Safe With You

by Sharon Coady

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Nine

  Safe With You

  Sharon Coady

  Copyright 2017, Author

  Published by Sharon Coady

  ISBN:

  Front Cover Design: Cover by Kris with Breakaway Designs

  Copyright 2017, Author Sharon Coady

  First Edition

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please send me an e-mail to the e-mail address listed below, subject line “Attention: Permissions Coordinator.”

  s.r.coadyauthor@gmail.com

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, names, events, and places in this novel are used fictitiously or are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, or to actual places, businesses, or real-life events, is entirely coincidental.

  Chapter One

  Easton sat staring out the dingy window of Carson, Sanders, and Kemp’s Law office as his late uncle’s will was read. Damn, where am I going to come up with next month’s rent? His new job as a bartender at the local pub was not working out. He wasn’t getting the tips his friend had promised he would draw in. It seemed like the college girls and middle-aged women were only attracted to blonde-haired, blue-eyed, pretty boys.

  Hell, he didn’t think he was bad looking. He worked out and at six-feet-three inches with black hair and smoky gray eyes, he thought he had something to offer. He wasn’t a young man anymore but twenty-six wasn’t old.

  “Easton, did you hear what I just said?” Sanders’ whiny voice cut through his thoughts. “I just told you about your uncle’s wishes and you’ve yet to respond. Am I boring you?” His mouth was set in a thin line as his stick thin fingers drummed on top of his beat-up, mahogany desk.

  “Sorry, you’ve been going on for over an hour. I didn’t realize we had gotten to the part where you were speaking to me.” He knew his father and brothers were glaring at him, he could feel it, but he refused to glance at them and give them the satisfaction of knowing he had been caught spacing out.

  Sanders shook his head, looking completely put out.

  “Could you give it to me again?” Asshole. He sat back enjoying the sour look on the prissy lawyer’s face.

  “As I just said, your uncle has left you his mansion outside of Baltimore, Maryland. He has further left you all the contents of the mansion and a very large bank account, with the stipulation that you must live in the mansion and be the caretaker of all the contents within.”

  He blinked as he felt his jaw drop. He shook his head. “What?”

  “Oh damn it to hell, Easton, can’t you pay attention to anything?” his father bellowed. “Why the hell he left anything to you at all is beyond me. I’m going to contest the will.”

  Sanders lay the will down and glared, poking the document with his forefinger. “It stipulates right here, if anyone contests the will, they will lose what Lawrence left them. Do you really want to contest this, Thomas? He left you a substantial inheritance.”

  Thomas Ruden slammed his beefy fist down on the lawyer’s desk. “This is just like Lawrence to screw me over. What the hell did this snot nose bastard ever do to deserve what he got?”

  Easton chuckled as his father went on another rant, which was no surprise to him. Ever since the man had found out Easton was the product of his mother’s one time affair with a younger man, his father had been a beast to him.

  “What if I don’t want what he left me?” Easton asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

  “It’s all right here in the will.” Sanders rolled his eyes and sighed loudly. “If anyone turns down what Lawrence willed them, everyone in the will loses their inheritance.”

  “Well, isn’t this shit just getting deeper and deeper? Take the damn mansion, Easton. At least it will get you out of my sight.”

  “You’re a real piece of work, Thomas.” He shoved his chair back, stood, and pointed at the keys lying beside Sanders’ hand. “I suppose those are my keys? Do you have the address to my new accommodations?”

  Sanders grunted and handed him the keys and a large envelope. This is everything you need. If you have any questions once you get to Baltimore, give me a call. I’ll do my best to answer them.”

  “Sure.” Easton snatched the keys and the envelope, turned, and stormed out the door. When he got to his apartment, he grabbed his duffle bag and packed all his clothes. Glancing around, he realized there wasn’t anything else in the shithole he wanted. Tossing the keys on the kitchen counter, he walked out the door. It felt as if a weight was lifted off his shoulders. Yeah, maybe this move to Baltimore would put enough miles between him and this shitty family so he could re-invent himself without all the baggage that came with being a Ruden.

  Seven hours later, he pulled off the interstate and found a decent-looking motel with a vacancy sign. He’d made good time and tomorrow would be an easier drive. It definitely would be a shorter one, that much he knew. He walked into the lobby, taking note that it was very clean, albeit a bit outdated and worn. A young man with stringy brown hair and wearing a dark blue blazer was leaning on the counter reading a book.

  Glancing up, the clerk smiled, sliding a bookmark inside the book before closing it. “Good evening, sir. How are you tonight?”

  “I’m fine. I saw you had a vacancy.” Easton motioned over his shoulder at the sign.

  “Yes, sir. How many nights will you be staying?” He looked down at the computer screen and started typing.

  “Tonight only. How much is it?”

  “Do you have Triple A?”

  “I do.” Easton pulled his wallet out of his back pocket to get his card and driver’s license. “Here you go.”

  “With that discount, I can get you in a single room for thirty-nine plus tax.” He glanced up from the keyboard.

  “That works for me.” After checking in, he put his duffle bag in the room and looked up the nearest fast food restaurant to the motel. Feeling exhausted from the day, he changed his mind and ordered a pizza. He checked his watch and figured he had enough time to take a shower and throw on some sweats and a T-shirt before it arrived.

  The room wasn’t as bad as he expected for a cheap motel. He lay back on the bed, wondering what he would find when he got to his uncle’s mansion. Why would someone he barely knew leave him a house and money? Well, he wasn’t going to question his luck because he’d always felt he was destined for more. Just as he started to relax, someone knocked on the door. Easton grabbed his wallet off the dresser, walked to the door, and opened it wide for the pizza deliveryman.

  “Pizza delivery for Ruden.”

  Easton nodded. “Fifteen, right?”

  “Yep.” The pimple-faced kid unzipped the red bag and pulled the pizza box out.

  Easton handed him the money plus a tip, took the pizza, then closed and locked the door. The smell of warm dough and cheese permeated the room as his stomach rumbled. An early breakfast and no lunch made the pizza smell extra good.

  He turned on the TV and flopped down on the bed with the pizza box on his lap and a coke on the nightstand. He let his mind wander to the mansion and the supposedly large bank account. After he reached the place, he would contact the bank to see the size of this account, and what he needed to do to transfer everything to his name. He
supposed there were directions on the information the lawyer had given him, but he was just too tired and still too angry about the whole situation to really care. It will be nice not to have to worry about money anymore, he thought.

  Once he’d eaten his fill, he tossed the box on the other side of the bed so he could finish the show. Not realizing just how tired he was, he drifted off, waking up hours later with his neck stiff from falling asleep partially sitting up. He climbed off the bed, stretched, and tried to work the kinks out but to no avail. In the end, he jumped in the shower, letting the hot water work it’s magic on his bunched up muscles. Once finished, he packed everything back into his duffle and headed into the lobby to check out.

  The older man at the desk smiled. “Good morning, did you find everything okay?”

  Easton grunted and nodded his head in response.

  Taking the key, he looked up Easton’s information and printed out the receipt. “Thank you for staying with us.”

  “How far is it to Baltimore?” he asked as he took the receipt.

  “It’s about four and a half hours east once you’re back on the interstate.”

  “Thanks.” Easton hefted his duffle bag over his shoulder and strode to his Jeep, tossing it in the back before climbing into the driver’s seat. “Let’s get this show on the road,” he muttered to no one in particular as he pulled out and headed in the direction of his new home.

  Five hours later, he turned into the drive and drove toward the house, dismay filling him. Easton couldn’t believe how run down the outside of the mansion looked. He ran his hand through his hair. What the hell am I going to do with his dump? Jumping down from his Jeep, he grabbed his duffle bag from the back and strolled to the front steps, trying to decide if he wanted to even bother going inside. He imagined the home had once been majestic, but now the weeds and overgrown lawn made it look sad and forgotten.

  Sprinting up the steps, he struggled with the key in the rusty lock for several minutes before he successfully opened the intricately carved door. The hinges moaned in protest as he pushed the door open, and then stepped into the dark foyer. Feeling for the switch on the wall, he flipped it and was pleased when the lights came on. Looking around, he was amazed at the contrast of the tidy foyer from the un-kept outside. Curious now, he made his way deeper into the bowels of the home, his feet echoing on the tile floor.

  The living room was immaculate, ornate, and overwhelmingly enormous. Matching saddle tan leather sofas faced each other in front of a beautiful, stone fireplace with a dark mahogany mantle. Sunlight illuminated the room from floor to ceiling windows on either side of the fireplace. The largest antique coffee table Easton had ever seen sat in between the sofas. He shook his head. His entire apartment would fit inside this space with room to spare.

  Why would his uncle leave him the house? He had been thirteen the last time he remembered even seeing the man. He contemplated this as he left the room and made his way deeper into the house. He peered into the door on the left of the hallway; it appeared to be a small sitting room a lot like the ones he’d seen in one or two old movies where the guests were received.

  He decided he would explore this floor later. He wanted to find a bedroom and bring his things inside, so he made his way back to the foyer and climbed the massive staircase to the second floor. Everything here was just as immaculate as the downstairs. Not a speck of dust or cobweb anywhere. Someone had to be taking care of the inside of the house, but nothing had been mentioned in the will reading, at least not from what he remembered.

  The first room at the top of the stairs was decorated in earth tones with a four-poster bed, tiger oak dresser, and highboy. Again, to Easton, the furniture all looked antique. He started to walk through the door when a sound came from the next room. What the hell? His heart thumped in his chest as he moved to the door. Just as he reached for the knob, the door opened and there stood the most mesmerizing woman he had ever laid eyes on. Dark hair cascaded over her shoulders and hazel eyes met his gaze. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, as the light from the sun streaming through the windows outlined her small, lithe form.

  “Hello, you must be Easton.” Her voice was musical and soft like a gentle breeze that brushed over his skin on a warm summer day.

  “Yeah, I am. Who are you?” He held her gaze and found himself leaning closer to her, wanting to touch her slender arm.

  “I am Tegan Moreau. I worked for your uncle, and it was his wish that I stay on to help you with the house once he passed.” She smiled slightly as he leaned closer.

  “You’re doing a great job,” he said somewhat breathlessly. Shaking his head, he tried to get a better grip on his thoughts. He was sure he was coming off as a nerd with a crush. “Everything is immaculate, which surprised me given the way the outside of the house looks.” He stepped back, giving her some room and to help him get control of the lusty thoughts flying through his mind.

  “Your uncle thought it very important that the outside of the house did not look inviting. He felt it would keep people from knowing the treasures he had inside. If it does not please you, we can get the house fixed, sir.”

  He held up his hand. “Please, call me Easton. Would you mind if we go downstairs and talk? I’m a bit hungry from the drive. Is there something I can fix myself or do I need to go shopping?”

  “The kitchen is stocked, and yes, we can go downstairs to speak. Let me show you the way.” She slipped around him and made her way to the stairs.

  He watched her glide past him, her movement fluid and graceful, bringing to mind a dancer. He found her pleasant to watch as he took in her ample backside.

  When they got to the kitchen, she motioned toward the table. “Have a seat and I’ll make you some food, if you tell me what you like.” She glanced over her shoulder, the corners of her mouth turning up.

  “I can make a ham sandwich or something.” He found himself sitting down as she directed. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she moved from the counter to the fridge. Before he knew it, a large, mouthwatering sandwich was placed on the table in front of him. “Wow, thank you.” He hadn’t realized how hungry he was as his stomach growled. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

  She raised a brow and a seductive smile spread over her mouth. “Later. Enjoy your sandwich and when you are finished, I’ll show you to your room.”

  “Do you stay here full time?” He hoped she would say yes. He found this woman extremely intoxicating.

  “I do. I stay in a room not far from the two rooms your uncle wished you to choose between. That way, if you need anything, you only have to call me.”

  “How long did you work for my uncle?” He took another bite of his sandwich. She didn’t answer right away but lowered her head for a moment, as if to collect her self.

  “For a few years. He was a quiet man.” Tegan turned and walked over to the counter.

  He studied her for a moment. “Can you tell me more about him? I hadn’t seen him for years. I’m afraid I don’t remember much about him.”

  “I enjoyed working for your uncle. He was easy going and funny, sometimes he was very quiet. He spoke of you often. He was fond of you.” He saw a tear slip down her cheek. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  He put the sandwich down and watched her. “I wish I had known him. My family didn’t like visitors.” He shrugged, not wanting it to go into the story of his family.

  “I wish so too. He was a wonderful, kind man. Are you finished?” She moved to the table to pick up his plate. Her hand brushed his, causing her eyes to widen, and he heard a sharp intake of breath.

  He pulled his hand away as he felt something like a small electric shock that seemed to warm his blood. What was that? “Sorry.”

  She smiled gently at him, her gaze more intense as she looked first at him, and then to her hand where they had touched. Clearly, she felt it too. Easton smiled; he found that he liked this new connection with this strange and intoxicating woman.

  After she cleaned up,
they sat chatting and laughing as she told him about some of his uncle’s antics. From the sounds of it, he had been a character, and Easton was sure they would have gotten along wonderfully. When the light coming in the kitchen window changed, he glanced at the clock on the stove.

  “Wow, we’ve been talking for hours. Thank you for sharing all the stories about my uncle.”

  “It was nice to have someone to share them with. I miss him.”

  Shaking his head, Easton realized he had been gawking again. Giving her a bashful smile, he muttered, “I’ve had a long few days.” He stood, stretched, and yawned. “I’m beat. Would you mind showing me the rooms?” he asked, hoping she hadn’t seen him staring again.

  “Of course. Would you like something else to eat or drink before you go to bed?”

  Easton shook his head, still not sure how he felt about being waited on by this beautiful woman.

  “Okay, let me show you to the bedrooms upstairs, and you can choose the one that is to your liking.” Tegan stepped around him and glided out of the kitchen back to the foyer. Easton followed her, watching her luscious backside swishing from side to side.

  When they were back on the second floor, she showed him the two rooms. As soon as he saw the second one, he decided it was perfect for him.

  “I’ll take this one,” he said, watching the smile turn up her plump lips.

  “Perfect. My room is two doors down on the left.” She walked into the room ahead of him and turned down the covers, fluffed the pillows, then closed the curtains on the windows. “This cord here” she pointed to a cord hanging by the head of the bed— “when pulled, rings me if you need anything.”

  “Serious? I’ve seen that in movies but never in real life.” He reached for the cord and gave it a small tug, cocked his head, and looked at her. “I didn’t hear anything.”

  “You won’t hear anything.” She looked at him through her thick lashes, a cute smile turning up the corners of her mouth. “It is for me to hear in my room.”