Protect Me: Oakville Series:Book Three

The Oakville Series

First Love
- Kyle and Amber’s Story (Book 1 Part 1)

Remember Me
- Kyle and Amber’s Story (Book 2 Part 2)

Protect Me
- Paul and Holly’s Story (Book 3)

Coming Soon
(in no particular order)

Redeem Me
- Angel and Chelsie’s Story

Save Me
- Liam and Kelly’s Story

Forgive Me
- Beasley and Tanya’s Story

Marcus and Taryn’s Story

Clark and Becky’s Story

I want to dedicate this book to my Aunt Kathy, whom our family lost this year. I feel so blessed to have known such an amazing woman. She was one of my biggest supporters and always encouraged me to keep going. There are not enough words to describe how much she’ll be missed. We love you always.

“W
ELL, WHICH
one do you guys think she’ll like?” I question Becky and Kyle. We are all gazing down at a jewelry tray full of engagement rings. It took a lot of begging on my part, but I was able to convince my best friend and one of Holly’s best friends to come with me today. I understand Becky’s hesitation in coming along. She hasn’t known Holly for very long and wasn’t sure she’d be the best choice to help me choose her engagement ring. Kyle, however, has no excuse. We’ve been friends for too long. He tried to pull the I-just-had-a-baby card with me. That shit didn’t work. Amber just had a baby, not him.

Somehow, I was finally able to convince them both. I need this ring today. Amber and Cody are coming home from the hospital later this afternoon and Holly being Holly is throwing a little welcome home party at their house. All of the people we love will be there. Most people would propose in a quiet and romantic setting, but I know my girl. After being alone for such a long time, Holly and I never imagined we’d find each other, let alone a group of friends who are more like a family. So, asking her to be my wife in front of all the special people in our lives will be her idea of perfect. I have to admit, I kinda think it’s perfect, too. That’s not to say I’m not nervous as hell, though. Looking down at the shiny diamond rings, my throat goes dry and my heart beats rampantly in my chest. Why? I don’t know. I’m positive she’ll say yes, so why am I still so fucking nervous?

“Hello? Earth to Paul. You asked us a question then zoned out on us, dumbass. Did you even hear what Becky said?” Kyle teases. He knows I’ve wanted to do this since the second my eyes landed on Holly. I never believed in that whole “love at first sight” bullshit until I saw her. Although, maybe it was more lust at first sight and love at first sound
.
Holly is a knockout, there’s no doubt about it, but I think it was her take-no-shit attitude that made me fall for her. She is definitely one spunky ass redhead. Give her any shit and she will light your ass up. Though, I need to snap out of it and pay attention. This is important. My doll-face deserves the perfect ring.

“Sorry, Becky. I’m a little nervous,” I admit. They both gawk at me like I’ve lost my mind, but who wouldn’t be a little nervous in this situation? Hopefully they don’t see just how nervous I really am. It has taken a long time for me to feel like I deserve to be happy at all, let alone loved by such an amazing woman. For a while, before I met Kyle, I was so fucked up in the head, I didn’t care whether I lived or died. I think I would’ve actually preferred death.

“I remember when I was doing this and a certain someone was teasing the shit out of me for being nervous. What was it you said? Oh, yeah...‘being nervous is for pussies, of course she’s gonna say yes’,” Kyle playfully says between chuckles. Even Becky joins in and giggles. “At least now you get it.” I’m so glad they’re finding this all so amusing.

“Yes, I get it assnugget. Now, can you stop busting my balls and help me?” I joke and add a brotherly slap to the back of his head. Kyle winces in pain and steps out of slapping range. Okay, maybe it was a little harder than a brotherly slap. Becky looks between the both of us, the corners of her mouth threatening a smile.

“Wow.” She shakes her head. “I have no idea why the two of you would be nervous about asking two beautiful, smart, and very mature women to marry you,” Becky states sarcastically. She turns so she’s facing us both with her hands resting on her hips. In this moment, I can see Holly has turned this sweet and quiet girl into her little sarcastic sidekick. The world is not prepared for two of them. “Can you two stop acting like ten year olds long enough to do what we came to do? I have a party to help with.” She smiles at the both of us and goes back to examining the rings in front of her.

This is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Holly isn’t really a girly girl. Buying her some big, flashy diamond won’t impress her in the least. I need to find something special. Everyone has a diamond engagement ring, she would have something different. Something original.

“Do you have any amethyst engagement rings?” I question the eager salesgirl. Ever since she began helping us, she’s hung on every word, overacting like she really gives a damn about helping me and not just the huge commission at the end of the sale. The minute my question registers with her, all that changes. Her face tenses. The free, easy smile she wore minutes ago is gone, replaced with a hard, forced one.