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“Dad, what are you doing here?” Casey asked, coming into the garage.
She wore a pair of shorts and a vest top once again. He rarely saw her in anything but. The weather was hot though, so wearing anything more would just be uncomfortable.
“I’m saying hi to our new friend.”
She chuckled. “Hi? Dad, you’ve known Rusty for a long time.”
“Yeah, well, I wanted him to know that no one has fun with my girl.”
“Dad, don’t please. Don’t do this.”
“I’ve warned him, and he knows not to use you.” Rome moved up to Casey and hugged her. “He can come for Sunday lunch.”
“Dad, he really doesn’t have to.”
“I know you don’t eat meat, but your mother’s really excited about it, and I want him to come so I can make sure he’s not going to hurt you.”
“This is going to suck,” she said.
“No, it’s not.”
Rome didn’t linger, and within minutes Rusty was alone with his scared woman.
“So, I leave you for two minutes to go and grab lunch and my dad is here.”
He shrugged. “You know, he was here to beat me up?”
“What? Why?”
“You. Of course. Why wouldn’t it be you?”
“I don’t know. Why would Dad want to beat you up? You’re an amazing guy.”
“I know I am, but that doesn’t mean he likes the nasty rumors that are circulating about you and me.”
She groaned. “Seriously, already? I don’t know how anyone can keep up with anything in this town. It’s all about the gossip.”
“Would you want it to be any different? Everyone is happy here. Think about it, you don’t see many unhappy people.”
“That is true. You’re right. Everyone is happy here.”
He watched her as she thought about it. What he truly wanted to do was show Casey this town wasn’t to be feared. Living here, being with him, it wasn’t to be thought of as something scary.
“Besides, your father just wants the best for you. I can’t fault him for that, can you?”
“I can quite easily fault him. It’s really easy to do.” She winked at him. “You’re right. I shouldn’t be angry about this. He didn’t hit you, did he?”
“Depends. If I say yes, what do I get?”
“I will take care of you.”
“Then yes, he totally hit me right here,” he said, pointing to his face.
“I don’t see any bruise.”
“I don’t bruise easily.”
She pressed her lips to the spot.
“And here.” He touched his neck.
Her lips followed.
Finally, he put his finger to his mouth, and she kissed him.
Sinking his fingers into her hair, he held her close and ravished her lips. She tasted so fucking good, and he couldn’t get enough of her.
He didn’t know what Rome had in store for either of them. He wasn’t looking forward to finding out, but so long as he got to keep Casey, he was willing to try anything.
Chapter Eight
Casey checked on the muffins she had baking. This was supposed to be a date with her and Rusty, but he got a call out to go and pick up a car that had gone into a ditch. It was a young mother and her baby, and there was no stopping Rusty, not that she’d actually tell him not to go and take care of anyone.
She had found out his father and mother were away for the first time in years, and because of that, Rusty was holding down the fort. He’d even told her how he had saved most of his life already just to send his parents on a vacation of their dreams.
How could someone not love a guy who would do that for his parents?
He’d not saved money for himself or some dream, once-in-a-lifetime trip. He’d done this for his parents.
Rusty was so selfless.
Grabbing a piece of pepper, she took a bite.
The meal she had prepared sat waiting for him, apart from the steak. That was marinating in the fridge. She hadn’t cooked meat in a long time, so she hoped it wasn’t going to be gross.
Finishing off the pepper, the timer buzzed, and she went to the oven and removed the muffins. She let them sit in the tin for a couple of minutes before removing them.
With nothing else to do, she took a seat in his living room, leaned back, and turned on the television.
For the next hour, she pressed the up and down button, changing the channel randomly, and going down again.
There was nothing on.
Just as she was about to give up and go to bed, the door opened.
“I am so sorry that took so long. So, the single mother turned out to be a drunk driver. When I got there, she kept trying to attack me,” Rusty said.
Casey got off the sofa and rushed toward him. There was a scratch on his face.
“Oh my, she did that to you?”
“Yep, and the cops had to be called. A statement made.”
