Free Keep It Simple (MMG Series Book 4) by R.B. Hilliard Page B

become my surrogate family. It was going to be hard to say goodbye. After exhausting the topic of moving, my mind drifted to last night . Where was Cas? Something had kept my trouble-eyed mystery man away last night. Was it his job…a family emergency…another woman? I did not have much experience with men, but what I did have was strong intuition and a firm gut. My gut told me it wasn’t another woman. Cas was into me as much as I was him. If only I’d had the chance to tell him goodbye .
    By the time I landed in Scotland, I had a plan. I was going to finish the semester and then I was going home for good.
    *     *     *
    Five months later
    “Thanks for coming to get me.”
    Amanda eyed my cart full of suitcases. “Is this all you have?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm and I couldn’t help but laugh. Four suitcases was only a small portion of what was due to arrive next week.
    “Lyndsey and Grant are shipping the rest tomorrow,” I informed her.
    “How did Lyndsey take you leaving?”
    “She was sad. We all were. However, she got me two months longer than originally planned.”
    Lyndsey, Grant and the kids came to get me at the airport when I arrived back in Scotland. Lyndsey immediately knew something was wrong. The moment we got to the house, she sent Grant and the kids off to play and made us both a cup of tea.
    “Spill,” she commanded in her motherly way.
    I told her how Cas and I met. I explained how he made me feel inside and out. I then told her how Max and Ellie wanted me to come home to live.
    As much as it saddened her to let me go, Lyndsey felt it was the right thing to do. “Your future has never been here with us, honey. It has always been with your brother. Just think, now you have a new sister-in-law and will soon have a baby niece or nephew to dote on. If I could, I would keep you here forever, but I can’t. Fate is a funny thing. You will have to go back in order to see what it has in store for you… and maybe Cas. You never know, you two might be destined to end up together. Or, you might not. If you don’t go, though, you will never know. Remember, whatever happens, it is meant to be.”
    Amanda pulled me into a big hug. “I, for one, am thrilled you are finally here.” Let’s hope Max feels the same way, I thought. As if reading my mind, she said, “Your brother is going to shit when he sees you.”
    A sigh escaped my lips. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
    I wanted to come home right after Ellie and Piper were kidnapped, but Max said it wasn’t safe. He’d been putting me off ever since their kidnapper, Dooley Shane was dead and buried, Ellie and Piper were both physically healed and baby Mac was thriving. So why was my brother still dragging his heels? My semester ended over a month ago. Finally, last week I decided I wasn’t waiting any longer. I needed to see Max and Ellie and meet my baby nephew. I needed to come home. I called Max before the plane took off last night to tell him I was on my way, but he was grumpy and distracted, so I chickened out.
    Once we loaded my bags in the car, Amanda turned to me and asked, “Where to?”
    “Piper texted and said everyone was going to be over at Joss and Kurt’s house today. Do you mind taking me by Max and Ellie’s to unload the bags before dropping me by there?”
    “Only if you promise to meet me at Patterson’s for drinks tomorrow night. Remember, I’m leaving next week to spend the rest of the summer with my grandparent’s in Canada,” she reminded me.
    Over the past five months, Amanda had texted me a handful of times with news of Cas sightings. One of which so happened to be on Valentine’s Day. I was crawling into bed the morning after a full night of drinking with some friends, when my phone dinged with a text.
    Amanda: You still up?
    Me: Going to bed now.
    Amanda: I wanted to wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day and to show you this:
    Below her text was a picture of Cas. He and Bobby were sitting in