She heard Cassidy’s quiet laugh. “Yeah, it was. Only you started it, not me.”

“You did too start it! Telling me my cutoff jeans were sexy!”

“That’s all I have to say to make you kiss me?” Her voice lowered. “Please wear those again today and we’ll test that theory.”

Laura smiled. “You’re a troublemaker.”

“Come over.”

“Are your friends there?”

“Not yet.”

She swallowed. “Then don’t you think I should wait?”

“Afraid to be alone with me?”

“Actually, yes.”

“Afraid you’ll be tempted to kiss me again.”

Laura closed her eyes. “Yes.”

She heard Cassidy sigh. “Laura…let’s stop this game we’re playing. I’m attracted to you. You’re attracted to me. Let’s stop pretending we’re not.”

“I’m…I’m afraid.”

“Of me?”

“Yes. I don’t want to be another in a long line of women who’ve paraded through your bedroom, Cassidy.”

There was another long sigh before Cassidy spoke. “I’m sorry, Laura. I can’t undo my past. I was looking for someone and when I didn’t find her, I kept looking. But these past few months, it’s like I did stop looking. The last few times when I did bring company along, I didn’t sleep with them, Laura. And I really didn’t know why at the time.” She paused. “Now I do. It was because of you. You were the one on my mind, not them. You were the one I wanted to be with, not them.”

Laura sat down on the bed. “What am I supposed to say to that?” she whispered.

“Tell me you’re attracted to me. Tell me you think about me during the week when I’m not here. Tell me you’ve imagined us in bed together. Tell me you want to be with me like I want to be with you.”

Laura lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. “Yes. To all of those things…yes.”

“Then come over already, Laura Sue. Come over.”

Laura smiled. “You don’t get to call me Laura Sue.”

“Too late. Get up. Put your suit on. Come over.”

Laura let out her breath. “Okay.” She paused. “Maybe you could wear your bikini today.”

Cassidy chuckled in her ear. “As you wish.”

Laura was still smiling long after they ended the call. Yes, Cassidy did that to her. She made her smile. Then her smile faltered a little. She was going to fall in love with her. And then she’d most likely get her heart broken.