Page 2 of Not the Bodyguard's Princess
The process was repeated as Jordan walked toward the waiting black SUV.
Jordan stopped to sign a poster for a young teen in a wheelchair. “What’s your name?”
“Her name is Hannah. She’s deaf,” said an adult female standing behind the teen, probably her mother.
Jordan signed to the teen. “Nice to meet you, Hannah. I’m happy you came today.”
“You know ASL?” The girl bounced in her chair as she signed.
“Yes, I learned it for a movie when I was ten. My skills are poor, though.”The sign she used forpoormeant “unskilled” or “spastic” and was one of Jordan’s favorites.
The girl turned to the woman behind her. “I’m right! She is in my movie,” she signed with a huge grin.
“That movie is why I learned ASL. Thank you for watching it.” Jordan autographed the poster and waved anILYhand, the commonI love you sign, before moving on to the next fan.
Several of them held posters asking, “Will the Princesses fall in love?” Others shouted questions about the film she couldn’t answer. As she reached the end of the line of well-wishers, Blake moved to her side, separating her from her fans. As she turned to see why, a loud pop echoed above the cheering.
Blake tackled Jordan to the ground, Princess barked, and the fans screamed.
More pops. Two? Three? Jordan brought her hand to her head to find blood.
Blake didn’t move from on top of her.
In the distance, sirens wailed.
Jordan blinked back the tears and prayed.
* * *
The happy birthday song was never intended to be whispered. Yet that’s exactly what the entire Hastings family was doing, except for Andrew, who sang it in sign language. September covered her mouth to keep from laughing and waking up any of the five babies in the backyard, including her ten-month-old daughter snuggled in Adam’s arms.
She leaned over and blew out all twenty-six candles, and the family air-clapped.
Andrew couldn’t resist asking, “What did you wish for?”
“I know I’m not supposed to tell, but I wished that Adam will be happy since I’m officially accepting his proposal.” September blushed and kissed the oldest Hastings brother on the cheek. Adam handed Andrew his sleeping soon to be daughter and grabbed September around the waist, dipping her into a picture-perfect kiss. No one was keeping their applause or joy silent now, their shouts and whistles filling the air. Abbie’s triplets woke up in unison, which woke Alex’s stepson. Only Harmony, who was gaining a father with the announcement, slept through the commotion, snuggled safely in Andrew’s arms.
“Look, Andrew has the magic touch.” September kissed the top of Harmony’s head, careful not to wake her.
“Nah, he’s just good at boring women to sleep.” Adam nudged Andrew in the ribs. “How many dates have fallen asleep before the night was over?”
Alan joined in the fun. “Thirty-five or forty last time I checked.”
“At least I go on dates.” Andrew’s comment earned a quick look from his mother, who rocked the triplet wearing green. “Onlythree. Like you’ve never had a date fall asleep during a movie. And one of them had mono. She fell asleep mid-sentence!”
Abbie rolled her eyes and patted the red-shirted triplet on the back. “Hey, guys, it’s September’s birthday, not pick-on-Andrew day.”
“All days are pick-on-Andrew day.” Alex’s smile disarmed his statement. “It’s what he gets for being the baby of the family.”
“Careful, dear, there are little ears around, and we don’t want them picking up any of your nonsense.” Kimberly handed Alex a burp cloth. “Since most of them are destined to be older siblings, we don’t need to set a precedent.”
Too late.Andrew kept the comment to himself. He’d learned the quickest way to end the teasing was to not fight back. It wasn’t like he was the only unmarried Hastings sibling. Alan hadn’t dated since last summer.
“I say we cut the cake.” Jethro Hastings set a bucket of ice cream on the picnic table, effectively ending his children’s teasing. He handed September a slice of cake as her phone rang. She frowned before excusing herself and leaving her cake behind.
“Watch Harmony for us.” Adam hurried after his fiancé, leaving the baby with Andrew.
Swiping a plate of cake and ice cream, Andrew headed for a chair on the far side of the porch. If he was lucky, he could finish it before Harmony woke up and reached for his food, though eating with a baby in his arms was a skill he’d honed over the last several months as his role of uncle grew. Harmony had recently learned that grown-up food tasted better than the mashed-up stuff she’d been eating. He was halfway through when September and Adam returned.
