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“That's fine. Yes,” I said, my voice barely more a whisper.
Malcolm took my hand and brought it to his lips, placing a soft kiss on the back of my knuckles. He looked into my eyes, the intensity of his gaze burning a hole through me.
“Trust me, Casey,” he said. “Just trust me for right now, okay?”
I nodded, and he let go of my hand. I followed him into the dining room. Alba squeezed my arm as I walked by, and we shared a look. She knew about Malcolm and me. She saw the tension between us. If Malcolm cared that she knew though, it didn't show.
She smiled pleasantly and followed us into the dining room.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
MALCOLM
“There you are,” Mom said,
She stood up from the table when I entered the room. She looked past me at Casey and shot me a quizzical look.
“Did you find the bathroom okay, dear?” she asked.
I was confused for a second, until I realized she was talking to Casey. I turned, and Casey looked at me, mouth agape.
“Uh yes, I did,” she said. “Thank you.”
“Over here,” Adam said, waving at Casey. He smirked. “I saved you a seat.”
Casey shot me a sideways glance as she joined my half-brother at the table, having little choice but to sit next to him. She was his date for the night, after all. Just like the other night, I had one seating option left – which was beside Danielle. I took my seat but tried to keep as much physical distance between us as possible.
“Adam, introduce us to your friend, please,” Dad said.
“This is Casey. Casey, meet the Cranes,” he grumbled. “You've already met my darling half-brother, Malcolm. But, I'm not sure that you met his girlfriend, Danielle.”
“Ex-girlfriend,” I said.
Adam rolled his eyes and sighed. “Sorry, his ex-girlfriend,” he said. “Or, maybe I should say, your baby mama?”
“Stop that, Adam,” Mom scolded. “I don't know why you must always be so foul.”
Adam glared at her, but then continued. “And that is Cynthia Crane,” he said. “I guess you could say she's my stepmother, but I'm not sure how it works since I'm just a bastard child anyway.”
“Adam.” This came from dad, his tone colder than the Arctic tundra.
“And finally, my father,” he said. “This is my father, Malcolm Crane the elder.”
Casey shrunk down in her seat, staring at everyone with wide eyes, but tried to give them all a pleasant smile. I couldn't even begin to imagine how overwhelming this all must have been for her. I could see how uncomfortable she was and wanted to jump in and save her from all of it.
I wanted to whisk her away from my family, but I couldn't save her now. She'd decided to weasel her way in, and now maybe she'd see why I'd kept her away for so long. I just hoped the price she was going to pay for it wouldn't be too steep.
She surprised me though, by sitting up straight and clearing her throat. I saw that look of steely, feisty determination in her eyes and in the defiant little lift in her chin. She wasn't about to let anybody, not even the Cranes, bully her or make her feel uncomfortable. I loved that about her.
“It's nice to meet everyone,” she said, her voice full of confidence. “I've heard so much about you.”
“Have you, dear? I'm sure Adam has some interesting stories to tell,” Mom said dryly.
She took a sip of her wine and looked at her. There was pity in her eyes, though, I couldn't tell if she felt sorry for Casey because she was with Adam or because she'd been thrust into the middle of a family soap opera that was more dramatic than anything you'd see on TV.
Hell, probably a bit of both.
Before Casey could elaborate on what she'd heard though, Danielle piped up from her spot beside me.
