Disclaimer: I own NOTHING from What I Like About You… just my OC's. Thanks!

…Chapter Two…

Casey just got done putting Alana to bed when there was another knock on the door. After opening the door, she raised her eyebrow, slightly surprised. "Uh, hey, Vince.. what's up?"

"I wanted to take you up on your offer.. coffee and dinner?"

"Oh, right." she nodded. "Well, unfortunately I can't. Sandra - Alana's nanny - came back and I fired her, so I'm unable to go out tonight."

"I thought you'd say that." he lifted his arm, holding a bag. "I brought Chinese." he reached over and picked up a cup carrier. "And coffee.. you interested?"

Casey smiled. "Yeah, come in." she moved out of the way. "Go ahead and set it on the coffee table." she said, as she shut and locked the door, then went into the living room, and sat down on the couch next to him. "Wow, I wasn't really expecting this, but thank you."

"It's no problem." Vince started taking out the food containers out of the bag and set them back down in front of them. "I didn't know what you liked, so I got the basics: chow mein, Mongolian beef, fried rice, and some egg rolls."

"Awesome.. did you happen to get chopsticks?"

"Of course." he handed a set to her. "It's the only way I eat Chinese food." he smiled.

"Yeah, me too." she nodded as she suddenly felt butterflies in her stomach.

Vince locked eyes with her for a moment, before opening the containers. "Dig in."

"Okay.. do you want to watch some TV or listen to the radio?"

"The radio's fine."

"Alrighty." Casey grabbed the remote to the stereo and turned it on a low volume, before grabbing her food. "So, Vince.. how lucky was I, to know that it was you that found my daughter and not some crazy psycho?"

"What if I said that I am a crazy psycho?"

Casey stared at him for a couple seconds, then slightly shook her head. "Nah, I don't buy it."

"No?" he raised his eyebrow as he took a bite of his egg roll.

"Nope.. I'm very good at reading people and I don't believe that you're any kind of crazy psycho."

"Okay." Vince laughed. "You're right, I'm not, but as far as me being at the park." he shrugged. "I was at the right place at the right time."

"Thank God, because who knows what could have happened to her." Casey took a deep breath. "So, Vince, tell me about yourself."

"Well, I live close by, I'm almost 22. I work delivering important documents or packages to companies all around town.. and I don't have a girlfriend."

"Oh, really?" Casey chuckled.

"Really." he nodded with a smile. "So, what about you?"

"We just moved here; about 3 weeks or so ago. I just turned 21 last week."

"Happy late birthday."

"Thank you." she smiled. "Um, Alana is my whole world and I manage a coffee and bookstore shop and I don't have a boyfriend." she shrugged. "It's just Lana and I."

"What happened to her father, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Well, after I found out that I was pregnant, Ethan.. wanted me to have an abortion, because he didn't want any kids. Obviously, I didn't do it and we broke up. After Alana turned a year old, I found out from an old friend of mine that Ethan already had a few kids out there."

"Damn.. that sucks."

"It does and after he signed over his parental rights over to me, he still kept trying to be in her life and tell her what to do; mainly be mean to her."

Vince raised his eyebrow. "Mean, like, how?"

"When I wasn't around, he'd yell at her and I didn't even know about it, until he pushed her one day and she lost her balance, slightly fracturing her ankle."

"He's lucky that I wasn't there.. I would have kicked his ass."

"Oh, I was beyond pissed. He spent a few days in jail, then his mother got him out on bail, so I got a restraining order to where he couldn't be within 100 feet and moved us over here."

"Do you think he'll find you?"

"He hasn't yet and I hope he doesn't." she shook her head. "I don't wanna move again."

"Well." Vince patted her leg. "Let's hope he doesn't, because if he tries, I 'will' kick his ass."

Casey smiled as they locked eyes with each other. By the look on his face, she could tell that he was being serious. Seconds later, both of them heard a little voice coming from down the hallway, snapping them out of their daze. "Mommy!"

"Excuse me for a second." Casey got up and went into her room, then moments after, Vince got up and tiptoed over to the other side of the door and listened.

"That was some good ice cream, Mommy.. I've never had it before and Vince said that it was called: Superman Ice Cream."

"That's cool." Casey sat down on the bed and lightly examined Alana's bandaged arm. "I'm really glad that he was there for you."

"Me too, Mommy.. can we see him tomorrow?"

"I don't know, because he might have to work." Casey covered her up better with the blanket. "So, tell me why Sandra left you all alone?"

"She went over to a guy and walked with him. I just couldn't find her, but I'm glad I didn't."

Casey raised her eyebrow. "Why are you glad?"

"Because Vince found me and made me feel safe." Alana smiled. "He's my hero."

"Aww." he whispered to himself, as he was still standing out in the hallway. In that moment, he started to fall in love with that little girl. Hearing her call him her 'hero', it warmed his heart in ways he never knew existed. Thinking about what her father did to her, he made a vow to himself that Ethan would never even have the chance to come anywhere near her or Casey again.

"Okay, well." Casey stood up. "You don't have to worry about Sandra anymore."

"Who will watch me while you are at work?"

Casey smiled. "You let me worry about that, because you'll be starting Kindergarten soon and I want you to enjoy what's left of the summer."

"Okay." Alana nodded.

"How about.. I take the day off tomorrow, so you and me can go to Coney Island, maybe ride all of the rides and play some games?"

Alana's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Yeah, it's supposed to be a nice and cool day, so why not?"

"Yes!" she cheered. "I can't wait."

"Good." Casey gave her a kiss on her forehead. "Go to bed.. we have a long and fun day ahead of us."

"Hey, Mommy?"

"Yeah?" she turned to face her.

"I like Vince.. he was so nice to me."

"Me too, Baby Girl." Casey smiled. "Good night."

"Good night, Mommy." Alana yawned.

Once Vince heard foot steps, he quickly went back on the couch and took a few bites of his food as if he never left his spot. At the corner of his eye, he saw Casey heading towards him. "Everything okay?" he asked, as she sat down next to him.

"Yeah, she's good and she'll be going back to sleep soon."

"I bet she's tired."

"Yeah, it's been a long day for her." Casey nodded.

"Yep." Vince agreed, then he ended up staying for another two hours and when he saw Casey yawning, he glanced at his watch and stood to his feet. "It's getting pretty late and I have a busy day tomorrow."

"Okay." she stood up as well, then walked him to the door. "I want to thank you again.. for being there for Alana."

"It's no problem.. I'm just glad that she wasn't badly hurt and that she was okay."

"Yeah, me too." she smiled. "This was nice.. the dinner and coffee, thank you."

"You're very welcome.. have a good night, Casey."

"You too, Vince." she smiled, then he gave her a slight nod and smiled back, before walking out of her apartment. Casey locked up everything, cleaned up a little, and went to bed with tons of butterflies in her stomach.