Page 8 of When You Saved Me

The bell chimed above the door as I swung it open. The temperature had dropped at least a few degrees while I was inside; it was refreshing after feeling stifled from thinking about Deacon and I’s past.

Tilting my head back, the gray sky reminded me of darker times. Moments that I had to crawl away from to savemyself. Moments that left a mark, but also made me stronger. Deacon might be holding onto something from our past, but that didn’t mean I had to let his poor mood impact me. I’d worked too hard to let anything get in the way of my joy, including a devastatingly handsome man who was starting to occupy my thoughts more than I liked to admit.

Chapter 3

Deacon

Not even an entire twenty-four hours passed, and my thoughts were already consumed with a petite redhead who I had thought I would never have to see again.

When Charlie Banks showed up on my front porch, I couldn’t help but feel like I was being damned to hell on earth. I ran away from her seven years ago. Leaving everything I knew behind me in Charlotte, only to be tricked by some cruel twist of fate.

Now, she was only a few acres away from me.

It wasn’t far enough.

I could still feel her presence like a ghost of memories past coming to haunt me.

Maybe slamming the door in her face had been an asshole move. Admittedly, she scared the fuck out of me and the moment I set my eyes on her, my body just reacted. I had to get away.

After she asked me if I was okay with her staying in my cabin, I should have said no. I was already regretting telling her it was fine.

Sleep evaded me last night and I’d spent the entire day today busying myself with mindless tasks. I checked on my best friend’s–Johnny–archery store since he was away on his honeymoon. Then I spent countless hours tinkering around the house trying to find any sort of project that would distract me.

When all the loose cabinet doors and leaky faucets were fixed, I texted Sarah and asked her if I could join her and Ranger for dinner. There was no way in hell I could manage another night alone knowing how close Charlie was to me. I needed a distraction, and fast.

I knocked on the front door of Sarah and Ranger’s ranch house and heard barking on the other side. As the door opened, a giant yellow hurricane of fur barreled through and nearly tackled me to the ground.

“Asher!” Sarah scolded. “What have we talked about you jumping on our guests?”

Asher wound through my legs. Bending over, I scratched the top of his head, right behind his ears. Giant golden eyes beamed up at me as his tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth.

“Don’t listen to her, buddy. You can tackle me anytime you want.”

When I looked up at Sarah, she had her arms crossed over her chest and was shaking her head. “I swear that dog could get away with murder and no one would be upset.”

“You’re probably right about that.” Sarah and Ranger had taken Asher in while our best friends, Johnny and Willow were away on their extended honeymoon. She might have seemed frustrated by Asher’s antics, but I knew Sarah loved the dog just as much as his own parents did.

“Alright, let’s get you two in the house. It’s freezing outside today.”

Stuck to my side like glue, Asher and I followed Sarah into the house. Savory notes floated in the air and my stomach grumbled. Forced to distract myself all day, I’d worked around the house right through lunch and was desperate for a home cooked meal.

Sarah led us into the kitchen. I nearly choked on laughter as I saw Ranger at the stove with a pink apron tied around his neck and waist.

“Dude, what the fuck are you wearing?” I chuckled.

Spatula in hand, Ranger turned around and growled, “She”—he pointed at Sarah with the spatula—“made me wear this.”

Eyebrows raised, I looked at her.

She shrugged, but the gesture didn’t match the shit eating grin on her face. “I just bought him that new button down and didn’t want him getting anything on it. Men are so messy. You’re all just a bunch of neanderthals in nicer clothing.”

Ranger and I scoffed at her.

“Says the woman who put my friend in a frilly pink apron. We might be neanderthals, but you’re just cruel, woman.”

Ranger leaned over and gave me a fist bump.

“Uh-uh. No way.” Sarah scissored her arms back and forth. “There is no way you two are ganging up on me tonight.”

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