Maybe stripping off her clothes wasn’t the brightest idea, but she was hot and sweaty and going home to change into one of her two swimsuits did not sound appealing. Besides, in the backyard and pool area, no one could see her. No one. Unless, of course, they were upstairs in her writing room, using binoculars!

So, without delaying any longer, she tossed her clothes into a pile at the edge of the pool, went over to the outdoor shower to rinse off the grass that still clung to her legs, then jumped feet first into the water. She was smiling as she swam across to the other side. It was refreshingly cool and felt like silk against her skin. Oh, yeah. This could become a habit.

She spent a good half-hour splashing around, cooling off. If this was to become a habit, she would need to get a float of some kind. She knew Cassidy had some but, looking around, she couldn’t tell where they were kept. There appeared to be a closet of some sort at the edge of the outdoor kitchen. Maybe they were in there. Of course, “borrowing” her pool was one thing. Rummaging through her closet looking for pool toys was quite another.

She finally made herself get out, and she stood in the sun, letting the breeze dry her off. She wished she had thought to bring a towel and clean clothes. Putting on her filthy mowing clothes seemed quite uncivilized after her swim in the pristine pool. But she shrugged and put them on anyway.

She went back to the front where she’d left her weed trimmer. She took a look around the yard and nodded. It looked good. Tomorrow morning she’d get out Frankie’s old tiller and work up a flowerbed for Cassidy. She would at least get a few flowers in before she came for the weekend.

Chapter Thirteen

“Nice kitchen. I love it,” Becki cooed. “Do you cook?”

Cassidy nodded. “I do.”

Becki smiled seductively. “With all of this…and you love to cook, how is it that you’re still single?”

Cassidy laughed appropriately but didn’t bother with an answer. She walked through the double doors that opened up onto the patio. “Do you feel like a swim before dinner?”

“Oh, I’d love one.” Another seductive smile, then red-tipped fingers glided up her arm. “Clothing optional?”

Cassidy glanced over to the two-story house next door, wondering what their vantage point was. Could Laura Fry see into her yard? She smiled then—a true smile.

“Yeah…clothing optional.”

* * *

“Oh my freakin’ God,” Laura murmured, her eyes glued to the pool. Did the blonde really just drop her clothes? “And where are you…tall, dark, and handsome?”