Page 29 of Nanny for the Bodyguard

Playing and running around? Yeah, Easton has that down pat.

But it’s still weird, and I still don’t know what to do with the fact that he almost kissed me that night. Something is going on with us, as much as I try to ignore it.

Every day I’m with them, helping to watch Jade, the familiar things about him pull me in all the more.

You can’t fall into that trap, Hazel. You can’t.

Beyond being way too busy for that stuff, there’s also the calls. I’m not about to bring Easton and Jade into that drama.

Still…doing basic housework with him, cooking, cleaning, and playing with Jade forces all those “family” thoughts to the front of my brain. And it’s impossible to ignore them.

I wanted that stuff. A family. I wanted to be a mom, but after Easton left and didn’t come back, I shoved all those desires down and focused on my career.

Thinking about them again is…I don’t know what it is, but it feels hard regardless.

Worse, part of me feels so pathetic for swooning over a guy who’s just cooking food for his niece. The same guy who left me hanging.

I mean, come on. What the hell, right?

“Ahh! Uncle Easton! No!” Jade screams through giggles as he lifts her up onto his shoulder while carrying two more of her friends—one on his leg and one on his free arm.

He looks ridiculous…and amazing.

Would we have had kids? Easton said he didn’t want any.

The thought stings. But it doesn’t leave me alone when I try to force it away. Instead, I’m hit by so many more.

Would we have lived in Red Lodge or moved away? Would we have a house? Pets? Is he a dog guy or a cat guy? Both? Guinea pigs?

Would we still be together even after all this time? Would we be happily married—him running his business and me writing?

Would it work?

And I want to know if I’m the only one who’s been feeling this way. I try not to stare at Easton when we’re together. I try to not paytoo muchattention.

So, I haven’t been able to tell if he’s as messed up about all this as I am. Some part of me wants him to be.

Because at least then he’d be doing a little bit of suffering, which I think he’s earned.

Lost in my thoughts, I hardly notice when the shenanigans in front of me die down, and Easton comes over to the bench where I’m sitting to catch his breath.

He’s all smiles as he does, and damn my stupid heart for pitter-pattering in my chest.

“Oof, a drill sergeant could take notes from those girls.”

I laugh, scooting over so Easton can sit down. He lifts up the hem of his shirt, wiping it across his brow to soak up some of the sweat.

It shouldn’t be as sexy as it is.

No, Hazel. It’s gross. Sweat is just gross. There’s nothing else.

When he looks over at me, I offer a smile. “Well, take a break. I think the girls are permitting it for now.”

We both look over at the little trio of ten-year-old terrors, and they playfully eye Easton like they’ve got his number.

“Jeez. Would it be bad to just dip out now?”

He makes a face at me, and I can’t avoid the laugh that bubbles up from my chest. “Yes. You can’t abandon your niece.”