Saving Easton Read online

  "Okay, that was last week?" Dad asks.

  "Yes. So then today, I brought Allie in for Easton to take to an appointment with him. While I was waiting in his room, the kitchen guy came in all pissed I got him confined to the kitchen. Then, he attacked me and pinned me to the wall by my throat, but I'm fine!"

  "What happened to him?" My dad says, and I know that by the tone, he's gritting his teeth and trying to control his anger.

  "Well, this is the part I need you to keep from Mom and Lee and just say a patient, okay? But Easton came in and got the guy pinned to the floor, and in one punch, knocked him out. The cops came, took a statement, and then arrested him. Allie did really good protecting us both, too."

  My dad is quiet, as Easton rubs a hand up and down my back.

  "You’re okay?" He asks.

  "Yes, I promise.”

  "Your mom is going to want to see you."

  "Well, I promised Easton I'd stay here with him tonight. He's shaken up, too," I say.

  "Let me talk to your mom. I might be able to hold her off until tomorrow."

  We hang up, and I cuddle even more into Easton.

  I don't remember falling asleep, but he gently wakes me.

  "Sunshine, your dad is here," Easton says, running a hand through my hair.

  I open my eyes and get my bearings. We’re still on the couch, and my dad is standing by the door, looking at me.

  "Dad?" I croak, as I sit up.

  "Your mom is insistent on having her eyes on you tonight. I convinced her to let me come and promised you’d video call her."

  "I'm sorry," I say, fixing my hair.

  "Nasty bruises on your neck," Dad snarls, looking at them.

  Easton growls at my dad’s comment. Actually growls.

  "What's wrong?" I ask.

  Easton leans into my ear, "I don't like you having any man’s mark on you but mine."

  My jaw drops. This is a side of Easton I haven't seen before now, and I really like it. He gives me a half smile, and I don't know if I’ll ever be able to handle a full smile from him, because this half smile? It has me so turned on I can't think straight.

  Easton's eyes roam over mine. "Go get yourself ready to call your mom, and then we’ll have dinner. Lexi is bringing us a special meal."

  At the reminder of the call with my mom, I jump up and head into his bathroom.

  Holy hell, where did this Easton come from?

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 16

  Easton

  I didn't want Paisley to leave last night. Holding her and just having her close, reminded me that she was safe.

  After she called her mom, her dad left, and we had dinner together in my room, and then we watched TV. The entire night I had her pulled to my side, because not touching her, made my skin crawl and holding her settled me.

  When she stepped out into the hall to call her mom, her dad sat down with me. He wanted to make sure I was okay, and we had a man-to-man talk. He thanked me for taking care of her and told me he approves of us together. He even noticed a change in me from the last time he visited, which was encouraging to hear.

  A knock on the door makes my heart race, thinking it's Paisley, but instead, I turn to find Noah.

  "Hey, Paisley just got here. She’s making her rounds and will be by, when she's done. Lexi told me to tell you everything is set up and ready for you."

  Today, I have a special date planned. After yesterday, I know Paisley is special. The feelings I had for her growing up are still there, only now they’re amplified and more intense. Holding her yesterday, I knew I couldn't give that up. I want her to be mine, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.

  "Thanks," I say.

  "How are you?"

  "I'm okay. In a way, it was the push I needed. Having Paisley in my arms yesterday... she’s my one to fight for."

  Noah smiles, "Good. When you're ready, you let me know, but Lexi and I would like to have you and Paisley over for dinner. Molly and Allie are welcome."

  "Let's see how today goes."

  "You’ve got my number, so call if you need anything. I’ll be here, until I know you’re back in your room," Noah says.

  I nod, and he heads out. Ever since yesterday, I've been turning over the idea of having Allie with me full-time. I love the idea, especially when I need to leave the room. I just don't like having to depend on someone else to take her outside when needed.

  "Hey," Paisley says, and I turn to find her standing at the door with Molly and Allie.

  Molly runs over to me, sniffs me, and gives me a look, like she knows I've been hanging out with Allie, but then licks my hand, begging for attention. Allie walks over to my other side and demands attention as well.

  Looking back at Paisley, she seems a bit shy and hasn't moved from the doorway. She's in jean shorts with a well-worn t-shirt on. Her long, brown hair is in waves around her shoulders, and it almost hides the marks on her neck. Almost.

  "You brought them both," I say.

  "Yeah, and good thing today was my scheduled day to bring Molly. I thought about only bringing Allie, but Allie wanted nothing to do with the other guys. She was ready to be here with you," Paisley says.

  "That's my girl," I say to Allie, who gives me another lick.

  "Ready to head out?" I ask.

  "Let's go." I take Allie, and she takes Molly, and we make our way to the lobby. We walk closely to each other, and it’s so close, our shoulders bump.

  "Sorry," she says.

  "Don't be," I say, taking her hand in mine. It's been so long, since I've held a woman’s hand, or been with a woman for that matter. But I find I'm craving the connection with Paisley.

  I lead her to the front door, and she looks at me a bit uncertain.

  "If you’re willing to try something new with me, I have something special planned," I say.

  "Of course, I am. You set the pace."

  I open the door for her, and she steps out onto the front porch of the old, southern plantation home. The massive two-story columns look much bigger up close than they do through my bedroom window.

  I close my eyes, as the sunlight warms my skin, and the fresh air fills my lungs. Molly and Allie both sit next to us, looking at me and waiting for my next move.

  When I open my eyes to look at Paisley, she’s watching me with a warm look on her face. My heart skips a beat, because I want her to always look at me like that. I take a deep breath and hold my hand out to her.

  "You ready?" I ask.

  She nods, takes my hand, and turns to head back inside, but I pull her to me.

  "Wrong way, sunshine," I grip her hand.

  When the nickname slipped out yesterday, it just felt right, and now, I can't stop calling her that. She is my sunshine. For so long, I had no sun at all, then it was a dull light, until she stepped into my room that day with Molly. But yesterday, holding her on the couch? Now, I can feel the warmth of the sunshine, and I don't ever want to let it go.

  Taking the first few steps down the front porch stairs with her hand in mine, I have no anxiety from pushing myself.

  Paisley’s huge smile encourages me, as we slowly walk towards the garden, where Lexi is standing by the gate. She promised me we'd have it to ourselves this afternoon.

  As we near, Lexi's smile is as big as Paisley's, when she opens the gate, and then shuts it behind us.

  "Easton?" Paisley says.

  "We have the whole garden to ourselves this afternoon," I say. "But come on, I want to sit by the waterfall.”

  The waterfall is part of a man-made stream on one side of the garden and is only about four feet high, but it's still the perfect place for our lunch today.

  When we near the waterfall, a picnic basket and colorful blanket come in to view, making Paisley gasp.

  "You did this?"

  "I had a little help from Lexi with the execution, but yes.”

  "Oh, Easton," Paisley throws herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck in a hug. I'm shocked
for a fraction of a second, before I wrap my arms around her waist and bury my face in her neck, holding her close.

  "You like it?" I ask, running my nose up her neck.

  Her whole body shivers. "I love it."

  Then she asks, "Can we let the dogs play?"

  "Let's do it," I say.

  While I set up the food, she works on taking off their vests. As soon as Molly's vest is off, she takes off running after a butterfly, whereas Allie, even though she's off duty, still comes and lies down at my side with her back against my leg.

  "Told you she's lazy. She'd rather curl up and snuggle than chase things," Paisley says.

  "That works just fine for me." I pat the spot next to me.

  Paisley joins me, as I start pulling out fried chicken, biscuits, and some fruit.

  "Oh, you even included dog treats," Paisley says.

  I love how that impresses her more than the food.

  "So, did I do good for our first date?"

  "First date?"

  "If I could, I'd take you out to the fanciest restaurant and spoil you, but for now, this is the best I can do.”

  "Oh, Easton. I love this more than a fancy restaurant. Being able to have Molly and Allie with us is perfect, but I don't remember you asking me on a date. For this to be a date, you have to ask me, and I have to accept. Otherwise, it's just lunch." She shrugs her shoulders.

  There’s my sassy girl who always keeps me on my toes. But two can play this game. I reach over and bring my hand to the side of her face.

  "Paisley, you’re beautiful, funny, smart, and passionate. I love being around you. Would you go on a lunch date with me?"

  A smile instantly lights up her face. She’s smiling a lot today, and I really like it.

  "Yes."

  As we start to eat, we talk about anything and everything. She tells me how things are going with Atticus and Jake, and how I might get to meet Jake soon, because he's coming to volunteer at Oakside.

  "Noah made me a job offer to do security here at Oakside," I tell her.

  "Really? Easton, that's great."

  "Yeah, I want to do it, but it's so hard to see myself making that much progress.”

  "Oh, Easton. I know it's hard to see it, but just look how much progress you have made in four weeks. You went from not letting even Noah in your room to sitting outside here with me. Yesterday, you held me in your arms all afternoon. That's huge progress. You’ll get there. It won't be overnight, but you’ll get there."

  This girl has so much more faith in me than I have in myself, and it makes me see the future she sees. Without thinking, I lean in and kiss her. The moment her lips touch mine, shock waves rock my body. I know she feels it too, because she gasps right before she wraps her arms around my neck.

  I kiss her gently, trying to hold back the beast that wants to come out and claim her, to put my mark on her, because I hate she’s walking around with marks from that kitchen guy.

  My teenage self used to sit up at night and dream about kissing this girl. What her lips would feel like, what her lip gloss tasted like, and what sounds she'd make. My imagination could never have come up with something this good.

  My cock is hard for the first time in years, and when her tongue glides along my bottom lip, I swear I could come in my pants. She runs her hands through my hair, and I have to pull back.

  We both catch our breath, and the slightly dazed look in her eyes is such a turn on, knowing I did that to her.

  "I've been wanting to do that for ten years," I tell her.

  "I've been waiting for you to kiss me for ten years," she whispers.

  Neither of us moves, as we let that new information sink in. All this time, I could have had this girl by my side. I wouldn't have had to spend all that time in the hospital alone. Would I have healed faster? What am I thinking? There’s no telling what our path would have been then. It just wasn't meant to be.

  This is our story now.

  Eating lunch, we watch Allie finally get up and play with Molly, and I marvel how easy this is, being here with her. I can almost imagine we’re a normal couple out on a date at the park. That we’ll go home, make dinner together, watch some TV, and then go to bed, where I’ll hold her tight in my arms every night.

  Seeing her several times a week, keeps the nightmares at bay. I can only imagine how it will be, when I get to hold her in my arms every single day.

  I can't wait.

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 17

  Paisley

  Tonight, is girl’s night at Lexi's. It looks like I'm the first one here, and of course, I brought Molly.

  "Oh, I love that I’m having a girl’s only night!" Lexi says with so much energy. I wonder where she gets it all from.

  "Where’s Noah tonight?" I ask, picking up a cookie from the trays of food on the kitchen island.

  "He’s spending time with Easton. They’re going to have dinner together and play some cards, I guess."

  Easton did mention wanting to spend some more time with Noah at our picnic yesterday. So, I guess a last-minute girl’s night is as good a time as any for a last-minute guy’s night.

  "Who else is coming?" I ask.

  "Brooke, Mandy, and Kaitlyn."

  Kaitlyn is Easton’s daytime nurse. Brooke is the head nurse at Oakside. She was Noah's nurse in the hospital, and they all bonded, and she followed them here, when they opened Oakside. Mandy is the charity coordinator and has been with Oakside, since they opened as well.

  As everyone arrives, they all give Molly some love, and she eats it up.

  "Okay, ladies, grab a tray and help me carry this stuff to the sunroom," Lexi says.

  Her sunroom is off the side of the house and has three walls covered in windows from waist height to the ceiling. The decor out here doesn't match the rest of the house. It's lighter with bright colors, whereas the house is more neutral.

  We set down our trays with snacks ranging from cookies and brownies to a vegetable tray and cheese and crackers. Of course, there’s also a pitcher of margaritas.

  "Okay, ladies, night rules," Lexi says and holds up one finger. "One, no drinking and driving. There are guest bedrooms both upstairs and downstairs and couches around the house, so crash anywhere. You’re always welcome."

  She holds up a second finger "Two, we’re friends first. We are not boss and employees, we’re friends, and we’re here as friends. Venting about work is okay, venting about patients is okay, and venting about guys is encouraged. We’re here to support each other."

  Then, she holds up a third finger, "Three, what’s talked about at lady’s night stays at lady’s night. This is a safe place, and what’s talked about in this room, doesn't leave it. Got it?"

  We all agree.

  "Okay, now dig in!" Lexi says, and we waste no time filling our plates, as she pours the drinks.

  The night begins, as we talk about the latest shows we’re watching on TV, what we’ve been reading, and playing with Molly. The more we drink, the more we start spilling what's on our minds.

  Lexi is the only married one in the group. Kaitlyn is in a steady relationship, while I'm not sure what Easton and I are, but it feels like more than just a friendship, and Mandy and Brooke are single, so there’s a wide array of advice being handed out.

  "So, I just broke up with my boyfriend," Kaitlyn says, finishing off her second margarita.

  "Oh, no. Are you okay?" Lexi asks.

  "Yeah, I guess the attack on Paisley made the papers, and he demanded I quit. He used some not so great words to describe the guys I take care of, and then gave me an ultimatum. It wasn't even a choice. I kicked his ass to the curb." She says, taking a sip of her margarita.

  “Oh, and my best friend is getting married on Christmas Eve, so I have to go home for the first time in over five years and face my horrible stepmom and sister,” Kaitlyn adds.

  "Well then, sounds like this night is needed," Mandy says.

  "Someone else go," Kaitlyn says, refilling her drink.<
br />
  "Well, I went out on another horrible set up date," Mandy says, and we all groan.

  "Yeah, that about sums it up. I think I'm done dating for a while. I need a break."

  "My family stopped pushing the bad dates, when one showed up drunk and couldn't understand why I wouldn't get in the car with him," Brooke says.

  "We all know Lexi's love story. Too bad Noah doesn't have any brothers to share." Mandy sighs, and we all giggle.

  "Paisley has a juicy story, though." Lexi winks at me, and everyone turns to look. I can feel my whole face heat up.

  "What I say stays here?" I want to make sure.

  "Of course," Lexi says, and they all nod.

  "Easton." I sigh with a huge smile on my face just as my phone goes off.

  I reach for it, and everyone laughs.

  "Answer your man, but we expect details, because you aren't getting out of this," Brooke says.

  Easton: How’s girl’s night?

  Me: Good. Lexi mixes a hell of a margarita, so I'm going to crash here tonight.

  I had told Easton about girl’s night, and he encouraged me to go, and I suggested he hang out with Noah, and it became this big thing. But I'm glad we’re doing it.

  Easton: Good. Depending on how you’re feeling, maybe you can join me for breakfast.

  Me: I would, but I have to get home and take care of the dogs, and I have a morning meeting with Jake. He starts at Oakside this week.

  I notice Easton gets a little weird, when I talk about Jake. I think it's because he's a guy in my life that Easton doesn't know. Maybe, it's wishful thinking that he gets a little jealous.

  Easton: Okay, lunch then?

  Me: Dinner, I promise.

  Easton: It's a date.

  "Okay, maybe we need a no texting guy’s rule for girl’s night!" Kaitlyn laughs.

  "Okay," I say, putting my phone away.

  "Out with it, I think we all know bits and pieces, but start from the top!" Lexi says, refilling everyone’s drinks.