Page 41 of Legends: Easton (Legends of Fire Creek #3)

Easton stared up at the ceiling, running through the lyrics to every song he’d ever heard, the ingredients to every drink he’d ever mixed, or the memory of every prank he’d played on his brothers over the years…anything to take his mind over how terrible he felt.

The room was dim and too quiet. His body needed rest, but for some reason, he was wide awake and bored. His family had left after a noisy and welcomed visit. The nurse had come in with his latest dose of meds and to replace his IV bag.

Now he was left alone…to do nothing but think.

He’d lost track of the injuries he’d endured at the hands of that bastard, Clive Melvin.

He wasn’t one who got a thrill from shooting others, but he had to admit a deep satisfaction at delivering the fatal shot that took Melvin out.

Tater had told him yesterday that the shooting was ruled self-defense.

No charges would be brought against him.

Sabra Barnes was taken into custody, and the extradition process to move her to Louisville had already begun.

Everything was wrapped up and tied with a neat little bow…everything but Bailee Maxwell.

She’d visited numerous times and apologized almost as much for involving him.

She was recovering just as he was, though her injuries weren’t as extensive as his.

The bruises marring her face were fading, but her beauty was just as breathtaking as he remembered.

He wanted to erase the guilt from her eyes and the remorse that tainted their visits.

He tried to distract her. He’d asked her how she found him and received a nice story of how she visited Marley’s Billiards when she was eighteen because of a boy she liked. Easton was sure he could probably guess the boy’s identity, so he didn’t ask her any questions about who the kid was.

Nothing seemed to lift her melancholy since his abduction.

He felt useless. If only he could get out of the hospital, he could show her was fine, that he would recover, that he was none the worse for wear.

He could prove to her that he didn’t regret any of it — not getting involved, not getting to know her, not spending the night with her.

“Hey.”

He lowered his eyes from the ceiling to see the object of his thoughts step into the room. Her hair swung about her face with each step. He knew it would feel like silk to the touch, and his fingers flexed with the memory.

Her chocolate eyes studied him as they had each time she visited over the last few days.

Only they looked different this time. Gone was the regret and sadness.

Her eyes now shone with a soft warmth that he felt spread through his chest. Her smile gave her a glimpse of her perfect teeth.

Her full lips glistened with what he figured was a coat of chapstick, and he longed to have a taste.

“I’m glad you’re here.” He pulled his hand from under the blanket and held it out to her.

She dragged a chair over to his bedside before she held onto his hand. Her skin was soft against the callouses he’d built from working the bar. He caressed the web between her thumb and finger as he returned her smile.

“You look like you’re feeling better. The nurse told me before I came in that you’ll be discharged in a day or two. I know you’re going stir crazy.”

He made a face that he knew would make her laugh. “I am. But seeing you every day has made it bearable.”

Her smiled widened. “Anyone ever tell you what a dangerous man you are.”

“Hmmm. I’ve heard sexy. Stubborn even. But no, not dangerous.”

“You are definitely dangerous to my peace of mind,” she drawled softly, her free hand playing with the lock of hair that fell to his forehead.

“I could say the same about you,” he returned.

She shook her head. “No, not like you. I came to Fire Creek to relax, but the first time I saw you, I knew you were trouble.”

He raised an eyebrow. “The first time you saw me? You mean the time I offered to help you because you were hurt?”

Bailee chuckled. “Yep, that time. You reminded me of all the men in my life who thought I was weak and incapable of taking care of myself. I refused to let you get to me. I was an idiot.”

While their teasing banter was a nice change from their recent conversations, he was done kidding with her. “I knew you were someone I wanted to get to know. I knew you would be worth my time. Turns out I was right.”

“You’ve changed my life. You and your brothers.

Mostly you though. You want people to think you’re a player, but you’re not like that.

I see the person you are, Easton Hargrove.

The person your parents didn’t bother to love.

The person your chosen family sees. I like that person, Easton. I like him a lot.”

“Just like?” He had no idea what possessed him to ask, and he wasn’t sure what would happen if her answer wasn’t one he wanted to hear.

“Maybe more than like. Does that freak you out?”

He grinned. “Nope. Not even a little bit.”

“I think I might love you, Easton. It’s too soon, but it feels right. That’s what makes what I have to tell you so hard.”

He already knew what she had to say. It was the conversation they anticipated from day one. She was returning to her life in Louisville.

“When do you leave?”

“Today. I told Corinne I wanted to see you first before Roxy and I headed back.”

He released her hand to stroke her cheek. “I’m glad you did. I’ll miss you, Bailee Anne. If you need me to come and kick some ass at the Louisville PD, just say the word.”

Humor. It was his default setting. When people left him, as they often did, he clung to humor like a lifeline.

In this case, what he hoped was a charming, devil-may-care response fell flat.

He wasn’t sure he convinced Bailee that he was fine with her leaving.

He sure as hell didn’t convince himself.

He wasn’t ready to watch her walk away. Sure, she would return to visit Darby Anne, but he didn’t expect that to happen often enough for them to continue any kind of relationship, not even a fling.

“It won’t be necessary.” She leaned her head into his palm. “I’m not staying.”

His brain didn’t register the import of her words right away.

Once he realized what she said, he dropped his hand and moved to sit up straighter in bed.

She had to assist him, propping pillows behind him to support his back.

Once he was up, he studied her face, looking for signs that she was playing him.

He saw nothing but warmth in her expression.

“I’m going to need you to explain that.”

She chuckled at his reaction. “Well, over the last few days, Gran helped me to realize something. Louisville is not where I’m meant to be.

I’m not accepted there, and to be honest, I’m better than that precinct.

If I stayed, it would only be to stick it to the other detectives who don’t want to work with me.

Now that they know Jimmy is the guilty one and not me, I don’t see a reason to do that anymore. ”

“They’ve always known Jimmy is the guilty one. You had the evidence to arrest him.”

Bailee nodded. “But they wanted to believe I framed Jimmy. Now that he’s confessed and turned state’s evidence, they can’t deny the truth anymore.”

Easton blinked, feeling like he missed a lot of pieces to the conversation. “He did what?”

“Corinne called me. B Diggs died as a result of the attack at the prison. Word about Sabra’s arrest and Melvin’s death reached the prison, and Jimmy approached the ATF.

He agreed to testify against the Blood Disciples in exchange for a lesser sentence.

Corinne wants me back to sit in on the meeting between her and Jimmy and his lawyer. ”

“Damn,” Easton said. “I didn’t see that coming.”

“No one did. I’m anxious to see his face when he sees me at the meeting. I want to hear him admit what he did to Shantayle.”

Easton shook his head to clear his thoughts. “So what does this mean for you?”

“The Chief didn’t want to accept my resignation from LPD at first, but he finally agreed it was the best thing for me.

I didn’t know your brothers were checking him out as a possible suspect in all of this, but I was relieved to hear he was clean.

I hate to think my instincts about him were wrong.

Anyway, Corinne found out about my decision and offered me a job with the ATF.

Chief Tatum told me if I was willing to go back to patrol, I was welcome at the Fire Creek PD.

He said I’d be a top contender if he had a detective position to open. ”

“Have you decided what you want?”

“With my career? Not yet. With my life, hell, yeah. I want you, Easton. I don’t know what my future looks like yet, but I want you to be a part of it. Does that freak you out?”

Easton hesitated. He waited for the tightness in his chest that came when he felt his freedom being threatened. He waited for the dread that came in trusting someone who would likely leave him.

What he felt was something akin to hope. What he felt was the happiness that had been in his life since Bailee came into it. What he wanted was to relieve every moment with her and to create new ones with her by his side, with his family, and in his bed.

“Hell, no, I’m not freaked out. I don’t want you to turn your life upside down for me. Whatever you decide to do, we’ll figure it out. If we have to do the long distance thing, we will. I want to be with you, Bailee. Whatever it takes.”

Her smile was radiant, and when she leaned forward, he met her halfway, the aches in his body be damned. Their lips met in a fiery kiss that short-circuited his brain and made any discomfort he felt totally worth it. He snaked a hand through her hair to hold her head in place.

A moan escaped her throat and traveled through him straight to his cock.

He tried to pull her across his lap, but his IV wouldn’t stretch far enough, reminding him of where he was and why.

They pulled away, both panting. He was thrilled to see the desire darkening her eyes because he was sure his looked the same.

“You have no idea how bad I wished I was out of this damn hospital.”

“I have some idea,” she returned with a grin. “But it’s probably a good thing for now. You are tempting enough to make me reconsider my plans, but I need to go back. I have loose ends to tie up before I can move forward.”

“I know,” he relented. “It doesn’t mean I have to like it though.”

She sighed. “Me either, but I am coming back, Easton. I’m not walking away from you. I’m not like the others.”

He nodded. “I know, baby. Go. Do what you have to do, but check in with me, okay? Just so I know how you’re doing, and just so I can hear that sexy voice.”

“You got it. Take care of yourself, Easton. Follow the doctor’s orders, or I’ll kick your ass when I get back.”

He let his desire shine through his eyes. “Is that supposed to be a threat or a promise?”

She rolled her eyes. “I think I should go. I have a long drive ahead.” She dropped a lingering kiss on his lips. “Rest. I want you in tip top condition when I come back. I have plans for us. And that’s a promise.”

She moved to the door, and Easton enjoyed watching her shapely ass as she walked. She sure did fill out a pair of jeans to perfection, but now that he knew what she looked like underneath the clothes, he appreciated the view in a whole new way.

“Hey, Bailee?”

She turned to face him as she reached the door. “Yeah?”

“I think I might love you too.”

She smiled. “Only think?”

“For now. Something tells me you could change my mind.”

“Something to look forward to. Talk to you later, Easton.”

She left, but Easton wasn’t sad to see her go. She promised she’d returned, and he believed her. He had no idea what the future held for them, but he had a feeling it was going to be one hell of a ride.