Page 98 of Defending Casey

Casey fisted her hands in his sleeves because she couldn’t get a hold of his tactical vest. She drew him closer and whispered into his ear. “You can’t stop bad things, but you can love us through all of them.”

Hale pressed a fervent kiss to her cheek. “Always, Casey. I’ll always love you. Love our family.”

She smiled up at him. Your dad, too.

“Yeah,” he laughed at the absurdity of it all. “My dad, too.”

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From the timethat Casey arrived at the hospital, Hale had rarely left her side. Throughout the examination, he’d stayed with her. The doctor had given him a curious look. It probably didn’t help that he was wearing tactical gear and hovering near her like an avenging angel.

Now, almost two weeks later, Hale had finally agreed that Casey was ready for a party.

Their friends and family had gathered at Hale’s home for a housewarming.

All of the Trojan Team were there, the growing number of Brotherhood Protectors who worked in Fool’s Gold and their loved ones as well.

The party had done its job, filling the house to the rafters with laughter and joy.

Food made all of the tables groan with weight and more than a few belts had been loosened while guests moved around the house and the yard under the hanging lights.

The two grandfathers had been the last to leave, each taking their time saying goodbye and hugging Nora over and over.

Nora had loved every minute.

The bad blood between the two men had disappeared since that day. It helped that both Thomas and David had played important roles in protecting Nora. Hale was still keeping an eye on his father, a little hesitant that he had truly turned over a new leaf.

Casey had a much easier time warming up to Thomas. Seeing the way he was with Nora had done most of the work.

Casey could forgive pretty much anything if it was for Nora’s benefit and she’d seen the way that Thomas had moved to protect Nora over and over again while they’d been cooped up in the house with Brian.

Standing where she was, leaning against the doorframe of Nora’s room, Casey watched as Hale finished reading a bedtime story to their daughter. Casey’s fingers fiddled with the new pendant that Hale had given her after the last necklace had been taken from her. It felt good to have another close to her heart.

There were so many things about her relationship with Hale that filled her heart over and over again. She loved hearing little emotional notes in Hale’s voice, almost as much as her heart welled up in her chest watching Nora gaze up at her father like he hung the moon.

Which he’d quite literally done when he’d found a skylight to add in over Nora’s head.

“Time to go to sleep, sweetie.”

Nora sighed and reached up her arms. “Hug and kiss, dad!”

Hale looked over at Casey and she knew he saw her laughing silently.

With a roll of his eyes, Hale leaned down and hugged his daughter close before he pulled back and peppered a few kisses across her forehead. “Now, time to sleep.”

Nora gave him a playful pout and looked over at Casey.

Her eyes lit up as Hale got up from the bed and made his way across the room. “Mommy, hug and kiss.”

The first time that Nora tried that argument, Hale had given in in a heartbeat. He’d learned quickly though, but she couldn’t deny him a few extra kisses every now and then. He was making up for time lost over the years.

Casey touched the tip of her finger to her lips. “You had a half a dozen before your story. You can have more in the morning.” Nora’s jaw dropped a little and Casey knew the look in her eyes. “Go to sleep.”

Nora folded her arms across her chest and gave Hale a smile. “You give mommy a kiss for me. Okay, Daddy?”

Casey enjoyed the warmth of Hale against her back. And the gentle touch of his hand on her hip.

“Don’t worry,” his breath was warm against her cheek, “I’ll give mommy a kiss for both of us.”

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