Chapter Twenty
DYLAN
Dylan stood in the gray cell, hands on his hips, staring at the concrete floor. The man on the bench hadn’t said a word to Dylan when he entered, and Dylan hadn’t spoken to him either. I can’t believe this is happening to me. So, this is what love does to you. I wonder if it’s too late to become a monk.
Dylan heard the metal door bang open and saw the SUV guys being led toward cells. This should be interesting. Dylan grinned at them as they were ushered into the adjoining cell.
Dylan walked closer to their cell. “Now that the whole story is bound to come out, do you want to tell me why you two were watching Ms. Murray?” Dylan asked.
Dylan watched as the men looked at each other without speaking until the driver nodded. “Okay. I suppose it doesn’t matter now.” He shrugged. “But I’m warning you, you may not believe us.”
Dylan felt the trepidation gathering in the back of his neck. “Try me.”
“We’re retired boxers. We pick up jobs here and there, usually working as security guards for events. We were hired to watch the house and occasionally pretend to be a repairman, specifically to create suspicion.”
Dylan rubbed his neck, beginning to get the picture. “Go on…”
“Well. For Ms. Murray, we were supposed to be nice, innocent guys, so we were. But we were told to act more like paid goons whenever you showed up.” The man shrugged again.
Dylan dropped his head and closed his eyes. “Let me guess, you were hired by Mrs. Bridget Maguire, right?”
“Yes, we were. How did you know?” the man asked.
“Long story.” Dylan looked up at them. “Did Ms. Maguire mention why she wanted you to do this?”
The second man moved forward. “Something about her nephew being as stubborn as a mule or not having the sense of a mule, maybe?”
The other man shook his head. “No. I think it was being as stubborn as a mule and not having the sense of a turnip.”
“Oh, right. Yes, I think that’s it. He’s as stubborn as a—”
“That’s okay.” Dylan interrupted him. “I get the idea.”
“She gave us your picture and said we would get a bonus if we got you mad enough to fight. But we weren’t to hurt you because she loves you very much.”
“She sure has a funny way of showing it,” Dylan grumbled.
“That’s what we said, but we try not to judge.” The driver stuck his hand through the bars. “I feel like we should at least introduce ourselves. My name’s Ted.”
Dylan grasped his hand. “I’m Dylan.” He extended his hand to the second man, who took it.
“I’m Sam. And you’re the turnip—I mean, the nephew.” Sam dropped Dylan’s hand. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Dylan shook his head. “It’s just one more benefit of being related to Aunt Bebe.”
Ted grinned. “She’s certainly not your average little old lady. She loves her family very much.”
Dylan sighed. “A little too much, sometimes.”
“We called her to tell her we were arrested, and she said she was coming down with a lawyer to get all of us out.”
“Of course, she is. The lawyer is my Uncle Sean. Maybe he can convince them to arrest her for being a public nuisance,” Dylan said, his tone hopeful.
They turned when the metal door rattled open, and Casey rushed toward them.
“Dylan, are you okay?” she asked.
He moved to her and held her hands through the bars. “I’m fine. I promise. Are you?”
“Yes. I was worried about you,” Casey said.
“I’m okay. And I’d like to meet our pretend bad guys, Ted and Sam. Guys, this is Casey.” Dylan smiled as the three of them shook hands through the bars.
Casey narrowed her eyes at them. “What does he mean ‘pretend?’”
“Mrs. Maguire paid us to act like hired muscle, so her nephew here would be suspicious and want to protect you.” Ted put both palms up in the air.
Dylan watched Casey’s smile bloom as she absorbed the news. “Isn’t that great? It means we were both right.”
Dylan heard Aunt Bebe before he saw her.
“I demand to see my nephew,” Aunt Bebe’s voice echoed down the hallway.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I can’t let you go back there.”
“I’m calling the mayor if you don’t let me back there this minute,” she said in her haughtiest voice.
Everyone was quiet as they tried to listen to what was said next, but it was too mumbled to distinguish. Soon, the sound of the door opening reverberated down the short hallway.
“Dylan,” Aunt Bebe grabbed him through the bars, “are you all right?”
Dylan hesitated, then sighed. “I don’t know. I might need to see a doctor.” Dylan winked at his Uncle Sean, who stood by Aunt Bebe’s side.
Sean stepped forward. “You do look rather bad, Dylan. Maybe we can get some EMTs in here to check you out.” He turned to the other two men. “Are these the men you fought with?”
Dylan nodded.
Sean looked them over. “I’d say you two should be examined as well. This is quite serious.”
Aunt Bebe considered them and then murmured, “No one was supposed to be injured.”
Sean gestured to the woman who had entered with them. “This is Detective Garcia. Dylan, you met her when she and her partner were investigating the theft of Aunt Bebe’s jewelry.”
“Yes. Hello, Detective,” Dylan said with a little wave, thinking how surreal this must be to the no-nonsense woman.
Detective Garcia nodded in acknowledgment. “From my understanding, we have three men wounded from fighting—two of whom were paid to fight.” She looked down at the small notebook in her hand. “And these same two men were paid to stalk Ms. Casey Murray. Do I have the facts correct so far?” Detective Garcia stared at the men in the cell.
Ted met her gaze. “Yes, Detective. That’s true.”
“Tell me who hired you, and I’ll make sure the District Attorney knows you cooperated,” Garcia said.
Aunt Bebe let out a small gasp. “Detective, you don’t have to ask them. It was me. I paid them to make Dylan realize how much he loved Casey.” She lifted one shoulder and averted her gaze. “I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt. It was just supposed to be acting to get Dylan to stop being logical about everything and deal with his feelings.” Bebe stepped toward Detective Garcia and stuck her wrists out. “It’s all my fault. You should be arresting me, not these three gentlemen.” She bowed her head. “Take me away, Detective.”
Garcia pulled out her handcuffs and jiggled them, causing the metal to clang.
Aunt Bebe stuck her arms out further, keeping her gaze on the floor. “Go ahead. Arrest me.”
Garcia looked up at Sean. “I’m sorry, Sean. I can’t do it. She’s too sad. She was only trying to bring Dylan and Casey back together.” She put the handcuffs back in her pocket.
Aunt Bebe immediately raised her head and glared at Sean. “And just what is Detective Garcia referring to Sean Ronan Maguire?”
Dylan watched Aunt Bebe morph from a tiny sorrowful figure to her usual, strong, take-charge self and shook his head at her antics.
“Calm down, Aunt Bebe,” Sean said. “I asked Detective Garcia to give you a taste of your own medicine so maybe you would quit getting our family involved with the police.” Sean pointed at her. “It’s not so fun when you’re the one being arrested, is it?”
Aunt Bebe arched a brow and smirked at him. “I would’ve been fine. And I’m sure I would’ve learned many new attack methods after spending a little time in the clink.” Bebe turned her back to him.
“Sarah, I’m sorry,” she said to Detective Garcia. Thank you for being so supportive.” She lowered her head and shook it. “My family simply doesn’t understand. I deeply appreciate the fact that you do.” Aunt Bebe hugged her.
“Um. You’re welcome, Bebe. But I want to add that you must stop doing these things. It’s not okay.”
Aunt Bebe placed her right hand over her heart and beamed at the detective. “I realize my mistake. You are correct. I’ll do better from now on.”
“I swear I’ve heard that before. I don’t believe her for a second,” Dylan said. “I don’t trust her further than I can throw her.” He narrowed his eyes and frowned at her.
“Dylan, if I may say something?” Ted asked from his cell.
“Sure,” Dylan said.
“It appears to me that Detective Garcia is right. Your Aunt’s plan worked.” Ted gently touched Casey’s arm through the bars. “And Miss, if you had any doubts about his love for you, there’s no way he could fake the depth of emotion he showed when he was worried about your safety. That man loves you, trust me.”
Aunt Bebe stared at Dylan. “Dylan, it seems to me that you need to be talking to Casey, not letting Ted explain it to you.”
Dylan ran his hands over his face. “Detective, is it possible for you to let me out of this cell? I’d rather not have this conversation with Casey from behind these bars.”
“Yes. I can let all of you out,” Garcia said.
Dylan stepped out and pulled Casey into a hug. After a deep sigh, he leaned back and gazed at her. “Casey, I do love you. I always have. And I promise to deal with my feelings and be okay with stuff that isn’t logical if it means I get to have you in my life.”
Tears glistened in her eyes before she buried her face in his chest. “I love you, too,” she whispered into his shirt.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sean called Rory and Elizabeth ahead, giving them the short version of what had happened and letting them know he was bringing Aunt Bebe home, with Dylan and Casey following them.
Dylan reached across to touch Casey’s arm after she parked at his family home. “I’m so sorry about Aunt Bebe, Case. I had no idea.”
Casey glanced at him. “You don’t need to apologize for her. You’re not responsible for what she does.”
Dylan grabbed her right hand and kissed it. “Thank you for understanding. I’m not sure everyone would be as forgiving,” he said, kissing her hand again.
Casey pulled her hand back. “We better go inside and talk to your parents. They’re probably wondering if you’re okay or not.”
Dylan leaned in and brushed a kiss across her cheek. “I’m with you. I’m great.” He noted the blush on her cheeks. “But if you insist.”
Casey stopped him before he opened the door. “Dylan, we still need to discuss some things.”
He recognized the gravity in her voice and nodded. “I know. We will after we’re done here, okay?”
“Okay,” Casey said.
They walked into the house and went straight to the kitchen, where they heard multiple voices talking over each other. The noise paused as he and Casey entered the room.
“Dylan, are you sure you’re all right?” his mom asked as she examined the bruise on his face.
“I have a few sore spots, but overall, I’m good,” Dylan said, then hugged her to reassure her.
“Casey, we’ve heard the whole story, I think,” Dylan’s dad said, arching a brow at Aunt Bebe. “Are you okay?”
Casey smiled. “I’m fine. I am glad it’s all over, though.”
Dylan’s mom hugged Casey. “We’re sorry you had to deal with all of this.”
Casey raised both palms. “Well, it was interesting, that’s for sure.”
Sean stepped forward. “I think Aunt Bebe has something to tell everyone, don’t you?”
Aunt Bebe stood. “Casey, please accept my sincere apology for meddling in your life. And as a formal apology, I am hosting a dinner here tomorrow evening for your family and ours. I’ll call your mom in a few minutes and invite everybody.”
Casey shook her head and hugged Bebe, then moved back beside Dylan.
“Casey, Dylan, do you want anything to eat?” Dylan’s mom asked.
“I don’t, but thank you,” Casey said.
“Me, either, Mom. I think we’re going to go home. We came because we knew you’d feel better seeing for yourselves that we’re both fine,” Dylan said.
His mom beamed at them. “You are right. Thank you.”
Dylan and Casey were thoroughly hugged before they returned to her car.
“I appreciate you making the stop here first. If you’d taken me back to my truck, I’d had to drive here to prove to them I was still breathing before going home,” he said.
Casey smiled. “I’d feel the same way if I were them.”
She turned into her driveway, beside where she had parked Dylan’s truck, before going to the police station. Instead of getting out, she angled herself in the front seat to face him. “Dylan, I love you, but I need to know that you will honor my feelings and support my decisions. I want to have a relationship with you, but to have the life I want, I need to be with someone who values me and encourages me to be the best possible version of myself. I want to trust that you will be that person for me. If you don’t think you can, that’s okay, but I need to know. I can’t keep going through all this,” Casey said as she pointed between them.
Dylan took her hand, bringing her palm to his lips, and kissed it. “Casey, you can trust me to honor the woman you are and value and support the woman you’re becoming. I know it’s been a rocky ride, and I’m sorry. I guess I did have to live through Aunt Bebe’s whole scheme to truly learn how important it is to listen to my heart, not just my head. I understand now that my feelings are not a weakness but, in fact, a gift because I feel so much love for you.” Dylan gently wiped the tears from Casey’s cheeks. “And when you said we were both right about the men Aunt Bebe hired, it hit me that even though we each saw completely different things because they wanted us to, we were both correct. We can view things differently and still be right. I think it’s important to remember that.”
Casey leaned over and kissed him, and Dylan swore he felt his entire body sigh in happiness.