Page 68 of Nanny for the Bodyguard

I smile, closing my laptop. “It's going okay. I wouldn't complain if I got alittlebit more done before being interrupted.”

He chuckles, winking at me as he cocks a brow. “You aresupposedto be enjoying time at the pool.”

“Yes, yes. I know, but it's not like I've been able to get as much work done lately, now have I?”

He doesn't miss a beat, picking up on my insinuating tone, and I wag my brows at him.

There are enough people at the pool whom we recognize from town that I'm not about to try anything right here, but considering we aresupposedto be a couple, there's no harm in teasing him, right?

Easton laughs, pulling me close and laying a kiss on my forehead. “Well, has everything been saved? Do you think you can take a break for a minute?”

I look at my laptop. Deciding that I'm absolutely not going to get anything done while I'm here, I slide it into the beach bag, and I give Easton a nod.

“Yes, I can put it away. I'm sure I'll have time to work on itsoon, right?”

He shrugs with a nod. “Of course. I would never keep the busy author from getting her words in.”

When he leans in this time, I expect another kiss on the forehead, but instead, he throws me over his shoulder and heads toward the pool.

“Ah, put me down! Oh my gosh, Easton, what are you doing?”

All he does is laugh, bouncing me playfully on his shoulder, which nudges me in the stomach.

“I am taking you to the pool. It's time to get this landlubber wet.”

Now I hearhisinnuendo, and all I can do is blush and giggle as he strides into the pool.

The water is surprisingly warm in this section, and as soon as he can, he sets me down on my feet. As I face him, a grin the size of Texas covers my face. Then, I lean up on my tip toes and give him a quick kiss.

“There.” I raise my brows. “Wet enough for you? Can I go back now?”

He squints at me. “Hardly.”

With that, Easton hauls me up into his arms again, and then we’re headed toward the rear section of the pool. I can tell there’s a drop-off here, and Easton just jumps in, me still in his arms.

We’re submerged in the water, and it takes a few seconds for us to surface and swim back to the shallower section.

As I shove my hair out of my face, I glare at him. “You're totally a bum.”

He smiles, and damn, it’s so pretty. Easton is all grins and mischief, and he seems like his real self. I can’t help but be enamored by it.

Still, that does nothing to stop me from scooping up a massive amount of water and splashing him in the face.

Easton recoils, laughing and spitting out the bit of pool water he got in his mouth, and I am all giggles.

The sun sparkles against the blue water, so clear and clean, and the din of people having conversations and their own good time around us is comfortably loud.

I know that Jade is off having the time of her life, and I see Mason and Bridget on the other side of the pool. I give them a wave.

Then, Easton comes back at me, splashing me so much that I end up tripping. He reaches out and catches me with his hand, pulling me back towards him.

I crash against his chest, slick and slippery from the water, and all we do is laugh and laugh.

The air between us charges as I'm there against his bare chest, and he stares down at me.

After a moment, everything goes still and quiet around us like we have our own private bubble of reality, and Easton leans down and kisses me.

I'm helpless to stop him, and I don't want to.