Page 68 of Free to Dream
The past two days with Cassidy have been the closest thing to perfect. Yesterday, when I would have been super lazy and called in for food, she gave me an appalled look when she saw the prices and immediately went into the kitchen to see if there was food worth cooking. I told her if it couldn’t be cooked in a soup pot or the microwave, then she was risking her life asking me to help. She promptly put a knife in my hand and said that if I could throw it at someone, I could chop lettuce.
Is it any wonder why I’m in love with this woman?
We spent last night watching an old Mel Brooks movie,Spaceballs, on the big screen. When I paused it to explain to her that as an investigative firm, we cracked more people’s accounts because they had the password one, two, three, four, she shrieked with laughter and almost wet herself. She actually had to race to the bathroom.
Fortunately for Ry and Jared’s furniture, she made it in time.
She also found it funny that good ol’ Mel gave the impression of men fighting with their dicks. When the movie was over, and I told her she was welcome to have a battle with mine, it led to an interesting discussion. I’d say I was the victor, as Cassidy ended up passed out, and I barely held in there long enough to pull the quilt over the two of us before cuddling next to her.
It’s early on Saturday morning and she’s dressed in just her panties and my flannel shirt from yesterday. She’s such a petite thing. Even fully buttoned-up, the shirt still gapes almost down to her breasts. I have her perched on the kitchen counter while I do the one thing I feel confident doing in the kitchen—make coffee. Her long dark hair is twisted up with a clip and her amaryllis tattoo is on full display.
“What time do you have to be at the wedding today?” I ask her, walking over with her cappuccino.
She puts down the bowl of Cheerios she was eating and spreads her legs so I can stand between them. Giving me a quick kiss to thank me, she takes a sip before answering. “Two. But I have to be back at my place by noon to get all my stuff and change.” Pointing at her outfit, she grins. “I don’t think this is quite the wedding attire they’re expecting.”
My arms go behind her and pull her into me. “What do you wear to your events?” I ask, truly curious.
“It depends. For something like your brother’s?” I nod. “Black tie, just like the guests. The idea is to try to blend in. I’ll have a small earpiece in, but that’s the only thing to distinguish me between a guest. In fact, we’ll have a table in the back.” I frown, not liking the idea of her in the back. She catches on pretty quickly and asks, “What part of that don’t you like?”
“The part where you’re not next to me.”
“I am working, Caleb. It’d be like you taking me to your office for the day.”
“So, come to my office for the day,” I immediately counter.
She pulls back, surprised. “Seriously?”
I pull her back to me. “I want you with me, Cass. If it’s a huge issue because of the flow of work, I’ll understand.”
She bites her lip, thinking. Damn, that little move is hot. I’m already semi hard again. “Let me see what I can do.”
I smile like a gluttonous kid with a basket of Halloween candy. She holds up her hand and says sternly, “I said, let me see. No promises.”
I’m about to lean in to show my appreciation for her concession when the doorbell rings. “What the hell?” I grumble. It’s eight in the morning on a Saturday.
Knowing it must be someone on the approved list to get past the doorman makes me more irritated. If I’m lucky, it’s Ry and Jared and they forgot their keys.
I’m not that lucky.
Keene is standing on the other side of the door when I open it up, a secure envelope in his hand. “Hey, man. This will only take a minute.” He walks past me and starts to make his way toward the kitchen.
Quickly following after him, I state, “That’s good, because that’s all I’ve got before Cassidy and I have to leave to get her back for a wedding.”
His steps halt. “She’s here? You never bring anyone here.”
My anger rises. “She’s not just anybody, Keene. Get used to it.”
Cassidy chirps, “Keene, before you go into another rant on why you don’t like me, would you like some coffee?”
Keene turns, ready to blast her, and freezes. His eyes widen and he’s staring at her, checking her out from head to toe. I can’t say I blame him. With her hair up and wearing my shirt, she’s adorable. In the light of the condo, and with what she’s not wearing, her birthmark just below the base of her collarbone in the shape of a heart is completely visible. She looks beautiful, and well-loved.
Mine.
What she doesn’t look like is a doormat.
“Actually, Cassidy, I’ll be happy to take a cup if it wouldn’t be too much of a problem,” Keene accepts, his voice soft.
What the fuck?
