Page 27 of Nanny for the Bodyguard

A chuckle escapes me. “Umm, well, he didn’t like the song that was playing. Thought it was a bit too sappy for a bar.”

“A song. What was it?” Jade cocks her head.

“‘Can’t Help Falling in Love With You’. The Elvis version.” I smile, but the vacant look on Jade’s face tells me all I need to know. “Haven’t heard of it, huh?”

“Nope. There’s more than one version?”

I laugh. “Oh, Jade. There are probably hundreds. It’s one of the most covered songs in the country.”

“Oh.”

Her eyes are wide, and it’s so damn cute. I pat her hand, silently reminiscing about that night.

Easton was younger, but he still looks damn good now, and so much of what I see in him today is what I noticed at the bar.

Extremely muscular, deep auburn hair, those striking blue eyes that look as bright and alive as the sky overhead, and those super subtle freckles that you couldn’t see until you got close.

“I told him the song wasn’t so bad. We got a drink together and ended up chatting for hours. So long, in fact, that Red’s had to kick us out. God, that was ages ago, but I remember we talkedabout everything and nothing. Our favorite music and books, how pie is superior to cake, and of course, he kicked my butt in pool. I got good at it to show off to him.”

When I surface back to reality, Jade is staring at me, hanging on my every word like I’m detailing a fairy tale. I laugh, feeling a bit exposed.

“Haha, Jade, please stop staring at me like that.”

She giggles, blinking and coming back to herself, but then her eyes find mine so purposefully, and I’m struck by the insight that beams through her gaze.

“It sounds like you two were in love.” She smiles as my eyes go wide. “It sounds like how Mom and Dad used to talk.”

My heart is skipping around, and I don’t know if I’m more heartbroken for Jade or embarrassed for myself. Love is a strong word, after all, but I also know we both said it to each other before Easton left.

I just said it second.

“Who’s in love?”

This time I do flop out of the hammock, and I land right on my ass as Easton scares the crap out of me. He hurries over to help me up, but he’s also laughing like an idiot, and I smack him in the arm.

“Jerk. I could’ve cracked my head open.”

He settles, rolling his lips between his teeth so he doesn’t smile. Worse, I can hear Jade trying to hold in a fit of giggles behind him.

“I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

Wiping off my butt, I roll my eyes and nod. “Yes, I’m fine.”

“Hazel was telling me about how you met!”

Jade is all smiles still, and Easton seems to suddenly realize that he’s still holding my arm. He drops it, clearing his throat as he faces his niece.

“Oh, was she now?”

There’s clear surprise in his eyes and tone, but Easton smooths it away with a grin. “And what exactly did she say?”

When he looks back at me, my cheeks heat so much that I’m sure I look like a fucking lobster. I nearly choke on my own spit when I try to talk.

“Good stuff. I swear.” I hold up my hands like I’m surrendering.

Easton smirks, his eyes sparkling with the mischief that’s always been there. “Well, I should think so. I’ve always been ‘good.’”

Leaving my side, Easton walks over to Jade, who’s still sitting in the hammock, and scoops her up into his arms. She laughs as he flings her over his shoulder.