Page 9 of Nanny for the Bodyguard

“What? They’re good. You should be proud.”

A nervous chuckle slips out. “I mean, of course, I am, but…they’re also…I put sex in there, Easton.”

“Oh yeah, you do. Whoo.” I mime fanning myself with my shirt, and Hazel’s cheeks turn the most delightful shade of pink.

“Jesus.” Hazel buries her face, sneaking a sip of coffee. “So, Jade. She’s a great kid. What do I need to know about her routine?”

I can’t stop the laugh that erupts thanks to that horrible change of subject. “Haha! Oh, Hazel. Fine, fine. I get it. And yes, she is. And thanks to your help, I got her to write a few things down.”

Reaching for the notebook that I set near the centerpiece on the island, I slide it across to Hazel as I lift my reading glasses from where they hang on my button-down shirt.

The corners of her mouth turn down. “Readers?”

“Sush. I’m still fully capable.”

“I have no doubt.” Hazel opens it up, flipping the cover around to reveal Jade’s little list.

“Wow. This is…extensive.”

She scans over the paper, and I answer her questions as she requests clarification. As we sit there next to each other, I have to scoot closer to look at the notebook, and the air thickens.

Hazel smells so damn good, and she’s still so damn beautiful. Her sweet face and full lips. I remember exactly why I was attracted to her in the first place.

This cute junior in college was picking up books from the store while I was perusing travel guides. I watched her for at least fifteen minutes before I got the courage to walk up to her.

“Hey, you’ve got a lot of books there. Attending the college?”

“Oh, hi. Umm, yes, I am. Do I know you from class?”

“No, I was just…would you like to go get some coffee? I’ll buy. Broke college student and all.”

She laughs. “Wow, okay. I’ll admit this is a first. Getting picked up in a bookstore, but yeah. I’d love one. But head’s up, I’m picky.”

Time gets blurry—the past mingling with the present—and then I feel Hazel’s hand brush mine.

She looks up at me. I’ve been staring at her for minutes, just roaming her face with my eyes, and damn, we’re so close. I can feel warmth radiate from her.

Hazel’s expression goes from concentration to concern in a flash, and she looks between my face and our hands. She visibly stiffens and hisses in a bite of air.

The sound is too familiar to others I’ve heard her make, and my brain sidetracks off to a place it really shouldn’t go.

She’s just so damn gorgeous. Still this supple, sweet thing that looks as good as a damn lollipop. God, I’d love to—no. Absolutely not. You can’t go there.

It’s ridiculous that I have to remind myself how much is at stake. This is a babysitter for Jade because I’m drowning and need help. I can’t risk that because of my stupid libido.

You will not ruin all this by falling for an off-limits woman. Or anyone, for that matter.

“Eh-hem,” I clear my throat, leaning back a bit in the chair to give us both space, “so yeah, that’s basically it. Umm, what else can I think of?”

The moment hangs, and apprehension lingers on Hazel’s face. She turns away, picking up her nearly empty coffee cup and finishing it off.

“Jade’s favorite color is green, like her name. She loves grilled cheese and homemade tacos. She wakes up at about seven and will get her own cereal for breakfast. Usually, lunch is around twelve-thirty, and bedtime is at eight-thirty. But she usually reads in her bed until she falls asleep.”

I pause for a moment, noticing that Hazel’s eyes have widened a bit as I rattle off facts about my niece.

“She’s a good kid, really. I let her read most of the day and watch some TV. She likes to play Minecraft with her friends and will sort of talk to them while they all play together with these headset things. I try to limit the screen time a little, but honestly, it hasn’t been a problem so far. She’s very responsible. Whatever my sister was doing…”

My words drift as the reminder of reality hits me. I didn’t mean to phrase it like that, to be so flippant. My chest pinches, my stomach churning up the coffee, which is all I’ve had this morning.