Page 69 of Nanny for the Bodyguard

As much as I know that people are watching, and as much as I know there are so many things to be worried about right now, all I can do is be in his arms and enjoy the way this feels.

It's incredible to feel like this again, having this time together I never thought we would get back.

Once Easton was gone, that was it. I was going to move on with my life. I was never particularly skilled at that part, having failed royally. But I didn't think he would come back, and I didn't think that if he did, it would be likethis.

Because this is amazing.

“Cannonball,” Jade shouts, jumping into the water right next to us and splashing Easton and me right in the face.

We laugh, and as soon as his niece resurfaces from the water, we splash her right back. Then, Easton wanders over, grabbing her by the waist and lifting her up before dropping her right back down into the pool.

This is the type of family outing at the community pool that I had always dreamed of when I was younger, and now, I get to see it really happening.

I know that I shouldn't get wrapped up in all this. I know that it's silly, but right now, all I want in the whole world is for this to be real.

Jade tries to get away, and I watch, my heart swelling with happiness, as Easton and Jade play around in the water.

Everything inside me is telling me to trust this man because he’s doing everything right, but a small part of me can’t help but be cautious.

This is a lovely distraction, but I know that Easton and I have to talk. I just…I have no idea what I want to say.

TWENTY-ONE

Hazel

“Hazel, Hazel, wake up.”

I jump up in bed to the sight of Easton in front of me, grabbing me by the shoulders and holding on tight.

I don't know what time it is or even where I am, and it takes me longer than I care to admit to piece together that I'm in bed…in the room that I use in Easton's house.

“Ohh. I'm sorry. What happened?”

My heart is pounding in my chest, strange images dancing inside my head that suggest I was having a nightmare.

“I could hear you screaming. I came running. I thought you were in trouble.”

Embarrassment drills through me like a red-hot poker. “Ohh, I'msosorry. I wasn't in trouble. I was having a nightmare. I didn't mean to wake you.”

I can feel the heat in my cheeks, which are undoubtedly a bright pink color. I feel terrible for waking Easton up and getting him to come all the way down to my room.

“A nightmare? Oh, well, don't feel bad about that. I'm just glad it wasn't anything serious. Do you remember what happened?”

Easton pulls back, sitting on the edge of my bed, and I sit up straighter, leaning against the headboard.

Pulling the blankets closer to me, I try to piece together some of the lingering images I see every time I blink.

They're nothing I haven't seen before. They're familiar. They're nightmares I've had almost every night since that first encounter with Neil.

But I'm not sure how I'm supposed to tell Easton about that.

“Um, no, it was just a bad dream. Don't worry about it. You can go back to bed. I don't want to keep you up.”

Easton makes a face, reaching out and laying his hand on top of mine. “Hazel, you're not keeping me up. I'm here because I'm worried about you. You're white as a sheet, and you were…you looked so scared.”

His tone is so insistent, and I can see the worry pinching his brows together even in the dim light. I hate that I feel like this, that I’m still shaking even as Easton is here to comfort me.

“Are you okay? Talk to me?”