Once he got into the room, he stopped next to a helpless-looking Adam. The foreman usually had answers for pretty much everything on the ranch. But clearly, seeing a frantic Elliot trying to calm his friend, who was scrunched in the corner on the floor, was beyond his capabilities.
“Please, Paulie. You need to come out,” Elliot pleaded. “You’re going to tear those stitches. Pennington isn’t here. You’re safe, Paulie.”
“You don’t understand, Elliot. He’s coming. He never stops. He wants to make me his pet, Elliot. Like a dog on a leash. He told me.” Paul’s voice was rising and his chest was heaving in panic.
Nolan put his hands on Elliot’s shoulders and gently moved him to the side. Carefully, with no sudden movements, he knelt down in front of Paul. Even kneeling, he was so much taller than the cowering little man.
“Paul, it’s Nolan,” he said.
“Nolan? Are you here to protect me?” Nolan’s heart almost broke at the tiny hope in Paul’s voice.
“Yeah, I’m here to protect you. Will you let me help you back to bed, Paul? Elliot’s worried you’re going to hurt yourself.”
“Will you stay this time, Nolan? Please, I’m scared.”
“I’ll stay.”
Paul held out his hands and Nolan scooped up the terrified man into his arms. Standing, he carried Paul to the bed and climbed in, boots and all, sitting against the headboard. Paul was desperately clinging to the material of his shirt, so Nolan arranged him on his lap so they were both comfortable.
To Nolan’s surprise, Elliot pulled his boots off and arranged the covers of the bed so they were lying over a still-shaking Paul.
Paul buried his nose into Nolan’s neck. “He’s coming, Nolan. This time he’s going to finally take me, or kill me. I can feel it.”
“What do you feel, Paul?”
“When he gets close and starts watching me, the hair on the back of my neck stands up.”
“Is it standing up?”
“No.”
“Then we have time. When it stands up, you tell me right away, okay?” Nolan believed Paul. He knew there were situations where people could sense danger.
“Okay.” Paul’s voice was so lost.
“Try to sleep now.” Nolan gently swayed sideways, rocking Paul, tying to ease the terrified man. He started humming, knowing that in the truck it had helped Paul relax last time.
A gasp almost made him stop humming the lullaby he was halfway through. Looking up, he saw Elliot standing in the middle of the room with his mouth hanging open.
“Your voice is beautiful, Nolan,” he whispered.
Nolan felt the blush creep up his neck and cover his face. If Paul hadn’t started to drift off, he would have stopped. But Paul was fast becoming more important than any embarrassment or shyness.
After a few minutes, Elliot left the room. Nolan waited a little bit to see if anyone else was going to come back. When they didn’t, he started softly singing a new ballad that he had heard on the radio. By the end of the song, Paul was asleep. Nolan dozed off sitting up, holding Paul tight.
* * * *
Paul was bored. It had been a week since he had arrived at the Crazy Angle, and he’d had enough of lying in bed all the time.
He had come a long way since the moment he had woken up in the early morning hours, the day after he had arrived. His first thought was how wonderful it felt to have Nolan’s huge, strong arms wrapped around him. The next thought flooding through his brain was that he was going to have his man-card taken away. He couldn’t remember ever acting so wimpy in his entire life, like he had acted the day before.
“How are you feeling?” Nolan asked quietly.
Paul didn’t answer right away, because he was entranced by Nolan’s beautiful, deep, baritone voice rumbling under his ear. Barry White had nothing next to Nolan.
“Paul, are you okay?”
Paul looked up into Nolan’s concerned face. “I can still feel the drugs a little, but it’s a lot better.”
“How bad is the pain?”
Paul took a moment to evaluate what his body was feeling. When he shifted a little, a bright flash of pain radiated from his wounds, but a more pressing concern suddenly became very clear.
“Nolan, can you help me to the bathroom? Now.”
With ease that completely astounded Paul, Nolan had him out of the bed and in the bathroom. Paul was embarrassed when Nolan stayed in the room while he took care of things. But soon was grateful, when he started shaking like a leaf, just from standing there for a few minutes.
Back in bed, with Nolan sitting on the wooden rocking chair next to it, Paul kind of missed Nolan’s big warm, body next to him.
“Do you prefer to be called Paul or Paulie?” Nolan asked.
“My friends call me Paulie.” It hit Paulie right then that even though he and Nolan had been through so much together, they were still virtually strangers.
“Can I call you Paulie?” A red blush was creeping up Nolan’s neck.
“Nolan, I think after all you’ve done for me, you can call me anything you want.” Was he flirting just a little? Maybe.
Nolan smiled, making his gorgeous green eyes sparkle. Paulie smiled back, captivated by the handsome man.
Unfortunately, Elliot came into the room just then, breaking the moment.
* * * *
What followed was a week of sleeping and healing. Graham came into his room the first day, with Adam and Elliot, to talk about what Paulie had been through. By the end of his story, all of the men were pale and more than a little angry.
Graham immediately called the sheriff. The sheriff proceeded to asked him a million questions. Paulie thought the sheriff discussed a plan to keep him safe with Adam and Graham afterward, but by then he was exhausted and Elliot had given him a pain pill. He might have missed the end of the meeting.
The best parts of Paulie’s days were when Nolan visited. He stopped in before breakfast and always said, “Good morning,” in his deep toe-curling voice. From what Paulie understood, it was at the morning meal that Adam discussed the day’s activities and explained what chores had to be done where, and by whom.
At lunch, Nolan came back bringing a tray with two plates of food on it. Paulie was delighted. He really loved spending time with the handsome Nolan.
Nolan brought the tray filled with food again at the evening meal. That was when Paulie would usually ask what he had been working on that day in the machine shed. Through Nolan, Paulie was learning how the Crazy Angle’s operation ran, and what repairing and maintaining the equipment required. Graham had discussed his qualifications and offered Paulie a job assisting Nolan. It had taken a lot of willpower not to fist-pump the air in front of Graham.
The only dark spot of their time together was that Paulie was having some trouble eating. He had to take each bite slow, and milk was his best friend. Thank goodness Nolan had the patience of a saint, and didn’t become impatient with him. Nolan said it was understandable that Paulie might have stomach problems, with all the stress he had been through. Paulie was still as embarrassed as hell when Nolan had to carry him to the bathroom and help he heave his guts out, twice.
The biggest shocker of the week was when Elliot was sitting in the rocking chair, explaining what his job at the Crazy Angle involved. Paulie was thinking, as he watched Elliot talk, that Elliot looked really happy, almost glowing. Then Adam walked in and put his hand around the back of Elliot’s head and planted a big kiss on his lips.
“I have to go into town, baby. See you later,” Adam said.
Adam left, and before Paulie could comment, Zaiden walked into the room. He went up to Elliot and the large, muscled redhead proceeded to sweetly kiss Elliot.
“I’ll be in the greenhouse today, sunshine,” Zaiden said.
When he left, Paulie was sure his eyes were as big as saucers. Elliot not-so-innocently looked at him, his lips slightly reddened.
“Elliot! You’ve got two of them,” he exclaimed.
&n
bsp; Chapter Five
“Yep, and they’re all mine,” Elliot answered.
Paulie searched Elliot’s face. He had attended Casey’s funeral and ended up staying an extra week, trying to help Elliot deal with the loss of his lover to cancer.
Elliot had been devastated, a mere shadow of himself. Paulie had never seen a more solid, happy couple than Elliot and Casey. In the middle of one night, as Paulie had held a tearful Elliot, he had told Paulie of the promise Casey had demanded. At the time, Elliot couldn’t imagine ever being with anyone else. Now it looked like Elliot wasn’t going to spend the rest of his life alone. Paulie was very pleased and happy that Elliot had found love again.
When Paulie had returned home after his week with Elliot, he’d had his first encounter with an angry Pennington. He had gone out to lunch with Penny, the receptionist and good friend from work. They had caught each other up on Paulie’s trip and Penny’s latest boyfriend. After lunch, they had returned to work, only to have Pennington confront Paulie outside the shop.
“Where were you last week, Paul?” Pennington asked.
“I need to get to work.” Paulie tried to brush by Pennington to follow Penny into the building. Pennington’s surprisingly strong, skeletal hand grabbed Paul’s arm, stopping him.
“Admit you were with another man, Paul.” Pennington demanded. “I won’t have you lying to me.” Paulie wasn’t sure if, somehow, Pennington had found out he was with Elliot or not. At that point, he’d had enough of the disturbing man. Wrenching his arm out of Pennington’s grasp, he took a step back.
“Leave me alone,” he demanded.
“What did you say?” Pennington’s voice was calm and deadly.
“I said, leave me alone.”
Pennington’s hand shot out and he backhanded Paulie across the face. Paulie didn’t fall down, but he did stagger back a couple of steps. Pennington grabbed him by the front of his shirt and dragged him close, until the maniac’s ugly face was just inches away from Paulie’s.
“I will never leave you alone. I have everything prepared for our lives together.” The guy’s putrid, hot breath and spit sprayed across Paulie’s face as the freak continued to threaten him. “You will lie by my bed on a special cushion. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wear a collar until you’re used to me. But in the end, I will put you above all the others I’ve had before.” The guy was nuts. Paulie knocked Pennington’s hand away. “Stay away from me,” he said.
Paulie walked into the shop. Behind him, he could hear Pennington promising again to never leave him alone. Looking back, Paulie should have left the city at that moment. He should have gone somewhere, to a different state, and contacted the police. But he hadn’t. He had stayed for a couple more weeks, giving Pennington time to infiltrate his entire life.
Everywhere Paulie went, Pennington was there, watching him. A couple of times, Pennington even tried to pull him into a car. Paulie had given the creep a black eye and a busted lip in return. Paulie had even caught glimpses of Pennington standing outside his home, watching it. Calling the police resulted in nothing. Pennington had his tentacles wrapped tightly around the governing body of his town. Paulie realized very quickly that he was screwed, and not in a good way. That’s when he packed up what he could carry and left in the dead of the night.
Now, physically, Paulie was feeling better, and bored. Paulie’s nose twitched. Hmmm… something smelled good.
Slowly, he swung his legs off the bed. He was really getting tired of that pulling, itchy feeling the stitches made when he moved. Clad in sweatpants and a T-shirt, he put both feet on the cool tile floor and stood up. Promptly, Paulie sat back down again as the breath was sucked right out of his lungs.
It was shocking how all the stitches had pulled tight and his damaged abdominal muscles protested loudly. Taking a few deep breaths, he prepared himself and stood up again. With careful steps, a barefooted Paulie made it across the bedroom, then through the sitting room, and finally he opened the door adjacent to the kitchen.
“Paulie, you should have called me. I would have helped you.” A concerned Elliot put down the spatula he was using to take the freshly baked, still-warm chocolate-chip cookies off the pan.
“No, I’m fine.” Paulie made it to the stool next to the island counter and gratefully slid onto it. A glass of milk and a napkin with two cookies was set in front of him.
Paulie bit into one of the cookies and let the warm, chocolaty goodness burst over his taste buds. Then he took a sip of the ice-cold milk. For the first time since the accident, he didn’t feel the immediate need to suppress the urge to throw up.
Paulie looked around, seeing the ranch house for the first time. Through a large doorway, there was what could only be described as a family- or game-room. Overstuffed chairs and sofas were situated around in cozy clusters. From the angle he was sitting at, he could see the corner of a pool table, and on the far side was a foosball table. There was also a massive television against one wall.
Turning a little, Paulie saw that the other side of the kitchen was open, with a wide hall leading to the formal living room and a foyer. Attached to the hall, on the right side was an oversized doorway of a dining room.
Looking around the kitchen, Paulie could see that Elliot had a sweet setup. Floor-to-ceiling cupboards covered the walls. There was a small door, with an etched glass panel set in it. In frosty, elaborate lettering, it said “Pantry.”
On one wall was an industrial-size stove, with multiple gas burners and oven doors. There was also a refrigerator that was so large it looked like you could walk right into it. The salmon tile floors blended perfectly with the southwest theme that was used throughout the house.
“What’s that?” Paulie pointed to a television that was suspended up in the corner of the room. On the screen, a huge horse was walking around and rubbing its belly against the rail of the stall.
“That’s a live feed of one of the mares that’s ready to give birth. I help keep an eye out for any sign that it’s time.” Elliot was watching the mare walk from one end of the stall to the other end.
“Do they always shiver like that?” Paulie asked. He was kind of fascinated by the huge horse.
“Crap.” Paulie grabbed his cell phone and quickly pressed some buttons. “Callum, something is going on with Chelsey.”
There was a moment of silence and then utter fear passed over Elliot’s face.
“Not in this lifetime,” Elliot responded into the phone.
Elliot ended the call, picked up the remote control and turned off the television. Paulie had managed to catch a glimpse of a large man entering the stall with the now-panting horse.
“Hey,” Paulie protested.
“Trust me. You do not want to see any more of that.” Elliot shuddered.
Just then, Paulie heard a door open and the sound of laughter and male voices come from down the hall off the kitchen. Nolan and another man walked into the room. Nolan was looking over his shoulder, his white teeth flashing as he laughed at something the other man had said.
Paulie studied the other man. He looked to be a couple of inches taller than Paulie, with wavy black hair and beautiful silver eyes. Paulie knew he didn’t have any right, but he could feel the ugly bands of jealousy gripping his insides.
An elbow gently nudged his arm. “That’s Xavi, he’s with Trace. You have nothing to be worried about,” Elliot whispered.
Paulie looked at Elliot in surprise. Which he realized was stupid. He and Elliot were so close that Elliot could read him like a book. So he did the only think he could think of. He stuck out his tongue at Elliot, who stuck his out back at him.
* * * *
Nolan had run into a chuckling Xavi just outside the side door to the big house. When he asked Xavi what was so funny, Xavi had explained that he had been in the barn with Callum when Elliot called to say one of the pregnant mares looked like it was going into labor.
Callum had teasingly asked Elliot if he wanted to help with the birth, a
nd Elliot’s response was classic. Nolan couldn’t help but laugh, too. Everyone was still telling the story of how Elliot had not handled watching a mare give birth a couple of months ago very well. Nolan had heard one version say that Elliot had run out of the barn screaming at the top of his lungs. Nolan wished he could have been there.
Laughing, Nolan entered the kitchen to Paulie and Elliot whispering and sticking their tongues out at each other. Not knowing what to think of that, Nolan walked over and sat on the stool next to Paulie. It sure was good to see him up and around.
“Hi,” Nolan said. Paulie’s beautiful hazel eyes were crystal-clear today and Nolan felt like he was sinking into their depths.
“Hi,” Paulie responded, smiling.
Nolan smiled back and they both sat there, neither looking away.
“Do you hear that, Elliot? That’s the sound of another one biting the dust.”
Nolan turned and saw that Adam had entered the kitchen and was standing behind Elliot, pointing at Nolan and Paulie. He watched Elliot raise his arm and thrust his elbow backward into Adam’s gut. Everyone started laughing at a hunched-over Adam gasping for breath.
“Sometimes you’re such a dork, Adam,” Elliot said.
Nolan heard sounds of the rest of the cowboys coming in the side door and the thud of boots hitting the floor. Shoes and boots weren’t allowed in the main house. Immediately, Elliot turned toward the industrial-sized stove and opened one of the oven doors, pulling out huge pans of a creamy concoction of chicken and vegetables. Next, he pulled out pans of hash browns that looked like they were covered in cheese and smelled like they were topped with bacon. Nolan couldn’t wait to taste those hash browns after he drenched them in salsa. A contrite Adam helped Elliot by taking them to the dining room table.
Soon, a stream of cowboys of every size entered the kitchen. Each grabbed a dish or plate of food and took it to the dining room. Nolan noticed in irritation that some of the cowboys nodded at Paulie with a look of interest on their faces. Over Paulie’s head, Nolan glared at them, happy that most got the message and moved along.
Summer, Bellann - Paulie's Protector [The Men of the Crazy Angle Ranch 4] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) Page 4