Page 12 of Nanny for the Bodyguard

Because all true crime people have a favorite serial killer.

“Okay, so spill. What’s the tea with this babysitting job?”

Liv curls up on the couch, putting her legs under her and hitting play on the movie even as neither of us looks at the screen.

“Well, that’s the thing. It’s not like I took the job to make money or something. I’m still doing fine. It’swhoI’m babysitting for.”

“Alright, already. Cut the suspense and spill.” She laughs and takes a sip of her wine.

“Easton Hawke.”

My timing could have been better. Olivia nearly spits out her mouthful of red, and she has to choke it down while her eyes go wide.

When she can finally speak, she sets her glass down on the coffee table and gapes at me.

“You’re fucking kidding, right?” I don’t say anything, just lower my head, hiding in my wine glass. “Oh my god, Hazel!”

After forcing down a gulp of wine, I set mine down, too, and move to the edge of my chair, where I perch and hold up my hands in defense.

“I know, I know. I swear to you, I didn’t think I’d be running into him so soon. I mean, yeah, I knew it could happen. Hell, we talked about it, but I thought I’d have longer than a week.”

“Hazel,” Liv cocks her head at me, her brows up, “that doesn’t explain why you’rebabysittingfor him. Holy shit, does he have a kid?”

I’m quick to shake my head, waving my hands. “No, no, no. It’s not like that. His sister died, and Jade, his niece, was left to him. He’s her guardian.”

“Okay, well, I guess at least there’s that. But seriously, did you just run into him and be like, ‘Hey, need a babysitter?’”

“I mean…” I shrug, feeling so guilty and dumb and like I haven’t had nearly enough wine. “…kinda.”

There’s a pause while Liv’s mouth drops open.

“Jade actually ran into me. Covered me in ice cream.” I shake myself. “That’s not the point. I saw him there, struggling to be a father figure to this kid, and she looked so lost. Both Jade’s parents died in this freak accident, and Easton isnothandling it very well. I felt like I had to help. I understand a bit of what Jade’s going through, you know?”

The wheels in Olivia’s head are turning. I can see her working through everything. When she grabs her wine, she takes a massive sip and then puts it back down, clapping her hands together as she presses the sides of her fingers to her lips.

I wait.

I know she’s winding up to something, and I know I need to hear it. Olivia is a master at delivering hard truths. It’s why I adore her so much. I can actually trust her not to bullshit me.

“Okay…” Liv sucks in a breath, going foranothersip of wine, and then starts back up. “…I understand why you felt compelled to help a kid out. That’s a terrible situation to have gone through, and I’m sure your pain recognized her pain.”

“I swear, Liv, having a counselor for a bestie is a thing sometimes.”

She eyes me hard, that “haha, very funny” look in her eyes, but continues. “You went through a lot because of your parents at such a young age, and then to be bounced around from foster home to foster home. We both know that gave you the need to help those you could, provide stability.”

“But…”

I know it’s coming. There’s a but right around the corner, and it’s going to be followed by the thing I don’t want to hear.

“But…this is Easton we’re talking about. He has a history with you, and neither of you is going to be able to forget that. You’ve been heartbroken about how things ended for seven years, so don’t lie to me and say it’s not complicated.”

“I’m not,” I say defensively before taking a breath and calming down a hair. “I’m sorry. I know you’re looking out for me, and itiscomplicated. But this has nothing to do with Easton. Not really. I just wanted to help Jade. It was the right thing to do.”

I’m holding my wine glass, but I haven’t managed to take another drink. The popcorn has also been sitting on the coffee table, waiting for attention.

It sounded so good before, but now I’m not sure I can eat any of it.

The low volume from the TV provides a gentle hum of sound, and I realize that Olivia choseJennifer’s Body.