Page 112 of Nanny for the Bodyguard
“I am so happy, and I'mreallyglad that you're my friend and that you've stuck with me through all of this. There are absolutely no hard feelings about how hard you've been on Easton. I completely get it. But I promise you, these two weeks have been some of the best in my life. I belong to that little family. They're mine, and I'm theirs.”
Liv’s bottom lip trembles, and she sniffles as she wipes under her nose. “You’re going to make me cry. Please stop it. I am not wearing waterproof mascara.”
Again, I'm laughing. There's something about this girl that can always make me giggle. She is beyond funny and she really does deserve to have someone in her life, too.
But I'm not about to push it. I want Olivia to make her own choices in her own time.
“All right, missy, we’re finished with our coffee, so you know what that means? It means nail time. Let's go.”
She leads me out of the coffee shop arm in arm, and we head to the nail salon that just so happens to be a few businesses down. She was prepared for this, and we have an appointment for two.
“Hi, welcome. Have a seat ladies.”
The attendant helps us into pedicure seats near the left side of the building, offering us a little bit of champagne or juice or wine. And, of course, Liv says to go for the champagne.
Go big or go home, right?
I have no choice but to accept it, sipping away on the bubbly liquid happily as someone paints my toes and makes my feet so damn soft.
When they're all finished, we walk over to the other side of thisverybrightly lit building and sit down to get our nails done.
Liv chooses something wild and fun for summer because that's exactly who she is. I go for something a little bit more neutral, a pretty gray with some silver flecks at the tip.
By the time dinner rolls around, Olivia has me utterly decked out. I have beautiful nails, and the dress shopping was a total success, with a flowy silver dress perfect for a fancy night out in the heat.
She even helped me do my hair, which, of course, means something is up.
“Hmm…we’re a little early for our reservation. Why don’t we take a little walk through the park?”
“You are as subtle as a freight train, Liv. What’s going on?”
She just grins at me, gesturing toward the park path in front of me. “Shh. Just go with it.”
Rolling my eyes, I do, in fact, go with it. What else am I supposed to do? Still, nerves and confusion bubble through me, each step driving the anticipation higher.
Soft lighting in the distance catches my eye. As we get closer, Liv hanging back a few feet, I spot Easton standing in front of a beautiful oak tree with what has to be at least a hundred tea-light candles surrounding him, interspersed with rose petals.
The shock hits me, and my hands fly up to cover my mouth. Tears prickle immediately, and I’m trembling. When I turn over my shoulder to make a face at Liv, she walks to where Jade iswatching from the side, a sweet pink dress making her look all grown up.
They both wave and smile at me and with little else to do, I approach Easton, who’s dressed in a gorgeous suit.
I shake my head, smiling and overwhelmed. “What’s going on?”
“Sorry for the mystery. I wanted it to be a surprise.”
Easton gets down on one knee, and, if possible, my jaw drops even further.
“I know this is soon, but I’ve known that I wanted to marry you since the first night we met. We’ve lost too many years because of everything that held me back, and I just can’t wait a moment longer.”
Taking out a ring box from his pocket, Easton grins up at me, opening it wide to reveal a stunning diamond ring.
“I promise you, Hazel, I want to spend the rest of eternity showing you that you’re it for me. I love you, and I want the entire world to know…to know we’re a family. Will you marry me?”
With tears filling my eyes so completely, I nod my head like a loon, offering my hand. “Yes!”
Easton slides on the ring, and I throw myself into his arms, kissing him until I’m dizzy. Jade and Olivia clap from the sidelines, and I laugh again.
“You are one sneaky man, Easton Hawke.”
