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“That sounds like everything.”
He chuckled. “Good. Stop worrying about every single little detail, baby. You’ve got nothing to stress about. We both have a handle on this. I promise.” He kissed her again.
“You’re right.”
She was still playing with her hair.
He captured her hands, holding her. “We’ve got this.”
“We’ve got this.”
“You look beautiful and stop worrying. I’m here for you.”
“You’re right. I’m just being stupid and crazy.”
To help her relax a little more, he kissed her.
“Would you like to walk or me to drive?” There was no way he was letting her get behind the wheel of any car.
“You can drive. I don’t think I could stand for the town to watch us.”
The town would know if he drove or walked, but he wasn’t going to tell her that.
Grabbing his keys, he locked up his house, and walked her to the passenger side. Helping her in the car, he rounded to the driver’s side and climbed in.
Starting up his car, he thought about hers at the back of the shop. He’d ordered the parts, and they were going to take some time to arrive. He wasn’t in a rush to work on it. He had a little fear of his own. If he fixed her car, at any time, she could drive away from him without a backward glance, and he didn’t want that.
It was a short drive back to her parents’ place. A couple of the townsfolk gave them a wave, and he reached out to take her hand to help ground her.
He couldn’t recall Casey ever being this nervous.
Why had she suddenly become like this? Was it her feelings? Did she have an inkling she might love him?
Nah, that couldn’t be it.
Rusty didn’t believe for a second it would be that easy with her.
Once they were at her parents’ place, he quickly climbed out of the car and rushed to her side, opening the door.
“Thank you.”
“Anytime.” He held her hand again as they approached, and Abby was there, waiting.
“You both look like such a cute couple,” she said.
He winced and hoped it didn’t show. The last thing he wanted was for Casey to run now.
“Mom, stop,” Casey said.
She let go of him, hugging her mother.
“You’re not the one looking at you two.”
“Abby, darling, don’t scare the new couple,” Rome said. “I’m glad you two could make it.”
Walking into their home, Rusty smelled the chicken cooking, and wondered what Casey would have. For what he’d seen, she ate the same as he did, only minus the meat.
“No bottle of wine?” Rome asked.
“Shit! I forgot it,” Casey said.
“Language!” Abby let out the scold.
Rusty smiled. “I can go and get it.”
“Son, I’m having a joke. You think we’d really invite you and not have wine of our own? We know how to have a dinner party.”
“A party?” Casey asked. “Is there more than one person here?”
“Nope. Just because there are four people doesn’t mean it can’t be a party.” Rome smirked. “We’re eating out on the porch. Come on.”
Following close behind Casey, Rusty started to feel nervous. He’d not seen Casey like this ever. Sure, she’d been worried when he read her first chapter, and even her tenth, but she’d not been this skittish since he found her in the old make out lane. This didn’t bode well, and he didn’t want her parents to say something that would send her running as far away from him as possible.
If she went back to the city, he didn’t know if he’d chase her there.
Why not? You love her. You’d chase her wherever she wanted to go.
The table was already set, wine poured, and he helped pull out the chair for her to take a seat.
“So, we were wondering when the two of you would confirm you’ve moved in together?” Abby asked, taking a sip of her wine.
“What?” Casey asked.
“You’re always around his place, and you got a set of his keys cut. You were both seen shopping. Your father and I, we figured you had moved in together.”
Rusty gripped the glass of wine tightly.
Casey cleared her throat, laughed. “No, we haven’t moved in together.”
“Sweetheart, most of your clothes are gone.”
Again, Rusty didn’t say anything because he had noticed her clothes hanging up in his closet and he’d not wanted to point out the obvious.
“How about we move onto dinner?” he said. “Let me help you with that.”
Rome and Abby left the porch, heading into the kitchen, leaving him to glance at Casey. At first, she didn’t seem to be having a meltdown. She looked in control.
Only, he saw her chest moving up and down rather rapidly and the calmness was gone.
“Casey?”
“Have we moved in together? Is that why you’ve given me a key? I don’t come home. We drive home.” She slapped a hand across her mouth. “I see your place as home.”
He didn’t exactly have time to tell her it was her home.
