Page 5 of Nanny for the Bodyguard

“Iced mocha frap with an extra shot.”

The woman next to me perks up and goes to retrieve her order from the barista at the side counter. I’m still waiting for mine, and I’ve noticed that Easton and Jade cleaned up the rest of the mess on the floor and stepped outside.

They haven’t left, though, and I give a little wave when he looks through the window.

Your heart is pounding like a damn freight train. Chill out, Hazel.

But he’s here. It’s Easton, and if possible, he’s even more gorgeous than he was in college. The years have been good tohim, and that’s saying something, considering he’s several years older than me.

He was already in the military, having been on an extended leave since he’d injured his knee, so he was never small. But those muscles have only grown.

Hazel, stop. You can’t think like that.

It’s impossible to keep my head on straight, though. Easton is gorgeous, with his sparkling blue eyes and deep auburn hair. He’s still got those freckles that cover every inch of skin with a subtle smattering of color.

The tattoo collection seems to have increased, with both of his arms almost entirely covered in them now. Plus, he’s sporting a five o’clock shadow, something he was never allowed to do in the military.

What right does he have to pop into my life looking like that while I’ve been sitting on my ass in front of a computer day in and day out?

It’s extremely unfair.

I realize, as I’m standing there, that I hate him a little. But that’s nothing new, really. I’ve been so angry with him for so long, it’s a wonder he hasn’t felt it from a distance.

Hell, maybe he has.

I mean, the asshole just left, and sure, he needed to go back, but he was supposed to write and call. He was supposed to find me as soon as his tour was up, and he…didn’t.

Easton didn’t come back to Red Lodge right away after, and the longer I waited, the more I realized I couldn’t be here when he did come home.

So, LA it was.

That’s not Jade’s fault. She looks like a sweet kid.

“If a little clumsy,” I mutter to myself, and then my order is called out from the counter.

“Thank you!” I take the ice cream and coffee, carefully walking outside and using my back to push open the door now that my hands are full.

Easton and Jade perk up from a table outside where they’re sitting, and then Easton is running over to take the cone from me.

As we walk over to the table, he hands it to Jade, and I give her a smile when she lights up.

“What do we say, Jade?”

“Thank you!” she squeals, grinning from ear to ear before licking up a huge mouthful of the chocolate ice cream.

I giggle, seeing the stuff smear all over her face. “You’re welcome. I know you didn’t mean to crash into me. And hey, Iclearlywasn’t looking either.”

Jade smiles, and when I look back at Easton, he seems pulled in several directions. I can tell he’s feeling guilty about my shirt—and probably a lot ofotherthings—but he’s also relieved, his shoulders visibly relaxing.

I kneel down in front of Jade, taking a sip of my coffee before I ask, “So, are you being good for your uncle?”

She gets sheepish. “Umm, mostly. I think so anyway.”

Laughing, I nod at her. “I know it’s a lot to be living with a new person. I grew up in foster care, so I used to get bounced around a lot.”

Jade sits straighter, her eyes flashing brightly with the feeling of being seen. “Really?”

“Yeah.” I let out a sigh, rolling my lips between my teeth in a tight smile. “It’s…a lot, right? You’re not in a familiar room, and everything smells different. All the little routines you were used to are gone.”