Page 120 of Beneath the Blue Moon

***Casey***

I hum to myself as I put his breakfast together—an egg,

bacon, and cheese bagel. The noise outside reminds me of my earlier surprise. I

can’t wait for it to be completed. I still can’t believe he’s building me a

motherfucking fountain!

By the time he walks in, I’ve wrapped his breakfast and

placed it in a brown paper bag, and I’m pouring coffee into his travel mug.

“I gotta run.” He grabs the bag and the mug, plants a chaste

kiss on my cheek, and turns away. “Thanks, sweetheart. I’ll see you later.”

“I’ll walk you out.”

I slip my hand in his, and he gives my fingers a little

squeeze. When he steps through the door, he bars me from following him out.

“In that outfit, that’s as far as you go.”

He’s right; there are a bunch of strange men in the

front yard, and they’re already shooting curious glances our way. One of them

snickers. I know they all heard our little session in the office.

“Okay. Kiss?”

He leans in, giving me a quick one on the lips. That won’t

do at all. As he pulls away, I throw my arms around his neck and press my lips

to his.

“I’m late,” he mumbles.

“You’re the boss… and another minute won’t matter.”

I slide my tongue along his bottom lip. A growl emanates

from his throat, and he catches my tongue between his teeth.

“Minx. I have to go.”

“Fine. Later.”

I watch him walk off, stopping to speak with Joe. The other

men watch him with expressions of awe and envy. That’s right, boys, take a

good look. That’s what a real man looks like. After he drives off,

they turn their gazes to me. I smile to myself, knowing what they’re thinking.

I couldn’t care less. I proudly stand before them, a thoroughly fucked,

thoroughly loved, thoroughly in love, thoroughly happy woman.

By the time Sam arrives, I’m a wreck trying to figure out

what the surprise could be.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“Billings.”

“I know that. What are we going to do there?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Why?”

“I received very strict orders.”

“Come on, you can tell me. I won’t say anything.”

“Sorry. No can do.”

I roll my eyes, pouting in annoyance. “Fine.”

I sit and stew for a few minutes, but how can I be annoyed

with him? He’s only following orders. I spend the next hour learning all about

Sam, who will forever be known in my head as Heracles. He tells me about his

time in the military and growing up in Canid.

“And how long were you tailing me?”

He jerks his head toward me in shock. I wasn’t sure, but

that action just convinced me.

“Tailing you? What do you mean?”

“It was no coincidence that you and Brad happened to be in

the parking lot. And I’m willing to bet that it was the two of you… that

night.”

He takes a deep breath and looks out the window. Tapping his

finger on the steering wheel nervously, he turns back to me.

“Since the last week of June.”

“Huh.” It’s kind of nice knowing someone’s been looking out

for me. Who knows what would have happened to me if they hadn’t been there? “Thank

you.”

Nervousness turns to surprise and confusion; I guess he

expected me to flip out. He relaxes and gives me a bright smile, his blue eyes

twinkling.

“You’re welcome.”

We pull up to the curb, and he parks in front of a store—Grand

Design. I step out, looking around curiously when he opens my door.

“Is this where we’re going?” I ask. “It’s closed.”

With a cheeky smile, he leads me to the entrance and knocks.

Through the glass, I see a woman approaching, a huge smile on her face. Unlocking

the door, she opens it wide. She’s a wolf. She’s older, though I can’t really

guess her age, with long, black hair pulled back into a ponytail and large,

brown eyes. Her lips are covered with purple lipstick, eyelids painted with a

matching shade. She’s tall, maybe six feet, but she has a nice body.

“Casey! Come in.”

I take her outstretched hand, giving her a polite smile.

“Madelaine Russo,” she continues. “I’m the owner of Grand

Design.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“It’s lovely to meet you. Ethan can’t stop talking about you.”

“Nothing bad, I hope?”

“Oh, heavens no! Come, let’s get started.”

Started on what? I look to Sam, and he gestures for me to

follow her. She leads me to a back room, and I stop in my tracks. Beautiful

dresses line all four walls. In the middle of the room, there is a floor-to-ceiling

mirror. I stare at it all in awe.

“First thing’s first.”

She hands me a small, square envelope and I stare at it

blankly. My name is printed on it. I open it and remove the card inside.

Miss Casey Bryan,

Mr. Ethan McKenzie requests your company for dinner this

evening at the Bistro Lune, 7:00 p.m.

Dress Code: Formal

Oh, Ethan! Well, now I know why I’m here. I need to

pick a dress that will totally floor him.

“Ready?” Madelaine asks.

“Yes, Madelaine. I am.”

The next two hours fly by as I try on gown after gown. A few

I had to axe because they were too revealing; Ethan would have a heart attack

and lock me in our bedroom if I attempted to wear any one of them. Madelaine

threw designer after designer at me—Elie Saab, Jason Wu, Oscar de la Renta,

Vera Wang, and a few others I’ve never even heard of. I finally settle on a

gorgeous Monique Lhuillier gown. Madelaine helps me into the matching shoes,

and I stand before the mirror.

“This is it.”

“Excellent choice, Casey. The green matches your eyes, and

the malachite print breaks the monotony. The draping compliments your figure

perfectly!”

“It does, doesn’t it?” I say as I check my reflection from

different angles.

“It’s chiffon, so it will be light and airy, and I dare say

Ethan shouldn’t object to a little bare shoulder and leg.”

The gown is strapless and has a high slit on the left, which

reminds me of our little bet at the fundraiser. I wonder if he would be up for another

one tonight.

After she’s packaged my dress and shoes, Madelaine hands me

another envelope. This one contains a key to a hotel room.

“The rest of your things have already been delivered to your

room,” she says.

“The rest of my things?”

“Yes, dear. Ethan did a little shopping himself. You’ll see

when you get to the hotel.”

“Okay. Thank you, Madelaine.”

“No. Thank you, my dear.”

The look in her eyes tells me Ethan has spent a small

fortune here today. No wonder she could afford to close up shop just for me.

“I’m starving, Sam. Can we get something before we go to the

hotel?”

“Sure, but we’re not going there just yet.”

“Why not?”

“One more surprise.”

Another one? I grab my phone from my purse and decide to

text Ethan.

Casey: You’ve been a busy man, Sheriff McKenzie.

Ethan: Enjoying your surprises, my love?

Casey: Yes, but I don’t even want to know how much you’ve

spent today.

Ethan: You deserve it. And don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll

find a way for you to pay me back ;).

Casey: Oh, I have a few ideas. They all involve us being

naked :).

Ethan: Minx! I’m at work. Don’t put such images in my

head.

Casey: Why? Are you getting hard?

Ethan: Yes, and you’re not here, so please stop.

Casey: Touch it for me. Just one time.

Ethan: Casey!

Casey: Please?

Ethan: No.

Casey: Fine. To be continued later when I see you. ILY.

Ethan: ILY? I’ll have none of that. Words please.

Casey: I.LOVE.YOU.

Ethan: I love you, too.

After stopping for burgers, we hit the road again. When Sam

pulls into the parking lot of our next destination, I get excited—Anastacia’s

Salon and Spa. I haven’t had a spa day in forever.

“I see you like this one.” Sam chuckles.

“I’m a woman. The spa is like sacred ground to us.”

“You’re going to be here a while, so pace yourself.”

“Yes, boss.”

He smiles, highlighting how gorgeous he is. He has

strawberry-blond hair, his eyes are a light shade of blue, but his features are

damn near perfect like all the others.

“You have a girlfriend, Sam?”

“No. Why?”

“Huh.”

I wonder if Sandy would like him. She only had a passing

fancy for Brick. It didn’t last beyond that first night.

“Forget it, Casey,” Sam warns.

“What?”

“Do not fix me up with your friend.”

“How do you know that’s what I was thinking?”

“I can see the wheels turning in your head. You forget that

I’ve been following you for months.”

“Fine. It’s your loss.”

Inside the spa, we’re greeted by an overly enthusiastic

woman. I find out the reason for her enthusiasm when she tells me that Ethan

has booked me almost every service they offer. Sam wasn’t lying about being

here for a while. By the end of my visit, I will have received a seventy-five-minute-each

massage and facial, manicure and pedicure with polish, body polish, haircut, and

an almost full-body waxing.

I leave the spa feeling like a brand new woman, my head in

the clouds. Sam keeps laughing at my dreamy expression.

“That’s why you don’t have a girlfriend.”

He laughs even harder when I stick my tongue out at him.

“No. I don’t have one because I don’t want one.”

Oh, my God. With wide eyes, I lean in close to him. “Are you

gay?”

“What? No!”

He opens my door and helps me inside his truck. When he

doesn’t close it or move, I look over at him. He takes a deep breath and runs

his fingers through his hair.

“Look… I see how you and Ethan are with each other, and

that’s what I want, nothing less. I’ll wait for her.”

I watch him in wonder as he closes the door and walks to the

driver’s side. That was so sweet!

“That was the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say… including

Ethan.”

He gives me a gorgeous grin as he starts the truck.

“Don’t tell him that.”

“Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me.”

As we pull out of the parking lot, I notice a kids’ store close

by. My stomach clenches and tears spring to my eyes. My babies. I look out my

window quickly so Sam doesn’t see, but I can’t hold back a sob.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

“It’s just… That kids’ store—”

“Oh, my God, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“I keep thinking back to that night… what I could have done

differently—”

“Stop. Just… take me to the hotel, please.”