Chapter Five
CASEY
Casey rolled the sleeves down on her blouse, took two deep breaths, and knocked on her boss’s open door. “Greg, do you have a few minutes to talk?” Casey took in the worry lines around his eyes, noticing how they eased when he smiled.
“Of course, Casey. Come in. Is this a closed-door conversation?” Greg shut his laptop at her nod and circled his desk to close the door, even though most of the employees had left for the evening.
Greg motioned her to a chair as he returned to his seat. “Does this mean you have information for me?”
Casey noted his eyes lit with anticipation at her smile. “I do. I’ve gone through several departments and can confidently tell you that your ordering, shipping, and delivery are clean. I’ve talked with staff and combed through sales and inventory, and it’s all favorable. While I understand this doesn’t tell you where the problem is, I thought you’d want to know what people and systems you can depend on.”
“I appreciate that, Casey. You’ve done a lot in the short time you’ve been here. Are you comfortable working here?” Greg tilted his head and gazed at her.
“Yes, everyone has been so helpful and welcoming. I’m enjoying the job, even if I’m not sure who I can rely on and who I can’t.”
“Well, thanks to your hard work, we both can relax a bit, knowing at least those departments are trustworthy.” Greg smiled, and Casey was again struck by how handsome he was even though he was her father’s age.
“Thank you, Casey,” he said. “It’s getting late, so you should head home. I think I’ll call Bebe and thank her again for recommending you for the position.”
“Thank you for giving me the chance,” Casey grinned and headed out the door.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Casey found what seemed to be the last parking space at Nathan’s Dark Head Brewery and rushed inside.
“Hi, Casey. Emily and Maribeth are seated on the patio.” Rebecca, the hostess, smiled and waved Casey on through.
“Thanks, Becca. Will you tell Nathan we’re here?”
“I already know, sis,” Nathan said, surprising her by arriving at her side unseen. He reached down and hugged her. “I’ll walk you back.”
“Your brewery looks busy as usual,” Casey said, taking in the full booths and crowding around the thick mahogany bar.
“Everybody loves our specialty beers, and all the women love me.” Nathan smirked at her, his wide smile lighting up his hazel eyes.
“The beer part, I believe; the rest tells me you must be hallucinating again.” Casey giggled.
“So much for family loyalty,” Nathan lamented as they entered the patio.
“Hi, Em. Hi, Maribeth.” Casey stooped down to hug them before sitting at the round table.
“Happy Wednesday, sis.” Em lifted her mug and took a sip of cold hard cider.
“Do you want your regular mixed appetizers?” Nathan asked Casey.
“Yes, please. And I’ll have a glass of the house white,” she said.
“Coming right up.” Nathan walked back toward the kitchen.
Maribeth, her caramel hair swept up in a sleek tail, leaned in. “Did you get to talk to your boss?”
A server sat Casey’s drink in front of her. “Thank you.” Casey savored the flavor of the chilled white wine before responding. “I did. That’s why I’m late.”
Now, Emily moved in as well. “Tell us everything.”
“I can tell he’s distraught about all this—and I would be, too, if someone were stealing money from a company I built from the ground up, especially since everyone knows him. It’s not like they wouldn’t notice if he were sniffing around.” Casey paused to enjoy another sip of wine. “Anyway, I let him know what departments were clean. So, at least he doesn’t have to worry about those anymore. He seemed happy I had been able to rule them out already.”
Maribeth raised her glass to Casey. “Of course he was. I told you you’d be great at this. If only we could get you to believe how talented and smart you really are.”
Emily lightly tapped her mug to Maribeth’s. “I’ll toast to that. I keep telling her the same thing, but she never believes me.” She shrugged. “We’re twins, Case. You must be almost as wonderful as I am.” Emily giggled and gave Casey a side hug.
Casey felt the blush on her cheeks. “Thanks, you two. Logically, I understand you mean what you’re saying, but that doesn’t make it true.”
“Come on, Casey,” Maribeth said. “We were college roommates for four years and have been BFFs ever since. I wouldn’t lie to you, especially about this.”
Casey saw the sincerity in her friend’s gorgeous brown eyes and smiled. “Okay. I promise to at least take your word for it—and yours, too, Em.”
“Finally.” Emily shook her head. “This was supposed to be a fun, easy get-together. Tell us how things are going with Jason.” Emily fanned her face and wiggled her eyebrows at Casey.
“Who’s Jason?” Nathan asked as he placed a large tray of appetizers in the middle of their table.
“Nobody.” Casey took a drink and grinned innocently at her brother.
“Then why was Em asking about him?” Nathan searched their faces.
“These appetizers look amazing. Please tell Natalie we said thank you,” Maribeth said before handing out the small plates.
“I’m starving. I didn’t get lunch today,” Emily said as she chose one of each offering.
“You realize I didn’t just fall off the cabbage truck, right?” Nathan glared at them. “Jason must be your new boyfriend.”
“Why does he have to be mine?”
“Because Maribeth has been engaged since your senior year of college, and Em asked about him. You’re the only option here.” He smirked. “That and the fact that your face is beet red.”
“Go away. Don’t you have a brewery to run?” Casey scowled.
“You do understand what’s going to happen?” Emily asked. “Nathan will materialize unannounced to try to catch you with your new guy and scare him.”
Casey groaned. “Jason is not my boyfriend. We’re just dating. And maybe I’ll meet him places instead of having him pick me up at the house. Ooh, these mini egg rolls are delicious.”
“Remember when I tried that,” Emily said, “and Nathan followed me to the restaurant and joined us for dinner?”
“No way.” Maribeth laughed. “Did he seriously do that?”
“Yes, he did.” Casey smiled.
“Why didn’t I ever hear about it?”
“I think it was the summer you went to Italy with your family.” Casey took a bite of cheesy crab dip and moaned. “This is my new favorite. You two can eat everything else. I’m just going to have this.” Casey pulled the dish closer to her plate.
“I haven’t tried that yet. Natalie said she was going to experiment with a new recipe.” Maribeth reached over.
“She doesn’t need to try out anymore. This is warm, cheesy perfection. Back off with the crisp, or I’ll stab you with my fork.” Casey narrowed her eyes and pointed her fork at Maribeth.
“Dang, one minute I’m your bestie, and the next you’re threatening me over cheese.” Maribeth laughed and grabbed the entire bowl, sliding it between Emily and herself. “Give us the scoop on Jason, or you’ll never have another bite of dip,” she threatened.
“Fine.” Casey wrinkled her nose at her best friend, then smiled. “He’s a model, so he’s gorgeous. But he’s also kind, funny, interesting, smart, and he listens. He would not steal my dip. Just sayin’.” Casey arched one brow.
“He’s always bringing her flowers or a bottle of wine or something. And his eyes light up when he sees her,” Emily added.
“All positive signs. What about the kisses?” Maribeth asked.
“They make me happy.” Casey grinned and propped her head in her palm.
“I think it’s time that, as your best friend, we go on a double date so I can check him out,” Maribeth stated firmly.
Casey frowned. “You’re as bad as Nathan. Does nobody here have faith in my judgment?”
“I do. I just don’t trust him yet,” Maribeth said, smiling sweetly.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Casey pulled into her driveway, glad to be home.
I love our Wednesday night get-togethers, catching up on our weeks, and having a dinner I don’t have to cook. But I’m tired. No one ever talks about how tiring it is to play Nancy Drew. I didn’t think it would be so hard not to be able to rely on anyone at work. Thank goodness, I’ve at least narrowed down the suspects. Now, I can relax and be more myself with some of the staff. I want to make a cup of tea, crawl into bed, and read.
Casey put her key in the lock, juggling leftovers and her purse, when Dylan rushed onto the porch.
“What are you thinking? Coming home so late and in the dark?” He snarled at her and grabbed the food box from her grasp.
“Excuse me?” Casey asked, her tone cold enough to frost glass.
“I asked what the heck you’re doing getting home so late?” Dylan pushed open the door while simultaneously pushing Casey through it.
“Stop shoving me. Just who do you think you are? My father?” Casey considered kneeing him as Nathan had taught her but thought it might be overly dramatic, especially since Dylan obviously had some type of mental illness.
“Just get in the house.”
Casey dropped her purse, took the box from Dylan, and socked him in the stomach.
“Hey. What was that for?”
“Have you lost your freaking mind? What are you doing?” Casey wondered if she could physically remove him from the house or if she’d have to wait until Emily got there from her grocery shopping to help. So, she punched him again because he deserved it. Never mind her punch was only half-hearted and more of a tap than a punch.
“Forgive me for being worried about you.” Dylan threw his hands up and paced in the small foyer. “I find out today that Aunt Bebe has gotten you a job playing spy, and then you come home alone in the dark and try to open the door with your hands full. What you’re doing could be dangerous.”
“So, what, were you looking for me to get home?” Casey asked, the edge back in her voice.
Dylan stared at the floor. “No. I wasn’t. I just happened to walk past the window when I saw the headlights.”
“Oh, so you were watching me after I got here.”
“Just enough to see that you weren’t taking any safety precautions at all,” he said, still pacing.
“Okay. I get it. You think I’m stupid and incapable of taking care of myself,” Casey said very slowly as she watched Dylan’s reaction.
“Yes. I mean, no. That’s not what I said, and you know it.” Dylan ran his hands through his hair, frustration pouring from him. “I’m worried about you, all right?” Dylan gently touched her cheek. “Case, I care about you.”
“No. If you cared about me, you’d have faith in me to handle things myself, not act like a neanderthal.” Casey stepped back from his reach.
“Case, you had a strange guy walking around your house yesterday. Who knows what he would’ve done if I hadn’t interrupted him.”
Casey opened the door. “Go home, Dylan. I’m fine. He probably just had the wrong address, is all.”
Dylan walked onto the porch. “Will you at least promise me to be careful?”
Casey shook her head and slammed the door in his face. She stood there, listening to his footsteps as they faded.
I am being careful, you idiot, not to let you back into my heart just so you can break it again.