by Leigh, Elisa
Sweet Love
Forever Safe Romance Series
Elisa Leigh
Copyright © 2019 by Elisa Leigh
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover created by Sybil Wilson at PopKitty
Created with Vellum
Dedication
For every woman with demons. No demon is too big for the right person to help shoulder. If someone hasn’t told you today, you’re worth every sacrifice, you’re beautiful, and your butt looks good.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Epilogue
Loving Summer Sneak Peak
About the Author
Also by Elisa Leigh
Acknowledgments
One
Victoria “Tori” Blaine
My alarm starts blasting from my phone, waking me up. I quickly grab it from my nightstand and turn it off. I’ve had yet another night of restless sleep thanks to my crazy ex, Aaron, who won’t stop sending me messages. I might have stretched the truth a bit when I told Summer the frequency of the messages I was getting yesterday while we were at the beach. She doesn’t need to know that Aaron won’t stop texting me, even though I’ve been ignoring him lately. At first, I tried blocking him, but the freak got a prepaid cell phone a few days later and messaged me from there. After that, I gave up on blocking him and have just been ignoring him for the past few weeks. I’m pretty sure it’s only pissing him off though because the messages are becoming more frequent and angry. How the hell did this become my life? Should I go to the police? Is there anything they could do, it’s not like he’s hurt me, yet? That’s what I’m most afraid of.
I shake my head, not wanting to think about it anymore, what I do want is to find out how Summer’s date went with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Sexy. I call her number and wait for her to answer, I consider hanging up since she’s probably still sleeping, but then don’t because I really need to know.
“Tell. Me. Everything!” I gush the moment Summer answers.
She yawns into the phone. “You know it’s only ten thirty in the morning, don’t you?”
“I don’t care. I want to know what happened.”
“It was the best date, Tor. He was so much more than I expected.” She says and sighs dreamily.
“Does that mean you finally gave up your v-card?”
“Victoria!” She gasps, making me giggle.
“No, he was a gentleman. He had a nice dinner planned for us, but when we got to the restaurant, it just didn’t feel right, so we left and went to the food trucks.”
“Of course you did,” I say teasing the girl who is more like my sister than my best friend. That girl is obsessed with food trucks. If you ask me, it’s way too hot this time of year, but the food is excellent.
“Shut up. Then after that, we went for a drink at that bar next to my apartment, and when we were done, he walked me to my door.”
“And…?”
“And what?” She asks, playing dumb.
“Did you invite him in?”
“I asked him in for coffee, but he said no.”
He said no? What the heck is wrong with him? What guy says no when a girl asks him inside?
“Why are you quiet?” Summer finally asks.
“Summer, I mean this in the best possible way, are you sure the date went well?”
“Ohh hush. He said that if he came inside, he probably wouldn’t be leaving, and then he asked if I was ready for that. I, of course, wasn’t ready so instead, he kissed me goodnight and left.”
“How was the kiss?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well was it good? Was it bad? Did you feel like he was eating your face off? In the middle of it, did you wonder how to wipe your face off without him seeing you? Was his tongue like a wild snake eager to attack, or did he take it nice and slow?”
“Snakes? Tori, what the hell are you talking about?”
“Give me the details Summer!”
“The kiss was amazing, so good that I didn’t want it to stop, but then it did, and I was devastated.”
“Aww that’s so sweet! Drake and Summer sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.” I start singing and laughing.
“I’m hanging up now. See you at work.”
“Bye, babe!” I say before I hear the phone disconnect. I roll over and off my bed, knowing I need to start getting ready for work before I’m late again for the second time this week. No need to piss off Janice, the head nurse in the Emergency Room. Last time I was late, she gave me all the pain in the ass patients.
After I’m out of the shower and pulling my scrub pants over my butt, my phone buzzes on my nightstand and I glare at it, knowing it’s him. It’s always him. I sit down on my bed and grab the pillow beside me, then cover my face with it and scream. I scream as loud as I can for as long as I can until all my pent up aggression doesn’t feel as heavy. I pull the pillow away from my face and drop it next to me on my bed. Why won’t he get the hint that I’m not interested? I don’t understand. We didn’t even sleep together for Christ’s sakes, although God knows the creep tried.
Instead of reading the message, I ignore it and finish getting ready. A few minutes later, I leave for work and toss my phone into my purse without looking at it. There is no need to have all that weighing on me when I need to have a clear head for my patients.
* * *
There was a major car accident the night before, leaving several injured and transported to our hospital. Because of the influx of patients, we’ve been busier than usual, but when we finally get a chance to take our lunch break, Summer and I head for our spot. “Tell me everything!” I plead once we sit down outside at one of the picnic benches near the garden.
“I already told you everything that happened. You do remember calling me and waking me up, right?” She says, laughing at me.
“I can’t believe he kissed you like that and then he just left. There’s more to the story, there has to be more.” I know I’m a bit dramatic, but Summer loves me, and that’s all that really matters.
She throws a grape at my face. “Sorry to let you down Tor, but that’s it. He said he would talk to me later today.”
“And?” I ask impatiently.
“And nothing you goof. I haven’t heard from him.” Summer shrugs and I can tell it’s bothering her.
“Maybe he’s busy,” I remind her.
“Maybe.”
“Don’t do that, Summer. Don’t be that girl who lets a guy get away because of a misunderstanding. You have a phone, you could text him you know, take the bull by the horns and-”
Summer starts coughing and choking on the grape she was eating, so I jump up ready to give her the Heimlich. “Oh shit, Summer. Don’t choke.” I try slapping her back but stop when I see that she’s fine and what really has her freaked out is the man walking towards us with a beautiful bouquet of roses. Drake is walking up with one of his friends, both of them wearing their Hilton Head EMT uniforms and looking fine as hell.
Drake has it bad for Summer, his eyes are only for her. You can tell by the way he’s hanging on her every word that he’s in deep. I might have overheard Drake talking to the guys the other night saying he’d join them at the beach. So, of course, I needed to drag Summer to the same beach the same
day and make sure they saw each other. I love her and all, but she would have never made a move. I really have no idea what Drake was waiting on. She deserves a guy like him, someone willing to devote themselves to the person they love. They all aren’t like that, and I should know. My experience with men is next to nothing, but after having to deal with Aaron, I’d rather stay far away from the opposite sex for a while. I might drool over the occasional hot guy, but that’s as far as I’m willing to take it.
“Hey, I’m Chase.” Drake’s friend says smiling, then reaches out his hand for mine to shake. The man is gorgeous, and like an idiot, I can’t stop staring. He’s tall and lean, but he fills his uniform shirt out very well, too well if you want the truth. The man must work out because his biceps are huge. He’s got short, dirty blonde hair and warm brown eyes that make me think of chocolate chips in fresh baked cookies. I stare at his hand but don’t make a move to take it, instead, I do nothing. He is exactly the kind of guy I need to stay away from. He’s all smiles and charm now, but what happens after a few dates? I doubt he’ll be as nice as he is acting right now.
“Hey Chase, it’s nice to meet you. This is my best friend, Tori.” Summer says, shaking the man’s hand. I hate that it’s her who is touching him and not me. Is it crazy that I want to tear her hand out of his grip?
The conversation quickly changes when Drake finally explains to Summer why he hasn’t contacted her today. I knew he wasn’t blowing her off. “Sorry I didn’t get a chance to call you today. There was a five-car pile-up on Route 278 early this morning, and I was called in to assist.” I knew he was a good one, I just knew it. Maybe if my senses worked when it came to men, I was interested in my life might be going different right about now.
“Yeah, we heard about the accident when we first got on shift. Those in the accident were transported here.” Summer says.
“How are they doing?” Chase asks. Is he really concerned, or is he just making polite conversation? He doesn’t strike me as the type of guy who isn’t genuine, but these days you never really know.
Two
Chase Sawyer
When my best friend Drake told me he was heading out to see his woman at the hospital, I all but jumped at the chance to go with him. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help myself. I’ve got it bad for nurse Tori, even though I’m pretty sure she has a boyfriend. It’s been a few months since I ran into them at one of our nicer restaurants downtown, but they looked pretty cozy. The thing is, Tori is too good for a guy like him. Tori is sweet and kind with a bubbly personality to match. She is the perfect package, one that I’d like to rip into if she weren’t already someone else's. Maybe they aren’t even together anymore, I’ve seen him out with several other women over the past couple of months. Perhaps it’s time I put myself out there for the first time and make an effort with a woman. If anyone could pull me out of my shell, it would be Tori.
I think Janice, the head nurse in the Emergency Department at the hospital, has a soft spot for my boy Drake because as soon as she sees us walk up, she tells us where to find them. As soon as I spot Tori, she’s all I can see. Her long blonde hair is up in a bun at the top of her head, and she’s got on black rimmed glasses today. Damn, she’s even sexier in her glasses. She’s wearing light pink scrubs and white sneakers. Scrubs shouldn’t be sexy, and on anyone else, they wouldn’t be, but Tori makes them look as beautiful as black lacy lingerie.
Drake talks with Summer, and all I can do is stare at Tori.
“Hey, I’m Chase.” I finally get up the nerve to say. I reach out my hand to shake hers, but she just stares at it as if it will bite her. Well, fuck me, that stings. Summer tries smoothing things over, but I get it, she isn’t interested in me.
* * *
It has been weeks since the day I introduced myself to her. We have run into each other at the hospital a few times, but every time she sees me, she treats me like she always has, like a stranger. I don’t know why I keep expecting something more to come from the brief moments we share, but nothing ever does. The guys from the firehouse keep asking me to go out with them, but it doesn’t feel right. I feel as if I’d be betraying Tori if I were to go out looking for another woman. I don’t want another woman, I want her.
I’m on the treadmill at my gym finishing my daily five miles when I notice the guy who I assumed was Tori’s boyfriend flirting with Riley, one of the front desk girls. She pushes his hand off of her shoulder and steps back, putting space between them. The asshole doesn’t take the hint and tries touching her again. I’m about to get off my machine and go over there to intervene when I notice one of my friends, Ollie step up and get her attention. Eventually, the guy gives up and storms out of the gym. Fuck, I hope Tori isn’t still with this guy because he’s a class A douchebag.
I keep running, picturing Tori the last time I saw her, wondering what is going on with her. A few days ago, after I had brought in an elderly patient who fell, I stopped to use the restroom and noticed Tori sitting alone in the breakroom staring down at her phone. The look she had on her face tore at me, shit it’s still tearing at me. All I want to do is to protect her from whatever she’s going through, but I’m no one to her. What’s worse is that it looks like she’s losing weight, the woman is too tiny, to begin with, and doesn’t have any weight to lose. I rarely see a smile on her face anymore. Before she used to be happy and laughing with the other nurses, now she dazes off into space. Hasn’t Summer noticed that something is going on with her?
After getting home from the gym, I shower and then sit around my apartment trying to keep busy. I watch a couple of episodes of Guy’s Grocery Games but when those stop playing and some baking competition comes on I turn off my t.v. Does Tori like watching the Food Network? I wonder if she likes to cook? I love cooking for the guys at my firehouse, but I can’t seem to get baking down. Maybe Tori bakes? I could ask her for a few pointers the next time I see her, maybe she could come over and show me. Damn, I’m so fucking desperate. Is that how she sees me? She probably hasn’t noticed with whatever is going on with her. Fuck it, I’m calling Drake to see if he knows.
“Hey, now isn’t really a good time.” Drake answers.
“What’s wrong?”
“Summer lied to me about what she was doing tonight. She and Tori are at Cirque, what the fuck is she doing there?” He all but growls into the phone.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m fucking going down there.”
“I’ll meet you there, make sure you don’t do anything stupid.”
“What the fuck ever. I’m leaving now, come if you want.”
I quickly pull on my boots and grab my wallet and keys. I’m wearing jeans and a t-shirt, I’m not dressed poorly, but it might not be nice enough for the assholes at Cirque to let me in.
Once I arrive, the guys at the door don’t spare me a glance and let me into the nightclub after I pay my cover charge. I find Drake sitting at the bar, his eyes on the center of the dance floor where Summer and Tori are dancing. I sit down beside him and order a beer.
“Have you talked to her yet?”
He shakes his head and silently sips his beer, his eyes never leaving Summer. We sit like this for over twenty minutes, drinking our beers, watching guy after guy try and fail to grab our girls’ attention. Tori is beautiful out there, dancing like no one is watching her. I envy her ability to just be in the moment and not worry about what others think about her. She’s confident in a way that I wish I were.
One minute we’re enjoying our beers and the next Drake throws his beer on the bar and is running through the club. I didn’t notice the guy putting his hands all over Summer since I’ve been focused on Tori. I run after Drake, needing to have his back in case anything happens, and also needing to protect Tori who has no idea what is going on. By the time I make it to Drake, he’s got the guy by the collar and is marching him across the room and pushing him up against the wall. Drake has it under control, my only job now is to get Tori out of here
since the night is over.
“Tori,” I yell over the music trying to get her attention. Either she ignores me or has no idea I’m here and can’t hear me.
I grab her shoulder and squeeze lightly. It takes her a second, but when she looks up, she looks pissed. After a few seconds, her angry expression fades, and a huge smile covers her face. “Chase!” She screams above the music. She throws her arms around my neck and holds me to her tightly. “I’m so glad you are here.” She keeps dancing to the music, her tight little body rubbing against mine. Fuck, this is not the time to get hard, but when she turns around in my arms, her back to my front and starts grinding her ass against me, I lose the fight. She feels too damn good against me. My hands go to her hips, and I move with her, dancing to the hypnotic beat the DJ is playing. The song changes to something slower, and Tori turns again, this time her baby blue eyes are on mine, and I want nothing more than to take her lips in a searing kiss. Instead, I throw her over my shoulder and start carrying her out of the club. I put my hand over her ass to keep her dress from riding up and showing everyone what she has on under her ass. Tori takes this as a sign and starts spanking my ass with both of her hands like she’s playing the drums. She’s wiggling around laughing on my shoulder.
I spank her ass. “Tori, settle down. I don’t want to drop you.”
“You’re no fun! You are a sexy man Chase Sawyer, but you are a stick in the mud.” She laughs hysterically, so much so that by the time we make it outside I’m laughing right along with her. By the time we make it outside, I see Drake helping Summer into his car. I give the valet my ticket, and he runs to get my truck. I set Tori down in front of me, but she wobbles on her heels, so I grab hold of her shoulders to steady her. “Easy there, Darlin’.”
