Page 110 of Just Between Us

Two pink splotches appear on Mom’s cheeks. “He’s a really good man, Cassie.”

Liam’s laugh can be heard from the living room, and I smile.

“I agree. There’s a few of those here in town, Mom.”

The entire monthof March was heaven, all spent with Cassie. Saturday morning bike rides, with her pressed up against me, lazy Sundays in bed, stolen evenings together when we aren’t working. Cassie’s spending less and less nights in the apartment, but if I had my way, I’d move her in completely. She’s all but living with me at this point anyway. Her toothbrush rests alongside mine, the sleeves of her shirts brush against mine in the closet. We’ve gradually shifted parts of our lives to make more and more room for each other.

We’ve memorized the shape of one another in every square inch of my house and I couldn’t be happier. I still have my days where the shadows make their appearance. I welcome them, refusing to push Julie out, and Cassie is right there with me when it happens. I truly feel like life is on the up and up. Take right now, for instance. I’m sitting in my dad’s bushhog on a beautiful April day, clearing some brush behind my house with the goofiest grin plastered on my face. Cassie is somewhere inside my house puttering around or watching one of her true crime shows, and my dog is probably curled up happily next to her.

I’d forgotten what it feels like to fall in love. This obsessive, overwhelming feeling where all I want to do is be near her.

Like I said. On the up and up. And as soon as I get this chore finished, I can join her. Maybe she’ll even shower with me. The thought has me wanting to kick this piece of machinery into high gear. But it’s old and needs a little tender loving care, so I keep it in the same gear I’ve been in.

My phone vibrates against my thigh from my pocket, and I slow to check who it is.

Rhonda Pierce

Just checking in. It’s been a while. Think you’ll be in town anytime soon? I’d love for you to see some of the changes here at the foundation.

With one hand, I fumble out a quick response.

Not too sure. Tell the kids I said hi.

It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing. That last interaction with Rhonda wasn’t my best moment, so I’ve avoided any more trips to help out. I miss the kids like crazy, but I’m sure they’re doing fine without me. Slipping my phone in my pocket, I focus on the yard.

Thirty minutes later I’m done. I can cut the engine, hop down, and join my woman inside. I step up onto my porch but what I see through the window stops me dead in my tracks.

Cassie, wearing skin-tight leggings and a sports bra, round ass up, bent in a position that looks painful. Well, fuck me sideways and call me Sally. Not wanting to interrupt the show, I watch from the window.

At this point I’ve seen my girl naked more times than I can count, but seeing her toned arms holding her torso upright makes my mouth go dry all the same. She sinks down, one leg folded beneath her, the other stretched out behind, and slowlylowers her chest toward the floor. Her arms slide forward on the mat, fingers spread wide, forehead nearly touching the ground. All that dark hair falls over her shoulder, exposing her profile and dammit if she’s not the most exquisite thing.

How in the hell did I get so lucky?

Slowly she rises, our eyes connecting through the paned glass. I feel like a kid getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and I’m not one bit ashamed.

I step inside and greet her with a kiss and smack on the ass.

“You’re sweaty,” she says against my lips.

“And you’re hot.”

I head to the kitchen and fill a cup with ice water. “Care to join me in the shower?”

Showering with Cassie has become one of my favorite things to do. We might as well be the water preservation society for all the times we shower together.

“Sure. But first…” She retrieves a covered dish from the refrigerator, sets it on the counter and opens a box of Ritz crackers. “Try this.”

She scoops something out of the bowl and pops it into my open mouth.

“Mmm,” I say around the bite. “You made this? What the hell is it?”

“A family recipe. If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” She scoops out another dollop on a cracker and feeds it to me. “That’s all you can have though. It’s for poker night at Josie’s.”

“Shit, that’s tonight, isn’t it?” I almost let that slip past me. A group of us try to get together regularly to play and tonight is Tyler’s turn to host. It’s usually just the guys, but when Cassie asked to join us, I thought it sounded great. Any chance to have her near me.

Her reasoning made sense. With Penny pretty far along now, Austin freaks out if they’re apart for too long. But there was something in her tone of voice that makes me wonder if she’s a little sneak.

“Shower time,” Cassie says, flattening a palm to my chest. “You coming?”