Part 9 (1/2)
Oh, she could imagine that husky voice seducing any number of women. That is, if they needed to be seduced. She'd be willing to bet the women had been chasing Casey most diligently. ”It'll take me a little time to get ready. I haven't even showered yet.”
His gaze warmed, then moved over her with slow deliberation. ”Take your time. While you do that, I'll come in and give Gabe a call. We can grab a bite to eat on the way to the hospital. How's that sound?”
B.B. scratched at the door, indicating he'd had enough of idle conversation. He wasn't much of a morning creature either. ”All right.” She opened the door and watched B.B. head straight for the bed. With one agile leap he hit the mattress, circled once, twice, then dropped with a doggy sigh, his nose tucked close to his tail.
As she entered, she realized just how small and crowded the room was. The second Casey stepped in and closed the door behind him, it became even smaller. Emma laced her fingers together. ”Promise me that if Gabe has other plans, you won't push him. I'm sure I could figure something else out.”
”Absolutely.”
She wasn't sure if she believed him or not. Resigned, she went to the connecting door and tapped on it, then stuck her head inside. Damon was on his stomach, his face turned toward her, snoring. Ignoring Casey for the moment, she crept in and touched Damon's bare shoulder.
Immediately his eyes opened, but otherwise he didn't move. ”Hey, doll,” he said in a rumbling, still half-asleep voice.
”You awake enough to catch an explanation?”
”Depends.” He stretched, then pushed up to his elbows. ”Is Romeo gone?”
From his hovering position in the doorway, Casey said, ”If you mean me, no.”
Damon dropped his head forward. ”Persistent, isn't he?”
Casey showed his teeth in a false smile. ”Afraid so.”
”All right. I'm awake.” Damon pushed into a sitting position on the side of the bed and ran his hand through his hair. ”What's up?”
”The garage is closed on weekends. Casey's uncle is a handyman and we're going to see if he'll fix the car while I go to the hospital.”
”Wait.” Damon held up a hand, got sidetracked by a huge yawn, then eyed her. ”You're saying you'll let someone else touch your car?”
”I know Gabe, or at least his reputation with cars. He's good.”
”Yeah, yeah. I remember the stories. All the holy men of Buckhorn-”
Emma felt like throttling him, especially when she heard Casey chuckle rather than take offense. Through her teeth, she said, ”You can either sleep in-”
”Nope, I'm awake now.”
”-join us-”
He laughed and spared a glance for Casey. ”Does he get a vote on that one?”
”-or go exploring.”
”So many options. Let's see.” He slapped his knees. ”I choose C. That is, unless you want me to go to the hospital with you.” His voice dropped and he caught her hand. ”How do you feel about seeing your dad? You okay?”
Emma glanced at Casey and found him listening intently. Though her stomach was in knots at the idea of facing her father after so many years, she mustered a smile to relieve both men of worry. ”I'll be fine, really.”
”It's been a long time, doll.”
”Exactly. Past time I visited.”
Damon didn't look convinced, but he knew her well enough to let it go. ”What about B.B.?”
”He'll be happy to sleep until I get back. Then I'm going to take him boating with me.”
”Boating?”
Without turning to face Casey, Emma flapped a hand toward him. ”He, uh, he has a boat.”
”Of course he does.”
Casey spoke up, his tone dry. ”We have several boats, actually. A speedboat for skiing, a pontoon, couple of fis.h.i.+ng boats. The biggest recreational draw for Buckhorn is the three-hundred-and-five-acre water reservoir.
”A man-made lake?”
”Exactly. Around here, everyone considers a boat as important as a car.”
Emma cleared her throat and tried to sound enthusiastic. ”I thought you might like to go along, Damon.”
”Not I, thank you. I can already hear the awkward squeaking of that third wheel.”
By his very silence, Casey agreed, but Emma rushed to convince him otherwise. ”You wouldn't be a third wheel! And I'd love to show you the lake, Damon. It's beautiful and so peaceful. You could see some of the vacation homes built along there.”
”I remember everything you've told me about it.” He yawned again, stood, and scratched his belly. ”How about we go check it out after the car is fixed and you've had a chance to visit and get reacquainted? Maybe in a day or two?”
”Are you sure?”
”Most positive.” Damon strolled to his open suitcase resting on the dresser. He pulled out chinos, a black polo s.h.i.+rt and clean boxers. ”I'm heading to the shower. I'll be ready in half an hour.”
The second the bathroom door closed, Casey walked over to Emma and took her arm. ”Why don't you go ahead and get ready too while I call Gabe? You don't want to miss the doctor at the hospital.”
The town's small hospital, Buckhorn Memorial, was efficient and well run, but it wasn't equipped for anything life or death. She'd been rea.s.sured when she found out her father was staying there, rather than at one of the larger neighboring hospitals in the next city. It told her that a full recovery was expected.
Still, the idea of seeing him left her nervous, anxious and wary. She'd spoken to him regularly over the years, but because of how they'd parted, the mutual ruse they'd pulled off, their conversations always felt superficial. Despite everything, despite how she'd left him a how he'd helped her to leave a Emma knew he loved her.
Just not enough.
”All right.” Putting off going wouldn't make it easier. She'd made her decision and now she'd follow through ”I won't be long.”
Casey watched her as she riffled through her suitcase to locate a sundress, panties and sandals. The dress, a fitted chambray sheath with embroidered scallop edging, was casual and cool enough for the summer sun, but also dressy enough for the hospital. It always packed well, but the white cotton blouse she'd brought along as a jacket was wrinkled. Hopefully the steam from her shower would help. As she headed for the bathroom, Casey stretched out on the bed with B.B., propping his back on the headboard and reaching for the only phone, situated on the nightstand.
Emma's mouth went dry, not only because he was in her bed, where she'd slept, and he looked right at home there. But because B.B. rolled to his back and waited for Casey to scratch his chest a and Casey did, as if they'd been longtime friends. B.B. was always polite unless provoked, but he didn't warm up to strangers easily. Yet he already treated Casey like a pal.
Emma sighed and went on into the bathroom before she did something stupid, like join Casey on the bed. She felt melancholy, and with good reason. Like her, it seemed her dog had a fondness for Buckhorn's golden son. Well, they'd both just have to get over it, because once her business was finished in Buckhorn, Emma fully intended to return to her old life, the life where she'd found contentment.
Her life a without Casey Hudson.
OF COURSE, Gabe agreed to help out, just as Casey had known he would. He hadn't yet told his uncle who he was helping, just a lady friend. Casey wondered if Gabe would recognize Emma. The others had known her better. His father because of Emma's trip to their house. His Uncle Morgan because, as sheriff, he'd had occasion to check up on Emma for skipping school and breaking curfew. And his Uncle Jordan would probably recall her from the hospital, the night Georgia's mother had taken ill and he and Emma had dropped in to help out. Granted, Jordan had been mightily distracted with Georgia and her two children. Casey was convinced that Jordan had fallen in love with Georgia that night. But he'd surely at least noticed Emma.
His youngest uncle, Gabe, had only met her a few times, interspersed with all the other girls that Casey had dated. Casey didn't want any of his relatives looking at him with speculation, wondering about his feelings. It was better that Gabe be the only one to know about Emma. At least for now.