“What the hell?” she screeches, her panicked green eyes darting around the room.
Connor raises a brow, amused. “You have off-limits zones in your house?”
“It’s good to set boundaries. As clearly demonstrated here, people can’t be trusted.”
Especially not a woman with an ass like that.
She runs to the door to check if anyone is on the other side, then comes back to the center of the room and inhales a deep breath. “It’s the home security system,” she says softly. “He’s programmed it to trigger in an off-limits zone.”
“No, Clodagh.” My voice echoes through the bedroom. “It’s your boss.”
She freezes, looking like she’s about to jump out of her skin. I’d laugh along with Connor if I wasn’t so angry.
She turns to face the bedroom door again to see if I’m there. When I don’t appear, she reverts to looking wildly in the air for cameras. She can’t figure out where my voice is coming from because it’s coming from all four corners of the ceiling.
“She’s starting to look a little crazy now,” Connor says.
“She can hear you. The speaker is on.”
“Q-Quinn?” she whispers loudly in her distinctive lilt. “Mr. Quinn?”
“Day one on the job, and you’re already ignoring my rules.”
She draws in a sharp breath. “Are you watching me through cameras?”
“Yes.” I do my best to ignore the way her chest heaves with every breath. “Explain why you feel the need to open my nightstand.”
The crimson blush on her cheeks darkens. “I’m sorry. I was just making sure you weren’t a serial killer.”
“In my nightstand?”
“You can learn a lot about people by what they have in their bedside cabinets.” She looks at the ceiling for approval, as if this is an acceptable reason for invading my privacy.
“I won’t do it again,” she adds, panic taking over her voice. She glances down as if suddenly realizing she’s in little more than underwear and wipes sweat away from her chest.
Fuck, woman, stop that.
Connor chuckles beside me, looking inexplicably pleased with himself for no damn reason.
“Do you have somewhere you need to be?” I snap, waving my hand at him to get out.
“No,” Connor and Clodagh answer simultaneously.
“Not you, Clodagh,” I say forcefully, turning my attention back to the screen. “Stay put.”
She stands on the spot like an army cadet with her arms stiff by her sides. It looks like she’s stopped breathing.
“Absolutely not,” Connor drawls, slouching one arm over his chair. “I have nowhere better to be than here.”
Sighing in frustration, I mute the security app. “Fine. If you insist on staying, this will be over in less than five.”
I press the speakerphone again. “Security will be there in fifteen minutes. You have thirty to pack up your things.”
She laughs shakily. “That was for the person in the room, right?”
“It’s quite obvious that it was directed at you. Clodagh.”
“W-What?” Her hands rise to smack her mouth. “Mr. Quinn, please.” She flaps her arms around in the air. “Sir. No. I’ll never do anything like this again. You vetted me. Don’t you think I should do my own due diligence?” She pauses to catch her breath. “It would almost be irresponsible of me not to. That’s all I was doing, but my vetting’s complete now.”
Her brazenness is almost admirable.
Connor snort-laughs, and I fire another glare at him.
“I can’t have someone in my house who I don’t trust,” I say coolly. If Clodagh thinks this is the first time a pretty face has tried to win me over and been disappointed, she’s in for a nasty surprise. “You’re under the same roof as my daughter.”
That’s my bottom line.
Her face turns an unhealthy shade of white.
“You’re being a bit harsh,” Connor says casually.
“I agree with him,” Clodagh pipes up, making Connor smile.
“Please,” she begs. The emerald eyes hit the right spot to stare directly into the camera. “I need to trust you too. I binge-watched that Netflix series last week on serial killers, and I freaked myself out. For all I know, the last domestic assistant might be dead in the attic. I listen to a lot of true crime, so I wanted to do a few checks.” She chews her bottom lip. “What with moving in with a strange man and all.”
“Stop talking.” I jab the mute button again. “Do I look like a fucking serial killer?” I mutter to Connor.
He shrugs. “C’mon, man. The girl’s on the verge of tears. Cut her some slack. I get why a young woman would be scared of living with you.” His lips twitch. “Like living with a homicidal maniac.”
I roll my eyes in disgust.
On the screen, Clodagh adjusts her shorts self-consciously, her weight shifting from foot to foot.
“I’m the vulnerable one here.” Her voice fills the boardroom. Apparently, now she knows where the camera is because those piercing green eyes stare unwaveringly at me. I’ve never seen a shade like it before. Are they contact lenses? The swallow action in her throat is visible on the screen. “Moving into a strange man’s house.”
I jab the speaker button again to tell her she’s wasting my time when she should be packing, but Connor puts his hand over mine.
“Don’t be rash.”
“Fuck off. I don’t need distractions or drama in my own home.”
His brow arches. “What drama has she caused?”
“I thought you only checked the cameras by exception,” Clodagh continues softly, dragging my gaze back to her. “I didn’t realize you’d be watching me.”
My lips press into a thin line. Is she telling me off?
“A new nanny is an exception,” I bite back gruffly through the speaker.
She nods dramatically. “Okay, fair point. But please, give me one more chance. Please? I wasn’t trying to steal anything.” She pauses, pouting. “I just wanted to make sure you’re a good guy.”
Connor snorts. “She’s in for a disappointment.”
I turn my head, bemused.
“Are you still there?” Clodagh pipes up over the speaker. She nibbles on her lips like she’s trying to chew them off. “Wherever you are.” She waves both hands in the air, laughing nervously. “Am I looking in the right direction? This is really unnerving.”
“Killian.” Connor leans over and jabs the mute option, his expression turning serious. “Give the girl a second chance. What is she, like twenty?”
“Twenty-four,” I correct, nostrils flaring. “Almost twenty-five.”
“Come on, loosen up a little. Do you really think cleaners don’t poke around in bedside cabinets? Get a lock if you’re that concerned. Besides, you don’t have any other options right now. You’d have to vet someone else.” He shrugs, still holding the mute button. “What’s the worst that can happen?”
I shift my focus from Connor back to Clodagh.
Swallowing thickly, I watch her rub the back of her neck. I watch her chest heave with shallow breaths. I watch her green eyes burn with the adrenaline and fear of knowing that my next words will decide her fate in America.