Casey

by Amy J. White

  Casey

  Hot Small Town Alphas Series

  Amy J. White

  Copyright © 2020 by Amy J. White

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced by any form or by any electronic and mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This book may not be redistributed to others for commercial and non-commercial purposes.

  Contents

  Description

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Epilogue 1

  Epilogue 2

  Thank you

  Description

  Casey Gaines drives the dairy truck for the mountainside town of Buchanan. Lilah Chastain works in the local florist. The two have known one another since they were just kids. Lilah was the new girl, moved from the city of Detroit. Casey was the geeky kid no one could’ve imagined would become the hot, alpha male that he has. But, he has one thing on his mind: chase the woman he’s wanted since they were kids and make her his. No matter how hard or what it takes.

  Chapter 1

  Casey

  I’ve driven by the place many times on my delivery route to take milk to the Choc N’Chip bakery from the local farm ten miles away from the town of Buchanan. It wasn’t what someone called “on the way” by any sense of the word.

  Only, I can’t help it. Because it leads me right by Flo’s Flower shop. To the place, where ‘she’ ‘works.

  Lilah Chastain and I know each other from our days as kids. That’s how it is in Buchanan. Everyone knows everyone and the kids who grow up together often end up dating.

  Lilah came to the small town after her family suffered the horrific loss of her dad – a cop from the busy city of Detroit. How and why the family came to live here, I still ask myself the same question?

  Most people don’t stay in Buchanan. At least, not the younger generation who think it’s a Podunk town with little to do but hike in the nearby mountains, swim in the lake and work in the businesses that their parents have owned for generations.

  No, but Lilah is someone special.

  I knew it from the moment we met. I was ten, she was eleven.

  Problem was, no matter what I did as that stupid kid, she never took any notice, rolling her eyes, snapping some sarcastic quip about how what I did was stupid. No one can accuse the girl of trying not to bruise a man’s ego as a boy.

  “A crush the size of California,” My sister said and still says to this day.

  I tried mocking my sister, telling her to mind her own business. Soon though, I realized she was right. Eventually, I just watched. Trying to find something that might get me in front of Lilah somehow; so she can’t ignore me anymore.

  My friend Ethan married the love of his life, and recently I attended the baby shower where all I could do was stare at the woman who captures my fancy.

  Might sound sad, but it’s the truth.

  We shoot the breeze for a moment, he tells me to just go up and talk to her. I know that’s not how this works.

  Lilah’s like a wild mare needing to be broken before I can ride her. Guess what, riding her is just what I plan on doing.

  Now, I park my truck beside the loading door waiting for Rachel to open the door so I can wheel in the crates of milk I brought for her.

  “Hey Case!” She says in a voice similar to the songbirds I hear on the mountain when Ethan and I go camping and deer hunting.

  “Hey Rach. Where you want me to unload this?”

  “The usual spot!”

  I wheel the dolly around to the spot in front of the large steel door freezer. I love coming to this place when Rachel starts her assistants cooking the freshly baked cookies, pastries, donuts and breads. Reminds me of my grandmother and all those times she insisted pre-made goods didn’t do much for the enjoyment of baking and eating.

  Rachel is an attractive young woman, strong and enduring. Her younger sister passed away two years ago in an unfortunate accident she doesn’t like to talk about. I keep hoping a certain friend of mine will come up from Mobile, Alabama and sweep her off her feet.

  A blush forms across her cheeks as she asks. “Umm, how is Chaz nowadays?”

  Like she read my mind. “He’s doing fine, Rach. A bit bullheaded as usual.”

  “Is he planning on coming back for a visit sometime? I miss seeing him.” She twiddles her fingers, watching them as she does.

  What was that my sister says about the crush the size of California? “I’ll see what I can do. He always comes up for deer season. You know why he doesn’t like it here, Rach. Can’t force him to come back.”

  No one talks about that dark day in Buchanan. As far as I know, no one can. We lost some good people.

  The mood changes after a small bout of silence. An usually bright smile forms over Rachel’s strawberry lips.

  “Have you asked her yet?” She says like a high school girl keeping a naughty secret.

  I nearly drop the crate I’m carrying. “Asked who what?”

  Rachel puffs air out from between her lips. “Oh, please. We both know who I’m talking about.”

  No lies there. “No, Rach. I haven’t been by to see her since Ethan and Ryley’s baby shower.”

  Fisted hands move to perch themselves on Rachel’s hips. Her brow hooks in an ‘oh really’ expression.

  I know that look. It says what I’m thinking: You’re not that geeky little kid anymore, moron. Time to show her the man behind the hipster glasses.

  Finishing up, I thank her for the romp down memory lane, deciding maybe she’s right.

  My eyes go to the street where the flower shop is located a few blocks down. Rachel stands in the doorway, her hip against the frame.

  “Oh go!” She says with a gesture of her head. “You can leave the truck here. Not like I’m expecting any more deliveries today.”

  God the woman is a lifesaver. I have a few more deliveries to make before I can leave the truck for the day, but what are a few minutes, if not to take the woman I’ve wanted since childhood.

  I slide from the driver’s seat, boots crunching on the snow each time I take a step until I’m standing on the sidewalk staring up at the name on the street sign.

  Steady hands go into the pockets of my leather bomber jacket, replacing the nervous ones in Rachel’s bakery. Determined eyes lock on the other side of the street. Get ready, Lilah Chastain. I’m coming for you and this time, I’m not taking no for an answer.

  I arrive in time for another wave of snow to begin falling, covering my chestnut hair, forcing me to run my fingers through it to knock the flakes free.

  My eyes lock on the door with golden block letters: Flo’s Flower Shop. With one last inhalation for courage, I shoulder through the door, aware of the tinkling of the familiar silver bell in an empty storefront.

  It isn’t abnormal for folks in Buchanan to use lulls in business to step out for a smoke or to take care of other needs the store might have.

  The smells in the place overwhelm my senses. Flowers of all kinds mix with the fresh bouquet of Flo’s hot chocolate she likes to keep handy on cold days.

  Strutting up the glass counter, I tap the bell and wait.

  My patience is soon rewarded when the very woman I wanted to see walks up, causing my breath to catch. Mother of God, she’s beautiful.

  A bright, sarcastic
smile covers her face. What’s strange is she stares at me like she’s at a loss for words. Something Lilah Chastain is rarely at a loss for.

  “Hey, Lilah,” I say with my own smile at how she appears to let her eyes roam the length of my body, back up again.

  “Well, well, Casey Gaines. All grown up,” She says as though we didn’t just see one another at Ethan and Ryley’s baby shower. “What brings you in today? Still driving that delivery truck?”

  I nod. “Nothing in particular. Wanted to see if you might join me tonight at the bar.”

  Her brow hooks high enough it nearly touches her hairline, mouth agape.

  Ah, she wasn’t expecting me to be that brazen. The thought makes me grin wider. “So, yes or no?”

  Lilah appears to ponder what I ask. If she says yes, I know the game between us will come to an end soon, with me burying my cock inside her so deep; she won’t want me to leave.

  Since she’s ogling me so hard, I decide it’s time to make the chase turn around. She busted my balls for years. Now that I know I have something she wants, time for the rabbit to become the fox.

  Without a word, I turn on my heel, hands in my pockets, out the door, aware of the burning gaze lingering on my ass. Ball’s in your court, sweetheart. You want me, come get me.

  Chapter 2

  Lilah

  My heart thunders in my chest when I get the first glimpse of the beautiful man walking towards the glass counter. He doesn’t see me yet, giving me time to take in every facet of his gorgeous body.

  He seems familiar, though I’m not sure what it is about him that makes me feel that way. What I do know is he’s the dairy delivery man at my friend Rachel’s bakery and the man I noticed gaping at me at Ryley and Ethan’s baby shower.

  Still, I can’t put my finger on how I know him.

  Probably went to school with him, idiot. It’s a small town. Not many other places you would’ve seen him.

  The ringing of the service bells causes a knot to well up in my throat. I have to keep my composure about me or risk losing the one thing I worked hard to build since moving to Buchanan after losing my father in a gang shootout in Detroit.

  A quick clearing of my throat, checking of my hair in the mirror shows a woman who refuses to let her confidence be shaken or taken easily by any man.

  I walk out front, slammed in the gut. God, he’s even more beautiful closer up. All I can think about is how fast I can get him into bed.

  “Hey Lilah,” He says, confusing the hell out of me.

  Lingering silence gives me a chance to ogle him more which I know he is aware of by the smug grin on his face. I squint at him, getting slapped with realization at who I’m now staring at despite having seen him so many times.

  “Well, well, Casey Gaines. All grown up,” Okay, that is not going to get him in bed with me. Say something else. Anything else! “What brings you in today? Still driving that delivery truck?”

  Anything but that!!!

  He nods, commenting about how he hasn’t come in for anything. What comes next, though, floors me completely. He wants me to meet him at the bar tonight.

  Holy crap, I think. He’s never been this brazen.

  Another awkward silence as I give him a look I know is beyond stupid.

  We’ve played this game since we were kids. I never gave him what he wanted because I loved the attention he gave me. Casey came off as the nerdy kid desperate to get the new city girl that every boy in Buchanan wanted.

  I thought it was adorable. Sad, but adorable.

  Never once did I imagine him to become the God standing in front of me, practically daring me to come get him.

  I watch as he turns on his heel, his perfect ass hugged by those faded blue jeans. How quickly he turned this game around, making me to the one having to hunt him.

  Deep down I know he’ll make it hard. He’ll tease me until I’m practically begging him to pound me through his mattress, onto the floor and through the floor.

  Well, okay then. I’m screwed. I’m so fricking screwed.

  Closing time can’t come fast enough. I can’t wait to see Casey at the bar, talk to him and hopefully wind up in bed with him. I’d heard through the gossip line – Thank you, Mrs. Dursey – that Casey still had some heavy feelings for me.

  Knowing it provides some relief as I say good bye to Flo for the night, hauling my ass to my car in the middle of the whispering snow.

  I start it, getting the heat going as fast as possible. Pulling out onto the street, I hear the blood rushing through my ears. What would I say to him?

  Sorry, I screwed up. I should’ve seen what you could become in school and not treated you the way I did. I slam the heel of my hand against the steering wheel. Fuck that shit. No way am I going up to him with that.

  Ryley said something to me at the shower along the lines of “don’t wait -even if you think something can happen between you, don’t wait.”

  At the time I thought it out of the blue! I guess at one point I stared at Casey too, not realizing who he really was or used to be.

  Hell, who wouldn’t? He’s hot as hell and oozing lust so powerful it nearly knocked me off my feet.

  I pull up the parking lot in the square. It’s packed, making it hard, but I don’t mind the extra time. Gives me a way to come up with words to say when I finally meet Casey.

  The door opens on a squeak, indicating the age of the place. Its owner owned half the buildings in the square and had been in Buchanan for as long as he lived.

  My eyes search the crowds. People drinking, talking, and laughing surround the circular tables. Men still in work garb, ladies in the traditional “pick-me-up” clothes featuring tight jeans, boots and loose hanging shirts.

  Then, I see him.

  He sits at the bar in dark blue jeans, work boots, a deep green plaid button up and leather straps around those thick wrists. Chestnut hair, now mussed up after a hard work day, falls in his eyes. The heat and sex radiating from him is enough to choke me from across the room.

  Move towards him. That’s why you came, right. He’s obviously still interested, but what can you expect? What you did was nothing short of bullying.

  My hands grow clammy as I lift one foot. It feels like someone tied a prison ball to it. Soon, I’m crossing the wood floors towards the man my body wants with every fiber of its being.

  His eyes turn towards me, a cocky half-grin across his full lips I want to kiss, bite and suck during sex, so hot it can melt butter. The whiskey bottle goes up to his lips one last time and he stands, closing the remaining space until all time freezes, leaving us close enough we can kiss if we want.

  One of those large hands reaches up to my chin, directing me to look him in the eyes.

  “Want to get out of here?” He asks.

  “Uh huh,” I say on a breath.

  Next thing I know, we’re heading to his Ram truck, my body buzzing with how much I want I want this night to end with him inside me.

  Chapter 3

  Casey

  I know what she wants. The moment I noticed her out of my peripheral vision at the bar, making her believe I hadn’t; then I knew what she wanted. It took everything in me not to take her down in her place of business, proving to her there wasn’t anyone else in town she wanted more.

  In my truck, the same urge almost overtook me when she reached across to place a hand on my thigh. My cock stood at attention, turning so damn hard, it caused discomfort. No, I’m not done. I want her flying apart before I put my cock inside her. I want her whimpering from how badly she wants me before I give her anything.

  The night hadn’t ended with what she wanted and I know it frustrated her by the way she kept reshuffling in her seat. Add that to the overwhelming smell of her arousal and I was the one who nearly blew apart.

  I sit on the front porch with my friend, Ethan, retelling him everything that happened. We both have a beer in our hand, staring out at the calmness of the night.

  He lives in a house on a ho
rse ranch owned by his family for many generations. It has a good spot settling in a mountainside, overlooking the town.

  “Can’t believe you did that,” Ethan says. “Haven’t the two of you played this fox and hound game long enough now? Just fuck her already. Take what you’ve always wanted. Obviously she’s done waiting.”

  “I can’t. Not yet. I need to know this means as much to her what it means to me,” I say.

  It’s not a lie. I want Lilah. Want to fuck her, but not just as a fuck. I want her in my life, to have her pregnant with my children, in my bed every single day and night.

  In the past, she’s always made it clear she didn’t need anyone. I want to prove her wrong and if holding out on her – just being there for her – is the way to get what I want, I’m willing to put my libido on hold.

  “And what if she doesn’t want to play the game? What if she walks? Can you live with yourself?” Ethan’s words cut me with the fear I’m keeping.

  Truth is, no. I can’t live with myself if she does that. “No, I can’t. Truth is man - I can’t live with myself if that’s what happens, but what if this isn’t real for her? What if she shatters my heart like Ryley did to you? Could I live with myself then? You know how I was. I drank myself stupid every night. How many times did you have to come get me?”

  Ethan doesn’t look at me. A tell-tale sign he remembers.

  Seeing Lilah date other men drove me to near madness. Thinking about them touching her, fucking her. It all tore at me like rabid wolverines going after a wounded deer.

  “I can’t take that risk, Ethan. I have to know this is for real.”