s your fault.”
    â€œWhat’s my fault?”
    â€œYou made me wet the bed.”
    Only then did Hannah notice that the little girl wasn’t wearing the same dress she’d had on when she’d settled on her bed for quiet time. She was wearing a short-sleeved