Page 93 of The Meeting
“No, I think we’re okay for now. Thanks though,” Chase said.
Kailynn smiled at her. Cindy clearly looked between their hands as if she were looking for a ring before she raised an eyebrow at them and strolled away.
“Okay. Shout at me if you need anything.”
Kailynn bit her lip to hide her smile, and Chase fisted his hand and bit onto it to keep from laughing out loud.
Kailynn gave a subtle nod toward Cindy. “Think we’ve piqued her interest?”
Chase dared a glance back to where Cindy stood at the counter and not so subtly stared at them. He turned back around and winked at Kailynn.
“The whole town will know before we get back to Derek’s.”
“Really? That fast?”
“That fast.”
23
Chase was right. By the time they got back to Derek’s place, everyone knew. Derek walked up to the truck as they parked and leaned against the fence.
“So you eloped, huh?” Derek asked, clearly not believing the rumors.
Chase laughed and helped Kailynn out of the truck. She smiled over at Derek and raised an eyebrow.
“Maybe,” she said.
Derek raised an eyebrow to match her own.
“You know I don’t believe that.” Then he directed his attention to Chase. “But Mama does and wants you to call her immediately.”
“Really? I didn’t think she’d fall for it,” Chase said.
“Oh, she fell for it. You’ll see just how much when you call…” He drifted off and laughed. “Nevermind, here she comes now.”
Jane pulled her car up next to Derek’s truck and got out.
“Derek! You were supposed to tell him to call me.”
Derek raised his hands in defense. “I did! They just got back.”
Jane stalked up to Chase and put her hands on her hips. “Really Chase? You couldn’t tell me last night that you eloped? You had to wait until I heard it from Linda?”
Chase doubled over with laughter. “From Linda? Cindy didn’t call you herself?”
Kailynn stepped away from Chase and walked over to where Derek stood as Jane went on a rant about how she should have been the first to know. Chase only laughed in response, which caused Jane to throw her hands in the air and raise her voice louder in her rant.
Derek glanced over at Kailynn, where she leaned against the fence next to him.
“She’s very passionate about weddings.”
“I see that.”
“They’re going to be awhile. Would you be interested in brushing Buttercup for me?”
“I’d love to,” Kailynn said and threw a glance at Chase, who still laughed as Jane continued to reprimand him.
Derek walked with her to the barn and handed Kailynn a brush, showing her how to stroke it across Buttercup’s hair before he went to the next stall to do the same to the horse there.
