Sunny
The thought of Liam brought a flush to her cheeks. While she felt a twinge of guilt every time she looked at the girls, she couldn’t deny the thrill of the clandestine arrangement with their father.
The sound of the doorbell pierced through her lewd reverie.
Frowning, she wiped her hands on her apron. It was too early for visitors.
She hurried to the front door, noticing a sleek black Audi parked in the driveway through a glass panel.
She pulled open the door and felt her breath catch in her throat. Standing on the other side was a woman Sunny recognized from family pictures scattered around the house. Morgan Anderson — Liam’s sister.
Her designer heels clicked on the ground as she strode towards the door after having gone back to the car to retrieve a case.
Sunny’s stomach clenched. Liam’s sister was the epitome of sophistication, with her perfectly coiffed blonde hair, expensive shades and tailored designer pantsuit. But behind that polished exterior lurked a heart as cold as the ice Liam played on, if he was to be believed.
“Good morning, Miss Thompson,” Morgan said, her voice dripping with exaggerated sweetness as Sunny opened the door. “I hope I’m not interrupting your… duties.”
“Not at all, Miss Anderson. Please, come in.”
Sunny stepped aside, trying to ignore the way Morgan’s eyes swept over her, lingering on her simple jeans and grease-stained apron with thinly veiled disdain.
“So you know who I am, good,” she replied, as if she were a Hollywood icon, as opposed to a divorcee living off the alimony provided by her hedge fund manager ex-husband.
“Where’s my brother?” Morgan asked, not bothering with niceties as she strode into the foyer.
“He’s just with the girls. They should be along soon for breakfast.” Sunny gestured towards the kitchen. “Would you like some coffee while you wait?”
Morgan’s lips thinned.
“I suppose so,” she said. “A splash of almond milk, but only if it’s organic,” she added.
“I’ll see what I can do,” replied Sunny.
In the kitchen, Sunny busied herself with making Morgan’s coffee, acutely aware of the woman’s scrutiny. She could feel the judgment radiating off her, making the spacious kitchen feel suffocating.
“So, Miss Thompson,” Morgan began, her manicured fingers tapping against the counter. “How are you finding your role here? Playing house with my brother and his children must be quite… fulfilling…for someone from your background.”
Sunny bristled at the implication. But she swallowed her anger. It would get her nowhere.
“My focus is the well-being of Maddie and Hailey,” she replied, as brightly as she could, given the situation. “They’re wonderful children.”
“Hmm, yes. They do seem rather… attached to you, judging from what my parents tell me.”
Was that a hint of the green-eyed monster Sunny could detect?
Morgan’s eyes narrowed.
“Though I wonder if that’s entirely appropriate. After all, you’re not family. You’re just the help.”
The words stung. Badly. But before Sunny could respond, the sound of small feet echoed down the hall. Maddie and Hailey burst into the kitchen, their faces lighting up when they saw Sunny.
“Sunny!” Hailey exclaimed, throwing her arms around her waist. “Bacon and pancakes! Just what I wanted!”
Sunny didn’t miss the way Morgan’s nose wrinkled and the ice in her eyes.
“Of course, sweetie. Your favorite,” Sunny said, perhaps a little too theatrically, before ruffling the little girl’s hair.
Maddie, more reserved as she was still waking up, sidled up to Sunny.
“Can we have extra syrup today?”
“Now, Maddie, you know too much syrup isn’t good for you,” Sunny gently chided.
Morgan watched the interaction with antipathy.
“Girls, aren’t you going to say hello to your favorite auntie?” announced Morgan, obviously miffed.
The girls turned. They hadn’t even realized she was there. Their eyes widened with surprise, then seemed to dim as they registered who it was.
“Hi, Aunt Morgan,” they chorused, dutifully giving her quick hugs before returning to their seats at the table.
Morgan didn’t seem pleased with her underwhelming reception.
Liam chose that moment to enter, his hair still damp from the shower.
“Morning, everyone,” he said, his eyes softening when they landed on Sunny.
But then he noticed his sister.
“Morgan? What are you doing here?”
“Can’t a sister visit her only brother and her only nieces?” Morgan asked, standing to kiss Liam’s cheek. “Though I must say, I didn’t expect to find your… employee quite so at home.”
Liam’s jaw tightened. He didn’t miss a beat.
“Sunny is more than an employee, Morgan. She’s been a godsend for the girls.”
“Clearly,” Morgan replied, her gaze flicking between Liam and Sunny.
Liam glanced at Sunny and raised his eyebrows.
Don’t take the bait, he seemed to be saying.
Sunny gave a thin smile back.
The rest of breakfast passed in tense silence, broken only by the girls’ chatter. Sunny kept her head down, focusing on the children, but she could feel Morgan’s eyes boring into her. It was a relief when Liam announced he was taking the girls to the park.
“Sunny, why don’t you take the morning off?” he suggested, his hand briefly squeezing her shoulder. “You deserve a break.”
Morgan watched the gesture with keen interest.
“Yes, Miss Thompson. Please feel free to put your feet up.” The statement was laced with accusation. “I’d like to catch up with my family, anyway,” she added.
Alone in the house, Sunny tried to distract herself and pass the hours with chores, but Morgan’s words echoed in her mind — ‘You’re not family. You’re just the help.’
She was right, wasn’t she? No matter how she felt about Liam, no matter how much the girls adored her, and vice-versa, she was still just the nanny. She would do well to remember that. Other people would be quick to remind her.
The sound of the front door opening startled her from her heavy thoughts. Liam and the girls were back early, and judging by Maddie’s tear-stained face, something was wrong.
“She’s in trouble,” Hailey whispered to Sunny as she passed. “Aunt Morgan yelled at her.”
Sunny’s heart clenched. She found Liam in the kitchen, his face a mask of fury.
“What happened?”
“Morgan,” he spat. “She told Maddie that she shouldn’t get so attached to you because you’ll just leave like everyone else. That you’re only here for the paycheck and nice house.”
“Oh, Liam,” Sunny breathed, her own hurt put on the back-burner in the face of Maddie’s pain. “I would never…”
She had no idea why she felt the need to defend herself.
“I know,” he interrupted, his hand instinctively grasping hers. “You’re the best thing that’s happened to us, Sunny. Don’t forget that.”
Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the world fell away. Liam leaned in, his breath warm on her cheek.
But a sharp cough broke the spell.
Morgan stood in the doorway, her eyes cold.
“Well, isn’t this cozy? My brother canoodling with the nanny.”
“It’s not what you think, Morgan, you…” Liam started, but his sister cut him off.
“Oh, please. I’m not blind, Liam. The longing looks, the little touches. You’re sleeping with her, aren’t you? Have you forgotten Kate so quickly? Your own wife. The mother of your children.”
Liam recoiled as if slapped.
“Don’t you dare bring Kate into this!”
“Why not?” Morgan spat back. “She’s the reason you have those precious girls. Girls who are now being corrupted by this… this interloper!”
“That’s enough!” Liam roared.
He stepped in front of Sunny, shielding her from Morgan’s venom.
“You come into my home, insult the woman who’s been a rock for my daughters. Use my late wife’s memory against me. But where was Auntie Morgan when those ‘precious girls’ needed her the most? When they were lost and hurting? What happened to family then?”
Morgan’s eyes went wide, her mouth hung open.
“You know my separation was messy,” she countered, flicking a flustered glance at Sunny. “I wasn’t in the right frame to mind to…”
“Whistler,” stated Liam flatly, crossing his arms.
“On an extended skiing break in Whistler. Enjoying the slopes of Canada while your own flesh and blood had their world shattered.”
“My therapist,” Morgan flailed. “She said I needed a break, a change to scenery, to preserve my mental health, to…”
That’s when the girls came marching into the kitchen, concern etched on their little faces.
“We heard shouting,” said Maddie, looking sullen.
Hailey stood shoulder to shoulder with her sister.
“Oh, it’s okay honeys,” said Sunny, rushing over to them and kneeling down. “The grown-ups were just having a talk, and things got a little excited.”
Neither girl looked convinced.
Sunny looked from Liam to Morgan, her eyes pleading for peace.
Liam ran a hand through his hair in his trademark way, but remained silent. He looked at his sister.
Morgan let out a long breath.
“Miss Thomp…Sunny…is right, sweeties,” she said, in as saccharine a voice as she could muster. “Sometimes grown-ups can act like children.” She threw a sharp look at Liam. “Tell you what, why don’t you show me your toys,” she added. “I want to see the play palace you talked about at the park.”
The girls seemed to perk up at the suggestion and Morgan followed them down the hall into the play room.
Sunny stood up and let out a long breath. Her hands shook as she gripped the countertop.
“Liam, I’m so sorry. I never meant to cause problems with your family.”
Liam turned to her, his eyes softening.
“This isn’t your fault, Sunny. Morgan’s always been jealous and controlling. She can’t stand the thought of anyone else being important to the girls.”
“But she’s right about one thing,” Sunny whispered. “I’m not family. Maybe… maybe it would be better if I left.”
She stared down at her still shaking hands.
“No.” Liam’s voice was firm.
“You are family, Sunny. To the girls, and… and to me. Just because I share DNA with my sister, it doesn’t make us family in the ways that really count. Trust me, she’s the one who proves that time and time again. Family is about more than just blood.”
Their eyes met again. She saw the fierce resolve burning in his irises.
“Let’s just get over this…hump,” he said, looking down the hall. “Then we’ll figure this out. Together.”
“Together,” Sunny echoed.
The word gave her some comfort but she still felt bereft inside. Perhaps Morgan was right to throw the cold water of reality onto their lives. Sunny wasn’t the girls’ mother. Liam wasn’t her husband. The events of today made her feel like an outsider once again.
Liam looked at her with concern knitting his eyebrows.
That night, after the girls were asleep, Liam silently slipped into Sunny’s room.
She sat up on the bed, startled.
“Liam!” she admonished in an urgent whisper. “What the hell are you thinking!? Morgan’s still in the house. You shouldn’t be here!”
“Sssshhh,” said Liam, quietly shutting the door and making his way to the bed. He slipped under the covers and nuzzled up to her.
“Thought you could do with a hug after a day like today,” he said, burying his head into her neck and trailing soft kisses up to her chin.
“I can’t say you’re wrong,” admitted Sunny, eyes wide, heart racing, “but this doesn’t feel like a hug, Liam.”
“Oh yeah,” he said, playfully. “The hug comes a bit later in the proceedings.”
Sunny surrendered to his touch. She still felt this was a bad idea, but he was here now, and she wasn’t in the mood to throw him out. Not now that his hand was cupping her breast and his fingers were gently rubbing her nipple, making it stand to attention.
He leaned down and sucked on it before flicking his tongue back and forth across the hard surface. Sunny let out a low moan as small currents of joy rippled from her chest.
His mouth found hers and Sunny was lost in Liam.
In her primal need for him. She wanted him to ravish her.
She wanted him to make her cum, with his tongue, with his cock.
But she also needed the comfort of his strong arms, the reassurance that she belonged here.
Morgan’s accusations still echoed in her mind.
She want to expunge them with the white-hot joy of climaxing under Liam’s taut body.
In the early hours, Liam disentangled herself from Sunny’s warmth and crept to the door. She followed him to give him one last embrace at the threshold. After standing on her tip-toes to give him a goodbye peck, Liam opened the door.
Morgan, apparently an early riser, was in the hallway. Her eyes widened, then narrowed with malicious glee.
“Well, well. The truth comes out,” she hissed. “It always does, in the end.”
Sunny’s heart seemed to stop in her chest.
Liam’s face paled when he saw his sister.
“Morgan, it’s not-”
“Save it, Liam,” Morgan sneered. “I knew she was after more than just a paycheck. How long has this been going on? Does she whisper sweet nothings while your daughters sleep downstairs? You disgust me.”
“That’s rich, coming from you,” Liam retorted. “You, who only ever thinks of herself. Who only knows drama and recrimination. Sunny brings joy to this house, something you wouldn’t understand.”
“Joy?” Morgan scoffed. “Is that what you call rutting with the help? What would Kate say?”
“Kate would want me to be happy,” Liam snapped back, his voice low and sharp.
“She’d want the girls to have love in their lives.
But you… you’re nothing but poison, Morgan.
A jealous, bitter woman who can’t stand to see others happy.
You’ve made nothing of your life, driven every man away, including the husband who gave you everything. ”
Morgan recoiled as if struck.
“You’ll regret this, Liam,” she spat when she finally regained her voice. “When she’s bled you dry and left you with nothing but broken-hearted children, you’ll remember my words.”
“Get out,” Liam growled. “Get out of my house, and don’t come back until you can treat people with the respect they deserve.”
For a moment, Morgan looked like she might argue. But then her face twisted into a sneer.
“Fine,” she hissed. “But don’t come crying to me when this blows up in your face. And it will, brother. Mark my words. It will.”
With a final, venomous glare at Sunny, she stormed back into her room.
Sunny felt shattered. Once again she’d been made to feel like she was was vermin. A leech in the Anderson house.
Liam turned to her, his eyes fierce.
“Morgan doesn’t get to dictate our lives,” he said, sensing her emotions. “She’s history, anyway. Good riddance.”
Sunny’s eyes welled with tears. She wanted to believe him, wanted it more than anything.
But as the sound of Morgan’s suitcase slamming onto the floor echoed through the hallway, she couldn’t shake the feeling that their fragile happiness had just been shattered.
The sun that had warmed their lives now felt like it was setting, leaving them in the cold shadow of reality.