Page 3 of Nanny for the Bodyguard

“It’s fine.” Hazel’s little chuckle might actually kill me. “I stare at a computer screen all day, so sometimes I need to take a break and snag a coffee. Or maybe a treat. Like today.”

She speaks to Jade so easily, and for a moment, my brain is consumed with jealousy. I never have it that easy with Jade.

In fact, it’s been a fucking disaster since she moved in with me two weeks ago.

My throat tightens at the thought of my sister. Both she and her husband died in freak accident, and now I’m the guardian of Jade. A fate I never thought would actually arrive.

And doing a real bang-up job at it, too.

“Are you in security like Uncle Easton?” Jade stands with her mound of napkins, now all stained and dripping with melted ice cream.

Again, I look at Hazel’s shirt, which she’s still holding away from her chest and stomach because I’m sure it’s cold.

The curves of her body are outlined by the taut fabric, and the little jean shorts she’s wearing leave little to the imagination.

An imagination I don’t have to use because I’ve seen Hazel before. I’vebeen withHazel before.

Ugh, come on, Easton. Pull your head out of your ass.

“Oh, no. I’m a writer. I write thrillers.” Jade cocks her head, and again, Hazel does that adorable fucking laugh and smiles. “They’re like scary books for adults. Though not as scary as some.”

“You’re still writing?”

My chest pinches, remembering how much Hazel loved to write, how she even went to school for it.

“I am, and it sounds like you’re a security guard or something?” I can hear the apprehension in Hazel’s voice, like she doesn’t really want to be asking.

I don’t blame her. The last thing she knew, I was going back into active duty. Everything that came after is a mystery to her because…because I didn’t come back home right away.

Like you promised.

“Oh, umm, I run a private security business. Being a bodyguard seemed like a natural fit after…well, you know, everything.”

“Sure.” Hazel’s head bobs in a nod that is more just finding something to do with herself than genuine understanding. “I can see that.”

“But, umm,” I run my hand through my hair, using the feeling of those short locks to try and ground myself, “you’re back in town now.”

“Yeah. I moved from LA. It was…it was nice, but it was very fast-paced. And I wanted to get some space from there. Why not head back to the old hometown, right?”

I can think of a million reasons Hazel wouldn’t want to come back here, the largest of which is me.

“I’m sure that’s something to get used to.”

Hazel nods, very much agreeing with me now. “It is. I’m still getting used to living in a small town again. It’s easy to be invisible in such a big city. Not so much here.”

Yeah, and a lot easier to run into ex-boyfriends.

There’s a tense silence now, and Jade sees fit to smash it to smithereens.

“I have no ice cream now.” She wears a pout that’s turned up to eleven, and I sigh, wiping a hand down my face.

“Ugh, I’m aware, Jade.” Casting a glance back at Hazel, I squint, the awkwardness of staring at her chocolate-stained shirt nearly too much to take. “And your shirt’s ruined. I’ll pay for another one.”

“Oh, it’s alright.” Hazel waves me off. “It’s just a Hanes tee. It’s not a big deal. Nothing a little bleach can’t fix.”

I don’t know how she seems so relaxed. It’s wild to see and makes me feel even more like an incompetent asshole who can’t manage a ten-year-old while Hazel seems utterly unphased by the accident.

Tension ratchets up my spine, and I’m clenching my jaw so fucking hard it cracks. I hate this. I hate being put in this situation that I was so clearly not cut out for.