Chapter 14
Casey
I had every expectation that Gretchen would demand changes to my article about Natalie’s bachelorette party, and zero expectations that Landon would show up at my door when I didn’t text him back.
I was wrong on both counts.
Not only did Gretchen not want to change a thing in my article, she actually praised me for it, saying it was some of my best work.
She did not need to find out I was drunk for most of the party and definitely did not need to know I wrote half the article the same night, after Landon kissed me and left me wanting way more than a kiss.
I deleted those parts of the article, but when I read them the morning after, I knew I couldn’t face him again.
Until he showed up at my door and made me feel like kissing him was not only not a mistake but it was a gift.
The man could kiss. I thought my drunk brain was wrong when it said he was exceptional, but nope. He was exceptional.
One more thing that made me wonder why in the world Reegan let him go.
And made me jealous of whatever woman didn’t.
Too bad it couldn’t be me. But I wasn’t looking for a new husband. Or to start over as a mom. My old dreams were gone, and even Landon’s echoing of them wouldn’t get me to change my mind.
Right after Mikayla left for the bus Tuesday morning, I looked up my article, holding my breath as I read every word to make sure Gretchen didn’t change it without telling me again.
The women of MacKellar Cove know how to throw a party.
This reporter was lucky enough to get an invitation to Natalie Edwards’ bachelorette party, and it is not a night I will soon forget.
Friendship and love were on full display, along with a selection of carefully curated adult treats.
From the cake to the decorations, there was no doubt the night was destined to be a lot of fun.
I smiled. Every word was mine, and every word was perfect.
Natalie was thrilled with the article, and I couldn’t wait to get started on the next one.
I wanted to capture the vibe of the reception and was showcasing the photographer, band, and DJ.
They were the people who would set the tone for the reception and be the pieces Natalie and Omar would remember forever.
I was on my own to meet with the vendors.
Natalie and Omar were working every day to make sure they had a full two weeks off for the wedding, and the band, DJ, and photographer had weddings booked solid over the weekend.
I had a meeting scheduled with the photographer for Tuesday morning and one with the band for Wednesday, but the DJ was proving harder to connect with.
I’d left him a message the week before asking to schedule a time to talk, but he never got back to me.
The phone rang twice, then a man picked up.
“This is Adam.”
“Hi, Adam. This is Casey White with the MacKellar Cove Gazette. I’ve been trying to reach you to set up a time to meet. I’m working on an article about Natalie Edwards and Omar Knight’s wedding and know you would be a great addition to it. Are you available sometime this week so we could talk?”
“No.”
“Oh. Um, okay, maybe we could speak over the phone?”
“Not happening.”
“Is there a reason you aren’t willing to speak to me?”
“I don’t know you. And I don’t owe you an explanation.”
“You don’t, but—”
The phone was silent. I looked, and he hung up.
“Dammit.” I didn’t want to bother Natalie with the issue I was having getting in touch with her DJ, but if I couldn’t get him to speak to me, I was either going to have to change the article or reach out to Natalie.
I didn’t like either option.
I did some research on other things I could write the article about, other vendors who would help to set the tone for the reception, but I was stumped.
Without the music, a wedding would just be a bunch of people talking.
The band was great, but they were playing during the cocktail hour and dinner.
The DJ would be the one who got everyone on the dance floor.
He would play the music Natalie and Omar chose.
He would make the night one to remember.
But he didn’t want to talk to me.
I was still trying to figure out other options when I left to meet Landon for lunch. He wanted to go to Just Tacos, and since it was one of my favorite places, I agreed easily.
He was already at a table when I walked in. He stood and slid his phone into his pocket, walking to me like he couldn’t keep himself from my side.
“Hi,” he said, leaning down to kiss my cheek.
“Hi.” My face flamed. The other diners watched us, probably wondering what in the world he was doing with me.
“I wanted to wait for you to order. Do you know what you want?”
You? My cheeks burned hotter with that thought.
“I like the way you think,” he whispered, forgoing my cheek and kissing me on the lips. He pulled back quickly and grinned at me. “We’ll save that thought for another time.”
“Did I say that out loud?”
He chuckled and grabbed my hand. “Your face did.”
“You don’t know what I was thinking.”
He squeezed my hand. “No, but I know I have your favorite.”
“Oh my God,” I groaned. “I hoped you’d forgotten about that.”
He tapped his temple. “Never. That’s locked in here for life.”
I closed my eyes and shook my head, wishing that were enough to erase my embarrassment.
“You have no idea how big of a turn-on that statement was,” he whispered against my ear. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Or taking matters into my own hands because of it.”
My breath puffed out of me. I looked at him, my gaze slamming into his. His pupils were dilated. There was no hint of teasing in his eyes. “You…”
“Absolutely, Casey.”
“Oh.”
“Does that make you uncomfortable? I didn’t intend that.”
I shook my head, wishing I could cross my legs or take matters into my own hands. “Not uncomfortable in the way you’re asking.”
He chuckled. “That’s good to know.”
“What can I get for you guys today?” the woman behind the counter asked.
“I’ll take three soft tacos, grilled chicken, loaded. Water to drink. And chips and salsa. Do you want queso?”
I nodded.
“We’ll do queso, too, please.”
“Are you together?” the woman asked as she finished keying in his order.
“No,” I said.
“Yes,” Landon said louder. “Casey, order.”
The commanding tone of his voice made me shiver. I swallowed roughly, then ordered three loaded beef and bean tacos and a water.
“Can I get a name for the order?”
“Landon,” he said, tapping his phone to pay for our meal. “Thank you.”
“Enjoy.”
Landon pulled me away from the counter and back to the table he was at when I arrived. “Next time we meet for lunch, we need to go somewhere more private so I can kiss you how I want to.”
“Your flirting is next level, you know that? I knew you were good, but this is…”
“Not flirting for the sake of flirting, Casey. I told you the first rule is you have to mean it.”
“I don’t think I know what to do with that.”
“With what?”
“With you saying you mean it. I’m way older than you, and we want different things.”
“And that means I can’t be attracted to you?”
“No, I just…”
“First, I don’t think you’re that much older than me. You might not be older than me at all. I’m thirty-five. Can I ask how old you are?”
“I just turned thirty-eight.”
“Less than three years. That means we would have been in high school at the same time. If I was older than you, you wouldn’t think twice about a few years between us, so why is it an issue that you’re a little older?”
“I… I thought you were a lot younger.”
“Ouch.”
I laughed with him. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“No, no, it’s fine. You’re telling me I’m old. I get it.”
I shook my head. “I’m older than you, so what does that make me?”
“Perfect.”
I snorted. “Nowhere close.”
He reached for my hand. “You’re beautiful and sexy and smart and talented and a great mother and independent and you have a laugh that makes my heart stop and you make me want to spend as much time with you as I can talk you into.”
My cheeks got hotter and hotter with each word he said. I didn’t know how to take compliments at all, but he had this way of speaking to me as if he couldn’t imagine not telling me these things. I bit my lip and lowered my chin to hide from him.
His name rang out over the sound of the other diners, and he winked at me before he went to collect our lunch. I exhaled a slow breath and tried to calm my overactive desire for the man I had no right to want.
Even though I really, really wanted him.
Landon set the trays on the table and made sure we had everything we ordered before I unwrapped my first taco.
“Your article was really good,” he said as I bit into my taco.
“You read it?” I asked around my food.
He nodded, his eyes narrowing as if he couldn’t believe I asked. “Of course. I like to know what’s going on in town, but I also enjoy your words. You’re really talented, Casey.”
“Thanks. Too bad not everyone feels the same way.”
“What do you mean?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. I’m just complaining.”
“And I want to know what’s going on with you. Who doesn’t feel the same way about your writing?”
“I don’t know if he has ever read anything I’ve written, but I’m trying to get a meeting with the DJ Natalie and Omar hired. He’s been avoiding my calls, and when he answered today, he told me he won’t talk to me. I don’t know why.”
“Do you want me to call him?”
“You know Adam?”
Landon pulled out his phone and tapped the screen.
“I’m the one who suggested him. He’s worked a few weddings I’ve done the flowers for and heard great things about him.
We’ve recommended each other a few times.
There aren’t a ton of vendors in the Thousand Islands.
It’s all small towns up and down the area.
Adam is talented. And he’s local. He lives about twenty minutes north with his husband and two kids. ”
“I feel bad asking you to get involved.”
“I don’t mind at all. Let’s eat, and I’ll call him before you leave me for the day.”
“You have to get back to work, too.”
He chuckled. “I do, but I’d rather spend the afternoon with you.”
My cheeks warmed again. I smiled as I took another bite of my taco. “So, what’s my next lesson? I don’t think the first one worked.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m on that dating app. Book Boyfriends Wanted?”
“I’m familiar with it,” he said, sounding less than thrilled.
“I’m sorry. Is it… I shouldn’t.”
“Shouldn’t what?”
“I shouldn’t be talking to you about other men.”
“I won’t lie and say I’m totally on board with you seeing other men, but after the wedding, I agreed to walk away if that’s what you want. We started this because you wanted to learn how to flirt.”
I nibbled my lip and debated how much to tell him about DirtyLife.
“Just say it, Casey. You met someone else?”
“Yes and no. We’ve been talking for a while. Since before you and I started talking.”
“Is he the one you were thinking about flirting with when you asked me to teach you?”
I nodded. “Yeah. He’s easy to talk to, but mostly we complain about our exes and how hard it is to move on. But after your last lesson, I tried to ask him out. He said he wasn’t available to meet for lunch because of work.”
“Which isn’t unheard of,” he said.
“I know, but it felt like he wasn’t telling me the truth.”
“What do you mean?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I just felt like there was a reason he didn’t want to meet.”
“So you’re not talking anymore?”
“We are. We didn’t for a few days, but he reached out and said he wanted to meet. We agreed to talk for a few weeks, and we’re going to meet after the wedding. I figured that was okay. Is that okay?”
“We will be done with lessons,” Landon said with a smile I could tell was forced. “I will bow out gracefully.”
“I’m not intending to hurt you.”
“I know. And it’s fine. You need to figure out what makes you happy. And if this guy is the one who makes you happy, I can’t tell you not to meet him.”
“Thanks. But I need more lessons. Since it was not so easy to get him to agree to meet, I know I’m going to need to do better when we actually get together.”
“Flirting online can be tough. In person, you can use more than just words.”
“True.”
“I guess your next lesson needs to be flirting without saying a word.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
I laughed. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Maybe I just like to hear you laugh.”
Damn, he was good. My entire body flashed with heat. “I can understand that.”
“Good. What would you do to make me laugh?”
“Strip?”
He choked on his water. “That would definitely not make me laugh. I’d be speechless, not laughing.”
“Men are simple creatures.”
He nodded. “Yes, we are, but I’m not speechless every time I see a naked woman.”
“I don’t know what I would do to make you laugh.”
“That’s okay. Everyone is different. I suggested that since you said you want laughter in your next relationship. Relationships and flirting aren’t just about sex or chemistry. They’re about finding things that keep you together. Of course, you know that. Sorry.”
“No, you’re right. My ex and I didn’t have enough things that kept us together.
We had chemistry at first, but we got married because I ended up pregnant.
We didn’t go into it with that plan. We never had that plan.
We decided to get married because of Mikayla, not because we couldn’t imagine not being together. We were never like Natalie and Omar.”
Landon nodded but didn’t say anything.
“Is that… I didn’t mean to get into my failed marriage. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for your past. I wasn’t thinking about that.
I was… I had the same thought about Omar and Natalie.
Reegan and I were never like that either.
By the end, we were comfortable. We spent time together.
She’d show up at my place, and I’d go to hers.
We had routines. But watching Natalie and Omar is showing me a completely different side of relationships that I’ve never experienced. ”
“Same.”
“But I want to. One day. I want that.”
I ached to agree. To say I was hoping for it, too. But I couldn’t. The idea of opening myself up, to being that vulnerable with another person, and watching them walk out the door… It would break me for good.
“Anyway,” Landon said when I didn’t agree, “I’ll give Adam a call and see if he can meet with you this week.
I need to get back to work, but I’ll let you know what he says.
” Landon stood and carried his tray to the trash.
He dumped his trash and kept going, walking outside and leaving me to finish my lunch alone.
Not that I blamed him for being upset. But I couldn’t change the way I felt. No matter how much I wished I could.