Page 56 of When You Saved Me

Casper stopped mid-stride, his front right paw hanging in the air. Then he shifted his head toward Deacon like he suddenly understood the entire English language. Then the little stinker pranced to him without a care in the world. Histail swished back and forth with glee as I sat there empty handed, andmycat bounded into Deacon’s arms.

“That’s my boy!” Deacon bellowed, scooping Casper into his arms and standing tall.

Deflated, I rose to stand and walked over to them. Scratching behind his ears, I brought my face close to Casper’s and hissed, “You little traitor. After all the years we’ve had together, and you betray me like this? Ugh.” The little furball had the audacity to purr at me like he was perfectly content with his decision.

Deacon shifted to the side, so I no longer had access to Casper. “Hey, don’t be mean to my little guy just because you’re a sore loser.”

Hands on my hips, I shot him a withering look. He gave me one back. There we both stood, in a glaring contest before we both broke within seconds and burst out laughing.

Tears streamed out of the corners of my eyes as I hunched over, clutching my stomach. Casper bounced in Deacon’s arms as his laughter radiated around us.

When we both caught our breath and the giggle attack had subsided, Deacon looked at me. My mind flashed to the first time I saw his stunning green eyes through the hazy smoke of the fire. They had been my lifeline then. Such beauty in the midst of what I was certain were to be my last moments on earth. But now…seeing them so bright and joyful… My heart cinched with a feeling that I’d never felt before. One I wasn’t quite ready to admit I was feeling.

When he reached out for my hand and brought my wrist to his lips, my entire body buzzed.

“Your laughter is the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard, Charlie.” He pressed another kiss to my palm. “Don’t ever stop laughing.”

Heat hit the back of my eyes. I had to bite my lower lip to keep it from trembling. “I promise I won’t.”

Chapter 20

Charlie

“Hey, mama!”

“Charlie! Oh, honey. It’s so good to hear from you. Your father and I have been worried sick.” My mother’s voice cut out slightly from the poor reception that the snowstorm likely contributed to.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call you earlier, the cell service has been terrible here. It’s so good to hear your voice. Is Dad around?”

“Yes, let me grab him.” There was rustling in the background and then I heard her call my dad’s name. A few more seconds later and then, “Okay, honey. We’re both here on speaker phone.”

“Hi, Daddy!”

My father’s low voice broke through. “Hi, sweetheart. How’s the cabin holding up for you in that weather? Do you have enough food? Are you warm enough? How’s Casper doing?”

I laughed at the rapid-fire questions. My father always worried about his little girl and even though he knew I was independent and could handle things on my own, he still liked to check up on me.

“Everything’s fine. Although it was a little touch and go there for a second.”

“What do you mean?” They both asked in unison. That was my parents. Always in sync with one another since before I could remember. I loved that about them. They were predictable and given everything that was transpiring between Deacon and I, I needed a little bit of predictability. Especially since the snowstorm had quieted and it looked like it was starting to melt some.

Bundling the blanket around my shoulders, I watched my warm breath fog in front of me as I took in the white landscape on Deacon’s front porch. I told my parents about the bird’s nest in the chimney and how the entire cabin filled with smoke. That part frightened them given the fire from years ago, but I assured them everything was fine.

“When the storm started to come through, the pipes in the cabin froze over and busted. There was water everywhere. I felt so bad for my landlord because everything was going wrong.”

“Oh my gosh, honey. That sounds like quite a series of bad events. Did he manage to get the pipes fixed for you?”

I paused. Not quite sure how to tell them that I was staying with a man I barely knew who had also been the person to save my life…and that I was falling for him. Hard.

In the end, I knew I would tell them everything. We’d always been that way, and it felt wrong to start lying now even though I knew they would be concerned. Everything I’d done with Deacon…it wasn’t like me to move so quickly with anyone. I was more of a slow burn kinda gal.

Clearing my throat, I peered up at the porch ceiling and braced myself. “Actually, he wasn’t able to get them fixed before the snow came. I’ve been staying in his house for the time being.”

Silence echoed loudly through the phone. I could see it now, my parents looking at one another with worry in their eyes as they tried not to be too overbearing with all the questions they wanted to ask.

“Are you safe, Charlie? Do you need us to come and get you?” my dad asked. I rolled my eyes and smiled.

“Yes, Dad. I’m perfectly safe. I, um, actually knew him from before I moved here.”

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