Laura watched her pick up the cane and make her way around the shrubs at the side. Laura stepped—dripping wet—next to Cassidy.

“So…you snuck away early again? Tanya let you off?”

“Yeah…she thinks she’s the boss, all right.” Cassidy was unmindful of her damp suit as she pulled her into her arms. “I missed you this week.”

“I miss you every week.”

“Oh, yeah?” Cassidy finally kissed her, long and slow, drawing out a moan from Laura.

“You have entirely too many clothes on,” Laura said. She started unbuttoning her blouse. “You look kinda nice in your power suit, but let’s take it off, huh?”

“We don’t have time for this. Your mother—”

Laura put a finger against her mouth. “We have all the time in the world.” But something caught her eye and she looked past Cassidy, seeing her mother standing beside the shrubs, watching them. “Mother!” she hissed and waved her away. Her mother was smiling as she left. Laura was smiling too as she looked at Cassidy. “She loves you, you know. She loves us.”

“You’re worried about meeting my parents this weekend?”

“I’m worried your mother won’t like me. I’m worried she won’t like…us.”

“I told you…they’re very normal, down-to-earth people. They’re going to love you. If for no other reason, they’re going to love you because I love you.” She kissed her again. “Quit worrying.”

Laura finished unbuttoning Cassidy’s blouse and she ran her hands across her smooth skin. “Ooh…sexy bra,” she murmured. “I love you in black.” When she would have pushed the blouse off of Cassidy’s shoulders, Cassidy stopped her.

“Move in with me.”

Laura looked up, startled. “What?”

Cassidy smiled. “Move in with me.”

“I’m practically living here now,” she said, echoing her mother’s words.

“Practically, yes. Let’s make it official.”

Laura swallowed. “Are you…are you sure?”

Cassidy frowned. “Are you not sure?”

Laura saw the doubt in her eyes and she moved closer, pulling Cassidy tight against her. “I love you so much. I’m sure of that.” She pulled away. “But I don’t want you to regret it later and then—”

“Laura, I want to marry you. I want us to be together…always.”

“You want…you want to…to marry me?”

“Yes, I want to marry you.”

Laura felt tears in her eyes and she tried to blink them away.

Cassidy smiled gently at her. “I want you to move in with me. I want to marry you. I want to love you for the rest of my life.” She leaned closer and kissed her. “Please say yes.”

Laura gave in to her tears as she nodded.

“Yes. Yes to all of it.”

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