Saving Easton Page 17
"Well, there’s this girl who stole my heart, and I seem to stop thinking about her." He reaches for my hand, and then slides to his knees in front of me.
"I'm hoping she’ll forgive me for the last month, when I kept us apart and will still want to be with me." He pulls something from this pocket and takes a deep breath, before meeting my eyes.
"I love you, Paisley. I promise to always be by your side no matter what crazy adventure you go on. I promise to always pick you over everyone else. I promise to help you train the dogs and help you fill the house with as many of them as you want. I promise to be your best friend, the best husband, and the best family you could ever hope for. Will you marry me?" He flips open a velvet box.
Inside is the most beautiful princess cut ring I've ever seen. My entire life I've loved this ring because it's my grandma's ring.
There’s no hesitation and no question on what my answer will be.
"Yes!" I cry, wrapping my arms around his neck.
He takes me in his arms, and it feels so good to be back there. I feel safe again and whole. He pulls back just enough to take my hand and slip the ring on. Then, he brings my hand to his mouth and kisses it, before cradling my head in both his hands and giving me a deep, wonderfully passionate kiss.
It's a shock to my system, even though I knew it was coming. I love this man with everything that I am.
"I love you, Easton." I sigh, needing to tell him.
Then, he moves to sit back on the couch, taking me with him and sitting me in his lap.
"I'm not ready to let go of you just yet."
"So, when can you move in?"
He laughs.
"Well, I'm not freeloading. I want to split the expenses."
"Hmm, I don't have many, because this house was paid off, when my grandparents left it to me. It's the only way I could afford it. How about you take over mowing the grass and landscaping and pay for cable, because I don't have TV, and I'm sure you want something more than my DVD collection."
"We can talk more about it later, but I can move in as soon as you're ready."
"I'm ready."
We sit quietly in each other’s arms for a few minutes, enjoying the moment.
"Have you spoken to Leeland?" He asks.
"He came over the other day and apologized and is working to make it up to me. He also did some stuff around the house. Have you talked to him?"
"Last week, he was the first person I went and saw. I was hoping my talk would be the kick in the pants he needed. A little guilt trip never hurt anyone. I also talked to your parents, too. They were overjoyed."
"I bet Mom already has our entire wedding planned. She's been waiting for one of us to get married. Now, she’ll start talking about grandbabies the second we walk through the door."
"Oh, she already was, before I left."
I laugh and look down at my ring.
"I should shower. I really was cleaning the house," I say, standing, and thankfully, he lets me. "Care to join me?"
I walk towards the hallway and look over my shoulder and find him right behind me.
"Lead the way, Mrs. Mathews."
A smile takes over my face. I like the sound of that. But maybe, it's time to burn the notebooks I had doodled those words in over a thousand times, when I was in school.
Chapter 36
Epilogue
So, this is Oakside. It seems like a nice place. My nurse told me it would be like staying in a bed-and-breakfast, and from the outside, it looks like just that. Or maybe, I just stepped back into the 1800s with all the large plantation estates. That wouldn't surprise me anymore.
Hailey, my nurse, walks beside me, as we make our way up the perfectly landscaped walkway to the front door.
On the front porch are two couples, and they have two dogs with them. They both smile at me, like everything is right in the world. Maybe in their world it is, but certainly not in mine.
"Hello, Theodore." The man on the left with the scars on his face and hands says.
"Teddy," I say, and he nods.
"I'm Noah, and this is my wife, Lexi."
"Hello, Teddy," she says.
"This is Easton, my head of security, and his fiancé, Paisley. Allie there is Easton's service dog, and Molly there is Oakside's therapy dog. Easton was a patient here and is a great person to go to for advice, or if you want to talk to someone," Noah says.
"I'm also here if you need to yell or hit someone," Easton says, but Paisley elbows him in the side.
"We’re all here to help you any way we can," Paisley says, smiling.
"No one can help me. I'd like to just go to my room, please."
This doesn't even seem to faze them, but I guess this is what they do. They handle guys like me. Hailey was singing their praises, but I'm skeptical. Still, anything to get out of that cold, sterile hospital.
They show me to a room on the second floor that does look exactly like what I’d find in a bed-and-breakfast. The long room is broken up into a few areas. A sleeping area with a bed in the back, a living area with a couch, a chair, and TV, the bathroom to the side, and a desk area near the door. The window looks out over the back of the property.
"Let us know if you need anything. Your nurse and doctor will be in soon, after you get settled. Tomorrow, we’ll go over your treatment plan. Dinner starts at six in the dining hall. A map is on the desk. Welcome to Oakside." Lexi says, walking out of the door.
My bags are sitting on the bed, someone already having brought them in. It's not much. Just some clothes and books.
I open my backpack and pull out the item that weighs me down the most. The letter from the lawyer that took my life from bad to worse. The letter that I read every night, before bed and every morning, before getting out of bed to remind me I deserve this hell I’m in.
They’re gone because of me, because of the decisions I made. I don't deserve to be here. I should be in the ground, not them and especially not him. He should be here to run that company and do well with that estate.
Not me.
***
Thank you for reading Saving Easton. Read the next book in the series, Saving Teddy.
She’s Still The One.
***
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Other Books By Kaci Rose
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Oakside Military Heroes Series
Saving Noah – Lexi and Noah
Saving Easton – Easton and Paisley
Saving Teddy – Teddy and Mia
Saving Levi – Levi and Mandy
Chasing the Sun Duet
Sunrise
Sunset
Rock Springs Texas Series
The Cowboy and His Runaway – Blaze and Riley
The Cowboy and His Best Friend – Sage and Colt
The Cowboy and His Obsession – Megan and Hunter
The Cowboy and His Sweetheart – Jason and Ella
The Cowboy and His Secret – Mac and Sarah
Rock Springs Weddings Novella
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The Cowboy and His Mistletoe Kiss – Lilly and Mike
The Cowboy and His Valentine – Maggie and Nick
The Cowboy and His Vegas Wedding – Royce and Anna
The Cowboy and His Angel – Abby and Greg
The Cowboy and His Christmas Rockstar – Savannah a
nd Ford
The Cowboy and His Billionaire – Brice and Kayla
Mountain Men of Whiskey River
Take Me To The River
Take Me To The Cabin
Standalone Books
Stay With Me Now
Texting Titan
Accidental Sugar Daddy
She’s Still The One
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