scrubbing his face. He looked at me again and squeezed my hand. “You’re still here?”
“You keep saying that like you’re surprised.”
“I guess I keep waitin’ for you to vanish on me.”
Austin appeared with a bottle of water and handed it over. I uncapped it and gave it to a shaky Easton. He drank a few mouthfuls and closed his eyes, sighing. “Man, that takes it outta me.”
“How about you quit being so goddamn stubborn and get your ass home and to bed now,” his dad said, but not unkindly.
“Can’t. What about—”
“I’ll stay with Percy. I swear to you, boy, I will not leave his side. Go get a few hours. You’re no good to anyone like this. I’m sure this young man of yours can take you home?” The older man quirked a brow with the question.
“I can. Come on, East. Stop being stubborn for five minutes, will you? And yeah, you’ve got rights on that one.”
“Stubborn?” He chuckled. “Are we name-callin’ again? Okay, then I’m going with pushy, demanding—”
I slapped a hand over his mouth, and he laughed, clasping my wrist and prying me off. “And my life-saver,” he finished, his gaze turning soft, his voice more serious. “Thank you for today. I think I’d have lost my mind if you hadn’t been there.”
My blood warmed with the look in his half-lidded eyes. “Anytime.” And I meant it.
“Will you take me home now, pretty boy?”
“Darn right I’m pretty. Don’t you forget that, cowboy.”
“Did I say pretty? I meant petty.”
“Liar.”
He chuckled again, but it turned into a yawn. I tugged him to his feet and stabilized him when he tried to fall over. Even then, I didn’t let go because I could tell he was weak.
“You call me if he wakes up,” Easton said to his dad.
“I’ll think about it. You need to rest.”
Elaina appeared at my side and halted me with a gentle touch. “He might be unstable on his feet for a bit, and he’ll need to crash hard. Seizures knock him on his ass,” she whispered in my ear. “I assume you’re okay making sure he gets into bed?”
A flutter erupted in my belly. “No problem. Come on, cowboy. Enough action for one day.”
Easton let me guide him out of the hospital.
At my car, I opened the passenger door, but he refused to get in. Leaning heavily against the car, he fisted my shirt and tugged me up against him. Then he stared deep into my eyes. So much was unsaid, but I felt the pull between us stronger than ever.
“You gonna let me take you home?” I asked.
“In a minute.”
He reached up and touched my face. It was a tender and loving gesture. Foreign to me since I’d never allowed myself to get close to guys before. Not like this. I liked it more than I expected. A lot more.
“You’re gonna break my heart, Lachlan Montgomery. I just know it. And I’m powerless to stop it.”
The sadness that filled his eyes stabbed me in the chest. I didn’t ever want to hurt this man. He didn’t deserve it, but I feared he was right. He saw through me right to my core. He knew the man I was, and he knew he was asking way more than I could offer.
But what if he was wrong? What if…
Easton drew me in and kissed me. There was little strength behind the kiss. His weakness showed, but still, it was perfect. His slightly chapped lips, his feather-soft tongue, the way he nipped my bottom lip and soothed it with a tender lick.
We came apart, and his eyelids drooped more and more.
“You need to sleep.”
“I know.”
“Come on. Get in.”
I helped him into the car and the whole drive back to the farmhouse, Easton kept his eyes closed and his head leaned back. When I parked and killed the engine, he didn’t move.
“Did I lose you, cowboy?”
“Just restin’ my eyes,” he mumbled. “Not sure I have the strength to get out.”
“Don’t do it yourself. At this rate, you’ll end up on the ground, and I’m not picking your ass up. Stay there while I come around and help you.”
“Bossy.”
“I’ll accept that label. Now deal with it.”
“Snarky.”
“Annoying.”
Easton chuckled and peeled one eye open, glancing at me. I shook my head, laughing too. I helped him out of the car and into the house. Before I could close the door, Easton grabbed the frame and leaned outside again.
“Brace yourself, scaredy-cat. I’m calling Logan.”
My hand on his arm tightened. The dog had never shown