Speak To Me: The Easton Brothers

Chapter 15

(Stephanie)

"Are you sure you want to close the place down by yourself?" Taylor, one of the nurses asked, making me nod my head yes.

"Go ahead, I can handle it from here. Since the storm seems to be moving in, I want you guys to get home safely."

Taylor looked at me worriedly before sighing.

"The only reason I'm agreeing to this is because I know you take after your father, and you are just as stubborn as he is." She grumbled, making me laugh as I reached out and grabbed her jacket.

"You are right. Now get going, I know your kids will be happy to see you home early tonight."

Truthfully, that isn't the only reason I was trying to rush her out. I wanted to get the hell out of here so I could go hide in my apartment for the rest of the night and wallow in my misery.

I know I kind of screwed myself over on this one, but waking up the next morning after that phone call with Grant, I realized how stupid I was being.

I mean, what was I thinking wanting to get involved with one of my patients' family members? Yeah, I felt this crazy attraction to him... the kind where you get lost in the moment and do things you shouldn't.

But if I ended up sleeping with Grant, that could put everyone in a bad position. I mean, what if I caught feelings, and Grant didn't? Then, I would have to continue meeting with them, and things would become awkward. Sammy would suffer in the long run.

So I let my head clear and decided against it.

Apparently, Grant still thought it was a good idea. I thought he might let it go, but nope. He sent me text after text, trying to get me to respond. I just didn't know what to say. So I waited until the very last minute to shoot him down so he wouldn't convince me otherwise.

Now here I am, sitting in the practice alone on Christmas Eve. My dad called earlier, telling me to send everyone home, considering a big snowstorm was coming in. The hospital seemed to be swamped at the moment, so our conversation was brief, but it left me feeling a sense of uneasiness.

Was this the life I was doomed to have?

At least my dad met mom in college. But me, I feel like I have no one. And maybe that's another reason why I decided not to act on those feelings with Grant. Because I'm afraid I might get attached.

Yeah, I have had a few boyfriends in the past. But it was always the same. They were headed towards the same career path I was on. So between our studies and the constant workload, it always seemed like just a basic needs type of thing.

We would meet up when one of us was horny, have s*x, and then I wouldn't hear from them until that need arose once again.

But if that's what this is with Grant, I feel like I can't do it. I just can't go through another one of those relationships where I end up feeling more alone than I did before it started.

I looked out the window, watching Taylor's car pull away from the curb as she drove away.

My heart was growing heavy as I tried to convince myself it was for the better.

I will just go home, cuddle up on the couch, and watch some cheesy hallmark movie before crying myself to sleep. Yeah, that seems like a much better option.

Turning around, I went to walk towards the back when I realized I hadn't locked the door.

But before I could even act on it, I heard the doors open as my heart suddenly dropped.

I whirled around, wondering if Taylor had forgotten something when my eyes quickly landed on the person now standing in the lobby.

Oh god. What was he doing here?

"Didn't you get my text?!" I blurted, seeing Grant now standing in front of me before lifting his hand and brushing the snow from his black hair.

It was hard not to gawk. He had on a dark brown trench coat with a black sweater beneath, making him look handsome as hell. Seeing him all dressed up like this had my mouth watering as I tried not to openly check him out.

"I thought we were ignoring texts from one another. I mean, that's what you have been doing to me all week." He stated darkly, the look on his face growing hard as I found myself taking a small step backward.

"I-I was busy." I blurted, lying right out of the gate.

"I'm sure you were Stephanie. But you don't look busy now." Grant began looking around the lobby, noting how empty it was as I couldn't help but follow his gaze.

"There's a storm coming, so we had to send everyone home." I blurted, stating the obvious.

"Well, I guess that means you can come to the party now." He replied firmly, stepping towards me as I quickly stumbled back, making sure to keep some type of distance between us.

"I can't! I don't have anything to wear!" I blurted the first thing that came to my mind.

That's when Grant began to smirk, his eyes seeming to spark with excitment as he continued to stalk towards me.

"Good thing I brought this then." He stated, lifting a clothing bag I hadn't noticed before, and that's when my butt hit the reception desk, making me almost go tumbling back.

"Why have you really been avoiding me, Stephanie? I want the truth."

I could hear the threatening tone in his voice, that predatorial look in his eyes growing darker as he continued stalking towards me.

"I was busy, I told you-"

"You're f*****g lying to me. Don't lie to me."

I swallowed hard, feeling my heart start to race as I reached back, gripping the desk behind me.

"Fine, it's because I didn't want to text you back. Is that what you want to hear? I just wasn't feeling this." I lied again, hoping to god he believes me this time. But by the look on his face, I knew he didn’t.

Grant clicked his tongue before lowering the bag in his hand and stepping even closer to me. I felt the heat of his body rolling towards me in waves. That cinnamon and smoke scent wafting over me as I tried not to tremble beneath that dark blue gaze.

Suddenly, Grant's hand shot up, gripping my chin tightly between his fingers before tilting my head back. His eyes burned into me fiercely. The weight of his stare rooting me in place as I felt my lips part before a gasp tumbled between them.

"Sweetheart, if you lie to me again, I'm going to bend you over my knee and spank the truth right out of you." He threatened, the intensity of his words causing my stomach to flip as I pictured the scene in my head. God, why was I getting turned on right now?!

"You wouldn't." I spat back, wondering how the hell I got myself into this position.

Grant arched an eyebrow, finding my response quite humorous as he bent down even closer.

"I think you want me to. Do you want me to do that Doc? Or would you rather I pick up where we left off before?" He asked as I felt his lips softly brush across mine.

I swear I almost melted onto the damn desk beneath me. My body turned to jelly as I tried not to move. I can't give in so easily.

"Tell me the truth." He ordered, the warmth of his breath feathering across me as the smell of mint hit my nose.

"I..."

"You what?" He asked, dragging his lips to the corner of my mouth before placing a soft kiss there.

"You disorientate me." I breathed, shutting my eyes tightly as I reached up, gripping the sleeves of his jacket.

"How?"

I felt Grant's hand slip down my chin before finding the base of my throat, holding me in place as he ghosted soft kisses along my lips towards the other corner now. It's like he was kissing me, but wasn't. The feel of it had my head spinning like I was getting drunk off of his touch and the way he held me.

"I've never felt like this before, and I'm afraid of how it will end." The words came tumbling out, making Grant freeze as I swear I felt his lips spreading into a smile.

That's when he pulled back, causing my eyes to flutter open as I saw him now staring down at me victoriously.

"Good girl, that's exactly what I wanted to hear."

And with that, Grant crashed his lips to mine, kissing me like I had never been kissed before.