Chapter Thirteen
CASEY
Casey lingered over the scent of the roses she’d set on the counter while she waited for the potatoes to finish cooking.
“That bouquet is beautiful, Casey,” Emily said as she pulled the iced tea from the fridge and poured a glass.
“It really is. I love that he still gives me gifts, even though we’ve been dating for weeks. He never did this the first time around.”
“Maybe, this time, he appreciates you more since he almost lost you.” Emily shrugged. “Do you want any tea?”
“No, thanks. I’ve got water.” Casey took the potatoes off the heat and drained the water. “I hope you’re right.”
“What are you making?” Emily asked.
“Potato salad. Dylan’s taking me to his parents to watch the Ohio State game, and I wanted to take something. It’s the first time I’ll be with the whole family since we got back together.” Casey said. “I’m a little nervous about it.”
Emily rubbed her sister’s arm. “Don’t worry. They all love you.”
Casey gave her a small smile. “Rationally, I understand that you’re right. However, the butterflies in my stomach didn’t get the memo.”
“Just keep smelling the roses, and you’ll be fine, sis,” Emily said. “Now, I’ve got to finish grading those papers.”
Casey glanced at her flowers. “They do help.” Then she continued putting the potato salad together so it would be ready when Dylan picked her up.
Casey stuck the potato salad in the fridge to chill and went to change clothes.
I’m so glad we’re dating again. I was okay without him, but I wasn’t as happy. And since he’s opening up more, we’re even better than before he went to Ireland. We understand each other more, and he’s no longer hiding anything just because he’s afraid to talk about his feelings.
She looked at her outfit in the mirror: jeans, an Ohio State T-shirt, and tennis shoes. I have those football-shaped earrings with the Buckeye emblem that Dylan gave me last season. She dug them out of the back of her jewelry box, put them on, and looked in the mirror again. Now, I’m ready for the game. Casey smiled and went to answer the knock at the front door.
She stepped out, but Dylan did not move, and she found herself being thoroughly kissed.
Casey smiled up at him. “Wow. I like how you say hello.”
“I can’t help myself. I go wild whenever I see a beautiful woman in an Ohio State shirt.” Dylan wiggled his eyebrows and kissed her again.
“That works for me as long as I’m the only one.” She angled her head and narrowed her eyes.
“Trust me when I say you’re the only one for me.” Dylan beamed at her, and Casey felt herself smiling back at him.
Dylan settled her into the truck, then stared at her so intently that Casey’s butterflies started to flutter again.
“Case, I wasn’t joking. You’re the one for me.” Dylan leaned over the center console and brushed a kiss over her cheek.
Casey let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, and the butterflies calmed down. “I feel the same way,” she whispered. Dylan’s shoulders seemed to relax, and she realized he’d also been nervous.
“Sorry, Case, but I have to do this after you saying that.” Dylan flipped the console up, flush with the seatbacks, and pulled her over to his side.
After a few moments, Casey leaned away from the kiss, pushing her hand against his chest. “Dylan, your parents will wonder what happened to us.”
“Don’t care right now.” He tried to pull her back, but she just laughed, scooted back to the passenger’s side, and flipped the console down.
The scowl on his face made her laugh harder. “We have to go.”
Dylan rolled his eyes. “Football with the family is overrated.”
Casey laughed as he backed out of the driveway.
He cleared his throat. “Since we’re going to be all practical, I should warn you to watch out for Aunt Bebe.”
“You think Aunt Bebe will try to attack me?”
“I’m not sure. After the whole mail carrier incident, my folks had a serious discussion with her that ended with her promising not to assault anyone outside the family. The problem is I think she considers you family. So, I don’t know what she’ll do.”
“I know she drives you crazy sometimes…”
“It’s not just sometimes,” he muttered.
“But she’s fun, and she’s really enjoying life. I think it’s great,” Casey said.
“I don’t mind if she’s enjoying life. What I mind is when she’s meddling in everybody else’s.” Dylan glanced sideways at her. “Speaking of, there’s something she did I want you to know.”
“What?”
“I discovered she hired that model guy to date you, thinking it would make me jealous. I’m sorry, Casey.”
She burst out laughing, then laughed harder when his mouth dropped open.
“Why are you laughing? It’s not funny. I was so upset when I overheard her telling your mom about it, and your mom thought it was a good idea. I wasn’t going to tell you because I was worried you’d be hurt, and here you are laughing your butt off.” His scowl only made her laugh more.
“Believe me, I was mad when Jason told me that Aunt Bebe had hired him and why. But then I realized…”
Dylan jerked his head to her. “Wait a minute. He told you?”
“Watch the road,” she said, pointing. “Yes, he told me. He let it slip that he knew about you and us, and when I demanded the truth, he explained everything and said that he had already been planning to give Aunt Bebe her money back. Then he told me he’d like to date me for real, but I explained that I still had feelings for you, so we parted as friends.” Casey watched the emotions play over Dylan’s face as he listened. “And I made him promise not to tell Aunt Bebe I knew.”
His mouth crimped, then stretched into a grin. “Sneaky. I love it. You know, we could pay her back for all her matchmaking shenanigans by you pretending to see him instead of me. It would serve her right,” Dylan said, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel.
“No. That’s the last thing we need: more fake dating. I like seeing you and only you. Besides, someone’s got to be an adult in all of this. And heaven knows, it’s never going to be Aunt Bebe.”
“Good point. But seeing her try to deal with it would’ve been hilarious,” Dylan said. He pulled into his parent’s driveway. “Now, remember. Be on the lookout. She could jump out from anywhere.”
Casey took his hand and got down from the truck, watching for any unusual movement close to them. “Got it.”
Carrying the bowl of potato salad, Dylan positioned himself between Casey and the bushes as they walked to the house. Then, he stayed behind her once they were inside until they arrived safely in the kitchen.
“Casey, we’re so glad you came.” Dylan’s mom hugged Casey in welcome.
“Thank you. I’m happy to be here. I brought potato salad to go with lunch.” Casey motioned toward the bright blue bowl Dylan had placed on the counter.
“Thanks, sweetheart. You didn’t have to bring anything,” Dylan’s mom said.
“I know. But I wanted to.”
Dylan’s mom kept her arm around Casey’s waist and laid her hand on Dylan’s arm. “Can I just say how glad we are that the two of you are back together?”
“Mom,” Dylan groaned.
“Shush.” She squeezed his arm. “I mean it. You are meant to be with each other. And I, for one, am thrilled that you’ve worked things out.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Maguire,” Casey said.
“Nope, none of that, it’s Elizabeth,” she said.
“Thank you, Elizabeth.” Casey glowed.
“Okay, Mom.” Dylan grabbed Casey’s hand and pulled her toward the living room.
“Dylan, that was rude,” Casey said.
“No. Trust me. It wasn’t. Mom would keep you in the kitchen the whole time chatting.”
Casey stopped walking, halting Dylan’s forward progress. “I like talking to your mom.”
“I know. And you’ll have time to do that later. I promise. But for right now, can we just get settled before Aunt Bebe realizes you’re here and before the game starts, please?”
“Okay. That does make sense,” Casey said.
When they entered the living room, Dylan’s dad, Rory, stood and embraced Casey.
“It’s so nice to see you, Casey.”
“It’s good to see all of you, too,” Casey said, including Liam and Brandon in her smile. “Thanks for having me.”
“We’d rather have you here than Dylan,” Liam quipped, barely flinching when Dylan smacked him.
“I agree with Liam,” Brandon said, flashing her a broad grin and a wink.
Dylan shook his head. “I apologize for my brothers. You can ignore them for the rest of the day. They won’t mind. They’re used to being invisible to smart, gorgeous women.”
Casey elbowed him. “Dylan, don’t…”
Aunt Bebe burst into the room through the French doors, dripping wet from her hair to her ninja pants, her soft black shoes squishing as she stomped towards them.
“Aunt Bebe, what happened? Are you okay?” Dylan’s father asked.
With bright eyes and a wide smile, Bebe shook her head, flinging droplets. “I’m great. I finally found someone who understands the concept of a counterstrike.”
Rory stood, open-mouthed. “Aunt Bebe, you promised you’d contain your so-called practice sessions to family.”
“Immediate family, Aunt Bebe,” Dylan interjected, pulling Casey closer to his side.
Casey stared at her lap, trying to stop the giggles that threatened to erupt.
Bebe put her hands on her hips and stood straighter. “For your information, there was no mention of immediate family only. And I kept my promise, I surprised Charlie.”
“You attacked our landscaper?” Rory sputtered. He looked at the floor, shaking his head. “Did he quit?”
“Of course, he didn’t quit, you nincompoop. I got in one good hit, and he turned the hose on me. Brilliant strategy. Wasn’t expecting that.” Bebe beamed.
“Bebe, he’s not family,” Rory said.
“We give him birthday and Christmas presents, don’t we? That makes him family.”
“I think we’re going to have to double those presents this year,” Dylan whispered to Casey.
Aunt Bebe waved a hand as though sweeping away his comment. “Casey, I’m sorry. I wasn’t able to greet you when you first arrived, but I was stalking my prey.”
Casey coughed to cover her laugh. “That’s fine, Aunt Bebe. I completely understand.”
“Thank you, dear.”
“Aunt Bebe, maybe you should go change…? You’re dripping on the floor,” Rory said.
Bebe shook her head. “Of course, I’m dripping on the floor. I’m soaking wet.” Bebe pointed her finger at them. “All of you could learn a lesson from Charlie: always be ready to defend yourself immediately and use whatever you have on hand.” With that, Bebe squished her way out of the living room.
“I say we take her up on that, Dad. What do you think?” Liam asked. “A kitchen spatula or a pillow? She has experience with feather pillows.”
Rory grimaced. “No. We’ve discussed this. No weapons, only defensive maneuvers and an occasional soft hand strike, so she doesn’t think we aren’t taking her seriously.”
Dylan slumped back onto the couch and closed his eyes. He squeezed Casey’s hand. “I’m so sorry.”
Casey’s body shook, and Dylan’s eyes popped open, but she shook her head and looked at him. “I’m fine. I swear. I love your Aunt Bebe; she’s hysterical,” Casey stammered between laughs.
“You’re welcome to take her. She’s free to a good home.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Elizabeth set the basket of chips on the counter. “Okay, Casey, I think that’s it. Would you let everyone know lunch is ready?”
“Sure,” Casey said. She walked down the hall and headed towards the living room, where the family was still discussing the game, but stopped outside the library when she heard Dylan speaking. Casey started to walk in, then paused as she heard her name.
“How did Casey get this job?” Dylan asked.
“She needed a job, and I recommended her to Greg. I knew—”
“Aunt Bebe,” Dylan said, interrupting her, “she’s not good …”
Casey felt the blood drain from her face. She stood still momentarily, not hearing or seeing anything, as realization dawned. This whole time, it’s been a pity job, a favor to Aunt Bebe. I’m so stupid. I can’t believe I fell for it.
Casey quietly walked to the living room. “Hey guys, lunch is ready.”
“Thanks, Casey,” Rory said.
Casey nodded and turned back, entering the half-bath and closing the door. I can’t do this. I can’t eat lunch and pretend like everything is okay. Casey pulled her phone out of her pocket and called for a ride before returning to the kitchen.
“Casey, there you are.” Dylan paused. “Are you all right?”
“Actually, no. I’m not feeling well,” Casey said.
“I can take you home. Or do you want to eat first?” Dylan asked.
“That’s okay. I don’t want to mess up your day. I called for a ride,” Casey said.
“Really, I don’t mind taking you,” Dylan said.
Casey dug around in her purse, avoiding eye contact, and trying to keep her composure. Her phone pinged. “Don’t worry. They’re already here.” She turned to Dylan’s parents. “Thank you for having me.”
Elizabeth tilted her head and gazed at Casey. “You’re always welcome, sweetheart. I hope you feel better.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Dylan said.
“No. I don’t want your food to get cold. I can let myself out.” Casey shook her head and quickly left the kitchen.