Saving Easton (Oakside Military Heroes Book 2)(24)

I pull out the treats, and Allie's head pops up, as I offer the bag to Easton.

"You feed her, sunshine," he says.

I pause at the nickname. It's new, but I really like it.

"She's your dog, so you dish out the rewards." I smile at him.

"I'm not ready for her to be here full-time."

"I know, and I already talked to Lexi, Noah, and Kaitlyn. They all agree they'd help care for her. But until you’re ready, she’ll stay with me, even though she’s yours."

He nods and takes one of the treats from the bag and feeds it to her, all while leaving one arm around my waist.

"Can you stay awhile?" He asks.

I pull out my phone, and it's barely three p.m. "Let me call my parents and let them know what happened. Then, I’ll stay through dinner, if you want?"

"I'd like that."

I go to stand up to make the call, but his arms tighten around me.

"I'm just going to call my parents.”

"You can do it right here. I’ll be quiet."

"I like this new side of you," I snuggle back into him.

"I guess I’ll call my dad, since he knows about you, and I can tell him everything, and he can tell a shortened version to my mom and brother.”

"Sounds good."

"Hey, sweet pea." My dad answers.

"Hey, Dad. I have to tell you something, but then when you tell Mom and Leeland, you need to leave Easton out of it," I say.

I hear a door close. "Okay, I'm in my office."

"First, I'm fine, but there was an incident here at Oakside." I pause, trying to figure out how to word it.

"Just tell me what happened."

"Well, there was a guy working with the kitchen staff that Molly didn't like. She snapped at him once in Easton's room, so Lexi and Noah reassigned him to the dining room. Easton and I were out for a walk with Molly last week, and he walked by, and Molly lunged at him. After that, Lexi and Noah confined him to the kitchen."

"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.