New couple Mel and Joe have a disagreement over whose family ornament gets to adorn the top of their Christmas tree.

Former wild child Mel Burke has just been elected as city council person for Toledo, Ohio. However, in addition to her new job, she is also forced into raising her niece, Lennox, and her nephew, Ryder. Lennox and Ryder's father, Louis Scanlon, was part of a ponzi scheme and fled the country. Their mother was sent to prison, leaving Mel as the only option. Joe Longo, a former employee of Louis and lost all of his money. His wife kicked him out and left him with nothing. Joe tracks down Mel for information on Louis. Their paths continue to cross until Mel accidentally offers Joe a job to help her take care of the kids. Lennox got suspended from school and Joe saves the day getting Lennox to talk to the principal and accept her punishment.

Lennox starts dating a bad boy that Mel disapproves of, while Mel is also dating a bad boy of her own. Joe takes it upon himself to reorganize Mel‘s closet.

Mel dates a guy with ulterior motives. Joe deals with getting his stuff back from his ex-wife, most importantly his flat screen TV. Lennox tries to make friends in her new school.

Mel catches Joe having secret meetings with a girl named Tessa in the basement. When Mel begins to spy, she learns that Joe & Tessa are on a manhunt for her brother-in-law Lewis Scanlon. Mel & Joe think Ryder is getting bullied at school because he keeps losing his stuff. Joe & Mel come to his rescue by getting his stuff back, but proceed to make everything worse.

Lennox has a crush on her tutor. Joe creates a web site where he gives financial advice.

Lennox dates the Mayor's son, who may not be the good influence Mel thinks he is.

Melissa's trainer, "Lindsay Gates" (Jessalyn Wanlim) has a physical thing for Joey.

Lennox is asked to be a model but she must get permission from Mel. Joe helps Ryder ask a girl out.

Mel's dad comes back to town to support a bill Mel opposes. Meanwhile, Lennox's poetry proves popular with a classmate who's an aspiring singer.

Mel and Joe arrange blind dates for each other, leading to an uncomfortable double date for the group. Meanwhile, Lennox decides to start her own blog after being kicked off the school website, but it consumes all of her time, leaving her boyfriend Haskal feeling ignored.

Joe fears that being a nanny will prevent him from having a love life. Mel is worried that a depressed Joe means no more gourmet food so she lies to help him get a date with her former sorority sister. Joe needs to keep the lie going to help out Mel in her job.

Mel grounds Lennox because she is failing chemistry and needs to study. However, when Senator Russell Burke, Mel‘s father, shows up unexpected, he undermines her authority. Senator Burke sweet talks Joe and takes the kids out for a night of fun against Mel‘s wishes. Seeing the conflict between Mel and Lennox, Senator Burke invites Lennox to move in with him and her grandmother in Washington, D.C.

Mel is working on her public image and invites a TV reporter to do a story on her and the kids. Celeste Vega (Valery Ortiz) finds out that Mel has a male nanny working for her and shifts the story to Joe. Stephanie alerts Joe that the piece is not flattering for Mel. Joe goes down to Celeste‘s office to defend Mel.

Due to a recent scandal at the city council, Mel is asked to prove Joe’s legal working status in the United States. Much to her surprise, Joe was born in Korea while his family was stationed abroad, and he can’t find his legal documents. Meanwhile, when Lennox decides to go to a school dance with one of her girlfriends, rumors start circulating about her sexuality.

Joe's ex, Tiffany, tries to rekindle their relationship

Mel recruits Joe to play on her office softball team, as she is determined to beat her rival's team (Tom Wilson). Meanwhile, Ryder wants Lennox to feature Holly's short story in the school blog.

Mel and Joe get into a property dispute with their neighbor; Ryder films a PSA starring Lennox.

Joe works as a financial consultant over the internet.

Mel has an important deal with a Japanese businessman and asks Joe to teach her Japanese. When the businessman's son arrives in his place and speaks no English, Joe has to translate between the two. When the Japanese businessman develops a romantic interest in Mel, Joe sabotages the translation. Meanwhile, Lennox is forced to work with her ex-best friend on a school project, and Ryder tries to mediate.

Mel volunteers Joe for a school charity auction but the winner of the auction may have ulterior motives.

Mel feels the pressure to find someone after her last single friend gets engaged.

George has a party to introduce Mel to his friends. Meanwhile, Joe gets upset at his ex-wife for disrespecting their anniversary.

Mel plans to break up with her boyfriend, but seeks Joe's help in boosting his confidence before she gives him the bad news. Meanwhile, Ryder's girlfriend Holly confides a secret to Lennox and asks her to keep it from Ryder.

The visit of Elena, Joe's Russian colleague and on-line crush, disrupts the life in the Burke household.