Chapter Twelve
DYLAN
The Sunday morning sun was as bright as Dylan’s mood as he sat on his deck, enjoying his first cup of coffee and watching the cardinals play in the trees.
Finally, my life is back on track. Casey and I are working things out, and I have that new project at work. She and I should do something today, maybe Domer’s Pumpkin Patch. She likes decorating with real pumpkins in the fall, and they’ve got that corn maze.
Dylan shot off a text and quickly received an answer from Casey. He set a time for that afternoon, hoping they could extend the day into another supper. In the meantime, he’d have another cup of coffee on the deck and then retreat to his home office to play with some concepts floating around his head for that new building project.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Freshly shaved and showered, his wavy black hair still damp, Dylan dressed in an older pair of jeans and a dark green long-sleeve henley. He grabbed his truck keys, backed out of his driveway, and pulled into Casey’s. Maybe I should thank Aunt Bebe for her conniving. It is fun having Casey right here, and it might have helped a little with getting her back.
Dylan jogged up to the porch, knocked on the screen door, and called Casey’s name since the front door stood open.
“Come on in,” Casey yelled.
Dylan walked into the living room to wait.
“I’ll be out in a sec,” she added.
Dylan smiled at his bouquet of sunflowers gracing the coffee table and wondered how soon he should bring her more.
“Sorry, I’m a little late. I always think I can squeeze more into my time than I can.” Casey pushed her strawberry-blond hair over her shoulder and smoothed it with her hands.
“I don’t mind waiting for you, Case,” Dylan said. “But I don’t want to wait for this.” He walked over, placing his hands on each side of her face, and kissed her, only stopping when he heard her gentle sigh. “I’ve missed kissing you.”
“I’ve missed it, too.” She beamed up at him.
He slid his hand into hers. “Let’s go pick some pumpkins before I forget why that was a good plan and just keep kissing you.”
Casey slanted up on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss. “Pumpkins are a great idea.”
“Casey,” Dylan groaned as she pulled him towards the front door. “Are you sure?”
Casey laughed and locked up behind them. “Definitely.”
Dylan groaned again and opened the truck door for her before climbing into the driver’s side.
“Talk to me, Casey.”
“About what?”
“Anything that will take my mind off kissing you,” he ground out.
She grinned at him and laughed. “That’s hard to do when that’s what I’m thinking about, too.”
“Not helpful,” he glared at her.
Casey giggled. “I’ve missed you. I’ve missed this.” She pointed back and forth between the two of them.
He glanced sideways at her and took her hand. “Me, too.”
After a few miles, Dylan pulled into Domer’s and searched for a parking space. “I think half the county had the same idea.” He finally found a spot that was quite far from the action.
Dylan held her door open. “I hope you don’t mind a bit of walking before we even get to the pumpkin field.”
“Nope. But we don’t have to. Remember, they have that wagon with the straw bale seats going back and forth between the pumpkin patch and the parking area.”
Dylan nodded. “I’d forgotten about that. That’s great because hauling a bunch of pumpkins back to the truck does not sound like fun.”
“There it is, in that other isle. Let’s run for it.” Casey laughed as they both took off to catch the ride.
They caught it, and Dylan grabbed her hand, pulled her onto the wooden platform, and then down onto his lap. “There are a lot of folks needing rides. This saves a seat for someone else.”
Casey rolled her eyes, “I’m sure they would appreciate your sacrifice, but I think there are enough bales for everyone.”
“It was worth a shot.” He wiggled his brows. Dylan loved seeing the blush on her cheeks.
“Keep your mind on the pumpkins, Mr. Maguire.”
He smiled and tucked her into his side, throwing his arm over her shoulder. I’d forgotten how much fun we always have. This time, everything is going to work out, and we will stay together. She hasn’t said anything about the guy Aunt Bebe hired to date her. That needs to stop because I’m not sharing.
“Dylan, what’s wrong? Why are you looking like you want to murder somebody?” Casey asked.
“I just realized you haven’t talked about that guy you were dating. If we’re going to start fresh, you need to tell him because I’m not sharing.” Dylan said, grimacing when her eyes narrowed.
“You’re not sharing? Excuse me, but I am not a toy. And, just for the record, you don’t get to issue ultimatums.” Casey pulled back from him.
“Casey, you know that’s not what I meant.” Dylan felt the heat on his cheeks and held his palms out. “I want our relationship to be serious, just you and me. I won’t see anyone else, either.”
“Okay. That’s better. That’s talking about it, not just demanding,” Casey said.
Dylan slowly released the breath he hadn’t recognized he’d been holding and put his arm around her.
Casey looked up at him and smiled. “Besides, I told him I couldn’t date him anymore before you even asked me out for coffee.”
Dylan felt the rush of joy all the way to his toes.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dylan carried the last of the five pumpkins into Casey’s house and set it next to the others on the dining room table. “I still say that’s a lot of pumpkins, Case.”
“I know, isn’t it great? I would’ve bought a couple at the store, but this is much better. Plus, I got this bag of free baby pumpkins. They’ll be so cute at the office.” Casey beamed at him and then kissed his cheek. “Thank you for taking me.”
“It was fun. I really liked the corn maze. But I’m starving. Do you want to go someplace for supper?”
“How about I order pizza, and we eat on the back deck? I have beer in the fridge,” Casey said.
“Great. That’ll be faster than a restaurant, especially on a Sunday.”
“Grab a couple of bottles and go on out. I’ll call in the meat lover’s pizza and be right there.”
Dylan popped the tops off the drinks and went outside. He set Casey’s beer on the small table but remained standing and stared at the sky. I know we need to talk about this, but I don’t know how without making her mad. She doesn’t believe she’s in danger, but I could tell those guys were not waiting to look at houses.
Dylan turned when Casey stepped out of the house. She’s gorgeous inside and out. I can’t lose her again when I just got her back. But she said she wanted me to talk to her about things, so here we go.
Casey sat down and sipped her beer. Dylan took the chair beside her on the other side of the table and put his beer down.
“We should have hot cheesy pizza in twenty.” Casey grinned at him. “What a fun day. Thank you again.”
“I’m glad we got to spend the day together,” Dylan said. “I have something else I want to talk to you about, but I’m not sure you’re going to want to hear it.”
Casey took another drink and set it down. “It’s okay. I’m listening.”
Dylan reached over and took her hand in his. “I know you’re trying to identify who is stealing money at work, and whoever is responsible will not like getting caught. I’m concerned that the cable guy and the men in the black SUV are somehow connected to your investigation. I’m worried about your safety, Casey.” Dylan watched her closely, wanting to gauge her reaction. He heard her soft exhale as she pulled her hand back.
“Dylan, I appreciate your concern. I truly do. But what I’m doing isn’t dangerous. I swear. I’m combing through paperwork, matching inventory, sales, and expenses, and checking into some employees’ backgrounds more thoroughly. That’s all. Greg made me promise that as soon as I have it narrowed down a bit more, I’m to tell him, and he’ll take it from there.”
Casey gazed into the distance and then back to him. “It’s essential to me that you recognize that I can handle the job and take care of myself. More than you realize.”
Dylan took her hand again and held it to his chest. “Then help me understand. Because right now, all I can see are the risks.”
Casey took another sip of her beer, then tried to extract her hand.
“Please don’t pull away, Case. Stay with me.” Dylan squeezed her hand and continued to hold it to his heart.
“It’s old junk, but it still hurts. When you’re a teacher’s kid, there’s not a lot of money. Teachers don’t earn much, and my parents believed it was more important for us to have mom home than more income.” Casey looked at him. “So, we wore hand-me-down clothes and shoes, and you can probably imagine the taunting that happened. It never bothered Rachel or Emily, but it got to me in middle school, and I felt like I never fit in. Like I was always on the outside looking in. The one thing I was proud of was my grades. I always worked hard and had straight As. Then, one day, I overheard some other kids’ parents talking about how I only got good grades because my dad was a teacher. That I couldn’t have earned them on my own, that I wasn’t that smart.”
Dylan moved over and crouched in front of her chair, gently wiping her tears. “I’m so sorry, Case. You are brilliant, talented, and capable of doing anything you put your mind to. I’ve never doubted you. I apologize if it seemed I was. That was not my intent.”
Dylan went onto his knees, pulled her into his chest, and held her, wishing with all his heart he could fix it so she never had to hurt again.
Casey snuggled into him and held on. “I get that, Dylan. I do. Part of me knows this is all about old beliefs, not reality. But that’s not always the part that seems to be in charge.” She gave a watery laugh, then leaned back. “I’m okay now.”
Dylan kissed her softly. “You know I will always believe in you, right?”
She nodded and brushed a kiss across his lips. “I’m trying to. I promise.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dylan hummed to himself as he expanded his drawings for the new building project when Colin walked in and plopped down in the chair.
Dylan swiveled from his wide-teak drafting table to face Colin. “Morning. I have those changes done for the Martinez house if that’s what you want.”
Colin smiled, “Yes. I’ll grab them before I leave. From the humming, I’d say you’re in a good mood this fine Monday morning.”
“I am. I’ve got some designs for that office building that I think will wow our client.”
“Nice. But I was referring more to the wonderful weekend you had with Casey.” Colin grinned, making air quotes with his fingers.
“What do you know about my weekend?”
Colin shook his head. “You still don’t get it, do you? You’ll comprehend how this works once you and Casey are married.”
Dylan narrowed his eyes, “What in the world are you talking about?”
“You take Casey out on Saturday and Sunday and think that doesn’t hit the sister news broadcast? Trust me, it does.” Colin laughed.
“Aren’t you supposed to be managing a construction site someplace?” Dylan growled.
“I had to pick up the paperwork for the Martinez house. Yanking your chain is just a side benefit.”
“Lucky me.” Dylan rolled his eyes so hard he was surprised he didn’t fall off the stool.
“Okay. Fine. Joking aside, I’m glad you and Casey are working this out. You guys are meant to be together.”
“Thanks. I think so, too. But logically, it’s still early to use the M-word. I mean, we’re just starting over again and proceeding with caution.”
Colin stood. “Love isn’t always logical, baby brother.”
Dylan’s pencil caught Colin in the back on his way out the door. Dylan grimaced as Colin laughed his way down the hall.