Saving Easton by Kaci Rose
Chapter 28
Paisley
I’m loving this new take charge Easton that has emerged. He's more confident, and that confidence is growing more each day. Watching him come out of his shell, is amazing to watch.
Molly and I walk into the downstairs basement level, where Lexi's office is, and before we get to the door, Molly is already growling. A second later, Barbie steps out of Lexi's office all smiles. She smirks at me, and then heads upstairs.
I'm frozen, standing in shock, thinking there is no way I just saw what I think I did.
"Paisley." Lexi is snapping her fingers in front of my face.
"Was that Barbie?" I ask still stunned.
"Yes, she said you recommended her to volunteer here. Nice girl."
Crap, this is what I get for not using names with Lexi and just calling Barbie Leeland's girlfriend all the time. I’m in panic mode.
"No, no, no. Lexi, I didn't recommend her. She can't work here."
"Shit." She’s leading me to a chair in her office, so I can sit down.
"Go get Noah." I hear her tell someone behind me.
Molly has her head in my lap, nudging my hands, but no matter how hard I try, I can't get them to move.
"That's my brother's girlfriend," I say still in shock. "What the hell is she doing here? I'm missing something, Lexi. I swear I am. Why is she so hell bent on this place?”
"A lot of women see these guys for a steady paycheck with the VA benefits."
"Everything they can get for being on the arm of a military man," Noah says.
Noah's ex was with him for just that reason. I remember them telling me that.
"She can't be here, Lexi. She was so dead set on... Oh, shit. Easton!"
I'm running up the stairs through the lobby with Molly right at my side, and Lexi and Noah are behind me. I get to Easton's room, and just like I fear, there’s Barbie, and she isn't listening.
"I said get out," Easton is saying through gritted teeth. His fists clenched at his side.
Barbie has an arm wrapped around his arm and a smug, self-satisfied smile on her face.
"Oh, come on. Leeland told me all about you, big guy."
Molly is growling, and Allie is too, but it doesn't seem to faze Barbie. It's almost like she wants them to attack her, which Allie is getting ready, too.
I shout, "Allie, down! Molly, Stay." Thankfully, both dogs listen.
Sadly, my rage doesn't listen to my own advice, because it's me who lunges at her, and before I know it, I have a grip on her hair, and I'm whipping her away from Easton and flinging her to the ground.
"Paisley, don't." Easton wraps his arms around me from behind.
"I knew there was something going on with you two," she sneers. "Wait until Leeland finds out."
"So, your whole plan was to expose us and drive a wedge between my family? This stunt isn't going to win him back." I raise my voice, and both Allie and Molly get between me and Barbie, facing her ready to lunge if needed. This time I’ll let them.
"We will see about that." She straightens her clothes.
Then I laugh, because this is all so ridiculous. "You don't get it. You were never the girl he was going to marry. You were the girl to get Mom off his back and to get his dick wet. Look at you. You’re going to be someone's trophy wife; not in a real relationship."
"You bitch!" She screams and takes a step towards me, but Molly and Allie are right there, baring their teeth and growling.
Barbie looks at them, and then at me.
I shrug, "I'm not stopping them this time, so chose your next move carefully." She looks back at the dogs, then back to me, but it's Lexi's voice that fills the room.
"We won't be needing you here in any way or capacity. Jake here will be escorting you off the property, and it's in your best interest not to step foot on it again." Lexi says harshly just as Jake comes in with Atticus.
"Oh, great! Another one of your mutts. Of course, they’re going to defend you," Barbie sneers.
"Yes, we protect our own here," Noah says not missing a beat.
"Are you going to go willingly, or will I have to forcefully remove you?" Jake says in a cold voice.
"I'm going." She heads towards the door.
"Hey, Jake. Come back by, when you're done," I say.
He nods, and he and Barbie head out the door. Once out of sight, Easton lets go of me, and the tension in the room disappears.
"I didn't know," Lexi says.
"I know, and it's my fault for not using names, when I talked about her."
"We were going to invite you two over for dinner tonight. If you’re up for it," Noah says.
"That's up to Easton." I turn to face him. "We’re having dinner together either way, whether it's here or there. What do you want to do?"
"What time?"
"Six okay?" Lexi says.
"We’ll be there."
Lexi and Noah leave, but his nurse Kaitlyn peeks her head in. "Hey, I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Yeah, I'm okay."
She nods and closes the door behind her. Easton takes my hand and sits me down on the couch.
"Now care to explain what exactly just happened here?"
***Easton
I don't like seeing Paisley upset. Even growing up, she didn't get upset often, as she was very much a go with the flow and relaxed type. So, to see her get so mad today, I know there’s something going on.
At the same time, seeing her defend me. Fuck, if I don’t want to throw her on the bed and thank her with multiple orgasms. That’s still the plan, but first, I need to find out what's going on in that beautiful head of hers.
Once we both get seated on the couch, I decide to get right to the point.
"Now, care to explain what exactly just happened here?"
She sighs, "That was Leeland's girlfriend, well, ex-girlfriend. They broke up after she went off on me at my parents’ house. She was pissed she wasn't allowed to come to visit you, when Leeland did, but the amount of anger she had, I don't know. It was like I was missing something."
There’s too much space between us, so I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her into my lap.
"Keep going," I say.
"Lexi and Noah said she could be looking to attach herself to an ex-military guy from here for a steady paycheck, and the benefits of being on a veteran’s arm, but my gut says it's more than that. This seems... almost personal."
"That's my gut feeling, too," I tell her.
"Lexi knows about her, but I never used her name, or else she would have put two and two together, and this never would have happened."
"No, don't go there. She would have found a way, no matter what. This was not your fault." I can't have her blaming herself for this.
A few minutes of silence pass, as we snuggle into each other, before she speaks again.
"Are you sure you’re up for dinner at Lexi and Noah's?"
"I think so, but there’s only one way to find out, right?" I say, just as there’s a knock on the door.
"Come in," I call out, and the man that was here earlier with Atticus steps in.
Paisley tries to scoot off my lap, but I hold her tighter, and she laughs. "Easton, this is Jake. Jake, this is my Easton. Sit down and join us." She gestures towards a chair.
My heart is racing, and I wonder if he can tell I'm barely keeping it together. It has nothing to do with a stranger in the room, but with Paisley calling me hers.
"Hey, Atticus." I smile at him, and he looks up at Jake.
"Go on, boy." Atticus runs over to me, licking my hands in hello, and then greets Molly and Allie, before returning to Jake's side.
"Paisley tells me you’re doing security here?"
"Yeah, Noah made it very clear he's holding the lead position for you, but yeah, I'm volunteering. It’s Paisley's idea. She thinks I need social skills."
"You have social skills,” Paisley says. “You just need to get out of the house and out of your head. Plus, Atticus already knows everyone here. Though, this was a hell of a first day on the job."
"Yeah, it was. Guess there won't ever be a dull moment here, huh?"
"From what Lexi tells me, no there won't be," Paisley says.
I watch Jake, and he’s watching me, even though he's talking to Paisley. I like that his eyes aren't on her. He's making it clear to me he isn't interested in her like that, and I respect that.
"How's Atticus for you?" I ask.
"He's good. Still nerve racking to have him full-time and be responsible for him, but now, I couldn't imagine not having him. How is Allie doing for you?"
"Pretty much the same. I'm glad Paisley pushed her on me, but it's still a bit nerve racking, knowing she depends on me. Though, after a day like today, I plan to spoil her rotten."
"I believe it," Paisley says, leaning down to pet Allie.
"Well, I better get back out there and meet everyone. I'd like to sit down and talk again." Jake says, standing up.
"Yeah, stop by anytime.”
He nods and closes the door behind him.
"So, we have about three hours, before we have to be at Lexi and Noah's. What would you like to do?" Paisley asks.
"Hold you.”
"We can snuggle on the couch and watch TV."
"Sounds perfect."
We lay down on the couch, her in my arms, and the dogs on the floor in front of us. It's simple and perfect. Those three hours fly, because before I know it, we’re ready to go to Lexi and Noah's.
"Do you want to walk or drive over?" Paisley asks.
"Let's walk. I think it will do the dogs good.”
"I agree."
We walk hand-in-hand. I thought the further I got from Oakside, the harder it would be, but it's not. With Paisley beside me, and the dogs walking with us, it doesn't bother me at all.
There’s a walking trail through the tree line on the side of Oakside, and as we break through the trees, I can see a white colonial style home with bright colored flowers out front.
Lexi and Noah greet us on the front porch and pay more attention to the dogs than to us.
"This is normal every time I'm here. It's like I'm just the person that brings the one they’re really visiting with." Paisley says with a smile on her face.
"Oh, hush. I think we’ll eat on the sun porch." Lexi says, leading us inside.
We follow her inside to a beautiful, rustic home with barn doors and white and gray paint. The sun porch is in complete contrast with its cement floors, waist to ceiling windows, and bright pink, orange, and yellow pillows and decorations.
"This must be your room," I say.
"Yep. Noah has a man cave upstairs, though he hardly uses it. He's always in here with me."
"I'm wherever you are," Noah says, not missing a beat.
"I hope you don't mind eating more casually,” Lexi says. “When the sun starts to set, the weather is just so nice, and it would be a shame to eat inside."
"This is fine." I agree.
"Easton, would you help me carry the food in?" Noah says.
I follow him into a white farmhouse style kitchen with pops of color that scream Lexi.
"You’re doing okay?"
"Yeah, this is a lot easier than I thought it would be.”
"Okay, good. This is the only time I’ll ask. But if you want to leave for any reason, at any time, no hard feelings. I'm just glad you’re here."
"Thanks." We load up the two trays with meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, and corn.
"Got enough to feed an army." Paisley jokes, as we walk back in.
"Not the Army, the Marines," I say, and everyone laughs.
We all take a moment and dig into our food, which is delicious.
"Wish you would serve this over there," I say.
Lexi laughs. "We have to follow certain health restrictions, but we’re looking at bringing in a real chef with a great culinary background. He won't be here for another month yet."
"The guys will appreciate it," I say.
"Any more on the barn?" Paisley asks.
"Yeah, we got a few guys out to give us a quote, and a detailed list of what needs to be done. My dad and brother can only do so much, and barns aren't their thing. Once it's fixed up, we want to bring in horses and an equine therapist. It will be good for the guys."
"How’s the fundraising going?" I ask.
"Well, Ellie and Owen are organizing a fundraiser with their friends next month. Owen made a pledge to match whatever is donated at the event, plus he's even covering the out-of-pocket costs.”
"Who are Ellie and Owen?" I ask.
"They live in Knoxville. Noah and I met them at a fundraiser we had there a few months back. Owen is this big CEO tycoon, and he's a billionaire. You'd never know it from looking at him. Ellie is his wife, and they just got married not too long ago. I had no idea who they were, when we were talking, but Ellie and I bonded. Her best friend, Mia, is coming down and staying with us for the summer to volunteer."
The rest of the dinner flies by with talk of plans for the barn and different fundraisers they have coming up. Lexi talks about her brother speaking at a few and Noah, too. Lexi gives me a look, like she can't wait for me to be ready to talk. Maybe someday, but I don't see it happening any time soon.
On the walk back to Oakside, Paisley is all smiles.
"You did really well tonight."
"It's because I had you.”
"Well,” Paisley says. “How do you feel about pushing some more boundaries?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Getting out of here and heading to my place. You've been there before. It was my grandparents’ place. They left it to me."
"How did Leeland take that?"
"The note in the will specifically said they didn't want it turned into a frat party house, so they were leaving it to me."
I laugh at that one.
"Let's give it a try, but I can't promise anything.”
"The moment you want to come back, we drop everything and come back here."
I nod. "Okay, what the hell.”