Read Online Beautiful Life: The Carpino Series by Brynne Asher - Free Book Online Page B

home tonight and leaving you to your dreams just about did me in.  Let’s see if you still dream sleeping next to me.  If you don’t, terrific.  If you do, I’m here.  But there’s no way I can lay my head down ten minutes away from you wondering if you’re battling those demons by yourself.”  I close my eyes and try to pull away but he doesn’t let me.  Opening my eyes again, he adds softly, “Experiment with me, gem.  Please.”
    I let out my breath audibly because I don’t think there is any way I can get him to leave.  I finally bite out, “Fine.” 
    I scoot down in my bed pushing Mia out of the way and move as far away from him as I can.  This doesn’t work because Tony moves in right behind me, turns me to him and puts his arms around me even though I’m as stiff a board.  Then just like last night, he runs his hand down my thigh to my knee, pulling my bare leg up and over his hip settling us in.  My leg that now has goose bumps from his hand gliding over my bare skin. 
    I feel his lips come to my forehead where he says with authority, “Go to sleep.”
    I realize there’s no way he’s going to give me my space.  He’s one persistent guy.  I pull in a breath to try, relax myself and settle in.  It really isn’t as hard as I thought it might be since he’s pulling his fingers through my hair and it feels really good.  I start to feel myself melt away and quicker than normal, I’m out. 
    The next thing I know, I’m on my back with something warm pressed up against my side and something heavy across my chest.  I feel his lips against my temple as I blink my eyes open to find Tony’s arm lying across my front, angled up with his hand on the other side of my face.  Without thinking, I turn my head to the side to look into his almost black sleepy eyes. 
    He takes my breath away when he says to me, “Experiment was a success, gem.  Have a good day.”  He kisses my forehead softly and goes on, “And you’ll be seeing me tonight.” 
    I’ll be seeing him tonight?
    But as he gets up to leave me, I realize he’s right.  I didn’t dream.  I slept through the night, escaped the noise and the pain that takes over my body when I sleep. 
    And that’s how it has been for the last three weeks ever since Thanksgiving.  Tony comes to me every night and I take it all knowing I shouldn’t but wanting it badly because I’ve only dreamt twice with Tony in my bed.   He never wants anything more, he pulls me into his arms where I willingly go, he kisses me on the head and tells me to go to sleep. 
    I’m more rested and less stressed, even though my divorce still isn’t final.  Preston is claiming he was high on drugs the night be beat me, causing me to lose our baby.  He has checked himself into a thirty day treatment program and another court date has been set for the middle of January when he is supposed to be finished with his pretend treatment.  Preston could drink heavily and was a mean drunk, but he never did drugs.  I would recognize the signs being a nurse.  Tony was none too happy when he had to deliver this news, promising me it should be over in January. 
    My second patient is due for his meds in ten minutes so I head that way to chat with him until it’s time.  He’s elderly and doesn’t seem to have a lot of visitors.  Since I’ve been here for almost ten hours, we’ve gotten to know each other well.  I’m almost to his room when my phone vibrates again.  It has been going crazy for the past hour and a half and I haven’t had a chance to even pull it out of my pocket to see who it is.  Checking my watch, I’m able to spare a couple minutes so I turn back to the nurses station as I pull out my phone.  I have five voice mails and eleven texts, all from Gabby, Paige and Jude.  What the hell?
    I slide my thumb across the screen and answer with a smile, “I know it’s my first day back, you must really miss me.”
    “Oh, Leigh.  You finally