Page 48 of Nanny for the Bodyguard
Leaning back over her shoulder, Hazel eyes me. “Oh, will you now?”
“Damn straight.”
She chuckles, reaching for the ground chuck, and then spins, pressing the cold tube to my chest. As she smiles, she slips past me and wanders over toward a display that’s been set up with numerous types of chips.
“I’m getting some of these, too. And we should get corn on the cob.”
This is the most normal conversation, and yet…all I can think about is how fantastic Hazel would look stretched out on a towel near my pool while I’m frying up burgers on the grill.
“Hey, Easton,” a familiar voice calls out from behind me, and I turn around to see Hudson.
“Hey, bud.” Smiling, I walk over, and we clap our arms together in a shake. “Hey, Juniper.”
Hudson’s son is with him, and I offer him a smile. He’s a good kid, and it hits me that maybe Jade would appreciate a play date or something.
“How’ve you been, man. It’s been a minute since we’ve been able to chat in person instead of through email.” Hudson’s expression drops just a hair. “How’s Jade settling in?”
Hudson has been a buddy since we were kids and a client for years.
I help run his security department for his local business, which, of course, means I ensure he has everything the office needs to be as safe as possible while occasionally stopping by to check on the actual building.
I mean, it’s Red Lodge, and Hudson is a financial advisor. There’s basically nothing to steal in his office, and his staff is limited to himself, a receptionist, and two advisors who work beneath him.
So mostly, Hudson is a damn good friend, and when all this went down with my sister and Jade, I turned to him as one of the handful of fathers I know in town.
“It’s okay. We’re…making it work. I have some help now, too.” I turn toward Hazel, ushering her over, and then wrap my arm around her waist. “This is my girlfriend, Hazel.”
Hudson’s eyes flare, but then a grin breaks out over his face. “Well, hot damn. That’s awesome. I thought this lughead was going to stay single forever.”
Hazel scoffs out a laugh and extends her hand. “Hi, nice to meet you.”
“Hudson,” he offers, shaking firmly before pulling his son close. “And this is my son, Juniper. Nice to meet you. I have to say, if you’ve finally got Easton to settle down, that’s a hell of an accomplishment.”
“Hey!” I gesture, mildly insulted, but I have to admit he’s not wrong.
Still, something tightens in my stomach. I don’t like lying to a friend, especially my oldest friend, who grew up in this town with me.
But if the entire town is going to buy that we’re a couple, there’s no better place to start than with the people closest to me.
Hazel’s laugh knocks me out of my head again. “Ha, well, thank you. And yeah, you graduated with Easton before I started high school, right?”
Hudson nods. “Yup, it’s been me and this joker since we were kids. The crew has gotten a bit bigger over the years, and most of us have spouses and kids now. Glad to see Easton is joining the ranks of non-bachelors.”
When I look over at Hazel, her cheeks are a slight pink, but she doesn’t seem overly nervous or on edge. She’s still letting me wrap my arm around her, too.
“I see. Well, Easton neglected to mention that. We should get together.” She faces me, her eyes meeting mine in a way that demands my full attention. “Jade would love to have other kids to hang out with.”
“You’re totally right. That’s a good idea.”
“I’m always right. You seem to forget that.”
Hazel winks at me, and I don’t know what it is about the moment, but I pull her in and plant a gentle kiss on her lips.
My heart is beating a million miles a minute when I realize I just did that. But it felt instinctive, and I have to admit that it was a smart move, too.
It’ll help to convince Hudson and anyone else who happens to be looking at us.
When I lean back, Hazel’s eyes give off a little thread of shock, but she’s also smiling pretty damn big, and I can’t tell if that’s just an act.
