Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
C ady was pouring drinks while the Rose sisters and Poppy and Zinnia were setting out food. People were laughing and hugging. It was nothing like Warrick had ever experienced.
“I spy with my little eye,” Cassidy whispered, “several women holding glasses of champagne and not drinking it.”
Warrick glanced around. “Is this that bet thing you were talking about?”
“It sure is. Do you know how many weapons and things I’ve bought off of winning these bets? Heck, one bet paid for my living room furniture. Not only that, but it’s good practice to keeping sharp for the field. Here are the current open bets.” Cassidy handed him her phone with the betting app open. He read through the pregnancy bets, the engagement bets, and his eyes stopped after reading bets on someone named Nikki and Sam because he saw his name there. Warrick and Cassidy were listed with a crazy number of bets on that line.
“This is us.” He turned the phone to Cassidy in surprise but she just nodded. “It was placed the second my identity was known.”
He saw one date that didn’t have anyone listed. “I should propose to you on this day just to mess with everyone.”
Cassidy whipped her head around to look at him with her eyes wide. “Are you seriously bringing up a proposal for the first time just to mess with people?”
“I thought we’d already determined marriage was on the table when I agreed to family dinner,” Warrick put his arm around Cassidy and pulled her to him. “You know I’m not walking away, right? I never could. I’ve loved you for years, sweetheart.”
“This doesn’t scare you?” Cassidy gestured with her chin at Blythe and Veronica and the town swarm of happy people congratulating them.
“Nope,” Warrick answered instantly. “It would have before you. With you? Not one bit. I can’t wait to marry you.”
“Could I suggest three weeks from today? My calendar is open that day. Lovely time of year for a wedding.”
“Jesus!” Warrick gasped in surprise.
“Not Jesus. Just his messenger. Kinda my job and all.”
“You snuck up on me,” Warrick accused the priest.
“Ah, yes, Special Forces training taught me that. Also used to be my job,” Father Ben said with a smirk as he pulled out his phone and placed a bet.
“Should a priest be betting on when we are getting married?” Warrick asked him.
“Oh yes, I have my eye on a new baptismal font. This bet will fully pay for that beauty. I think I might place a secondary bet for a week earlier. I noticed you said when and not if .”
Warrick turned to Cassidy to see she was trying not to laugh. “You knew he was there, didn’t you?” Cassidy nodded. “I see why you went home for training instead of to Quantico.”
“Yeah, Quantico has nothing on this town,” Father Ben told him. “I’ve rappelled out of more helicopters here than I did on active duty. I don’t know if they even do that at Quantico anymore. Now, should I pencil you in for your wedding?”
Warrick laughed and shook his head. “I need to propose first.”
Father Ben shrugged. “You’re right. I jumped the gun. I’ll pray for you to make it through family dinner. Cassidy can’t marry a man who can’t hold their own with her family.”
Father Ben walked off and Warrick looked over to see Cassidy struggling not to laugh. “Okay, smarty pants. Let’s see how you do. I spy seven women fake drinking. I know Greer and Ariana, so that leaves five more.” Warrick glanced around. “Ah, that one. People seem to know she’s pregnant. She’s drinking water like Greer is.”
“Correct,” Cassidy said, smiling up at him as if he were super smart. “That’s Sienna. Her husband is Ryan, the head of the FBI office. It’s their second child. But you’re wrong. It’s six total, not seven.”
“Then someone missed one, didn’t she?” Warrick loved the look on Cassidy’s face right now.
“I did not,” she gasped.
“You did too and I know who it is,” Warrick teased as he sauntered away to grab them a drink.
“You ready to go down tomorrow?” Dylan asked him at the bar.
“On Cassidy? Always.”
Warrick was ready to wage his own war. He’d read the dossier. The Davies family had made their threats and now it was time to get in their heads.
“Are you trying to get killed before dinner tomorrow?” Walker asked as he held Dylan back.
Warrick grinned and gave Dylan a wink. “See you tomorrow, bro .” Warrick sauntered over to Jace next. “Hey, doc. Medical question for you.”
“Can I declare you dead, tomorrow? Yes, I can. I’m estimating time of death at eight thirteen.”
Warrick just smirked. “I’m wondering what the procedure is for surgically removing my foot from your ass. Your wife is going to need to know how to do it.” Stella’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “Stella, your garden center is stunning. We drove by it today and I can’t wait to go shopping there. So many unique plants and trees.”
Stella thanked him even as Jace glowered.
“Sienna,” Warrick smiled. “You’re glowing. Congratulations.”
“Oh, thank you. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you. I look forward to talking to you more at family dinner.”
“Me too,” Ryan smirked.
“You got something on your suit,” Warrick lean forward and pretended to flick off a piece of confetti. “Your last FBI range test showed you could use some work. Let me know if you need some pointers, big shot.”
Warrick patted his shoulder and strode off, leaving Ryan sputtering. Probably because his last range test was almost perfect, but it was enough to get him to obsess over it.
“Evie,” Warrick smiled and held out his hand to Jackson’s wife. “Cassidy just adores you. I can’t wait to talk to you more tomorrow.” Evie smiled up at him as Jackson glared.
“Jackson,” Warrick angled himself as to cut Evie out of the loop so he could whisper, “Cricket tells me you cry during Frozen . Try not to cry tomorrow when I beat your ass. Okay, champ?”
“If you had siblings you’d cry too!” Jackson stammered as Warrick walked off.
“You must be Porter and Willa,” Warrick said, holding out his hand to the couple. “Willa, I’m in awe of your show jumping. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Willa smiled at him and told him about jumping while Porter smirked into his glass as if he knew something Warrick didn’t. Willa excused herself to go talk to Tilly when Porter made his move. “I can’t wait for tomorrow,” Porter said gleefully.
“Me too,” Warrick grinned. “I can’t wait to hear how you could only hack it in the CIA for a week.” Warrick walked off chuckling as Porter tried to defend himself. Truth was, Porter was a beast of a rodeo rider. That takes brass balls, but Warrick wasn’t going to tell him that yet. He’d wait until he passed this so-called test tomorrow before he admitted to the Davies family how much he really was impressed by them.
“Hey, you’re Parker, right?” Warrick asked, coming up to Porter’s twin.
“Yeah. Remember that for tomorrow. I’ll be the last person you see before you black out.”
“You’re welcome.”
Parker’s brow creased. “For what? Kicking your ass tomorrow?”
“No, you’re welcome. I saved your ass at Kale’s battle. I believe Miss Violet has video of it. So, you’re welcome for me saving your life. Nice meeting you. Looking forward to tomorrow.”
That part was true. He had saved Parker’s ass. Parker didn’t know it but by the way he was making a beeline to Miss Violet, he was about to find out it was the truth.
“You must be the chef,” Warrick said, holding out his hand to Landon. “Cassidy served me some of your food last night. Delicious! I wouldn’t listen to that stupid review that came out last night.” There was no review, but if Landon was as aware of the importance of publicity as Warrick suspected, he’d be up all night looking for it. “Oh, coach, you should run a throwback screen pass against Tennessee.”
“Don’t tell my wife—”
“You’re absolutely correct. That would work really well. Thanks Warrick!” Kate smiled up at him and Warrick winked at Landon before heading out to wreak more havoc.
“Cady!” Warrick said, grabbing two glasses of bourbon. “This place is simply amazing. You’re not only talented, but you’re such a good friend to Cassidy. Thank you for that.”
Cady blushed as Colton, her firefighter husband, smirked. “You should see the amazing things I can do with an axe. Oh, you will. Tomorrow at dinner.”
Warrick put his arm around Colton and turned him away slightly. “It’ll be nice to get some tips from an expert,” he said, dropping his voice so Cady couldn’t hear him. “The last time I dismembered a body with an axe, I couldn’t get those clean edges on the bone.” Warrick shrugged. “Maybe terrorists just aren’t the same as doors.”
Warrick patted Colton’s shoulder and turned to them both. “Can’t wait for tomorrow.”
“He’s so nice,” he heard Cady tell her husband as he walked back to Cassidy and handed her a drink.
“You have made quite the impression,” Cassidy told him. “The women can’t stop talking about how great you are and the men can’t stop glaring at you. Except for Landon, who won’t look up from his phone.”
“I was just letting them know how excited I was for dinner tomorrow.” Warrick put his arm around Cassidy and looked out at the havoc he’d spread. Damn. This was fun. “After all, I have to prove I’m husband material.”
“You don’t have to say that, you know. We don’t have to rush into anything when we’ve only started dating.”
“Ha!” her father said, joining them with his brothers. “Just because you’re my little girl doesn’t mean you’re not a Davies. You know the family motto.”
“Don’t miss.”
“The other one,” her father said with a roll of his eyes.
“Grandma knows everything.”
“The other one,” her father said again as Warrick watched Cassidy smile.
“Always bury the bodies–”
“The other one!”
“It only takes a day,” Cassidy muttered finally, having run out of options.
“What only takes a day?” Warrick asked.
“For a Davies to fall in love forever,” Pierce said. “Even if they’ve been around that person for years. I knew my wife practically my whole life. But one day I just saw her. The real her. And I knew I was hers forever.”
“Same,” Miles said, glancing at Morgan. “It was a bit of an enemies to lovers thing, but when she walked back into my life I knew I couldn’t live without her in it forever.”
“Now, go home and get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow.” Pierce patted him on the back. “You know I can’t give you permission to marry my daughter if you don’t make it through dinner, right?”
“Dad!”
“No worries, sir. I’ll be speaking to you shortly.”
“Warrick!”
Warrick took the empty glass from Cassidy’s hand and turned her to the parking lot. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. When I propose it’ll be romantic. Maybe I’ll borrow Pam’s flame thrower for some ambiance.”