Page 46 of Nanny for the Bodyguard

“Oh, man.” Jade’s whine goes straight to my heart, and now I feel bad fortworeasons.

“How ‘bout this?” I offer, leaning up just a bit so that I can meet Jade’s eyes. “You let me rest for a bit longer, and then we can go swimming?”

“Ooh, okay! Yeah, let’s go swimming!”

At least Jade is easy to appease. I glance up at Easton, and he gives me a tight smile, nodding. We’re going to need to have a discussion about what just happened.

But not today.

Today, I really do need rest, and I’m going to get some right now.

FOURTEEN

Easton

After an uneventful day and a half, which mainly consisted of me hovering over Hazel as she slept or peeking in on her way too often while she just sat in bed and watched TV, she’s feeling well enough to walk around the house and get moving more.

“So, if you’re feeling up to it,” I start, sitting across from Hazel at the island as we drink our coffee, “I think we should head into town to do some grocery shopping. We need the supplies, and it’ll give people the chance to see us as a couple.”

Hazel coughs a bit as she finishes her sip of coffee, setting her cup down. “Right. Sorry, I guess I hadn’t thought about that part of the plan. Umm, yeah. We should. I’m totally fine to go.”

“Okay, great. We have to take Jade, obviously, but she’ll be fine in the store.”

“Of course. A family trip to the grocery store.”

The words hit me hard, but I nod, not saying anything. There’s something about the idea of being a family with Hazel and Jade…

Stop that. This is just to protect her. You’re not really dating.

Except I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that kiss and where it was headed since it happened. We also haven’t talked about it—at all.

“Yup. Okay, umm, I’ll go get Jade.”

I stand up from my stool and jog upstairs to go find my niece. At least the outing is nowhere fancy or private.

I mean, how much trouble can I get in at the grocery store?

“Can I go look at the books?” Jade asks, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

This is a small-town grocery store with very little of anything, but there is a single display of books that come in. Usually, Hazel’s books make it in there.

With a sigh, I nod. “Yeah, go ahead. Just don’t go anywhere else so I can find you.”

“Okay!”

Jade hurries off, and I’m left standing in the produce section with Hazel. Hazel who has chosen to wear cut-off shorts and a low-cut tank.

I swear she’s trying to kill me.

Just be cool, Easton. It’s fine. Everything is fine.

“Hey,babe,” Hazel calls out, and I snap to attention, fighting back the need to glare at her, “what do you think, cantaloupe or watermelon?”

She holds the fruit up in front of herself, right in line with her breasts, and it takes everything not to groan out loud.

“Watermelon. I hate cantaloupe.”

I know the answer is a bit short, but Hazel just smiles at me, and dammit, I’m ready to fucking spank her for being such a brat right now.