“Yeah, she did. She made me see just how shallow they all are. Laura, when I first told Tanya about you, when we were first becoming friends, I told her how different you were from my usual group. Good different. I told her you were…real. Genuine. You don’t hide behind anything. There aren’t any pretenses with you.” She gripped the phone tighter. “I’m a little out of my comfort zone here,” she admitted. “I’m used to being in control. I’m not used to this…the way you make me feel. I’m not used to wanting someone this badly.”

“I want to make love with you.”

Cassidy felt her stomach clench into a tight knot, felt her heart jump into her throat. “You scare me,” she whispered.

“You’re afraid I’m going to steal your heart?”

Cassidy swallowed. “I’m afraid you already have.”

Laura was quiet for a moment, and all Cassidy heard was the sound of her breath. “I’m afraid…I’m afraid I’m going to fall in love with you.”

“I’m afraid that you won’t.”

Again, there was only a slight pause before Laura spoke. “Can you call in sick to work on Monday?”

Cassidy smiled. “Is that what you want?”

“As soon as your friends leave tomorrow, I want to come over. I want to spend the day with you.” A pause. “I want to spend the night with you.”

Cassidy felt her heart hammering in her chest. “Yes.”

“Good. Now get some sleep. You’re going to need your strength.”

And just like that, Cassidy sank back under the covers, a smile plastered on her face. Laura wanted her to stay home tomorrow. Laura wanted to make love with her. She closed her eyes, letting her imagination take her there.

Chapter Forty-Six

“God…will they ever leave?”

“Why are you so anxious? It’s not even noon.”

Laura stared at her mother. Should she tell her? Should she tell her she was anxious for Cassidy’s friends to leave so that she could go over? Go over and…

“I probably won’t be home tonight. At all.”

Her mother’s eyes widened. “Oh?”

“I know since I wasn’t here yesterday to cook for you that I probably should today…but…well…”

“You’re going to have sex?”

“Oh my God! What is it with you and sex?”

“Still blushing at thirty-eight. That’s so cute!” She waved Laura’s protest away. “Don’t worry about me. There are still some of those frozen dinners in the freezer.”

“You will not eat a frozen dinner. I can make a casserole or something, then all you’ll have to do is heat it,” she offered. “Or I can make—”

“Laura Sue, we just had breakfast. I can’t even think about dinner yet. Quit worrying.”

“I just feel guilty leaving you alone again.”