I'm waiting in Easton's room, while he's at his therapy appointment with Allie. I killed some time checking my emails, updating social media, and reading some of the books that Easton has been reading. It's not my thing, but the book seems pretty good. I might read it, so we can talk about it.
Now, I'm getting anxious to have him back. He should be wrapping up soon, so I'm up and pacing around. As I'm looking out of the window like Easton always does, I hear the door close. Finally, he's here. I smile and turn to him, only it's not Easton.
It's the kitchen guy.
Sneering, he says, "You got me confined to the kitchen in the basement."
"Umm, well not exactly." I stammer, wishing more than anything I had Molly with me right now.
"Yes, that’s exactly what happened. I've been here minding my own business, until that dog of yours snarled at me. Then, they took me off the patient rooms on this floor. No big deal, until your dog lunged at me again." He says, stalking over to me.
"Listen, ummm…" Crap, I don't even know his name.
"Alec. My name is Alec."
"Listen, Alec. I'm not sure why Molly acted like that. She hasn't done that before, but I don't even have Molly with me. I've been bringing in a new dog."
When did he get so close? I register him a second before he lunges at me and pins me to the wall with his hand around my neck.
I try to stay calm, because I know panicking won't save me now. I can't yell, so screaming for help is out of the question. There’s a patient in the room behind the wall, but who knows if anyone is there, or how thick the walls are. That seems like my best option, so I start kicking the wall and pounding my fists on it.
"Stop it. So, here’s what you’re gonna do. You’re gonna go down and tell the dumb, little blonde that Molly is the problem. That she's out of control, and you won't be bringing her back here anymore. You tell her that I shouldn't be punished, because of the dog. Got it?"
I nod my head the little I can.
"Good." He leans in, so his lips are against my ear, and I feel like I could climb out of my own skin. This must be what it's like for Easton. Just having this guy’s breath on me makes me want to claw my skin off. It's so bad I forget how hard it is to breathe, and I’m only able to focus on his breath on my skin.
"If you don’t, I’ll find you wherever you are, and then punish you down and dirty, little girl. You got that?"
I don't have time to answer, because the door opens, and this time it's Easton with Allie by his side. Allie jumps into action, and the man who never spoke a word, when he first got here and still only speaks to those he trusts, doesn’t speak he yells.
"Get your hands off of her!" Easton roars. He yells so loud that the glass in the window next to me rattles. It startles Alec so much that he drops me, and I collapse to the floor, gasping for air. My hands fly to my neck, which is already sore to the touch.
It's hard to breathe, but when I look up, the sight in front of me blows my mind. Easton has Alec pinned to the floor with a hand around his neck, and his knee on the center of his chest. Allie is standing between me and them. Easton delivers one hard, powerful blow that knocks Alec out.
This is what Lexi, Noah, and Kaitlyn see when they reach the door, and their jaws drop.
"He... attacked... me." I gasp, pointing to Alec.
Noah is on his phone, but then hands the phone to Lexi, while he comes and takes over for Easton in case Alec wakes up.
The moment Noah is there, Easton is on his feet and at my side. No hesitation, he just wraps his arms around me and pulls me against him.
"Are you okay?" He asks.
"Yeah, thanks to you.”
I feel so safe in his arms, and despite everything that just happened, I melt into him. I don't know when I’ll get the chance to be in his arms like this again, so I take in every detail. His woodsy scent, and the feel of his muscular arms around me sends tingles throughout my body. A moment later, he's lifting me up and carrying me to the couch, where he sits with me in his lap.
Allie jumps up on the couch right at his side, and I cuddle into him, trying to get my heart rate back to normal. Though being so close to Easton, I doubt that will happen.
"Is this okay?" I whisper.
"I think I need to hold you more than you need to be held."
"Good, because you make me feel safe."
"Cops are on their way. Paisley, is there someone you want me to call?” Lexi asks me anxiously. “Your dad, brother, mom?"
"No, I’ll call them later, but not right now.”
Lexi nods, knowing I mean more than I'm saying. Calling anyone will draw attention to Easton being here, and I'm really not ready to share him yet.
As the adrenaline of the event wears off, I start to doze just as the cops get there. All eyes turn to me, as I tell the story of what happened. Easton lightly rubs my back the whole time. As I talk about what Alec said to me, Easton's hand on my hip tightens.
When I mention how hard he was holding me to the wall, Easton gently tilts my head up to look at my neck. I guess there are some marks there, because one of the cops takes some photos. As if to soothe me, Easton gently runs his fingers over my neck, before pulling me back into him.
They cart Alec away in handcuffs, and after Kaitlyn checks Easton’s hand to make sure he's okay, they clear the room, and it's just Easton, Allie, and me.
"I don't think I got to say thank you yet," I tell him with my head resting on his shoulder.
"You don't have to thank me. I’ll always protect you." He says, and we both let that hang in the air.
"Are you sure you're okay with me sitting in your lap?"
"Very okay with it. I'd be more upset, if you moved."
Allie finally settles and lies down next to Easton with her head on my lap. I pet her, and we sit in silence.
"Such a good girl, Allie," I say.
"She did help me in more ways than one today," he says.
I remember the dog treats Lexi gave me and reach for my bag.
Easton's grip on me tightens, as I lean back to look into his eyes.
"I'm just reaching for my bag. It has some treats for her in it," I say, and he loosens his grip just enough for me to reach for my bag that’s on the coffee table in front of us.
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?