Chapter 22

"Hey KK, do you have anything on Charlie?" Easton asked as soon as we walked into the conference room.

Between going over my files with Smith and Easton, I'd been thinking a lot, and one of the things I'd given a lot of consideration to was how I could be level-headed, calm, and collected while at work but I couldn't hold my temper with Easton. That led me into trying to remember if there was anyone else in my life whom I'd lost my temper with. The answer was no. I gave that some thought, too. Unfortunately I'd yet to come up with a reason why it was only Easton who got under my skin.

And right then while I was waiting for my head to explode at his question—the first thing he asked as we walked into the conference room after Smith watched Easton drag me to his office, something I was positive he shared—I gave up trying to figure out the reason and accepted that I had no control over my attitude or mouth when it came to him.

I also found I didn't have it in me to check that attitude in front of an audience.

"Easton," I hissed.

His hand pressed against my lower back. Without missing a beat, he gave me a tiny shove forward.

I dug the heels of my Vans into the shiny wood floor and tipped my head up and to the side.

"Seriously?"

Easton's lips curved up.

"Seriously," he calmly returned.

"Maybe—"

Easton's hand shot up, curled around the side of my neck. He lowered his face closer to mine.

"Trust me."

The knot that had formed in my stomach pulled tighter.

Trust him.

He engaged his thumb. It slid over the underside of my jaw, and his eyes grew intense. There it was, the reason I'd agreed to trust him. It was crazy. It made no sense but there it was, the sincerity, the honesty, the significance of his request was not lost on him. He knew what he was asking. He knew what it would mean for me to trust him—the gravity of it.

Trusting him would make me vulnerable.

Weak.

I was exactly what Easton had accused me of being—terrified. My first instinct was to close down, armor up, and cloak myself in the facade I'd used to keep myself safe.

The Dove.

She didn't let anyone close. She didn't have emotions.

The realization struck with such brutal force it was a miracle I kept my feet. With Easton, there was no Dove. There never had been. When he was around I couldn't find her.

"Baby," he muttered and gave my neck a squeeze.

"Well, that took less time than I thought."

My gaze went to Zane sitting at the head of the table. A weird sense of déjà vu hit me. At the same time, I heard Cash chuckle and when I glanced his way he was seated in the same chair he was in the last time I was in there. Actually, everyone was in the same positions around the table as last time.

I was totally vulnerable. Out there and exposed.

I tried to pull away from Easton, but was frustratingly halted.

"Ignore him."

"What'd I miss?" Lincoln asked from behind me.

"Either Easton slipped something into her water or he's better than I thought," Zane responded and I felt myself stiffen.

"Already? Damn, Cash was right," Lincoln muttered.

Easton sighed and lowered his forehead to my temple. The closeness did nothing to alleviate the unease, the prickly feeling at the back of my neck that warned me to run.

"Let them burn themselves out, baby."

"Cash is king," Cash whooped.

I jerked back. Easton's head lifted but didn't go far. His eyes came to mine and started roaming. I didn't know what he saw because I didn't know what I was feeling beyond extreme confusion and terror which was quickly morphing into anger.

Why in the hell had I thought it was a good idea to come into the office? Of course Zane would get in his digs, of course he'd taunt and insult me now that he had me where—

"Nebraska," Easton called. "Stop."

"You stop," I snapped and yanked free.

Easton's hand shot out, hooked me around the waist, and tugged me to his chest.

"They're teasin', baby."

"Stop yanking me around."

"They're teasing both of us," he continued like I hadn't spoken. "They'll get bored in five minutes and we'll move on."

"Better make it ten," Jonas interjected. "Linc and Cash have been making bets. So far Linc owes Cash a c-note. Depending on the state of play, he might be into Cash for five."

I heard a rumbled growl come from Easton. His gaze skidded to the side and he spat, "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Don't look at me. I wasn't stupid enough to bet against you. Just giving you a heads up."

Easton's gaze shifted back to me.

Blue eyes sparking fire.

He was pissed. Not at me, on my behalf.

He knew I was uncomfortable and didn't like it.

He knew.

He knew.

He knew.

He knew and didn't like it.

Easton's fury calmed me. It settled my mind and centered my thoughts.

How weird was that!

It was because of that I lifted my hand, pressed my palm to his cheek.

"Standdown, killer, it's all good."

"Neb—"

"It's all good," I repeated.

"Fuck," Linc rumbled. "I'll hit the ATM later."

I didn't know exactly what that meant, or how much money Lincoln now owed Cash, but I didn't care.

As in I really didn't care.

I didn't care Easton's team had made bets.

I didn't care the first thing Zane had said was a wisecrack.

I didn't care that I felt open and exposed in a room full of powerful men and equally formidable women.

If one of them made the wrong move, said the wrong thing, he'd have my back. These were his people. His family. But I knew with absolute certainty he would not allow them to harm me. Not like Charlie, not like Maddon. Easton's brand of protection would be blanketed in truth and honesty.

"What's happening?" I heard someone whisper, but since it was a soft murmur I couldn't make out who asked. If I had to guess I'd say Cash, but maybe Smith.

"That's what's called acceptance," Zane grumbled, not sounding happy. "This is progressing too quickly. I'm losing control of the situation."

"Did you ever have control?" Layla remarked.

I didn't take my eyes off Easton.

"Who's accepting what?" Cash asked.

"This is what happens when a man and a woman—"

"Zane," Easton grunted.

Yep. He'd let them tease but he wouldn't let anyone take it too far.

I couldn't stop my smile.

"Brother, I get why your head's in the gutter after four days of bang-chitty-bang-bang but I was going to explain to our friend Cash here, this is what happens when a man hands his balls to a woman."

Easton rolled his eyes.

I felt that tight ball in my stomach loosen.

It was crazy, insane even, it made no sense. I was standing in the room I was in, with the people I was with, in Easton's arms, on full display for all of them to judge. Wide open. Fully exposed. No armor. No Dove.

And I'd never felt safer in all my life.

Was this what real trust felt like?

Was this what real protection was?

Before I could suss out if I was right, Easton proved my thoughts true.

"You've got thirty seconds left with this shit."

"But we haven't gotten to the good stuff," Kira complained. "And I don't know her well enough yet to tell her to cap it before she lets you tap it. I need more time. I'm new at this. I haven't found a good rhyming word to go with uterus."

Um…

What?

"Murderous," Smith offered.

"That doesn't work," Kira scoffed. "No one's murderous for the uterus."

I felt Easton start to shake and since I was staring right at him I saw the humor light his handsome face. As strange as this situation was, I had to admit that was funny. Obviously the room thought so too because it filled with laughter.

No, not just any laughter. It filled with the laughter of a family who was teasing and joking.

Something else I'd never experienced.

"Check it, my protégé. You don't wait until you know them to hand them shit. You just do it. It's more fun that way."

"Women don't work that way, Dimples."

Did Kira just call Zane Lewis, the Viper King, Dimples?

Holy hell.

I pinched my lips to stop the giggle from erupting.

A giggle.

From me.

I'd entered the Twilight Zone.

"I can't just tell her if she doesn't want to do the term, don't take his sperm. She won't be receptive."

This time I couldn't hold it back. I busted out laughing. My body shook with it. My eyes watered. And for the first time in my life I understand the meaning of a belly laugh. My muscles clenched tight as the hilarity of her comment overtook my body.

As the laughter receded, the look on Easton's face registered.

His smile said it all but the light shining in his eyes told the tale.

I'd made the right decision trusting him.

This was indeed what protection felt like.