Blank Slate

Chapter 102: Christopher Paxton

Hours before the explosion

This day was turning out to be just about perfect. Ezra, Oli, and I were playing frisbee on the beach. The sun was shining, there was a slight ocean breeze, and the sand felt amazing under my bare feet. The only thing that would make it better would be if Payton had joined us instead of staying at the hotel with Evie.

Evie would have been welcome too, although I was going to have to find a way to distance myself from her. It was clear that Payton thought that Evie and I were more connected than we were. Yes, we had sex but honestly, I didn't know much about the small exuberant girl. This was yet another reason why I didn't do the whole anonymous one-night stand thing, I had no way of knowing how the girl would react to a blow-off. Was Evie the clingy type? Or the pissed off type? Would she know that our drunken fling was pretty close to meaningless and be cool with that, or did she think that we had started something serious the other night? I really hoped she would be cool with me friend-zoning her because while I did want to be there to support her as she goes through this hard time, I wasn't really all that attracted to her.

It wasn't that I didn't think Evie was cool. It was I was totally falling for Payton. I was blown away by how she dealt with the whole Flynn/Evie thing and my interest in her was growing. Which was a big problem because I already thought about her about seventy percent of the time. Like right now. I should be enjoying my time off with my brothers but instead, I was lamenting over the fact that Payton wasn't here. 

This girl had me whipped and didn't even know.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket and I threw the frisbee to Oli before answering it. I saw that it was Liam and figured he was calling to check-in. However, as soon as I answered the phone Liam growled in a soft voice, "Tell me you are at the hotel."

My stomach dropped at his tone. This was his 'forced calm during a bad situation voice'. I had to figure out what was going on and move to render aid. While stuffing my feet into my shoes I said, "No we are at the beach. What's up?"

"All of you are at the beach? No one is at the hotel with Payton?" Please God, no. Something had happened to Payton. I should have stayed with her. Why hadn't I stayed with her? Ezra and Oliver picked up on my tension and were moving towards me. I needed more information. Once I knew what was going on, I could figure out how to help.

"That is correct. What happened?" I asked while trying to mimic Liam's calm tone. He didn't answer right away and I could hear movement in the background. When I heard a car start I knew Liam and Ethan were leaving Khalid's house. They must be heading to the hotel. I started jogging back to the hotel and Ezra and Oliver followed my lead.

Finally, Liam gave me some idea of what was going on. "Rashid is making a move on Payton. She is being escorted to his study. We are en route."

"Copy that. We are approximately seven blocks from the hotel and moving that way now," I said into the phone and then started sprinting towards the hotel. Payton was in trouble. I had to get to her.

Walking into that hidden office within the kitchen and seeing Payton alive and breathing and absolutely breathtakingly beautiful was one of the best moments of my life. She was okay. Even better than that, she was standing up to the most powerful person in this country without even breaking a sweat. She had to be all kinds of pissed off, but you would never know it. Nerves of steel and a million dollar poker face.

When I was able to tear my eyes away from the most beautiful woman ever, I caught sight of two paintings of Payton hanging on the wall. Holy shit those are hot. I know that we were in the middle of something serious and I needed to give the situation my full attention, but fuck I was totally unprepared for seeing those and now I was as hard as a rock. I would give almost anything to have Payton look at me that way. All fire and barely controlled passion contained within a body filled with luscious curves. Call me crazy but even the painting of her kicking ass was super hot. That was a woman that was fierce and completely capable enough to kick your ass. It illustrated her strength and I was drawn in because of it.