Married by Mistake. Abby Gaines

I need to talk to my family,” she said. “Even though I don’t know what to tell them.”

      There was a moment’s silence. Then Casey’s phone chirped “You Are My Sunshine” again.

      “Karen, please, honey, don’t cry.” Casey’s voice wobbled. “I’m sorry, I know you wanted me there, but this is for your own good, sweetie.”

      Adam realized Casey was blinking in an effort to hold back tears. Rising hysteria emanated from her cell phone, audible even to him, several feet away.

      He checked his watch. If she was going to spend the whole morning arguing with her family, they’d never get this mess sorted out. From what he could see, her folks were as bad as his own relatives. There was only one way to deal with people like that. Get tough.

      One look at Casey told him that wasn’t going to happen. In two seconds, Adam had moved around the table and slipped the phone from her grasp—easily done, since she wasn’t expecting it.

      “Karen? I don’t know who you are, but you’re not helping Casey right now.” He crossed the room, aware of Casey’s startled expression. Karen sputtered on the other end of the phone.

      “My wife and I—” damn, that sounded weird “—need some time alone.” He reached the huge vase filled with an elaborate display of flowers, delivered last night compliments of the Peabody management. Casey, following right behind, bumped into him. “So goodbye.”

      With Karen still squawking, he dropped the phone—right into the vase.

      Casey yelped. “Have you gone crazy?”

      “You’re not prepared to turn that thing off, and it’s upsetting you. I’m dealing with the problem.” He dusted his hands together. “Doesn’t that feel better?”

      “No! How could you…” She stopped. “Actually,” she said slowly, “it does.” She ventured a small smile.

      From across the room they heard the sound of his phone.

      “Allow me to deal with that.” Casey moved toward it.

      “It’s okay.” He followed her. “I’ll take it.”

      She’d picked it up already and was reading the display. “It’s Eloise.”

      “My stepmother again.” He rolled his eyes. “Pass it here.”

      “I said I’d deal with it,” Casey reminded him. She stepped back and moved around the other side of the sofa.

      Adam wasn’t quite sure what happened next. But somehow, he went one way and she went the other, toward the open window.

      “Casey, don’t—”

      Too late.

      She dropped the phone just as he reached her.

      Adam looked so shocked, Casey wondered if she’d gone too far. She held her breath as he stuck his head out the window. When he turned back into the room, his face was grave. “You just killed an Elvis impersonator.”

      Casey clapped a hand to her mouth. “No! I looked, there was no one—” Then she caught the grin he was trying to hide.

      And they were laughing, clinging to each other in helpless hilarity that for a moment made the whole mess go away.

      Adam looked into Casey’s eyes, where tears of merriment glistened. On automatic pilot, he wiped the corner of her eye with his thumb. And found himself robbed of all sensation except the pressing desire to feel her mouth beneath his.