For Now, Forever

( a novella )

Trin Denise

For Now, Forever

Who would think that a flat tire on a dark and deserted road could be one of the best things to ever happen?

Cassie Reynolds was content with her life or so she thought. After celebrating her birthday, she goes to work thinking it will be just another typical workday. That thought comes to a crashing halt when she flips the “Closed” sign to “Open” and finds an elderly man standing at the door.

Gordon LeVitt, Attorney at Law, drops a bombshell that will flip Cassie’s life upside down. The man who she believed to be her father for the last thirty years is not her father, and her deceased father has named her as an heir in his Last Will and Testament. The catch: Her presence is required at the reading.

Cassie heads to Masterson, West Virginia and has a blow-out that sends her car careening off the side of the road. With her heart racing in her chest, she is relieved when the most gorgeous creature she’s ever seen stops to help and then Cassie does something she has never done in her life—make mad passionate love with a complete stranger.

After Mr. LeVitt’s introductions at the reading, Cassie is shocked when the stranger; Eelyn M. Carmichael strolls into the room and sits down next to her father’s widow. Feeling sick to her stomach and thinking her world is crashing down, Cassie does the only thing she can—she runs with no intention of looking back.

But the one thing she forgets is that things are seldom what they seem and Eelyn has already made up her mind that Cassie Reynolds is not going to be the one who got away because some things that happen in the now, can and do last forever.

READER ALERT: This novel is a work of Lesbian fiction; featuring Lesbian characters, therefore, as with all of my novels, contains NO heterosexual sex!

Copyright © 2012 Trin Denise

First Edition

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without the prior written permission of the publisher.

ISBN-13: 978-1-938988-02-8

ISBN-10: 1938988027

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or deceased, is entirely coincidental

Cover Art by Trin Denise

Editor: Janet Brooks

Structural Editor: Trin Denise

Ragz Books

Contact the Author

Twitter: @trin_denise

http://www.trindenise.com

http://trindenise.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/trindenise

http://www.Ragz-books.com.com

Other Novels by Trin Denise

Worth Dying For

She Left Me Breathless

Listen To Her Heart – November 2012

A Christmas Day to Remember: a Novella – to be released Winter 2012

The Death Zone: Murder on Mount Everest – to be released Spring 2013

Also by Trin Denise

Lesbian Nevaeh Poetry Anthology

Hallowed Be Thy Name (Psychological Horror) – to be released Winter 2012

End of book Contents:

Sneak Preview Chapters – Listen To Her Heart

Author Bio

A Note from the Author about For Now, Forever

Chapter 1

Cassandra Cassie Reynolds tossed her jacket on the back of her office chair. She glanced at her watch. The digital read-out showed that it was 6:56 A.M.  Still somewhat half-asleep, she made her way toward the front of the store thinking she was in dire need of a very strong cup of coffee.

“Who am I kidding?” she asked herself as she walked around the counter. “I just need to hook a coffee IV up to my arm. This is the last time I’m drinking on a Sunday,” she swore as she reached out to flip the “Closed” sign to “Open” on the front door.

She stifled a scream as her eyes came into contact with a pair of eyes on the other side of the door, which happened to be staring directly at her.    

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” the elderly man’s muffled voice said through the window. “May I come in please?” he asked, a nervous grin playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Yes, um … just a sec,” Cassie said as she flipped the lock back on the door and then pulled it open. She stepped to the side so he could enter the store.

He held his hand out to Cassie. “My name is Gordon LeVitt.”

Cassie frowned as she took his big hand in hers. “I have a feeling that you aren’t here to buy flowers.”

He smiled at her. “You’re right and may I assume that you are Ms. Cassandra Reynolds?”

She pulled her hand back. “That depends on who wants to know. If you’re a bill collector or a salesman trying to sell me something I don’t need or can’t afford, than no, I’m not Cassandra Reynolds.”

Gordon laughed a deep belly laugh, which surprised Cassie. “Nope, Ms. Reynolds, I am neither of those things. As I stated, my name is Gordon LeVitt and I am an Attorney from West Virginia.”

“West Virginia,” Cassie repeated, her brow creasing into a frown.

He nodded. “Yes, ma’am, and I represent the Estate of Collin Masterson.”

“I don’t understand. What does any of that have to do with me?”

“Well, Ms. Reynolds,” he said as he placed his briefcase up on the counter and flipped the lid open. “This is what it has to do with you.” He removed a photo out of the case and handed it to her.

Cassie frowned as she looked at the photo. She immediately recognized her mom, a much younger version of course, and she recognized that she was the one her mom was holding in her arms. However, she did not recognize the attractive blond-haired man standing with his arm around her mom. She looked questioningly at the attorney.

“That is Collin Masterson, your father.” He waited for her reaction.

She tossed the photo onto the counter. “Is this some kind of cruel joke?”

“I assure you, it’s no joke, Ms. Reynolds. Collin Masterson was your father.”

She shook her head. “That’s crazy. My father was Steven Reynolds and he passed away four years ago next month.”

“I’m sorry that you had to find out this way but Collin Masterson was your biological father. I would not have come all this way to see you if it weren’t true.”

“I think I need to sit down for a moment,” she said, pulling the bar stool over. She was quiet for several seconds as her mind tried to wrap around what he was saying to her. “Um … you said he was my father. Has something happened to him?”

“I’m afraid so. Your father passed away a little over four weeks ago after a long battle with cancer. That’s why I’m here. Mr. Masterson has named you as an heir in his Will and your presence is required at the reading a week from tomorrow, at his estate.”

Cassie shook her head again. “I don’t want anything from him. I don’t even know him.”

“I can’t begin to know how you’re feeling but I can assure you that your father did know you.”

Cassie’s look was incredulous. “How can you say that? I never even knew he existed until a few minutes ago, so how could he possibly know me?”

“He has kept a close eye on you since you were a little girl. He even attended your graduation ceremony at the University of Kentucky.” 

“This is insane.” To say Cassie was in shock would be the understatement of the year, hell the understatement of the decade. “Okay, Mr. LeVitt, if my father kept an eye on me then why didn’t he care enough to ever come see me and let me know he existed.”

Mr. LeVitt shook his head. “I’m sorry but I am not at liberty to divulge that information.”

Cassie never used the F-bomb but she was getting very close to breaking her own self-administered rule of swearing. “Not at liberty? Are you freaking kidding me? You come in here and turn my world upside down and now you’re telling me that you’re not at liberty to divulge that information?”

The look of remorse on the attorney’s face made Cassie reconsider her choice of very bad swear words, which she was about to hurl at him. He looked genuinely sorry that he couldn’t provide the information she so desperately needed to know right now.

His next statement confirmed what Cassie suspected. “Ms. Reynolds, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you. I’m just not allowed to because my client, your father, specifically instructed me not to disclose it. He stated that the best thing to do was for you to speak with your mother and let her tell you the whole story.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. LeVitt. I guess I’m just in shock, that’s all.”

“Please call me Gordon and I can only imagine how shocking all of this is to you.”

“I seriously doubt it but thank you.” Cassie leaned her elbow on the counter, propped her head against her hand and looked up at him. “So, Gordon, what’s the deal with the Will and why do I have to be there to hear it?” 

“Mr. Masterson has requested that you attend and I strongly encourage you to do so as well.”

Cassie ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. “Well, Gordon, I can’t promise that I will but I will think about it.” 

He smiled at her. “That’s a start at least.” He pulled a business card out from inside his suit jacket pocket and laid it down on the counter in front of her. “If you do decide to come, please call my office and my secretary will give you directions. There is no need for you to stay at a hotel. Mrs. Masterson requested that I tell you, she would like for you to stay at the house and that she will have a room prepared for you just in case,” he said as he snapped the lid shut on his briefcase.

“Thank you.” Cassie picked up the card and looked at it. “I think I will need to have that conversation with my mom before I make my decision.”

“Fair enough, Ms. Reynolds.”

She smiled at the older man. “If I can call you Gordon, then you can call me Cassie.”  

“Okay then, Cassie it is. I hope to see you there next week,” he said and then he was gone.

Cassie got up from the bar stool. “What the hell?” She and her mom were going to have a long conversation, a very long one and as soon as Janey, her assistant arrived, she was heading straight to her mom’s house. 

“What a welcome surprise,” Millie Reynolds exclaimed as she opened the door. Her expression quickly changed as she looked at Cassie. “What’s wrong, Cass? Is Jess hurt? Has something bad happened? Are you hurt?” she asked, firing the questions in rapid succession without giving Cassie a chance to answer any of them.

“No, I’m not hurt nor is Jess.” Cassie’s expression softened as she looked at her mother. She was very angry but she also knew that for her mom to have done what she did, she had a good reason for doing so. That’s if what Gordon said is even true, she thought as she followed her mom into the family room.

“Would you like some coffee?” Millie asked as she led Cassie into the kitchen.

Cassie flopped down into the chair next to the small corner table. “I would love a cup, thanks.”

Millie glanced at the clock on the wall. She turned to look at Cassie, her brows furrowing into a frown. “It’s only 9:15 A.M., shouldn’t you be at the shop right now?” she asked, turning back to the cupboard above the stove.

“Yes, I should but I had a visitor earlier this morning and because of it, I needed to see you.” Cassie watched her mother take down two coffee cups and then fill them.

“A visitor? What kind of visitor?” Millie asked. She sat the cups on the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

Cassie opened her purse and pulled out the photo Gordon had given her. She laid it down on the table in front of her mom. She knew by the deep intake of breath that what Gordon had told her had been the truth.

“Where … where did you get this?” her mother stammered as she picked the photo up.

“Gordon LeVitt gave it to me this morning,” Cassie said as she continued to watch her mom’s reaction.

“I guess that means he’s still an attorney.”

“Yes, it does and he was there to tell me that my father, Collin Masterson had passed away a few weeks ago and that I had been named as an heir in his Will.”

“Oh honey, I never wanted or expected you to find out this way,” Millie said, reaching across the table to hold Cassie’s hand.

“Since you aren’t denying it, I guess that means he told me the truth and that my whole life has been nothing but one big lie.” Cassie struggled to get the words out as she fought back the tears that were now threatening to spill down her cheeks.

“Baby, your life has not been a lie. Steven was your father in all sense of the word. It takes more to be a father than donating the sperm.”

Cassie looked at her mom and shook her head. “I don’t understand. Please tell me what happened.”

“I’m ashamed of my behavior, Cass. I was only twenty-two years old and I made a terrible, terrible mistake.”

Cassie felt her heart breaking. Regardless of how angry she was, she knew that her mom was in aguish by the tears running down her cheeks. “It’s okay, Mom. Please tell me what happened.”

“I was a secretary in your father’s office.” Millie smiled as she thought back to a place that now felt like a whole lifetime ago. She smiled at Cassie. “He was the most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on.”

“Then why did you two not stay together?”

Millie shook her head and said, “Because he was a married man, honey.”

“Oh, Mom.”

“I know, baby. It was the stupidest thing I have ever done but it was also the best thing I’ve ever done because it gave me you. How can I possibly regret that?”

“Did you love him?” Cassie asked because for some reason the answer was important to her.

Millie smiled as she thought about Collin. “Yes. I was head over heels in love with him. Back then it was called being smitten and boy was I ever.”

Cassie laughed at the expression on her mom’s face. “Did he love you, too?”

Millie nodded. “Yes he did and I never ever doubted that.”

“Was he planning on leaving his wife for you?” Now that she knew her father had been married to another woman, she found it hard to believe that things back then had changed much as to how it was today. Most married men who screwed around on their wives would tell their mistresses that they were planning on leaving their wives for them, which rarely ever happened. Why should her father be any different?

“He wanted to but I wouldn’t let him.”

“Are you—”

Millie held her hand up in the air to stop Cassie. “Please let me finish, Cass, and then you can ask whatever questions you want.”

“Okay, I’ll try,” Cassie said, grinning.

“We both thought we were being so careful and that his wife had no idea but we were wrong. She knew exactly what was going on and she had somehow discovered that I was pregnant and put two and two together. She came to see me without Collin knowing about it. She told me that I was to leave and never have contact with Collin again otherwise she would inform her father.”

“So, what could her father do?” Cassie asked, not understanding what her mom was getting at.

“Collin’s and his wife’s family were the two richest and most powerful families in West Virginia at the time. Their marriage had been arranged when they were in high school.”

Cassie shook her head in disbelief. “That’s kinda Draconian, don’t you think?”

“Not where they were from, it’s not. I knew that if Collin’s father found out, not only would he be humiliated, his father would most likely disown him. I loved him too much to let that happen so I did what I thought was best.”

“So you just left?” Cassie asked in disbelief.

Millie nodded. “I did.”

“Did he try to find you?”

“Yes he did and it took him three years but he was finally able to do so. When I left, he’d had no idea that I was pregnant. By the time his private investigator found me, you were three years-old and I had married Steven.”

Cassie nodded at the photo on the table. “And the picture?”

“I had agreed to meet with him so that he could see and hold you for the first and last time. Even then he begged me to stay in his life but I couldn’t. I had started over and had a new life with a man I loved and who loved me more than the moon and the stars, and he loved you as if you were his own daughter. Collin agreed to stay out of your life and he agreed to allow Steven to adopt you so that you would have his name.”

“Oh, Mom, this is so sad. It sounds like you and Collin both missed out on being with the love of your lives.”

“I loved Steven with all my heart but your father always had a piece of my heart that no one else stood a chance of having.”

Cassie wiped an errant tear from her cheek. “Do you regret your decision?”

Millie smiled. She reached up and brushed her hand across Cassie’s cheek. “No regrets, baby. Sometimes you have to accept that some things just aren’t meant to be.”

“Do you think I should go to West Virginia?”

“I think you should do whatever feels right. If you want to learn about your heritage and your father because he really was a wonderful man, then yes, I think you should think about.”

Cassie got up from her chair. She crouched down in front of her mom and wrapped her arms around her waist and hugged her. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, baby,” Millie said as she held her daughter tight.

Cassie looked at her mom. “You know what?” 

“What baby?”

Cassie reached over and picked the photo up off of the table. “This kinda explains how I ended up with blonde hair and green eyes seeing that you and Dad both had brown eyes and black hair.”

Millie smiled at her daughter. “And they are still the prettiest green eyes I’ve ever seen.”

Cassie was mentally and emotionally exhausted by the time she got home. She had called her best friend Jess and gave her a rundown on how her day had been. Unable to contain her curiosity, Jess was adamant that Cassie tell her the whole story over a big juicy pizza because her mantra was: “Food can solve just about anything”. After badgering Cassie for a good ten minutes, she had finally agreed when in reality all she really wanted was to be alone with her thoughts.

Jess, with her belly full, all one hundred and ten pounds of her, leaned back on the couch, and propped her feet up on the coffee table. “So what are you going to do?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Cassie answered honestly. A part of her wanted to go because she wanted to know about this man who was her father. She knew he had to be pretty amazing for her mom to have been so in love with him. Another part of her was curious to find out about the rest of her family.

He must have had other children and being an only child, the idea of having a brother or sister or several of each was enticing. She wondered about her father’s wife and how she would react to seeing her husband’s illegitimate child after all these years, the same child she ran out of town along with Cassie’s mom.

“Why would my father’s wife want me to stay at their house when she did so much to get mom and me out of their lives?” she asked without realizing she had spoken her thoughts out loud.

Jess leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “I don’t know. Maybe she’s nicened up after all these years. Not such a hard-ass anymore ‘cause she’s older.”

“You might be right but I still can’t help from being a little angry knowing what she did to my mom.”

“Understandable if you ask me. Your mom is great.”

Cassie laughed. “You just say that because she makes you special chocolate chip cookies every time you come over.”

“Well, she does make the best cookies on the planet,” Jess laughed with a shrug.

“You’re incorrigible,” Cassie laughed.

“What have I told you about using words around me that I can’t even spell?”

Cassie reached over and wrapped her arm around Jess’s shoulder. “Have I told you how glad I am that you are my best friend?”

“Not nearly enough,” Jess laughed. She leaned back to look at Cassie. “So what are you going to do?”

“I think I’m going to go,” Cassie said and immediately felt her heart race at the thought of meeting a family she never knew she had.

Jess got up from the couch. “Good. So when are you leaving?”

“The reading is next Tuesday so I think I will drive up Monday afternoon.”

Jess frowned. “Do they have cell service over there in Timbuktu?”

“Very funny. Of course they have cell service.” At least she hoped they did.

Jess’s expression turned serious. She tapped her index finger against her chin. “You have to make sure you call me and give me hour by hour updates.”

“Jess Hollins, I swear sometimes you have a screw loose.”

“Hey, I take offense to that. I have more than one screw loose so get your facts straight. Speaking of straight,” Jess continued without giving Cassie a chance to reply. “I met this really hot, straight chick at the gym but I think she could easily play for our team.”

Cassie stood up and placed both hands on her hips. “You’re never gonna learn are you?” she asked although it was more of a statement.

Jess fought to keep the smile off of her face. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t try and play dumb with me. I thought you were dating Georgiana whom you met at the hetero bar you hang out at.”

“Her name was Gina,” Jess laughed. “Where the hell did you get Georgiana out of Gina?”

Cassie chuckled. “I can’t keep all the women coming in and out your door straight anymore, pun intended.”

“Ha, ha. Seriously, I think the chick at the gym might finally be the one … uh … Lacey … Macy or was it Lynn … hell, I—”

Cassie busted out laughing. “Oh my gosh. You don’t even know her name but she might be thee one?”

“Okay smarty pants … Now that you’ve had your fun, I gotta split this joint. I need a haircut and my beautician is nothing to sneeze at. She’s kinda on the hottie side.”

Cassie frowned. “I thought you were going to let your hair grow? I like it down around your shoulders.”

Jess ran her hands through her hair. “Yeah well, I like being able to just run a comb through it and go out the door.”

Cassie looked at Jess and if they hadn’t been best friends since the age of six, she could have easily seen herself being attracted to her. With silky black hair and piercing blues eyes and a body to die for, Jess was stunning in every sense of the word and the women who threw themselves at her on an almost daily basis proved it. Cassie walked Jess to the door. “Just don’t cut it too short okay?”

“I promise and I’m sure we will talk several times before you leave but I expect a regular update on this little venture of yours,” Jess said as she stepped out onto the front porch. She turned and looked at Cassie. “You know what? I just thought of something.”

“What’s that?”

“This time next week, you may be a millionaire.”

“I kinda doubt that but you will be the first to know,” Cassie said as she watched Jess walk to her car. She thought about what Jess had just said and realized that the thought of becoming rich never entered her mind. Besides, it’s like she told Gordon, she didn’t want anything from her father. “I haven’t needed anything from him in thirty-three years and I don’t need anything now.”

Chapter 2

Cassie’s work week had moved at a snail’s pace and she knew it was because she had made up her mind to go to Masterson, West Virginia. She had waited until Thursday to call Gordon and let him know that she would be coming. If she hadn’t known any better she would have sworn that he was more than pleased by her decision.

It was at this time that she realized the town she was going to was actually named after her father’s family. That information alone was mind-boggling to her. Yes, she knew that families sometimes had towns named after them; she just didn’t know any of them.

On Friday, when she couldn’t stand the suspense any longer she had Googled Collin Masterson. If he had other children, she hoped that the internet would provide her with that information. Much to her chagrin, the only thing she could find out was that Collin’s family had made their fortune in the tobacco business and there had also been a few inferences that his great-grandfather, Archie Masterson had been in the bootlegging business, running moonshine all the way down to Georgia.

It was stated that Archie along with his son, Raymond, Collins’ father, had used the money from the moonshine to buy up land, which they turned into mega-tobacco farms.

Cassie’s cell rang, pulling her from her thoughts.

“Hi, Cass, it’s Mom,” Millie said through the receiver.

Cassie laughed. Her mom always announced who she was as if Cassie would have no idea that it was her mom calling. It never failed to make her smile. “Hi, Mom, how are you?”

“I’m good, thank you for asking. I was just calling to see how you were and if you had everything ready to go for your trip.”

“I just have a few last minute things to take care of before I go.”

“Well, I won’t keep you. I just wanted to check in and tell you that I love you and to have a safe trip.”

“Thanks, Mom, and I love you too and I promise to be careful and call as soon as I get there.”

“Okay dear and you know how I worry so don’t forget.”

“I won’t, Mom. I’ll talk to you later,” she said and then disconnected the line.

Chapter 3

Having stopped at the gas station to fill up her car, Cassie took a few minutes to program the address Gordon had given her into her GPS, which she had lovingly nicknamed Cammie.

She had been driving for over six hours now and still had another hour to go. The sun had long set and she was chastising herself for getting such a late start. The last thing she wanted to do was be on back roads at dark when she had no idea where she was going.

For the last twenty minutes she had been traveling along curving roads that were barely wide enough for one car to drive on, let alone two cars. She just hoped that she didn’t pass anyone.

That thought was a little unnerving seeing that she hadn’t seen another soul for some time now.

“Damn it to hell, Cammie,” she said and smacked the top of the GPS with her hand as if that would miraculously change the coordinates. She felt panic begin to set in. The GPS screen showed her car driving in the middle of a field with nothing around her on all sides. The road she was on didn’t even exist as far as the GPS was concerned.

At the same time she glanced at her gas gauge, her stomach growled. She hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast that morning and she hadn’t seen a gas station for several miles.

“I knew I should have stopped at that last gas station just off the highway,” she mumbled. Her gas indicator said she had an eighth of a tank left. If she didn’t find a gas station soon, she’d be walking. The thought was terrifying.

“Great, I have a chance to meet my new family and I’ve driven myself right into the horror flick Wrong Turn or worse.” Out of the blue, her mind started playing banjo music, which immediately made her think of the film Deliverance with Burt Reynolds and Ned Beatty. “That’s it Cass, keep thinking the worst possible thoughts you can imagine. Hell, if you’re lucky the next turn you make will be right into a campground with a lake and then you can meet Jason Voorhees in person.”

In the next instant, she heard a loud noise that sounded like a shotgun going off. She had to grip the steering wheel with both hands as her car fishtailed toward the ditch on the right-hand side of the road. She jerked it with all her might and slammed on the brakes at the same time, bringing the car to a screeching halt.

“Jiminy Christmas,” she said as she turned the engine off and then regretted it when she was surrounded by nothing but blackness. It was so dark she couldn’t see anything. She sat there for several minutes as she tried to slow her breathing down. She was shaking so badly and she had no feeling in her legs. It was as if they had disappeared from the knee down.

She reached over and flipped open the glove box and was happy that she had placed a small flashlight in there less than a week ago.

She flipped the light on and slowly opened the door. “Time to check out the damage.” She was greeted by silence with the exception of crickets chirping in the distance.

She shined the light on the rear tire on the left side of the car and seeing that it was fine she moved toward the front and just as she thought, her left front tire was as flat as flat could be. In fact, it was shredded and the rim was showing.

“Just great,” she muttered as she reached in and pulled her keys out of the ignition. Never having changed a tire in her life, she was not looking forward to learning now but she had no choice. It was either she do it or be prepared to spend the night in God knows where.

“How hard can it really be?” she asked herself. She had seen her dad change the tire more than once and was pretty confident that she could do it as well. She was thankful now that he had made her watch him do it. He had said that it was something she needed to know in case it ever happened to her. She  glanced at the sky.  “Thank you, Dad.”

She inserted the key into her trunk lid and popped it open. “Please tell me that I have a jack in here,” she said and pulled back the carpet on the bottom of the trunk. “Thank heaven almighty.” Next to the spare tire and fixed down by a wing nut was a jack and tire-iron. “I can do this. I mean really, how hard can it be to change a freaking tire?” she mumbled as she removed the spare and the jack.

With the jack in her right hand, she used her left to roll the spare toward the front of the car. A rustling noise somewhere on the opposite side of the road caused her to freeze. She stood there for several seconds just listening. Her heart was racing and she felt like it would burst out of her chest. She leaned the tire against the side of the car and laid the jack down on the ground.

Reluctantly, she shined the flashlight toward the area where she thought the noise was coming from and saw a pair of bright eyes looking at her. She let out a sigh of relief as it registered that it was just an animal and then her mind took a wrong turn. “Please don’t let that be a bear that missed dinner or a gorilla that escaped from the zoo.” She turned her attention back to the front tire.

She laughed when she realized what she just said. “A bear or gorilla, you need to get a grip. Like there are bears here or even a zoo for that matter.”

Sometimes she amazed herself with the idiocy of things that ran through her mind. A psychiatrist would have a field day if she ever got her on the couch.

“Time to get down to business.” She crouched down on the ground and looked under the car. Lucky for her that a spot had been marked indicating that was the place where the jack should be positioned.

She slid the jack over and inserted the end of the lug-wrench into the opening. She started to raise the car and then stopped. “I’m forgetting something.” She pulled the jack handle out. Her dad had told her that she should loosen the lug nuts first before raising the car because they might take some muscle power and she didn’t want to try and loosen them once the car was up, otherwise the car could fall off the jack.

She took the wrench and with quite a bit of effort, loosened all five lug nuts. She then proceeded to jack the car up.

Just as the tire cleared the ground, she was engulfed by a bright light. She turned to see a car, not more than one-hundred feet from her. She felt an uneasy feeling spread through her body when the car came to stop. It sat there idling, the driver making no attempt to get out.

“No, no, no,” she groaned as her thoughts once again took a very wrong turn. This time the serial killer, Ted Bundy came to mind. “Please God; don’t let it be a man or some psycho.”

What felt like several long minutes, in reality was just several seconds. Without realizing it, she held her breath as she watched the driver’s door slowly open.

The driver, now silhouetted in front of the car lights, was enough to take Cassie’s breath away. It was a woman and based on the shape, she had a body that most women dreamed of having.

The woman approached slowly and as she got closer, Cassie shined the light up at her. The woman was rip-out-your-heart gorgeous.

She smiled at Cassie. “Can you please turn your flashlight off? You’re kinda blinding me.” The voice was a little husky yet feminine at the same time.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Cassie said, feeling slightly embarrassed for staring but she couldn’t help herself.

“Looks like you have a little bit of a problem here,” the woman said, stating the obvious.

“Yes, I guess you could say that but I’m almost done. I just have to put the spare on.”

“Let me give you a hand,” the woman said and then pulled the old tire off the car.

Cassie watched in amazement as the woman effortlessly put the new tire on and then screwed on the lug nuts. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

“How can you tell?” Cassie laughed.

The woman smiled at Cassie causing her to blush. She was grateful that the woman couldn’t see it; otherwise she would have known what kind of effect she was having on Cassie. What the hell is wrong with you, Cassie silently cursed herself. Why are you suddenly acting like a teenager with a high school crush? A crush on a total stranger that you only met minutes ago.

“Hello?” the woman said, waving her hand in front of Cassie’s face.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. What did you say?” Cassie felt her face flush again with embarrassment.

The woman grinned at her and if Cassie didn’t know any better, she would swear that the woman somehow knew the thoughts running through her mind. “I asked you what your name was,” she said, cocking her head to the side, the grin still on her face.

She nodded at the new tire that was now on her car. “Cassie. Cassie Reynolds and thank you.”

“You’re welcome and it’s nice to meet you, Cassie Reynolds. My name is Eelyn M. Carmichael.”  She held out her hand.

Cassie took Eelyn’s hand in hers and the minute contact was made, it took everything in her not to jerk it away. A feeling like none she had ever felt raced up her arm, traveling all the way down to her feet. If she thought it was possible, sparks would have jumped back and forth between the two of them.

A look of surprise crossed Eelyn’s face and Cassie knew that she must have felt it as well. The undeniable and unexplainable attraction Cassie was feeling toward this stranger was definitely mutual and right then the only thought going through Cassie’s mind was how she wanted this woman to make mad passionate love to her all night long.

Cassie shook her head to try and dispel these crazy thoughts. Never in her life had thoughts like that entered her mind about any woman and it scared her.

“Are you okay?” Eelyn asked, her face etched with concern.

“Yes, thank you. I was just thinking that I am so relieved that you didn’t turn out to be a serial killer,” Cassie lied.

Eelyn laughed and the sound made Cassie shiver. I could listen to that sound for the rest of my life, she thought to herself and then was shocked at the direction her thoughts were leading once again. She needed to take a step back and gain some semblance of control. She picked up the lug wrench, knelt down next to the car, and then lowered the jack.

She tightened the bolts, picked up the jack, and took them to the back of the car.

“You’ll need to take this to a shop and have them put a new tire on so that you aren’t without a spare,” Eelyn said over Cassie’s shoulder, causing her to jump. Eelyn had been so quiet that she didn’t know she was standing behind her. “I’m sorry, Cassie, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Eelyn was standing so close that Cassie could feel the heat coming from her body. Her breath caught in her throat as she breathed in the fragrance of the cologne Eelyn was wearing. After several seconds, she somehow found her voice. “It’s okay, I tend to be a little jumpy, especially when I’m stranded on a dark road in the middle of nowhere and I have no idea where I am,” she laughed nervously. “Obsession,” Cassie suddenly blurted out.

“I beg your pardon,” Eelyn said as she heaved the flat tire into the trunk and secured it in place.

“You’re perfume, it’s Obsession, right?” Cassie said, clarifying her comment.

A small grin played at the corner of Eelyn’s mouth.

“You have a very keen sense of smell and yes, you are correct. I love Calvin Klein,” Once again, Cassie felt herself blushing. “I love the smell. It’s not too overbearing but a little on the erotic side I think.” Jesus, Cassie, why don’t you just come right out and tell her that you want her to ravish your body and get it over with, she thought, chastising herself mentally.

Eelyn laughed. “So you think it’s erotic, huh? What else do you think is erotic?” she asked, moving a step closer so that she was firmly invading Cassie’s space. Cassie thought she heard a sizzle when her arm came in contact with Eelyn’s.

She’s flirting with me and I am in so much trouble, Cassie thought as she looked up into Eelyn’s eyes. “You have a very pretty name,” Cassie said and was grateful that she didn’t say what she was really thinking, which was to ask Eelyn if she could possibly make mad passionate love to her right then and there.

Eelyn laughed. “Well thank you, I like it as well. It’s different for sure. So, is Cassie short for anything?”

“Cassandra, but my mom and my best friend both call me Cass.”

“Which do you prefer I call you?”

Cassie wanted to say that Eelyn could call her anything she wanted but instead said, “You may call me either.”

“In that case, I think I prefer calling you Cassie.”

“I’m glad we got that settled. Well, I guess I should be going. It was nice meeting you and thanks for the help. I appreciate it,” Cassie said with reluctance. Her traitorous body didn’t want her to leave and if she were honest, her mind didn’t want to leave either.

“So, how exactly did you end up out here?”

“I have an appointment tomorrow at the Masterson Estate and my dang GPS put me out here. I have no idea where I am but it’s a good thing that I decided to come here the day before.”

“Masterson, huh? Well, you are definitely in the right area.”

“That’s comforting to know. Do you know of the Masterson’s?”

Eelyn nodded. “I’d say most folks around here know of them and their estate is less than a mile away.”

“That’s good to know,” Cassie said, feeling relieved.

Cassie pulled her keys out of her jeans pocket and opened her car door. “I should get going then.”

“Be safe,” Eelyn said as she watched Cassie slide into the driver’s seat.

Cassie inserted the key into the ignition “You, too, and thanks again.” She turned it but nothing happened. She turned it again and all she heard was a clicking sound. “This can’t be happening,” she said and laid her forehead against the steering wheel.

“Try it again.”

Cassie did as instructed but again got nothing but a clicking sound. “If I didn’t know better, I would think that I’m not meant to be here.”

“I doubt that. I’m not a big spiritual person but I do believe in Karma and I have a feeling that you are exactly where you’re meant to be at this point in time. Everything happens for a reason.”

Cassie turned and looked at Eelyn. “Can I ask you for a favor?”

Eelyn leaned her forearms against the roof of the car and looked down at Cassie. “Sure.”

“Would you mind driving me to a hotel? I can call a car service in the morning to pick up my car.”

“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. The closest hotel is over forty miles away.”

Cassie slammed her hand on the steering wheel. “That’s just freaking great,” she growled in frustration.

“I have a better idea. Why don’t you come home with me? I have plenty of room and I will call my mechanic first thing in the morning to come and get your car.”

Cassie slowly turned to look at Eelyn. Was she serious? She could hardly be near her right now without wanting to rip her clothes off. How would it be if she were under the same roof, a roof that provided lots of privacy? “Um … I wouldn’t want to put you out or anything,” she said and then quietly groaned at her choice of words. She hoped that Eelyn didn’t notice but was proven wrong by Eelyn’s next comment.

Eelyn grinned at her. “Maybe I want to be put out by you.”

By the look on Eelyn’s face, Cassie no longer had any doubt whatsoever that this mysterious gorgeous creature of a woman, her knightess in shining armor, was openly flirting with her.

“So, Eelyn, are you in the habit of putting out often?” Cassie asked and then gasped at her boldness. “I’m so sorry. I have no idea what came over me or where that came from. I have never said anything like that to another woman in my life.”

Eelyn threw her head back and laughed deeply. “You’re adorable when you blush.”

Cassie frowned. “You can’t see me blush.”

“I don’t need to see it, I can feel it,” Eelyn said, her comment catching Cassie off-guard. Before Cassie could reply Eelyn said, “As for me putting out often, the answer is no but I can make an exception for a woman as beautiful as you.”

Oh … my … Gawd. I am in so, so much damn trouble, Cassie thought as Eelyn’s words reached the reasoning part of her brain, which immediately sent a rush of heat, followed by a river of undeniable wetness between her legs. Her mind raced in several different directions as she realized that Eelyn had just offered herself to her.

“So?” Eelyn asked after several seconds went by without Cassie saying anything.

“Um … uh …,” was all Cassie managed to get out before the sound of her stomach growling stopped her from possibly saying something she might regret.

Eelyn laughed. “When was the last time you had something to eat?”

“Breakfast,” Cassie said and then realized that she was gripping the steering wheel so tight with her hands that she was losing the feeling in her fingers.

Eelyn held her hand out to Cassie. “Come on. I promise not to attack you and I will fix us both something to eat.”

But I want you to attack me, Cassie thought as she took Eelyn’s hand in hers and allowed herself to be pulled out of the car.

“Where’s your luggage?” Eelyn asked.

“In the backseat.”

Eelyn opened the back car door and pulled out the small carry-on. “I only live a quarter-mile from here,” she said and turned toward her car, which was still idling in the middle of the road. “Are you coming?” she asked over her shoulder when she realized that Cassie hadn’t moved an inch.

I sure hope so Cassie wanted to say but instead said, “Yes, I am. Thank you.” She followed Eelyn to the car and realized that is was actually a SUV. She opened the passenger door and was confronted with the smell of Eelyn’s perfume.

“Buckle up,” Eelyn said as she slid into the driver’s seat and pulled the door closed.

As if moving in slow motion, Cassie clicked her seat-belt in place. She felt like every nerve in her body was standing on end. A glance at Eelyn and the small smile on her face told Cassie that she was feeling the same way. She watched Eelyn put the SUV in gear and was only aware that they were moving by the slight bumps every so often in the road. She felt like she was in someone else’s body. This sort of thing never happened to her.

“What is wrong with me?” Cassie asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Crap, did I just say that out loud?” Cassie asked in surprise.

“Yeah, you kinda did,” Eelyn laughed. “If it’s any consolation, from where I’m sitting, I can’t see one thing wrong with you.”

“Okay, now I am blushing,” Cassie said, feeling the heat spread up her neck and across her face.

Eelyn glanced at her and with the soft glow of the dashboard lights illuminating her face, Cassie realized just how heart racing gorgeous she was.

“So what do you think is wrong with you?” Eelyn asked, pulling Cassie from her thoughts.

“Besides sticking my foot in my mouth, believe me when I say the list is too long to say.”

“We’re here,” Eelyn said as the car slowed down and then turned into a driveway. They drove between two large rock formations that were situated on both sides of a black-topped road.

Cassie gasped when the house came into view. It was one of the largest log cabin homes she’d ever seen. Looking at the house head-on from the front, it didn’t look that big but seeing the full length and how far it set back into the woods behind it was unusual and made the house seem deceptive in size.

Eelyn circled the drive. “I take it you like it.” She stopped several feet from a set of steps that led to the large front porch.

“Like it is an understatement because I love log cabins,” Cassie said as she continued to look around. She couldn’t see everything but what she could see was lit up nicely by a porch light. Several windows had lights shining through them, which gave the house an overall warm and welcoming glow.

“Good, I hope you like the inside as well.” Eelyn shut off the engine and climbed out of the car.

“I’m sure I will,” Cassie said as she watched Eelyn grab her carry-on off of the backseat. “I could get that you know.”

Eelyn grinned at her. “I’m sure you can but it was on my side of the car so it made more sense for me to grab it. She nodded at the house. “Let me show you the inside.”

Cassie, her heart racing, followed Eelyn up the steps. She waited while Eelyn inserted her key and unlocked the door. With the bag in hand, Eelyn pushed the door open and stepped off to the side. “After you, ma’am.”

“Ma’am, who you calling a ma’am,” Cassie laughed as she stepped through the open doorway.  “Wow,” was the first thing she said as she took in the room. It was huge and everything in it was rustic. On the opposite wall was a wood burning fireplace made from rocks that reached from the floor all the way up to a loft that overlooked the great room. “How many rooms does it have?”

Eelyn sat the carry-on down on the floor. “It’s only a three bedroom but it’s more than enough for me.” Eelyn grinned at Cassie. “It also comes with the standard kitchen, dining room, office, and a few other rooms to spare.”

Cassie laughed and walked further into the room. “That’s good to know and if the rest of the house looks anything like this room, I’m sure it’s beautiful.”

“Thank you. If you wanna follow me, I can show you to your room and I’m guessing that you would like to take a shower.”

Only if you’re planning on joining me, she thought, turning to look at Eelyn who was now grinning at her. “What are you smiling about?” Cassie asked, unable to keep the grin off of her own face.

Eelyn shrugged. “Nothing really except you have very interesting expressions. I can tell when you’re thinking about something important by the look you make.”

Cassie chuckled. “Really, you’ve known me less than an hour, yet you can tell all of that?”

“I know it’s weird and makes no sense whatsoever but I feel like we’ve met before, that I somehow know you.”

The honesty in Eelyn’s answer surprised her. Not that she was so honest but what she said was something that Cassie was feeling as well. She was suddenly overcome with a contentment that made no sense at all. It was a feeling as if she had finally come home after years of wandering around aimlessly.

She was never one to believe in love at first-sight. She thought what people were feeling was actually lust at first-sight. The one thing she did believe in however, was that every single human had a soul-mate and those who found theirs were the lucky ones. She knew in reality that most people never find their soul mate and instead are forced to settle for less than what either partner deserved.

Maybe that’s why so many marriages, whether they be lesbian or heterosexual, ended in divorce. You can’t truly be happy with your partner if one eye is constantly searching for that ever elusive mate.

“Why are you grinning?”

Cassie laughed. “I didn’t realize I was but I was just thinking about something my mom always says.”

“And that would be?”

“That every pot has its lid,” Cassie answered and then chuckled at the expression on Eelyn’s face. “It means that every single person has someone out there, kinda like a pot has a lid that fits perfectly,” she said to clarify the meaning for Eelyn.

“Aww … Do you believe that?” Eelyn asked, taking a step closer toward Cassie.

Cassie nodded. “Yeah, I do.”

“So, does your pot have a lid?” Eelyn asked, taking another step closer.       

Cassie took a deep breath as she looked Eelyn directly in the eyes. “It does but I just haven’t found her yet,” she answered honestly, which surprised her. What is it with this woman; this stranger who seemed to have the power to make her say whatever was on her mind without caring how or what she said would be taken?

Eelyn took another step closer and Cassie took a deep breath as she felt Eelyn’s breasts press against hers. “Am I right to assume then that you are a lesbian?” she asked, her voice taking on a soft and husky sound that made Cassie’s heart skip several beats.

“That … assumption … would be correct.” The nearness of Eelyn was making it difficult to put a coherent string of words together. She could feel her nipples hardening and the heat coming from Eelyn’s body made Cassie feel like her skin was on fire.

She had an overwhelming urge to rip her clothes off and beg Eelyn to make love to her. To hell with the consequences and be damned with morning after regrets because right now her mind was all one track and that track laid a path straight to Eelyn and the bed she knew was waiting somewhere upstairs.

“I was hoping you would say that,” Eelyn said, her voice just above a whisper.

Cassie watched in slow-motion as Eelyn cupped both sides of her face with hands that were so soft, Cassie wanted to scream. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Eelyn lowered her head.

Cassie groaned as their lips came into contact with each other. Instinctively, Cassie wrapped her arms around Eelyn’s waist and pulled her in tighter. “Oh damn,” she groaned as Eelyn ran the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip. Her mouth opened for Eelyn as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I’ve died and gone to heaven, she thought when Eelyn’s tongue slid over hers.

Eelyn kissed her with a ferocity that was unexplainable and when she returned the kiss with just as much fervor, Eelyn’s groan set her on fire. Her hands slid up under Eelyn’s tight t-shirt and when they came in contact with skin, Cassie thought she was going to orgasm right then and there.

Eelyn was the first to break the kiss and Cassie immediately felt the loss. She wanted this woman and right now she wanted her more than she wanted air to breathe.

“If I don’t stop now, I won’t be able to,” Eelyn whispered, her lips resting sensuously against the side of Cassie’s neck, which sent an overwhelming ripple of desire down past her waist.

  “Okay,” Cassie said breathlessly as she stepped out of the embrace, pulling her hands out from under Eelyn’s shirt at the same time. “Maybe you could show me to my room and the shower.”

“That I can do.” Eelyn took Cassie by the hand and led her up the staircase. She stopped at the first door on the right. Bathroom is over there,” she said, pointing toward an open doorway next to the large dresser. “While you’re showering, I will fix us something to eat.” She kissed Cassie lightly on the mouth and then left the room.

Eelyn, with her elbows on the counter, rested her head on her arms. “What are you doing here?” she asked herself. Her thoughts turned to the woman who was probably very naked at this exact moment upstairs in her shower. This is so unlike you. Are you out of your mind? A little voice inside her head asked. “I just may be,” she said out loud. “And if I don’t stop talking to myself she’s liable to think I’m a little off in the head.” Her thoughts turned back to her recent behavior.

Never in her life had she ever done anything remotely close to what she had just done with Cassie Reynolds. From the minute she laid eyes on her, she wanted her and she still did in the worst possible way. She couldn’t explain the feelings that Cassie had invoked in her. It was a feeling that engulfed all reasoning that told her to run and run away as fast as she could. Lust and nothing but pure lust is what this is, the little voice in her head said as her mind continued to try and make sense of her actions.

“How long has it been since you had sex?” she mumbled under her breath. Almost six and half years her mind calculated. That was a long time for anyone to go without having physical contact with another person. “It’s a damn wonder I haven’t turned back into a virgin by now,” she said as she opened the fridge.

She thought about the last time she had been with anyone. That person was Samantha, the love of her life, a life that tragically ended when she was killed in a car accident on her way home after visiting her parents in Tennessee. It had been the worst day of her life and had taken her almost two years just to be able to function somewhat normally.

What is it about this woman? It’s because she makes me feel as if I have known her all my life, she thought as she pulled out a pack of fresh tilapia and laid it on the counter.

The woman upstairs was a complete stranger and she had wanted nothing more than to take her right there in the living room. Never in her life had she come on or flirted with a woman like she had done with Cassie. Hell, other than Sam, she had never slept with another person in her life and knowing that she wanted Cassie in the biblical sense scared the living hell out of her.

She grabbed a small skillet from a lower cabinet and poured a few tablespoons of olive oil into it. She took out another pan, filled it with water, and then grabbed a box of angel hair pasta from the pantry. While she heated up the skillet and waited for the water to boil, she took a bag of cooked shrimp from the freezer.

She took out a tub of sour cream along with a fresh chunk of parmesan cheese from the fridge. “I hope she likes seafood,”

“She likes seafood just fine,” Cassie said from the doorway leading into the kitchen.

Eelyn turned and felt her breath catch in her throat as she looked at Cassie. She was leaning against the doorframe wearing a tight and skimpy pair of black shorts and a white tank top that left no doubt that she didn’t have a bra on.

She watched as Cassie slowly walked toward her. “Um … that’s a good thing, I think,” she said, finding herself suddenly tongue tied.

“Yes it is,” Cassie smiled. She looked at the items in Eelyn’s hand “What are you making?”

“One of my favorite dishes and I hope you like it,” Eelyn said as she turned and sat the cheese and sour cream on the counter.

“May I help with something?” Cassie felt her face flush as Eelyn’s eyes, starting at her feet, travelled all the way up Cassie’s body before settling on her face. What Cassie saw made her breath hitch. She knew desire when she saw it and if she’d had any doubts that Eelyn wanted her, she now had confirmation that she did. That knowledge excited, as much as it scared her.

Eelyn didn’t miss a beat. “Yes you may. In the second drawer next to the fridge is a cheese grater. Can you get that please?”

Cassie did as instructed and brought it over to the counter.

Eelyn grabbed a plate out of the cupboard above the stove and handed it to Cassie and then slid the cheese across the counter. “If you would, please grate this,” she said as she put a dash of oil in the pot of boiling water and then dropped a handful of pasta into it. She then sprinkled a teaspoons worth of salt into the water with the pasta.

“What’s the salt for?” Cassie asked as she continued to grate the cheese. She wasn’t much of a cook and the smile on Eelyn’s face suggested she had already guessed as much.   

“It keeps the water from boiling over and leaving a film of nasty pasta gook all over the stove.”

Cassie laughed. “So that’s what the slimy stuff is called.” With the cheese grated, she looked at Eelyn. “What’s next chef?”

“Can you preheat the oven to three-fifty, please?” Eelyn asked, opening a half-full tub of sour cream. She dumped the grated cheese into it and mixed it all together and then took out a baking sheet and laid several pieces of fish on it. She grabbed a tablespoon from a drawer and handed it to Cassie. “Take this and spread it on both sides of the fish,” she instructed, sliding the sour cream tub across the counter.

“I think I can handle that,” Cassie said and begun smearing the mixture over the fish.

“When you’re done, just slide it in the oven for fifteen to twenty minutes.” With Cassie working on the fish, Eelyn took out a bottle of white cooking wine from the pantry. She then mashed up a small amount of fresh garlic, along with a quarter cup of olive oil and added it to the skillet.

Cassie slid the pan into the oven. “The smell is already killing me.”

“Wait until you taste it. This is my favorite dish in the world,” Eelyn said as she added a half pound of shrimp to the skillet and mixed it up, coating everything equally. She browned the shrimp evenly and then dumped half the bottle of white wine into the pan and brought it to a boil.

“I can’t wait,” Cassie said and she meant it. Great food with a beautiful woman, who could ask for anything more?

Eelyn turned the burner off of the shrimp and then went over to the fridge. She started to grab a carton of strawberries and stopped. She turned and looked back at Cassie. “Do you like strawberries?”

“I love them, especially if they’re dipped in chocolate.”

“I can arrange that for you,” Eelyn grinned as she brought the strawberries along with a bottle of chocolate syrup over and sat them on the counter.

Without being told, Cassie grabbed the strawberries and washed them off. She opened up several cupboard doors before she found the one that contained large bowls.

Eelyn watched in amazement as Cassie moved around the kitchen with ease. It’s like she’s been here for years, she thought as Cassie took a knife from the knife-block and begun slicing up the strawberries. When she was finished, she sat the bowl off to the side.

Eelyn took out a colander and emptied the pot of spaghetti into it. She ran warm water over it to get off the gook. She picked up a pot holder, opened the oven door and took out the baked fish. She sat the hot pan on the burner. “Can you grab a couple of plates and some silverware?”

Eelyn then scooped the spaghetti onto each plate and then spooned the sautéed shrimp along with the wine sauce over the pasta.

Using a spatula, Cassie placed the fish on each of their plates and then carried them over to the small table that sat inside a large bay window.

As Eelyn sat down at the table, she realized that for the last fifteen minutes, she and Cassie had worked together without more than a few words between them. It was as if they had been doing this very thing for years and the thought unnerved her.

“Oh my gosh,” Cassie groaned when she took a bite of the fish.

“I take it you like it?” Eelyn asked as she took a bite of her own.

“It’s delicious, Eelyn. I can only imagine what the rest tastes like.” She was unable to stop the moan that came from her lips as she took a bite of the shrimp and pasta. “This is almost orgasmic,” she said and then laughed at the expression on Eelyn’s face. “Almost I said, but not quite.”

Eelyn laughed. “Thank you for clarifying that.”

“Where did you get this recipe? I have to have it,” Cassie said as she shoved another bite in her mouth.

“It’s my mothers. She is one of the best cooks you could ever meet. I learned everything from her.”

“Do you think you could write it down for me before I leave?”

“I think I can do that,” Eelyn said with more enthusiasm than what she felt. The thought of Cassie leaving disappointed her more than she thought possible.

Cassie leaned back in her chair. “Thank you so much for rescuing me and then feeding me such a wonderful dinner. If you do anymore, you’re going to spoil me,” she said with a wink.

“You’re welcome and there’s nothing wrong with being spoiled once in a while.” Eelyn pushed her chair back and stood up. I’m going to go take a quick shower, let some of my food digest and when I come back down, I’ll treat you to some strawberries dipped in chocolate.”

“Mmm, that sounds wonderful,” Cassie grinned as she got up from the table.

“You don’t need to do that,” Eelyn said as Cassie begun clearing the dishes.

“Sure I do and when you come back down, I’ll have this kitchen so clean, you won’t be able to tell I was ever here.”

“I doubt that,” Eelyn said and then turned and left the room.

Cassie, with a puzzled look on her face searched for the dish liquid and found none. “Well, duh,” she said as she spotted the dishwasher next to the stove. Her thoughts wandered as she rinsed the dishes and begun filling the dishwasher.

For some reason, after tonight, she didn’t think her life would ever be the same again. She probably has some gorgeous girlfriend stashed around here somewhere, she thought as she closed and sealed the dishwasher door. “Who are you kidding? She probably has a whole string of them,” she said out loud as she wiped off the table.

“I wonder what else she has to drink in this house. Maybe some wine,” she said and pulled open the fridge door. Sure enough, sitting in the door was a bottle of Moscato. She sat the bottle on the table as she tried to remember which cabinet she had seen the wine glasses. After searching several, she found the one she was looking for. She took out two glasses, grabbed the bottle, and headed for the family room. She had already drunk two glasses by the time she heard the water shut off upstairs.

“I see you found my stash,” Eelyn said a few minutes later as she came down the stairs. She was wearing a tank top similar to Cassie’s along with a pair of hip-hugging, cut-off jean shorts.

Cassie couldn’t stop herself from staring at the long, tan, and very sexy legs walking toward her. When she looked up, she found Eelyn grinning at her.

“See something you like?” she asked as she plopped down on the couch next to Cassie and poured herself a glass of wine.

Cassie turned to look at her. “As a matter of fact, I do.” She was unable to stop her thoughts from running wild or her mouth from watering as she wondered what it would be like to taste Eelyn and right now, she wanted to taste every inch of her. Maybe her courage to say whatever was on her mind had something to do with the wine she had consumed but she doubted it.

Eelyn situated herself sideways on the couch so she could look at Cassie. “You better be careful making statements like that.”

“And why is that?”

“Because you may get more than you bargained for.”

“Whatever I get from you will be exactly what I’m bargaining for,” Cassie said as her pulse begun to race.

Eelyn leaned her head back and downed the glass of wine in one long drink. She refilled it before turning to look at Cassie. She took another drink and then sat the glass on the coffee table. “I want you, Cassie, and I want you in the worst way. I don’t want to just have sex with you. I want to make love to you and with you and I want to make it all night long until I just can’t take anymore.”

“Then have me, please,” Cassie whispered as she slid over next to Eelyn, their thighs touching. She heard the deep intake of breath as she lightly trailed her fingertips up the inside of Eelyn’s thigh.

“You’re driving me insane,” Eelyn growled as she reached over and pulled Cassie onto her lap so that her legs were straddling Eelyn’s.

“Good,” Cassie whispered, leaning forward, placing her hands on either side of Eelyn’s face. To her surprise, she kissed Eelyn with a ferocity that she didn’t know was inside of her. When her tongue came in contact with Eelyn’s, she groaned. “You have the softest lips,” she said, pulling back to look in Eelyn’s eyes.

“Mmm … so do you,” Eelyn whispered, her eyes glazing over with desire.

Cassie put her head down, looking at her legs.

“Are you okay?” When Cassie didn’t answer, Eelyn used her hand to gently force Cassie’s head up so she could look at her. “What’s wrong, Cassie?”

Cassie looked at Eelyn and she felt her heart melt. “Nothing’s wrong. In fact it feels more than right. It’s just …”  

“It’s just what?” Eelyn prodded.

“I … I’ve … it’s just, I’ve never done anything like this before.” For some reason what Eelyn thought about her mattered. “I don’t want you to think that I’m slutty or that I go home with just any woman I meet on the side of the road because I don’t.”

Eelyn took Cassie’s hands in hers. She turned them palm side up and softly kissed them. “Honey, I promise you, that thought has never once entered my mind.”

Cassie found it hard to swallow. She called me honey and now I’m totally going to melt in her hands, she thought as she made eye contact with Eelyn.

“You know what’s funny about this situation we have now found ourselves in?” Eelyn continued without giving Cassie a chance to answer. “You could easily be thinking the same thing about me and what a tramp I am.”

Cassie’s left eyebrow rose slightly upward, giving her a serious expression. “I can’t explain it but I would never look at you like a tramp.”

Eelyn laughed. “You do realize there is two of us here and that I’m the one who brought you to my home and I’m the one who has flirted mercilessly, and I’m also the one who kissed you first.”

“And I kissed you back,” Cassie grinned.

“Yes you did and I’d very much like for you to do it again,” Eelyn said, her voice just above a whisper.

“My pleasure,” Cassie said as she lowered her head. Their lips met with such tenderness and Cassie felt as if she were floating above her body. I have never felt anything so warm, so soft, and so, so sweet, Cassie thought as she yielded to the pressure of Eelyn’s tongue pressing against her mouth.

Eelyn groaned, sending a shiver up Cassie’s arms as she gently pulled Cassie’s tongue deeper into her mouth.

Cassie’s hands slowly worked their way up the inside of Eelyn’s tank top. She smiled as Eelyn gasped when her fingers grazed Eelyn’s breast and nipples. “Mmm,” she moaned as she felt them grow hard beneath her fingers and all she could think about was covering them with her mouth. “You need to take this off,” she said, pulling on the edges of the shirt.

“I think you’re a little overdressed yourself,” Eelyn said as she pulled the shirt up over her head and tossed it on the floor.

“You’re beautiful,” Cassie said, looking at Eelyn’s breast. “Definitely more than a mouthful,” Cassie groaned, leaning forward to take the left nipple in her mouth as her hand caressed the right.

“Sweet Jesus,” Eelyn moaned, leaning her head back on the couch as Cassie took her fully into her mouth. “You’re … killing me,” Eelyn growled, her breath catching in her throat as Cassie’s tongue lightly rubbed over the swollen nipple.     

“I want to touch and kiss and taste every single inch of you,” Cassie whispered against Eelyn’s skin as her mouth sought Eelyn’s other breast.

“Only … if I get to … to return the favor,” Eelyn managed to choke out. She placed both hands on the side of Cassie’s face, pulling her up so she could claim the luscious lips that were now hot, wet, and swollen with desire. “We need this off,” she murmured against Cassie’s mouth as she grabbed the hem of the tank top and pulled it up over Cassie’s head and tossed it on the floor next to hers.

Cassie leaned her head against Eelyn’s forehead. “I want to feel all of you against me.”

Eelyn gripped Cassie by the hips. “Let’s go to bed because I want the same,” she said as she gently pushed Cassie off of her lap.

“I’m not sure I can stand,” Cassie said as she unsteadily got to her feet.

“I won’t let you fall,” Eelyn said as she got up from the couch and took Cassie’s hand in hers, leading her toward the stairs.

Without a word, Eelyn led Cassie into the loft bedroom that overlooked the family room. By the time they reached the bed, they had both shed every stitch of clothing.

Eelyn kissed Cassie as she urged her backward toward the bed. She stopped long enough to pull the comforter back.

“I can’t stand up much longer,” Cassie whispered, her breath caressing Eelyn’s skin.

Eelyn felt a fiery rush of shivers across her skin that culminated in a mass of wet desire settling between her legs. “That makes two of us.” She gently pushed Cassie down onto the bed.

“Sweet heaven,” Cassie groaned when Eelyn’s body came into contact with hers.

“You’re so wet,” Eelyn moaned as she slid her leg in between Cassie’s. “You feel so good,” she said as she kissed her way down Cassie’s neck and then her breast. She lightly grazed Cassie’s nipple, which elicited an animalistic groan. She raised her head slightly to look at Cassie. “Do you have any idea how downright sexy you are?” she asked as she watched Cassie’s face as she slowly took a nipple in her mouth.

“Not … not nearly as sexy as you are.”

“Are you sure this is what you want?” Eelyn asked. She wanted to be one-hundred percent sure that Cassie wanted her as much as she wanted Cassie. 

“Please make love to me,” Cassie whispered.

Cassie watched as Eelyn ran her fingers lightly down between her breasts and wherever Eelyn’s fingers touched her skin, her mouth and tongue followed. I’m going to climax and she’s not going to even have to touch me, she thought as Eelyn’s tongue continued its seductive dance, tasting every inch of skin on Cassie’s stomach.

“You’re so soft,” Eelyn whispered against Cassie’s skin as she continued her way down the top of Cassie’s thighs.

Eelyn slowly ran her hand up the inside of Cassie’s thigh and felt her breath catch in her throat as the back of her hand grazed soft lips. She groaned as her fingers were covered in sweet wetness and the sudden rush of desire to taste Cassie was almost more than she could humanly endure.

“Please,” Cassie moaned; her legs opening and with her hands in Eelyn’s hair she pushed upward toward Eelyn’s mouth.

Eelyn, using her fingers, spread Cassie open and then slowly lowered her head. She was unable to stop the sound that escaped from her throat as she covered Cassie’s clit with her mouth. “You taste so good,” she said as her tongue gently moved in agonizingly slow circles that she knew was bringing Cassie almost to the breaking point. Using her free hand, she made light, gentle circles around Cassie’s opening with the tip of her fingers.

“Please, baby, I can’t take much more,” Cassie said, reaching down to run her hands through Eelyn’s hair.

The sound of Cassie groaning as Eelyn entered her was almost her undoing. Anything that feels and tastes this good should be illegal and come with a warning label, Eelyn thought as her fingers matched the rhythm of her tongue against Cassie’s clit.

“Oh god,” Cassie cried out, the orgasm ripping through her body like a burst of fireworks rip through a warm night sky. She pushed up against Eelyn’s mouth and fingers as the tingling sensation continued to move all the way down to her feet and back up to her groin. Finally, when she couldn’t take anymore she pushed Eelyn’s head away, collapsing back down on the bed, spent and out of breath.

Eelyn, with her fingers resting inside of Cassie, laid her head down on Cassie’s stomach as she tried to get her breathing under control. She shifted slightly in an attempt to quiet the wet aching need between her legs. As long as she could remember, she had never ached or been aroused by any woman as much as she was aroused by Cassie right now. The mere thought made her feel lightheaded.

“Come up here and lay with me,” Cassie said, as she gently stroked Eelyn’s cheek.

“You tasted and felt so good,” Eelyn said as she slid up next to Cassie. She turned on her side, facing Cassie and leaned on her elbow so she could look at the beautiful woman she had just made love to.

“I think I could handle you doing that for the next twenty years,” Cassie said before she could catch herself. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” she mumbled, feeling slightly embarrassed for making such an extended assumption.

Eelyn smiled at her. “You have nothing to apologize for.” She caressed the side of Cassie’s face with her hand and she meant the words. She’d had the same thoughts while making love to Cassie but she knew it was out of the question. For all she knew, Cassie could have a long-term girlfriend back in Kentucky. What shocked her most was that if Cassie did have someone, right now, Eelyn didn’t care and that was so out of character for her.

She felt something twist in her stomach, which was even more out of character as the realization sunk in—jealousy. The idea of anyone touching Cassie in the way she just had didn’t sit too well. What the hell is wrong with me? I don’t get like this about any woman, especially one who was a total stranger just a few short hours ago.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone make love to me like you just did,” Cassie said, pulling Eelyn out of her thoughts.

Eelyn smiled at her. “And I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed pleasing another woman as much as I did you.”

Cassie reached up and wrapped her arms around Eelyn’s neck. “You did more than please me. I want to make love to you now,” she said, pulling Eelyn down to kiss her sweetly on the mouth.

Eelyn closed her eyes as she imagined the possibilities. “Mmm … if you kiss in other places as well as you kiss my lips, I’m sure I will not be disappointed in the least,” she said through a smile.

Cassie grinned against Eelyn’s lips. “I guarantee I will kiss you in other places much better than I’m kissing your lips,” she said and before Eelyn knew what was happening, Cassie had rolled her over onto her back and was now straddling Eelyn’s legs. 

I’ve died and gone to heaven, Eelyn thought when a burning ache, which was quickly followed by a dripping sensation, spread through her groin, running down the inside of her legs as Cassie’s wetness came in contact with her stomach.

“Now it’s my turn to kiss and lick everywhere my hands and fingers touch,” Cassie said, as she kissed the sides of Eelyn’s neck just below her ear. “You smell good enough to eat,” she whispered while tracing the outline of Eelyn’s ear with her tongue.

Eelyn groaned as Cassie slowly kissed her way back down the side of her neck and along the base of her throat. “You’re driving me crazy,” she said, her breath hitching as Cassie’s fingertips traced a line down between her breasts, her mouth and tongue following the same path.

“Turnabout’s fair play,” Cassie said as she glanced up to watch the expression on Eelyn’s face as she raked her tongue over a hardened nipple.

“Nothing … about … this … is fair,” Eelyn barely managed to say as Cassie took her nipple fully into her mouth while her fingers massaged the other. The sucking sensation Cassie was doing was driving her nuts. Instinctively, Eelyn reached up and placed her hand on the back of Cassie’s head, bringing her as close as she could. She nearly came up off of the bed when Cassie, using her teeth, pulled gently on her nipple.

The more Eelyn moaned, the more it drove Cassie to please her like she had never pleased another woman in her life. She licked her way over to Eelyn’s other breast as she slowly moved her hand across Eelyn’s stomach. “You’re so soft,” Cassie whispered as she made her way down Eelyn’s body. “I want to taste you so bad,” she moaned as she slid her hand down the inside of Eelyn’s thigh. Her fingers were immediately covered with Eelyn’s desire for her and she was unable to stop the groan from escaping her throat as her fingers slid easily over Eelyn’s clit.

“Please, Cassie. I need to feel you inside me,” Eelyn begged as she used her hands to pull her legs up off the bed, spreading them wide.

“Oh god,” Cassie moaned as she entered Eelyn. The throbbing between her own legs was almost more than she could take.

“Harder baby,” Eelyn whispered as she rose to meet Cassie’s thrusts. “Fuck,” Eelyn groaned as Cassie’s lips took her fully into her mouth, her tongue moving with the same quick and hard thrusts of Cassie’s fingers.

“Oh fuck,” Eelyn cried out as she gripped the sheets with her hands, her body and legs shaking from the orgasm coursing through her body.

“Mmm,” Cassie moaned as the last of the orgasm receded. “You tasted like heaven,” she said as she moved up next to Eelyn. She brushed several strands of damp hair away from Eelyn’s face and then placed a sweet kiss on Eelyn’s lips.

“You were wonderful,” Eelyn said, her eyes closed, a lazy grin playing at the corners of her mouth.

“So were you,” Cassie said as she settled into the crook of Eelyn’s arm, her cheek now against Eelyn’s breast.

Eelyn pulled Cassie tightly against her. “This feels so good.”

“I agree,” Cassie said as she wrapped her arm around Eelyn’s waist. She shivered as she re-positioned herself so that her leg was lying between Eelyn’s legs.

“You have goose bumps,” Eelyn said, reaching down to grab the edge of the comforter. She tucked it around Cassie’s shoulders. After a few minutes, she heard slow and steady breathing and knew that Cassie had fallen asleep. Her last thought before she nodded off was how good and right this felt.

Chapter 4

“Good morning sleepyhead,” Eelyn said as Cassie’s eyes slowly fluttered open.

Cassie looked at Eelyn with a lazy and content smile on her face. “Good morning to you, too.”

“You’re even more beautiful than I imagined,” Eelyn said as she brushed her hand against Cassie’s cheek.

Cassie wrapped her arm around Eelyn’s waist. “I think you’ve got me beat in the beauty department but thank you. I thought you were a dream and I didn’t want to wake up because I knew you’d be gone.”

Eelyn laughed and then kissed Cassie on the mouth. “I’m not a dream and I’m still here, sweetheart.”

“I can see that,” Cassie said and then her expression changed. “I must look like a total mess,” she groaned, running her hands through her hair.

Eelyn covered Cassie’s hand with hers to stop the movement. “You’re beautiful and even more so in the morning.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” Cassie laughed.

“I sure hope so,” Eelyn said, leaning down to passionately kiss Cassie.

“Wow. I need to have a flat tire more often,” Cassie laughed, lacing her fingers with Eelyn’s.

“How about a cup of coffee?”

“I would love some.”

“I wasn’t sure how you drank it so I brought some cream and sugar up and I also brought up a bagel and some fruit in case you’re hungry,” Eelyn said, nodding toward the night stand next to Cassie.

Cassie pulled herself up to lean against the headboard and looked at her nightstand. Sitting on the breakfast tray was exactly what Eelyn had described. “Wow, coffee and breakfast in bed.” She shook her head in disbelief. She was in shock. Her ex-girlfriend had never once brought her coffee, let alone breakfast in bed. Cassie had counted herself lucky on those very rare occasions where she didn’t have to fix dinner. Christina had been the kind of girl that parents warned their child not to get involved with.

Cassie only wished that she had been pre-warned about her. Instead, she had wasted six years of her life on someone who clearly wasn’t in love with her. After they had split, Cassie had realized that Christina had never really loved her. Christina had been in love with the things and the life that Cassie could give her and that was the sad reality of their relationship.

“Hello? Uh, Cassie, hello,” Eelyn said again, waving her hand in front of Cassie’s face, bringing her out of her thoughts.

“I’m sorry,” Cassie said, her face flushing slightly.

“You seemed very deep in thought and it didn’t look like they were very happy thoughts. Care to share?”

“You’re right unfortunately. They were bad thoughts. I was just thinking about my ex,” Cassie answered honestly and was surprised that she had told Eelyn what she was thinking about without giving it a second thought.

Eelyn felt her heart skip a beat. Cassie had said ex so maybe that meant she wasn’t in a relationship with anyone at the moment. “How long were you together?”

Cassie sighed heavily and said, “Six long years.”

Eelyn shook her head. “That’s a long time to be unhappy.”

“Yeah it is,” Cassie agreed and suddenly found herself not wanting to talk about Christina. She had taken up way too much of her life and head space for way too long and right now all she wanted to do was enjoy the beautiful morning with an equally beautiful woman. Cassie frowned. “How long have you been up?”

“For about an hour,” Eelyn said as she slid off the bed.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” Cassie asked as she watched Eelyn walk around the bed and sit down next to her.

“Because I liked watching you sleep. You looked so peaceful.” She poured coffee into a mug. “Cream or sugar?”

“Both please.” Cassie laughed at what was written on the mug that Eelyn handed to her. It said, “Lesbians Do Everything Better”.

“You like?” Eelyn asked, her eyebrow rising upward.

“I like very much,” Cassie said as she sipped her coffee, her eyes appreciatively surveying every inch of Eelyn’s exposed body, which the short hot pink terrycloth robe she was wearing did little to cover.

“Careful, you’re liable to start something you can’t finish,” Eelyn teased as she picked up a bowl of fresh strawberries.

Cassie frowned. “I thought you were talking about me liking the coffee mug and if that’s the case, I don’t know about all lesbians doing everything better but I can name something one particular lesbian did better than I thought was possible.”

“I was talking about the mug. What did you think I was talking about?” This conversation was starting to get out of control and she loved every single bit of it.

Cassie threw her head back and laughed a deep laugh that made Eelyn’s heart race. She’s incredible, she thought as she watched Cassie lean back against the headboard.

“Try this,” Eelyn said as she held a strawberry up to Cassie’s mouth.

“Mmm … very sweet and juicy,” Cassie moaned as she bit down on the fruit.

Eelyn laughed. “Jesus woman, if you do that every time I give you a piece of fruit, it could take hours for you to finish breakfast because I’m not going to be held responsible for my actions.”

“In that case, I’d like some more,” Cassie teased.

Eelyn leaned in and slowly licked the juice from Cassie’s bottom lip.

“How can any one woman be this sexy?” Cassie asked as she looked at Eelyn. “Has anyone ever told you that Lynda Carter, the actress who played Wonder Woman looks a lot like you?”

Eelyn laughed out loud.

“What’s so funny?”

“I’ve just never had anyone put it like that. They usually tell me that I look like her, not the other way around and thank you for the compliment. Lynda Carter is a very beautiful woman.”

A panic stricken look crossed Cassie’s face. “What time is?”

“A little after nine.”

“My car, I need to call someone about it. Do you have a phonebook I can use?”

“No worries. I’ve already called my mechanic and he came over a half-hour ago to pick up your keys. He doesn’t live far from here and said he would stop by just as soon as he had some answers.”

Cassie looked at Eelyn as if she were from another planet. She couldn’t believe how kind she had been to her. “Thank you and I have no idea how I can ever repay you.”

“You don’t need to repay me,” Eelyn said and tossed a strawberry into her mouth.

“I’ll think of something,” Cassie laughed as she finished off her coffee and then set the mug down on the nightstand. “In the meantime, I would like to take a hot shower if it’s okay with you.”

“You don’t need my permission to take a shower, hon, and I think I will take one as well,” Eelyn said, getting to her feet.

As warm water poured down Cassie’s back, her mind drifted back to the events that had taken place in the last twenty-four hours.

It felt like something straight out of a fairytale and she found herself wishing that it could last forever and that she and Eelyn could run off into the sunset and live happily ever after. “What a cliché,” she laughed as she rinsed he washcloth and hung it over the shower bar. “And you know absolutely nothing about this woman except for her name,” she reminded herself.

Well, that’s not exactly true, she thought with a grin. Her mind flashed back to the memory of Eelyn making love to her and she had to lean her arms against the shower wall to keep her knees from buckling. She thought about how content and safe she had felt afterward. It was an unusual feeling that she wasn’t accustomed to having, especially after her relationship with Christina. Sex with her ex had been more like “Wham Bam, thank you ma’am, see you in the morning”.

She laughed as she thought about Jess. Wait till she hears about what little old conservative me did last night. “She’s definitely gonna flip,” she said out loud as she dried herself off. She groaned as she thought about her mom. Her mom would think she had lost her mind for sure. Speaking of her mom, she needed to call her and let her know that she had made it okay, otherwise her mom would worry herself sick.

Eelyn re-filled her coffee cup and took it over to the table. She glanced at the clock above the stove. Cassie had been in the shower for more than a half-hour and she couldn’t stop the nagging feeling that maybe Cassie was having regrets about last night.

She hoped that wasn’t the case because she sure as hell didn’t regret it and that surprised her. Just as she had told Cassie last night, she wasn’t in the habit of sleeping with strangers and last night had been her very first one-night-stand.

She spooned sugar into her cup and added some cream. “I want it to be more than just one night.” It’s just lust, a little voice inside of her head said. No it’s not, she argued back. It’s more than that and I can’t explain it. She shook her head as if that would push the thoughts away.

She smiled as she thought about last night. “This will be one hell of a story to tell the grandkids,” she said and then realized the implication of her words. “Sweet Jesus!” She pushed her chair back away from the table. With her coffee cup in hand, she paced back and forth in front of the sink. “You’ve been alone for way too many years. Maybe you need to get out more. Check out Club Deception over in Huntington.”

“I see that I’m not the only who talks to myself,” Cassie said, startling Eelyn. 

Eelyn turned to look at her and felt her breath catch in her throat. Cassie, with a mischievous grin on her face, stood with her back against the doorframe, her arms crossed over her chest. She was dressed in a pair of curve-hugging blue-jeans and a turquoise colored button-up blouse that cut low enough to reveal the ample cleavage beneath. Her hair hung loose around her shoulders and the color of her blouse brought out the rich emerald color of her eyes. She was beyond stunning. “No, you’re not,” Eelyn nervously laughed.

Cassie pushed away from the doorway and slowly walked across the kitchen, her eyes ravishing Eelyn as is if she had no clothing on. It wasn’t until Cassie took the cup from Eelyn’s hand and sat it down on the counter that Eelyn realized she had been holding her breath.

“If you keep looking at me like that, I just might have my way with you right here on the floor,” she managed to say as Cassie slid her hands up under Eelyn’s shirt.

“And that would be bad in what way?” Cassie asked, as she slid her hands over Eelyn’s stomach.

“It’s not bad at all,” Eelyn said, pulling Cassie close, their breasts touching. “You are so beautiful,” she said as she kissed Cassie sweetly on the mouth.

“Right back atcha, baby. Do you know what I would like right now?” she asked and then smiled when her fingertips lightly grazed Eelyn’s nipples, causing her to inhale deeply.

“Mmm,” Eelyn groaned and pushed into Cassie’s hands that were now fully covering her breasts. “I bet it’s the same thing I want and—”

The sound of the doorbell caused Eelyn to stop in mid-sentence. “Damn it,” she swore as Cassie reluctantly pulled her hands out from beneath Eelyn’s shirt. “That’s either great timing or bad timing,” Cassie said as she backed away.

“Nothing good about the timing,” Eelyn laughed. “All right already,” Eelyn said when the doorbell rang again.

Cassie followed Eelyn out of the kitchen and stood just inside the family room doorway as Eelyn opened the door.

“Hey, E, I just dropped by to let you know about the car,” a young man with black hair and eyes to match and wearing a mechanics blue jumpsuit said.

“Come on in, Ray,” Eelyn said, pulling the door open wide.

“What’s the verdict?” Cassie asked.

“Hi, there,” Ray said, holding his hand out to Cassie.

“Cassie, this is one of my best friends and he is also my mechanic. Ray Littleton, meet Cassie Reynolds,” Eelyn said.

“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am,” Ray said as Cassie took his hand. “I’m afraid the news on your car isn’t all that great but it’s not the worst either.”

“It’s nice to meet you and thank you so much for looking at my car. I think I would like the bad news first,” Cassie laughed.

“You’re gonna be carless for a couple of days,” he said and waited for Cassie’s reaction.

“Aww shit,” Cassie groaned.

Ray and Eelyn both laughed. “The good news is that it’s fixable. It seems your ignition went out and I had to order the part so I have to wait for it to come in before I can fix it,” Ray said. 

“Well, I guess it could have been worse,” Cassie said, thinking she would just pick herself up a rental until her car was fixed.

Ray nodded. “Yes, ma’am it could’ve.”

“Can you by chance take me to pick up a rental until my car is fixed?” Cassie asked, looking at Eelyn.

To Cassie’s surprise, Eelyn shook her head. “The closest one is over an hour away.”

“Are you serious?” Cassie asked.

“Unfortunately I am,” Eelyn answered although she was not unhappy at the prospect of Cassie sticking around for a few more days.

“How am I supposed to get to my appointment today and where am I supposed to stay?” Cassie asked.

“Well, I’ll let you two gals sort it out and if you give me your number, I’ll give you a call as soon as the part comes in and I get her fixed,” Ray said, looking first at Eelyn and then Cassie.

Eelyn grabbed a notepad and pen off of the coffee table and handed it to Cassie.

“Thank you,” Cassie said and then jotted down her cell number. She ripped off the paper and handed it to Ray.

“I will call you as soon as I can,” Ray said.

“I can drop you off for your appointment,” Eelyn said after she closed the door behind Ray and then added, “You’re also welcome to stay here with me until your car is fixed.”

“Thank you, Eelyn. You have been more than kind to me and I have no idea how I will ever repay you.”

“It’s not a problem and I already told you, you don’t need to repay me. If you’re all set, I have no problem dropping you off for your appointment.”

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be and Mrs. Masterson said she would have a room ready for me so I guess I will be staying there until my car is fixed,” Cassie said, feeling a little on the depressed side that this was probably the last time she would ever see Eelyn again.

Chapter 5

The drive to the Masterson Estate had been quiet and as Eelyn had indicated, it was less than a mile from her house.

As Eelyn drove up the black-topped driveway, Cassie felt her breath catch. The house was something to behold. It looked like a Colonial Mansion straight from the Civil War era, complete with the large white pillars dotted all along the massive front porch.

Cassie waited for the SUV to come to a stop after circling around the large fountain, which was made up of mermaids, lions, and figures of statues that Cassie knew had come from the Greeks.

“Kind of takes your breath away, huh?” Eelyn asked as she put the SUV in “park”.

“That’s an understatement,” Cassie laughed. She unfastened her seat belt and opened the door. “In case I don’t see you again, thank you for everything.”

“I have a feeling that we will be seeing each other again,” Eelyn said as she watched Cassie pull her carry-on off of the backseat. She watched Cassie walk up the front steps and knock on the door before she pulled away.

Cassie shifted from one foot to the other as she waited nervously for the door to be answered.

“Welcome to the Masterson Estate,” a portly grey-haired gentleman said as he pulled the door open.

“Thank you,” Cassie said as she stepped through the doorway and into an expansive entryway that was covered with hardwood floors.

“Mrs. Masterson is expecting you. Please leave your luggage by the door and I will see that it is delivered to your room. Follow me please,” the elderly man who Cassie assumed was a butler of sorts said.

They sure don’t waste any time, Cassie thought as she followed the man down the hallway.

He stopped in front of a double white door that was partially ajar and motioned for her to enter.

“Ms. Reynolds, I’m so glad to see you made it,” Gordon LeVitt said as he came over to greet her.

“Hi, Gordon,” Cassie said, taking the man’s large hand in hers.

“I would like for you to meet Mrs. Lenora Masterson,” Gordon said, nodding toward an attractive woman who sat at the head of a large rectangle table.

“Ms. Reynolds, I’m very pleased to meet you,” Lenora said as she stood up from her chair. She held her hand out to Cassie.

Cassie took the woman’s hand in hers and was surprised at the strength and warmth as the older woman shook it. “I’m pleased to meet you as well and thank you for the accommodations,” she said as she looked into the older woman’s eyes. She was having a hard time believing that this was the same woman who had threatened her mom all those years ago. Her eyes were kind and Cassie wasn’t feeling any type of animosity coming from this woman and that surprised her.

“And these two youngen’s are my niece and nephew, Veronica and Robert,” she said nodding toward a young woman and man who looked identical in appearance.

“It’s nice to meet you both,” Cassie said as she took the seat that had been pulled out for her by Gordon.

“So how much longer, Aunt Nora? I swear she’ll be late for her own funeral,” Robert said.

“Patience, Robert,” Lenora said, reaching over to pat the young man on the top of his hand.

“So where is the fashionably late princess?” Veronica asked and Cassie got the distinction by the tone of their voices that both Robert and Veronica weren’t happy about having to wait.

“She’s right here,” Eelyn said as she walked into the room.

Cassie watched in shock as Eelyn walked up to Lenora, kissed her on the cheek and then pulled out a chair, and sat down. The resemblance between the two women was undeniable.

“Hi, Darlin’, Lenora said, smiling at Eelyn. She turned her gaze toward Cassie. “Cassandra. May I call you Cassandra?”

All Cassie could do was nod. She knew the shock had to be evident on her face, yet no one in the room seemed to notice.

“Cassandra, I would like for you to meet my daughter, Eelyn.”

Eelyn turned and looked at Cassie. She stood up from her chair and held out her hand, not missing a beat. “I’m pleased to meet you, Cassandra.”

Cassie knew that Eelyn could see the confusion on her face—and the many unanswered questions that were now running through her mind. As if on autopilot, she held out her hand. The minute Eelyn’s skin came in contact with hers, the realization of what she had just heard sank in. “Oh my god,” she groaned after Eelyn released her hand.

“Are you okay, Cassandra? You look white as a ghost,” Lenora said, her voice full of concern.

“I … um … uh … no, I think I’m going to puke,” Cassie stammered as she pushed her chair back and hurriedly got to her feet. “Oh my god,” she said again, her legs shaking to the point that she thought they would give out.

“Oh, isn’t that nice,” Robert said in a sarcastic voice that showed his disdain for Cassie.

Eelyn glared at Robert and if her eyes had been daggers, the man would have been sliced to pieces in seconds. “Shut the hell up, Robert,” she said in a tone that dared him to open his mouth again.   

Gordon came around the table and grabbed Cassie by the elbow. “Let me help you. The bathroom is this way,” he said, pulling her out of the room by her hand. He led her down the hall and stopped in front of the second door on the right. “I’ll be right here if you need me,” he said just as Cassie disappeared behind the door.

Once inside the bathroom, Cassie leaned back against the door, her hands to her face. She was unable to stop the tears now streaming down her cheeks. “Oh my god, I fucked my own sister,” she said and immediately felt her stomach heave. She barely reached the toilet in time before her stomach emptied all of its contents.

Perched on her knees next to the toilet, she leaned her head against the back of her arms. “No, no, no this can’t be happening to me,” she cried, shaking her head.

She felt a burning rage rush through her veins as it all came together. “She knew who I was all along and yet—”

Her stomach heaved again before she could finish her sentence. She wiped off her mouth with the back of her hand.

A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. “Cassandra, are you okay?” Gordon’s muffled voice asked through the door.

“I’m fine, Gordon. I’ll just be a few minutes.” She shakily got to her feet and walked over to the sink. She was shocked by what she saw in the mirror. Her face was blotchy and her eyes were bloodshot. She turned on the cold water and splashed it on her face. “I am not staying here any longer than I have to. I can’t do it. I will hear what Gordon has to say and then call Jess to come and get me.” She splashed water on her face again and toweled it dry.

Pulling herself together as much as she possibly could, she braced herself and opened the bathroom door. She smiled at Gordon. The worried look on his face was genuine. He was concerned about her and it showed.

“Are you okay? Did you eat something that didn’t quite agree with you?” he asked.

Cassie smiled at him. “I’m sure that’s what it was and thank you for your concern but I’m okay.”

“Are you sure? We can postpone the reading if you need to lie down for awhile.”

“Really, I’m okay and if it’s all the same I would rather get this over with as soon as possible.”

“I brought you these,” Gordon said holding out his hand. “It’s Tums to help settle your stomach. I also had Felix fetch you a glass of 7-Up.”

“Thank you,” Cassie laughed as she took the tablets from him. She tossed them into her mouth. They would help the queasiness of her stomach but it would take more than a couple of pills to make everything okay again.

“Are you ready?” he asked.  

“Yeah,” she nodded and followed him down the hallway and back into the study.

The jabbering of voices stopped instantly when the two of them stepped into the room.

“Are you okay, dear?” Lenora asked.

“I am. Thank you. I just had an upset stomach. It must have been something I ate that didn’t agree with me,” Cassie lied. She refused to look at Eelyn because she knew it would hurt too bad and would probably make her sick to her stomach again. She wanted this over with as soon as possible so she could put it behind her and get back to her life in Louisville.

Robert snorted. “Can we get started now? I have other things that need to be done and sitting around here wasting my time isn’t one of them.”

“I told you to shut the hell up,” Eelyn said, slamming her hand down on the table, which caused Cassie to jump. It was more than obvious that Eelyn and her cousins, at least Robert, didn’t get along very well. 

“We have just as much right to be here as you do,” Veronica piped in.

Eelyn felt her temper flare as she looked at both of her cousins. “Like the hell you do and the only reason either one of you are here is because my father who had a heart bigger than gold decided to include you in his Will and anything you get is more than what either one of you deserve. So for once, show a little respect and sit there and keep your damn mouths shut.”

“How dare you talk to us—”

“Enough!” Lenora yelled. “I’m tired of listening to this and Robert, you and Veronica will sit there and be quiet while Gordon performs his business and if one of you makes another sarcastic or rude comment, I will have Felix escort you both off of the premises. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Robert and Veronica answered in unison.

“Well, let’s get started then,” Gordon said and opened his briefcase. He took out a set of papers and laid them on the table. He patted both of his coat pockets and then his shirt pocket with his hand. “Where are my? Oh here they are,” he said, pulling a pair of glasses from his front right pants pocket.

With the glasses perched on the end of his nose, he picked up the papers, and cleared his throat. “This is the Last Will and Testament of Collin James Masterson. I, Collin James Masterson, certify that I am of sound body, mental health, and contractual capacity. I revoke all other Wills and Codicils that may have been executed before. I have appointed Gordon LeVitt, Attorney at Law as the Executor of my estate.” Gordon paused to take a drink of water.

“I have empowered the Executor to pay all of my just debts, funeral expenses, taxes and estate administration expenses. To my heirs I bequeath the following.”

“It’s about time,” Robert mumbled under his breath and then quickly closed his mouth at the look Lenora gave him.

“To my eldest daughter, Eelyn Masterson Carmichael, I leave a forty percent share of Masterson Ventures along with a cash stipend of four-million dollars. To my youngest daughter, Cassandra Renae Reynolds, I leave a forty percent share of Masterson Ventures along with a cash stipend of four-million dollars.” Gordon glanced over at Cassie and smiled.

To say Cassie was shocked was putting it mildly. Never in her wildest imagination did she expect anything like this.

“To my dear wife, Lenora Masterson, I leave Masterson’s Estate as well as the house in Palm Beach, Florida. I also leave a twenty percent share in Masterson Ventures as well as all remaining funds in all accounts, totaling twenty-six million dollars. To my nephew and niece, Robert and Veronica Masterson, I leave each of you the sum of one hundred dollars.”

Cassie heard Eelyn laugh and when she looked at Robert; his face was redder than anything she had ever seen. He looked as if he were going to stroke out.

Robert slammed his fist on the table. “This is fucking bullshit!”

“Watch your language, Robert, and I will not tell you again,” Lenora warned.

Cassie could tell by the tight clenching of Lenora’s jaw that her step-mother wasn’t kidding around. Wow, how weird is that. I have a stepmom now, Cassie thought as she looked at Lenora.

“I’m not finished yet,” Gordon said.

“Please continue, Gordon,” Lenora instructed.

Gordon looked down at the paper and continued to read. “I have chosen to leave you next to nothing because that is exactly what the two of you have put into this family and company for your entire life. It’s time for the coddling to stop and for both of you to stand on your own two feet and make something of your lives.”  

“I can’t believe this,” Veronica said, shaking her head in disbelief.

“That concludes my business here and each of you will be mailed a copy of the Will and I will begin making arrangements on Monday to see that Collin’s wishes are carried out. I will be in contact with you later next week,” Gordon said, looking at Cassie.

“I will contest the Will,” Robert yelled, pushing his chair away from the table with enough force to knock it into the wall.

Gordon looked at Robert and smiled. “I assure you, I drew the Will up myself and it is concrete and you have no legal leg to stand on,” he said, snapping the lid on his briefcase shut.

Out of nowhere, Felix appeared in the doorway. “You rang, Madam,” he said, looking at Lenora.

“Yes, I did, Felix. Will you be so kind as to escort Robert and Veronica off of the property?” She looked first at Veronica and then Robert. “After today, the two of you are no longer welcome here and if either one of your parents were alive today, they would be ashamed of you both. Your uncle treated you like his own children, yet neither of you appreciated it. He is gone now and I no longer have to tolerate you or your behavior. Now I would like both of you to leave.”

Cassie was reeling with shock. Not only had she become an instant millionaire but she had just witnessed a very ugly showdown. She was ready to call Jess and get the hell out of this madness. She didn’t need or want the money nor did she want to own a company that she knew nothing about.

This was all a little too overwhelming to her and she just wanted to go back to her tiny little house and her flower shop and forget that she had ever heard the name Masterson, especially Eelyn—her god damned big sister.

Once again, Cassie felt her stomach turn and jumped up from her chair. She took off out of the room before anyone had a chance to say anything. She hit the bathroom door with both hands. Everything had happened so fast and her life practically changed overnight. She felt like she was caught up in a bizarre episode of the Twilight Zone.

Cassie pulled her cell phone out of her back pocket and sat down on the toilet seat. She hit the speed dial for Jess’s phone and waited for her to pick up.

“It’s about damn time,” Jess said through the receiver. “I thought you had got in with your rich new family and forgot all about us poor little people.”

“Very funny,” Cassie laughed. Just hearing her best friend’s voice was enough to calm her frayed nerves. “I could never forget about you nor do I want to.”

“So, fill me in. Are you a millionaire by now?” Jess asked. Her voice was filled with excited anticipation and Cassie couldn’t help but laugh.

“Girlfriend, so much has happened to me in the last twenty-fours that it would take me that long to tell you everything. Listen. I need to ask you for a really huge favor.”

“Yes,” Jess said.

Cassie laughed. “But I haven’t asked you yet.”

“You don’t have to. Whatever it is or whatever you need, my answer is yes.”

“Okay, I need you to come and get me as soon as possible.” She waited for the questions she knew were sure to come.

“Uh … what happened to your car?” Jess asked.

Cassie sighed. “It’s not working at the moment and I know you have tons of questions and I promise to tell you everything as soon as you get here.”

“Okay, fair enough. How long of a drive is it?”

“Roughly seven hours and if you leave soon, you should get here around eight.”

“All right, so I guess I’ll see in a few hours then.”

“Oh wait,” Cassie said, catching Jess just before she hung up. “Can you please do me one more favor and call mom and tell her that I will come over tomorrow afternoon?”

“Why don’t you call her yourself? After all you have seven hours to kill until I get there.”

Cassie could easily imagine the frown that was on Jess’s face. “Because she’s going to ask a lot more questions than you and I don’t feel like explaining it over the phone.”

Jess laughed. “I hear you and yes, I will call her but you owe me big-time.”

“I know I do and thanks, Jess, I appreciate it. See you in a bit,” Cassie said and then disconnected the line. She stood up and crammed the cell back into her pocket. She had no idea what she was going to do for the next seven hours. She couldn’t very well sit on the toilet. If she was lucky, Eelyn would leave and Cassie wouldn’t have to deal with her, let alone look at her. “Maybe, I can have Felix show me to my room and I can wait there until Jess gets here.”

With a worried look on her face, Lenora looked at Gordon. “She’s been gone for quite some time now. Do you think she’s okay?”

Gordon nodded.  “I think she’s just a little overwhelmed. You have to remember that less than a week ago she didn’t know that any of you existed and finding out that the man who raised her was not her father after all these years was a pretty big blow.”

Lenora sighed. “I suppose it all is daunting for her and I can’t imagine what must have been going through her mind after you contacted her.”

Gordon picked his briefcase up off of the table. “She reacted as anyone in her predicament would have I suppose. At first she didn’t believe me and denied everything and I can’t blame her for that. She did take it better than I expected though. I believe she’s a well-grounded young woman who was raised very well from what I can tell. Collin would have been proud of her.”

“He was proud of her,” Lenora said, nodding in agreement. “I remember how excited he had been after she graduated from college. He carried a picture of her in his wallet until the day he died. If only we could turn back the hands of time, things could have been so different for him and Cassandra, for all of us.”

“I know, Lenora. We all do things that we regret but we can’t change the past. All we can do is learn from it. If it’s any comfort, I have no doubt that Cassandra will come to see that Collin did what he thought was best for her and that he did love her, even if it was from afar.”

Lenora stood up from her chair. “Of course you’re right. I hope that she will give us a chance and allow us to now be a part of her life. There are so many things I would like to share with her.”

Gordon patted Lenora’s hand. “You’re a good woman with a kind heart and I have no doubt that Cassandra will come to accept you and Eelyn and love you both as she would any family member. She’s too much like Collin in that aspect I gather just from what he had told me about her over the years.”

“She’s a beautiful young woman and the resemblance between her and Collin is uncanny. Seeing her allows me to still be close to him,” Lenora said as she stepped around the side of the table. “Speaking of Collin, if you will forward me the bill for your services, I will see that it’s settled.”

Gordon shook his head. “That’s not necessary because Collin has already taken care of that matter.”

Lenora smiled. “I should have known.”

Gordon laughed. “The one thing you can say about Collin is that he was always very thorough.”

“Yes, he was and you can add full of surprises to that statement as well. What he did with Robert and Veronica was quite eye-opening. They handled it just as I suspected they would.”

“And as I expected as well. Sometimes being born with the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth can be a detriment,” Gordon said, shaking his head.

Lenora nodded her head in agreement. “I think it was the wake-up call they both needed. If they had shown one ounce of interest in the company while he was alive, he would have taken care of them as well. When you get to a point in life where you expect everything to be handed to you on a platter so to speak, with no drive or ambitions to better your life, bad things eventually happen.”

Gordon shook his head. “Unfortunately, the majority of young people today aren’t anything like we were.”

Lenora chuckled. “Isn’t that the truth?”

A knock on the bathroom door pulled Cassie from her thoughts. “Cassie, are you in there?” Eelyn’s muffled voice asked through the door.

“Go away,” Cassie yelled.

Eelyn jimmied the door handle. “Please open the door. We need to talk.”

Cassie felt raging anger boil to the surface. “Oh, so now you want to talk? I think there were things you should have told me long before now. Like … uh, you’re my big fucking sister!” she said through clenched teeth.

“I know you’re angry and you have every right to be but I can explain if you’ll please just give me a chance,” Eelyn begged.

“I’m not interested in one goddamned thing you have to say. You knew who I was the minute I introduced myself, yet you said nothing. Instead you made me…” Cassie couldn’t finish her sentence. “Oh my god,” she mumbled as she sat back down on the toilet seat, holding her head in her hands. “This can’t be happening to me. I need to get the fuck out of here.”

Eelyn leaned her forehead against the bathroom door. “Please, Cassie, open the door.”

“No. I said go away. I have nothing to say to you and right now, all I want is to forget I ever met you,” Cassie yelled as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Several minutes went by in silence and for a split-second Cassie thought Eelyn had left.

“Okay. You win. I will never bother you again,” Eelyn finally said in defeat.

Cassie sat there for another five to ten minutes before getting to her feet. She leaned her ear against the door, listening for sounds that Eelyn may still be waiting for her on the other side. Satisfied that Eelyn was gone, she slowly opened the door. Relief as well as something else washed over her as she peered out into the hallway. She felt her stomach lurch as she realized what the other feeling was—disappointment that Eelyn was gone.

“It’s just as well,” she mumbled to herself as she spotted Felix coming toward her. “Um … Felix, would you mind showing me to my room please?”

“Yes, ma’am, please follow me,” Felix said with a bow of his head, his hand motioning in the direction of the staircase leading to the second floor.

Cassie followed Felix up the stairs. He stopped beside a closed door on his left. “This is your room. Dinner is at six in the main dining room, which is located two doors down from the study, on the opposite side of the hall.”

“Thank you, Felix, but I won’t be having dinner,” Cassie said, pushing the door open.

Felix’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “If it’s the menu, I can have the chef make something specific to your needs, ma’am.”

Cassie laughed. “No, Felix, and please stop calling me ma’am. My name is Cassie and I won’t be staying for dinner. A friend of mine is on her way to pick me up. Can you please let me know when she arrives?”

“As you wish, Ma … Cassie,” Felix said, correcting himself.

“Thank you,” Cassie said and then laughed when she saw that Felix had grinned momentarily and then caught himself just before he pulled the door shut behind him.

“Wow,” Cassie exclaimed as she looked around the spacious bedroom, which also included a sitting room with a couch and loveseat. “So this is how the rich live,” she said as she plopped down onto the bed. She was suddenly overcome with exhaustion, feeling as if she had run a marathon. I’ll just lie down for a few minutes, she thought as she leaned back on the pillows.

Chapter 6

“Cassie? Cassie, are you awake,” the muffled voice coming through the door asked, rousing Cassie from a deep sleep and dreams that included a dark-haired woman with incredibly sexy blue eyes.

Cassie slowly opened her eyes and immediately realized that the room was dark. “Coming,” she said as she slid off the bed. She moved slowly toward the door, taking extra care not to bump into anything.

She pulled the door open to see Felix standing there.” I’m sorry to have awakened you but your friend has arrived.”

“Thank you, Felix,” Cassie said, placing her hand over Felix’s. “If you could give me a few minutes and please tell her that I will be right down.”

“As you wish,” Felix said with a smile.

Cassie turned, running her hand along the doorframe until her fingers came in contact with a light switch. She flipped it up, washing the room in a bright light. She went into the bathroom, splashed her face with cold water and then patted it dry with a towel. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and shook her head. Although the red blotches were gone from her cheeks, her eyes were still bloodshot. She returned to the bedroom and spotted her carry-on sitting just inside the door.

“I’m finally going home,” she said, breathing a sigh of relief as she pulled the bag out into the hallway behind her.

“Well aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” Jess said as she watched Cassie come down the stairs.

“So are you,” Cassie laughed as she stepped onto the entryway landing. “Let’s get the hell out of here,” she said as she gave Jess a quick hug and then pulled the front door open.

“I think you’ve set the record for how many things can go catastrophically wrong in less than twenty-four hours,” Jess said as she maneuvered her Lexus onto the final leg of the highway that would deposit them in Louisville, Kentucky.

“Thanks, Jess, I knew you would understand,” Cassie said, her voice full of sarcasm.

Jess shook her head as she glanced at Cassie. “Sorry, Cass, but fucking your sister is not only gross as hell, it’s insane, and I’m having a hard time here try to comprehend this shit.”

“You’re having a hard time. What the hell do you think I’m having, a freaking picnic?” Cassie asked in a voice that raised several octaves as her temper flared full force.

“I know, I know and I’m sorry,” Jess said, shaking her head again. She reached over and grabbed Cassie’s hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze. She let go and flipped her right turn signal on, switching lanes. “So, what’s your game plan now?”

Cassie leaned her elbow on the door, resting her head in the palm of her hand. “I’m going to try and put this behind me and try to never think about it again.”

Jess turned onto the off-ramp. “What about your car?”

“I called Gordon and asked him to give the mechanic a call and see if they could deliver it to me for a fee. He said he would and that he would make arrangements to have it delivered one way or the other and that he would handle the payment.”

Jess waited for the light to turn green and then turned left, taking a short cut through an alley that would bring them within a block of Cassie’s house. “That’s pretty damn nice of him.”

“Yeah, he’s a very nice man. I liked him a lot.” Cassie smiled as she thought about the lawyer who had started this whole mess. Regardless of what had happened, she liked Gordon.

“What about Eelyn’s mother. What was she like?” Jess asked as she brought the car to a stop in front of Cassie’s house. She placed the car in park and turned off the ignition. “Was she the ogre you thought she was?”

Cassie frowned. “You know, I’m not really sure. I never got a chance to actually talk to her but she was ballsy.” Cassie laughed as she thought back to how Lenora had handled Eelyn’s cousins; actually they were her cousins, too. She unhooked her seatbelt and turned in her seat to look at Jess. “I know it’s strange but the woman I met, Collin’s wife didn’t seem like the type of person who would threaten my mom. I was prepared for her to hate me and resent the idea of me being there but she didn’t come across that way at all.”

Jess shrugged. “Who knows, maybe it’s like I said and she’s changed.”

“Maybe,” Cassie agreed as she pushed the car door open.

“Do you want me to come in for a bit?” Jess asked as Cassie got out of the car.

“Nah, I’ll be okay. I’m just going to take a hot shower and go to bed,” Cassie said, shaking her head. She grabbed her carry-on off of the backseat and shut the door. She leaned through the open window to give Jess a hug. “Thanks again, Jess. I really appreciate what you did for me.”

Jess laughed and started the car. “What’s a best friend for if she can’t drive for seven hours to rescue her best friend?”

Cassie laughed as she stepped onto the sidewalk.

“Hey, what are you going to do with all that money,” Jess yelled through the window.

“They can keep it,” Cassie said with a wave of her hand.

“Do you need a ride to work in the morning?”

Cassie grinned. “Nah, I’m taking the day off, but thanks.”

“Okay, I’ll give you a call sometime tomorrow then.” Jess waved as she pulled away from the curb.

Chapter 7

Eelyn paced back and forth in front of the counter. She had made a huge colossal mistake. She knew the minute she realized who Cassie was that she should have told her and she was now miserable for not having done so.

“Hell, I’ve been miserable since the minute she left,” she said out loud, pausing to pour her fifth cup of coffee in less than an hour.

She cringed as she thought back about the conversation she’d had with her mother last night. Lenora had come down hard on her and was more than concerned that Eelyn’s actions may have ruined what little chance they had of Cassie accepting them as part of her family. Lenora had been severely disappointed that she didn’t get the chance to sit and just talk with Cassie. She was Collin’s child and as such, Lenora was more than ready to accept Cassie as her own daughter, too.

She remembered her mother’s parting words when they had said good night. Lenora in no uncertain terms had told Eelyn that whatever she did to upset Cassie, she had better get it fixed it and do it soon and Eelyn agreed wholeheartedly.

Over the past few weeks she had thought about Cassie endlessly and the wonderful night they had shared together. Cassie had touched a part of her that she no longer believed existed. Since the death of her lover, she had not met one single woman that she wanted to date let alone have a relationship with but Cassie was different.

She had never believed in fate and the whole “soul mate” crap that so many people spewed on about but Cassie was making her rethink her stance. There was just something about her and although Cassie was beautiful on the outside, Eelyn knew that the beauty on the inside far surpassed her wildest imagination. She had no doubt that Cassie defined the perfect woman—the type of woman Eelyn had always dreamed of having. 

Cassie was that woman and the attraction Eelyn felt was so much stronger than just lust—it went much deeper than that and she couldn’t explain it because she couldn’t understand it herself.

“I don’t care what I have to do or say, I’m not letting her out of my life.” She sat her cup down in the sink. She had no idea what she was going to do but she had to do something and standing here in her kitchen wasn’t going to solve the problem.  

After returning to Kentucky, Cassie had taken two days off instead of one. She had spent most of the second day at her mom’s house and sat for hours just talking. Cassie had filled her in on everything except for the part about having sex with her sister. No one other than Jess would ever know what happened in West Virginia.

What infuriated Cassie the most about everything was Eelyn knowing all along who she was and it made her stomach turn. Eelyn knew that Cassie was her younger sister, yet she had slept with her. What kind of person in their right mind would do something like that? “Not a very stable one,” she mumbled under her breath so that the customers looking at a flower arrangement on a nearby table couldn’t hear her.

It had been almost three weeks now since Cassie had made the trip to West Virginia and to make matters worse, she still didn’t have her car back and had been forced to borrow one of her mom’s.

Gordon had called and left a message stating that the mechanic had informed him that when the part for Cassie’s car had arrived, it turned out to be the wrong one, so he had to place another order. This bit of news didn’t surprise Cassie in the least considering everything else that had happened. It was like she had a Murphy’s Law week from hell. What could go wrong, did go wrong.

Much to her dismay, Gordon had also informed her that her cash inheritance from Collin had already been deposited into her checking account. The rest of Gordon’s message concerned her stake in Masterson Ventures and her place on the board. He needed to know if Cassie would be giving up her flower shop to take a full time position at the company.

She had laughed after listening to that part. Yeah right, her an executive for a company that she wanted no part of and she damn well didn’t want anything to do with anyone who had the last name of Masterson.

The only good news was that her car would be delivered to her house this evening. She still had a lot of decisions to make but that would happen in time. She was in no hurry nor was she going to worry about it.

Over the past three weeks she had kept herself busy because try as she might, she couldn’t get Eelyn or her image out of her mind. She knew it was wrong and the only thing that helped keep her thoughts at bay was to work her body to near exhaustion. It was the only thing that seemed to shut her mind down because she was just too damned tired to think.

There was one particular thought that persisted along with an array of feelings. Although she had only spent the one day and one night with Eelyn, something had clicked, something had changed inside of her and she could try and deny it all she wanted but it didn’t change the truth—she had fallen hard for Eelyn Masterson Carmichael and as nuts as that sounded, she knew it would take her a while to get over it.

“Maybe I’m the one who needs to see a shrink,” she said out loud after the last customer left the shop. “At least I get my car back tonight.”

She flipped the “Open” sign to “Closed, turned off all the lights, grabbed her purse from behind the counter, and left the shop. She was bone tired and all she wanted, was to go home, take a nice, hot shower, maybe order a pizza, and then go to bed. Of course, it all depended on what time her car arrived. She was hoping that luck would be on her side for once and that the car would be parked in front of her house by the time she got home.

With the flower shop located a mere ten minutes away, she arrived home in no time at all.

“Damn,” she said as she pulled onto her street. “It’s not here, but then again I really didn’t expect it to be.” She pulled the car into the garage and shut off the engine. 

Eelyn’s heart was racing; her hands were wringing wet as she pulled up in front of the small two-story house. “You can do this,” she said, using the top of her pant legs to wipe the sweat off the palms of her hands. “What’s the worse she can do? Throw you out or maybe just refuse to talk to you,” she said, continuing to talk to herself as she shut off the ignition.

She reached over, picked up the leather bound binder lying on the passenger seat, and then opened the car door. Her legs felt like rubber as she walked up the steps leading to the front door. She took a deep breath. “Here goes nothing,” she swore under her breath and then pushed the door buzzer.

“Coming,” Eelyn heard Cassie yell from somewhere inside the house. Just the sound of her voice made Eelyn’s heart race.

“Yay,” Cassie said as she glanced through the front bay window and saw her car parked out in front of the house. Smiling, she pulled open the front door. The smile instantly left her face at the sight of Eelyn standing on the other side.

“Hi,” Eelyn said after several seconds passed without either one of them saying a thing.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Cassie finally asked, her anger boiling to the surface as evidenced by the red flush of color running up her cheeks.

Eelyn shifted nervously from one foot to the other. No woman had ever caused her to feel a lack of confidence—until now. “I brought your car back. May I come in, please? You and I need to talk.”

Cassie held out her hand. “I have nothing to say to you and you can just give me my keys and be on your way. Go back to wherever you came from.”

“No,” Eelyn said, shaking her head. She crammed the keys into her front pocket.

Cassie laughed. “You can keep them. I have an extra set.”

Eelyn took a deep breath. “Please, Cassie. I have some things to tell you. I tried at my mother’s house but you refused to listen or even give me a chance to do so.”

“And you won’t get that chance now, either.” Cassie tried to push the door shut but Eelyn stuck her foot in between it and the doorframe. “You need to just leave, Eelyn.”

Eelyn was not backing down again—not this time. “I’m not going anywhere until you hear me out and besides, how am I supposed to get home seeing that I drove your car.”

Cassie crossed her arms over her chest. “You can walk home for all I care.”

Eelyn shrugged. “I told you, I’m not leaving until you talk to me and if I have to sit out here on your porch all night long, that’s what I’ll do.”

Cassie laughed. “I’ll just call the police and have you arrested for trespassing.”

“I’ll tell you what, you take this,” Eelyn said, holding out the binder to Cassie. “And after you look at it, if you still don’t want to talk to me or hear what I have to say, I promise, I’ll leave and never bother you again.”

Cassie’s eyebrows rose in surprise. She studied Eelyn’s face as she internally debated as to whether she should believe her or not. Finally, she took the offered binder.

“I’ll be waiting right here,” Eelyn managed to say before Cassie slammed the door in her face. “She’s more stubborn than a damn mule but cute as hell,” Eelyn muttered as she took a seat on the porch step. She leaned back against the post and crossed her legs at the ankle. What she would give to see the look on Cassie’s face when she opened the binder.  

Cassie glanced at Eelyn through the window and felt her breath catch. “You can’t think like that,” she chastised herself as her mind begun to take a wrong turn down a road that she wanted and needed to forget about. She looked at the binder in her hand. The letter “M” along with a decorative crest had been stamped into the leather. She sat down on the couch and opened the cover.

She realized immediately that it was a photo album, which contained some very old black and white pictures. The first was of two young boys with two adults. She removed it from under the plastic sheath and flipped it over. It was a picture of her father and his brother along with Cassie’s grandparents. She smiled as she put the photo back into its slot. “He was even cute as a little boy.”

She continued to flip through the pages, which showed a progression of her father as he got older. There were photos of the Masterson Estate as well as some that showed her father graduating from college.

Her hand automatically came to her mouth and she gasped as she looked at the next to the last page. It was her father’s wedding and dressed in a lovely white gown was a very young Lenora and standing next to her was a little girl who couldn’t have been more than five or six-years-old—Eelyn.

Cassie pulled the photo out of its slot and flipped it over. Someone had written in cursive, the words, “My beautiful new wife, Lenora and equally beautiful new daughter, Eelyn”.

Cassie knew without a doubt that her father had written this. She shook her head as if to clear out all thoughts. Did this mean what she thought it meant?

She flipped the last page over, which showed Eelyn as a grown woman sitting on the edge of a bed. Lying in the bed with an IV in his arm was Collin, his hand in Eelyn’s.

As she closed the cover she noticed that her hands were shaking. She got up from the couch and walked over to the door. When she pulled it open and looked at Eelyn, she was unable to stop the tears running down her cheeks.

Eelyn jumped up and came over to her. “Oh sweetheart, please don’t cry,” she said, using her thumb to wipe away the tears.

“I feel like such an idiot right now,” Cassie said through a sniffle. “I jumped to all the wrong conclusions, didn’t I?”

“You only did so because I didn’t give you much of a choice.” Eelyn took Cassie by the hand and closed the door behind them. She led Cassie over to the couch.

“Collin was my stepfather, Cassie, and he adopted me when I was five-years-old.”

“I just assumed that your mother was the woman who had run my mom out of town when she was pregnant with me. Did you know that’s why I was never in his life or he, in mine?”

Eelyn nodded. “The woman you’re referring to was his first wife and she passed away not long after your mother went away. I only found out about all of this and you, a few weeks before he died. He was heartbroken but he thought he had done what was best for you.”

Cassie shook her head. “I am so tired of hearing that.”

“I know you are but it’s the truth. He was a great man and he treated me as if I was his own flesh and blood. I guess you can say I am your big sister but that’s step-sister.”

“Why didn’t you tell me when I was in West Virginia?”

Eelyn grimaced. “I tried but you refused to listen.”

Cassie shook her finger at Eelyn. “Don’t think I’m gonna forgive you easily for the other things, like not telling me who you were or that you knew who I was.”

Eelyn grinned and covered Cassie’s hand with hers. “I don’t expect you to right off the bat but hopefully I can persuade you eventually.”

Cassie leaned back against the couch. “All of this is so damn weird,” she said and unconsciously linked her fingers with Eelyn’s.

Eelyn looked down at their joined hands before looking back up at Cassie. “Yes it is weird. Look, Cassie, something happened to me the night that I met you and the next day as well. I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around it and um … what I’m … um—”

“Will you just spit it out already,” Cassie laughed.

Eelyn cleared her throat. She took both of Cassie’s hands in hers. “What I’m trying to say is that when I woke up the next day without you, I felt as if I had lost an important part of myself. I can’t explain any of this but I don’t want to go another day without you in my life, without your face being the first thing I see in the morning when I open my eyes.” Eelyn paused for several seconds. “If you feel even an ounce of what I’m feeling, I would very much like to explore this further, find out if it’s possible for us to maybe have a life together.”

When she finished speaking, she held her breath as she waited for Cassie’s reaction and after several seconds went by without a word, she felt a pain shoot through her heart. “Please say something,” she said as she swiped at an errant tear running down her cheek.

Cassie shook her head. She leaned forward and kissed Eelyn softly on the lips. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind,” she whispered as she slowly kissed away Eelyn’s tears. “I’m crazy about you, Eelyn, and I’ve never felt myself falling so fast for anyone in my entire life as what I am for you.”

“Wow,” Eelyn laughed. If her smile got any bigger, her face was going to crack. “I don’t care what I have to do to be with you. If you want me to sell my house and move here I will. I just want you in my life.”

Cassie kissed the palm of Eelyn’s hand. “Yeah, there is that thing about us living in two different states but I think we can figure something out.” A look of alarm crossed Cassie’s face. “I just thought of something.”

“And that would be?” Eelyn asked, her eyebrow rising.

“What’s your mother going to think? What’s my mom going to think?”

Eelyn shrugged. “My mother knows I’m a lesbian and she would be thrilled about it, so we’re safe there. Your mom on the other hand, I know nothing about.”

“My mom knows that I am as well and she would think that any woman would be an improvement over my ex.”

“Jeesh, thanks a lot,” Eelyn said and playfully shoved Cassie.

“You know what I mean,” Cassie said, shoving Eelyn back.

Eelyn grabbed Cassie by the hands, and with one quick move, pulled Cassie onto her lap.

“This could be a very dangerous position if memory serves me right considering what happened the last time I straddled your lap.” Cassie said, licking her lips.

“Ooh baby, I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

“I thought you’d never ask,” Eelyn said as she claimed Cassie’s lips with more passion than she’d ever felt in her life.

Epilogue

Three Months Later

“Then everything is settled?” Lenora asked, looking first at Cassie and then Eelyn.

Cassie laughed. “Yes, Lenora. I’ve already found a buyer for my flower shop and my friend Jess has decided to buy my house, so by this time next week, I will officially be a resident of West Virginia.”

Lenora smiled at Cassie. “I am so happy that you decided to relocate here but my reasons are selfish and I’m sorry that you’re giving up your life.”

Cassie laced her fingers with Eelyn’s. “I’m not giving up my life; I’m starting a new one with a wonderful woman that I’m madly in love with.”

Eelyn looked at Cassie. “I am so crazy about you, too.”

“All right already, knock off the mush,” Millie said, shaking her head as she looked at Eelyn and Cassie.

“You were in love once, Mom, so don’t give me any grief,” Cassie laughed.

Lenora laughed. “Aww, young love, huh,” she said, looking at Millie as she refilled their coffee cups.

“I can’t believe you decided to move here as well,” Eelyn said to Millie.

Millie shrugged. “Nothing really to keep me in Kentucky anymore if my daughter is here, besides the offer Lenora made me was too good to pass up.” She made a sweeping motion with her hands. “How could anyone say no to living in a house as beautiful as this?”

Lenora shook her head. “You’re doing me the favor. I get lonely in this big house by myself and this way we can shop and travel until we drop.”

Millie nudged Lenora and waggled her eyebrows. “Between the two of us ganging up on them, it will be easier to get a grandchild out of this deal.”

Eelyn looked at Cassie and laughed. “We don’t stand a chance,” she said, shaking her head.

Cassie pushed her chair away from the table and stood up. “I’d love to stay and chat about grandchildren but Eelyn and I still have a few things to work out.”

Millie and Lenora grinned at each other. “Sure they do,” they both said at the same time and laughed.

“Let’s get out of here,” Eelyn said, taking Cassie by the hand.

“We are in so much trouble,” Cassie said as they stepped out into the hallway.

“Yes, we are but between the two of us, I think we can take them,” Eelyn laughed.

“Have I told you how much I love you lately?” Cassie asked as she wrapped her arms around Eelyn’s waist.

“Yes, but you can tell me again and again and again,” Eelyn said, pulling Cassie close.

“I’d rather show you instead?”

“I would like that very much,” Eelyn said as she kissed the side of Cassie’s neck.

“Let’s go home, baby,” Cassie groaned as a ripple of desire raced down to her groin.

Eelyn took Cassie’s hand in hers. “That’s the very best suggestion I’ve heard all day.”

“I love you, Eelyn Masterson Carmichael.”

“And I love you too, Cassie Reynolds Masterson.”

Cassie’s eyebrows shot upward. “I just thought of something.”

“And what’s that?”

“We don’t have to change our names when we get married,” Cassie said with a mischievous grin.

Eelyn stopped walking. She looked at Cassie. “You want to marry me?”

Cassie’s expression changed as she realized what she had said and then she smiled. “Yes, Eelyn, I want to marry you.”

“You have just made me the happiest woman on earth,” Eelyn said shaking her head.

“Take me home, baby, or I’m not going to be held responsible for my actions in this hallway,” Cassie said with a wink.

Eelyn smiled as she wrapped her arm around Cassie’s waist. Together, they stepped out onto a front porch bathed in sunlight, ready to walk into a new life filled with more promise, more passion, and more love than either woman ever dreamed was possible—For now, Forever.

THE END

Sneak Preview – Listen To Her Heart

Due to be Released September 2012

Two women who live very different lives meet due to unforeseeable circumstances, only to discover they were brought together because it was their destiny!

Yalen Martinez is ex-CIA and a bestselling author of lesbian fiction with fans all over the globe, yet she is alone. Since the breakup of her ten-year relationship two years ago, no one special has been in her life.

After countless attempts by her two best friends to set her up on blind dates, she decides to use the internet to meet women because she thinks it’s safe and she can do it anonymously.

She joins a lesbian dating site where she meets Emily only to learn that Emily has sent her a fake photo of herself and she’s running an online dating scam and Yalen is the latest victim.

Yalen, though disappointed, becomes obsessed with exposing the con-artist as well as finding out who the woman in the picture really is and she’s willing to go to any length to get the information.

Armed with the woman’s name and address, Yalen boards a flight to Tennessee with no thought on how she plans to approach the woman in the photo: Briana Latham, a former Victoria’s Secret model. Yalen decides to just wing it and hope like hell that the woman doesn’t think she’s a psycho head-case and when they finally meet, the sparks fly.

Determined to get to the bottom of the online dating mystery and against their better judgment, the two women set out on a suspenseful, tension-filled adventure that will take them to London, England where they risk their lives confronting the leaders of a multimillion-dollar, underworld Russian Mafia syndicate that specializes in human sex trafficking, computer viruses, and on-line dating scams—it’s a world where murder isn’t that big of a deal, a world where true love really knows no boundaries.

Chapter 1

“I hate to tell you this, hon, but I think you’re right. She’s definitely a scammer,” Regina Warsaw said and then tossed the paper onto the desk in front of Yalen Martinez.

Yalen shook her head. “I know, Reg, and I’ve known it for a while now. I can’t believe how damn stupid I was and that it took me so long to figure it out.”

Regina laughed. “Long? Are you kidding? You figured it out pretty quick. So the million dollar question is, what’cha gonna do about it?”

Yalen rubbed her temples with her index fingers. “You’re being too kind. It was anything but quick, more like two months and I haven’t decided yet but I’m going to do something. I hate being conned and feeling like I’ve been used.” Yalen shook her head again. “Hell, I’m not even sure she’s a she now. With my luck, she or it, is probably some hairy-ass man named Bruno who escaped from a mental ward and high-jacked a laptop from an internet café in Libya.”

“Or it could be some big hairy chick named Bertha who’s serving time in Leavenworth for killing her husband. Probably beat the poor bastard in the head with a frying pan,” Regina chuckled, slapping herself on the legs with her hands. “I swear I crack myself up sometimes.”

Yalen laughed. “I do believe you are your biggest fan.”

Regina frowned. “Hey, it’s a dirty job but someone’s gotta do it. Might as well be me.”

Yalen leaned back in her chair and laced her fingers behind her head. She stared at a spot on the wall just above Regina’s shoulder.

“Oh no, Yalen,” Regina said, shaking her head.

“Oh no, what?”

Regina shook her finger at Yalen. “I know that expression too well and when you get that far off look in your eyes, I know you have crazy thoughts swirling around in your brain. You have something already cooking, don’t you?” she asked although it was more of a statement than a question.

“Maybe, maybe not,” Yalen grinned slyly.

Regina got up from her chair. “I don’t think I want to know.”

Yalen leaned forward and smiled. “You probably don’t.”

Regina narrowed her eyes, pretending to glare at Yalen. “You aren’t going to do anything crazy are you?”

Yalen laughed. “Define crazy.”

“You know, tracking her or it down, busting through doors, guns blazing. Throwing her out a window, dangling her by her feet for several minutes in order to extract information,” Regina said, only half-joking.

Yalen frowned. “Now why would you think I would do something like that?”

Regina shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe ‘cause you’re ex-CIA and just ‘cause you became a bestselling author, you never stopped being CIA at heart … and … you still love the rush that comes from the hunt.”

Yalen’s eyebrows shot upward in surprise.

“Don’t give me that look,” Regina said as she leaned her five-foot-five, stocky frame back against the wall. She crossed her arms over her chest. “From the minute I read your first manuscript, I knew you were going to have one helluva career as a writer.” Regina shrugged. “Why do you think I signed on to be your agent?”

“For my good looks,” Yalen laughed.

“Oh, you definitely rank high in that department, honey,” Regina teased and she was right. Yalen was insanely attractive with dark brown eyes and long black hair that stopped just above the middle of her back. At five-foot-eight, she could be quite intimidating if you didn’t know her. “I knew the passion and dedication for your job would always come out in your writing and I was right,” Regina said with a wink.

“Aww, peeshaw,” Yalen said, waving Regina off with her hand.

Regina frowned. “I never did understand the use of that word.”

“It means yeah, right, okay, whatever you say,” Yalen said for clarification.

“Duh, I know what it means. I just think it’s goofy.”

Yalen shrugged. “Yeah, well, I tend to be a little on the goofy side, so I guess it fits.”

“I hate to cut this little chat short but I got things to do, books to pimp, alcohol to drink, women to chase, you know, the regular kinda stuff that my day revolves around,” Regina said as she pushed away from the wall.

“Catch one for me would’ya? I seem to be quite lacking in the women department and my track record is really starting to suck,” Yalen laughed.

“How many times have I told you, you can’t get a woman when all you do is hang out in your house and hide behind your laptop,” Regina said, in exaggerated exasperation as she ran her fingers through her close-cropped, spiky blonde hair.

“Hey, that laptop pays my bills and then some,” Yalen laughed.

“Oh yeah, it pays for mine, too,” Regina grinned, nodding her head. “Seriously though, babe, you need to find yourself a gorgeous woman with a body that just won’t quit and tie her to the bed post.”

Yalen busted out laughing. “Trust me, when I find her, I’m not letting her go. Don’t think I will need to tie her to my bed or anything that drastic.”

Regina let out a loud cat-whistle. “Honey, when she sees you, she’s gonna beg you to tie her to your bedpost.”

Yalen felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Sometimes, Regina was just too much.

Regina tapped her index finger against her chin. “Or just maybe when you see her, you’ll be the one doing the begging.”

“Not gonna happen and you need to stop right now,” Yalen said, shaking her head. She glanced at her wristwatch. “Don’t you have a plane to catch or something?”

“Oh yeah, looking forward to that hour’s drive, plus I wanted to stop at the woman’s bookstore I saw in Belle-fon-taine,” she said, enunciating each syllable of the word.

Yalen laughed. “It’s not pronounced like Belle-fon-taine,” she said, enunciating the syllables just like Regina had. “It’s pronounced like Belle-fountain.”

“That’s just crazy. Why not spell the damn word as it’s pronounced then? Our language is so screwed up, no wonder it’s hard to learn. Nothing is spelled as it sounds. Take that little town of Xenia, Ohio, the one where all those tornadoes ripped through back in ‘74. When I first saw that word, I thought it was pronounced like Ex-a-na. Sounds like a damn enema. I swear it makes no sense whatsoever. They make the X sound like a Z and if it sounds like a Z, then damn it, use a Z.”

Yalen laughed. Her eyebrows rose slightly upward as she got up from her chair and came around the desk. “You know, you actually make sense to me right now and that’s a little bit scary.”

“Oh shut-up and give me a hug. I really have to get going,” Regina said, wrapping her arms around Yalen’s shoulder.

Yalen kissed her on the cheek. “Please call me or text just as soon as your plane lands, so I know you made it safely.”

“Yes, mother, and I’ll be sure to brush my teeth and wash behind my ears before I go to bed tonight, too,” Regina laughed as she went out the door.

Chapter 2

Yalen stood on her deck watching a pair of gulls that had landed on top of the covered dock that housed her pontoon boat and Jet Ski. She raised her face toward the sky, soaking in the warm rays from the sun as white billowy clouds drifted by.

She loved the view here, loved every part about being on the lake. As a little girl, she had made trips to Indian Lake with her parents and sister at least three times every summer until she went away to college. She had decided that when she was older, she wanted a house here and that’s exactly what she got.

She didn’t have the largest house on Seminole Shore Drive; hers wasn’t even the third largest, and she was perfectly okay with that. Contrary to popular belief, size didn’t matter, at least not to Yalen. She picked up the empty beer bottle sitting on the patio table, slid the back door open, and stepped into the brightly lit kitchen.

She grabbed another bottle of beer from the fridge, twisted off the cap, and tossed it in the wastebasket. She took a drink and then headed back to her office.

She sat down at the desk, flipped open her laptop and waited for it to boot up. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the document that Regina had tossed onto her desk. “I have to be the biggest idiot on the planet,” she said out loud, picking up the paper that had a copy of the email printed on it. 

The email was the catalyst that made her suspicious of the woman she had been conversing online with for over two months. She now understood firsthand why people who were scammed by online dating were reluctant to report it. It was embarrassing as hell and the feelings of stupidity were almost overwhelming.

She was an ex-CIA officer who had been conned by a criminal. All of their conversations, all the things that Emily had shared with Yalen had been a lie. That part was unbearable and unacceptable. Emily had gained Yalen’s trust and she had also shared things with Emily, things she never shared with anyone—she felt violated in the worst way.

She laid the paper down and pulled out her lap drawer. She took out the manila folder that was lying on top. She flipped open the cover and removed a photo that was paper clipped to the inside flap. She looked at the gorgeous blonde staring back at her. “Whoever you are, you’re going to wish you had never met me.” She tossed the photo onto her desk and picked up the email letter. She felt sick to her stomach as she remembered how she had felt when she had first read the words.

“Hello Baby, how are you? I guess you’re enjoying your day! I miss you and i want you know ever since you walked into my life, I have been smiling. There hasn’t been a day when I have gone to sleep with a frown on my face, and it’s all because of you. Honey, I am glad that i found you. I have always wanted the love of my life to be understanding, loving, caring, faithful and most of all someone who would accept me for who I am. Now I have found the person I was looking for. I knew that you were Perfect woman. I don’t think that there is, or there could be, anyone better than you out there for me....I love you with my whole heart. I have never trusted anyone the way I trust you. Sometime I even doubt myself, but I know I will never doubt you because you are my true love. I know deep down inside that you will never break my heart or never let me down in anyway. I love you more now than I ever thought possible....And that love grows each and every day. Every time you make me feel special.” It was signed, love Emily.

Yalen shook her head as she read the email again. She felt a tear run down her cheek. She was so angry with herself for letting her guard down. “How could I have been that goddamned stupid?” she yelled, flinging the paper across the room.

The typos and bad sentence structure had made her suspicious from the very first email Emily had sent but her doubts had been easily wiped away when Emily had confessed that she was hearing-impaired.

Yalen had known in the back of her mind that online dating scams were usually committed by non-English speaking people and one of the biggest red flags that everyone was warned about was the chopped English and bad grammar usage. It made perfect sense to Yalen that someone who was hearing-impaired may not have the best grammar.

“That was brilliant, Emily! Absolutely mind-blowing, fucking brilliant,” Yalen mumbled as she logged onto her email account. “Let’s see what you got for me guys.”

She scanned through her emails, found the two she had been waiting for, and clicked on the first one. It was from Bradley Chilton, a private investigator she had hired in London, England to track down Emily after she discovered that the IP address in the emails that Emily had been sending showed they had all originated in the U.K. This would have made no difference if Emily hadn’t claimed to be an American who supposedly lived in Douglas, Massachusetts.

She shook her head as she read the email.

“Hi, Yalen, I just wanted to touch base. I did some investigating and had my mate who specialises in internet crime take a look. He was able to trace the IP, and just as you suspected, it belongs to an address in London. We don’t have a name for you yet but we do know that all of the emails were sent from a Blackberry. We have an inside contact who informed us that all Blackberry’s are registered to a unique owner through the company here in London, so it’s just a matter of time before we have what you need, and I will ring you just as soon as I have the answers.” It was signed: Cheers, Brad

She clicked on the next email. It was from the other investigator she had hired in Japan.

“Ms. Martinez, using the information you provided, I was able to ascertain that the culinary school is not an international chef school that awards certificates or graduate degrees. The school offers two and four day classes to those who wish to learn about Japanese cuisine. They have no record of Emily Michaels. Using the postal address you provided, I was also able to ascertain that no one by the name of Emily Michaels lives at the address nor has she been in the country. The flight manifest for Delta flight 1542 originating in Boston, Massachusetts, ending in Akita, Japan, contained no passenger by the name of Emily Michaels. If I can be of further assistance, please let me know.” It was signed: Daisuke Miyazaki

She shut the laptop lid. “Why am I not surprised?” She now knew beyond a doubt that Emily Michaels was a fraud and she felt her temper flare.

She picked up the photo and looked at the beautiful woman staring back at her. Whoever she was, she had a smile that was so enchanting, it could derail a train and the eyes, the eyes were the sexiest shade of grey she had ever seen. She could only imagine how they would look if filled with passion and desire—dark and smoky were the words that came to mind.

The woman was a knockout and Yalen had to know who she was. If for no other reason than to warn the woman that her picture was being used to scam lonely lesbians like Yalen out of their money. She laughed at her use of the word, lonely. Is that what she had come to be? She didn’t like the direction her thoughts were heading.

“Okay, so how do you plan on doing that?” She took a long swig from her beer and leaned back in the chair. It was time to think about her next move. After a few minutes, a mischievous grin played at the corners of her mouth. “It’s crazy but it just might work.” She picked her cell phone up off the desk.

Chapter 3

“Um … you want us to do what?” Lorna Risotti asked, thinking she had misunderstood.

“You heard me right,” Yalen said, confirming what Lorna thought she heard.

Lorna shook her head. “Are you out of your mind?”

Yalen laughed. “Possibly, khaki but this is what I want you to do. I need to do this, Lorna, because I have to know,” she said and it was the truth. She couldn’t just let this go. She knew herself well enough to know that she would not be able to forget about everything that had happened. It wasn’t in her nature and in order to have some semblance of peace of mind, she needed answers.

Casey Andrews leaned forward and smiled at Lorna. “I think it’s a great idea.”

“You both have lost your cotton picking minds. That’s all there is to it,” Lorna said, shaking her head again.

“Aw come on, Lorna, where’s your sense of adventure? Besides, if it weren’t for you two matchmakers, I wouldn’t be in this position,” Yalen grinned. If laying on the guilt is what it took to get what she wanted, a guilt trip it would be. She leaned back in the recliner and crossed her jean-clad legs at the ankle.

Lorna shook her finger at Yalen. “You can’t blame this on us. It’s your fault we failed repeatedly and we failed because you’re just too damn picky.”

Yalen’s look was incredulous. “Picky? You call me not wanting to date, Mary Louise Razorbak from the traveling carnival picky. Or how about Precious ‘Oh, my god’ LaRue, the bubble gum popping bimbo you met at Red Lobster? Or how about—”

Lorna held her hand up to stop Yalen. “Okay, okay, I get the picture and in my defense, you have to admit that they were all hot looking chicks and for the record you’re still too damn picky.”

Yalen laughed. “And how many times do I have to tell you that looks aren’t everything. I care more about what’s in her mind, not what’s under her clothing.”

“You’re still too picky,” Lorna chuckled.

Yalen shrugged. “So, are you gonna do it for me?”

“Of course we are,” Casey said, sliding closer to Lorna. She picked up Lorna’s hand and kissed the palm.

Yalen looked at her two best friends. She loved them both dearly. They were more than just her friends; they were also her marketing and public relations reps and had been since the moment her first book had been released.

They were lovers and they jointly owned the L & C Advertising Agency in Columbus, Ohio. They specialized in company ads for brand-name products and Yalen had been the first author they had created a marketing campaign for, and a very successful one it had been.

Yalen wanted a love like they had. The two women were as opposite as opposites could be. Lorna was a little on the butch side, loud and stocky at five-foot-nine with short, sandy-colored hair. Casey was five-two and petite with long auburn hair and bright green eyes.

Their differences complemented each other and the chemistry between them was unbelievable. It obviously worked for them, since they had been together for thirteen years.

Lorna sighed. “I guess I’m out-voted then,” she said, looking first at Yalen and then Casey.

“Yes, you are honey,” Casey smiled and then kissed Lorna softly on the lips.

“Okay, so what’s the plan then?” Yalen asked.

Lorna leaned forward on the couch and laced her fingers together. “It will take us a few days but the first thing we will do is create the ad and submit it to the major newspapers. We should probably put one in a few of the papers in London as well just in case your girl is a local.”

“While she’s working on that, I will make arrangements to get placement on the billboards,” Casey said.

“What can I do?” Yalen asked. Now that she had their support, she was feeling much better about this scheme of hers.

Casey reached down and picked up the photo of Emily off of the coffee table. “She’s gorgeous. I can see how this pic turned your head,” she said, looking at Yalen.

“Yes, she is,” Yalen agreed.

“Do you have a few more?” Casey asked.

Yalen nodded. “I have several that she sent me. In one, she’s with an older man that she claimed was her father, and it looks like it was taken around Christmas because there are cards taped to the door behind them. I have another one where she’s standing, holding her dog.”

Lorna glanced at the photo Casey was holding. “So, do you think this person may be American?”

Yalen shrugged. Right now, she wasn’t sure of anything but she intended to find out. “I honestly don’t know. Whoever she is, she’s very good at this and I can only imagine how many women she’s conned. Everything I thought I knew about online dating scams went out the window with her. I mean, she uses real photos, not the standard photoshopped perfect pics of models that most scammers use.”

“Well, with a ten-thousand dollar reward for the woman’s identity being offered, I fully expect to be swamped with phone calls,” Casey said.

“I sure hope so,” Yalen said as she stood up from her chair. “How long do you think it will take before we get some results?”

“Today’s Sunday, so I would say we can have everything in place by the end of the week. How soon we get a response will depend on how quickly someone out there recognizes your girl or the man in the photo,” Lorna answered.

“I know it’s a long shot but it’s all I have to go on right now,” Yalen said. If this didn’t work, she had no idea what her next course of action would be but identifying the woman in the pics Emily had sent was her number one priority.

“Okay boss, my stomach’s growling, so how about those grilled steaks you promised?” Casey asked with a grin.

Yalen shook her head as she looked at Casey. She might be small, but she had an appetite of someone three times her size. “Do you ever think about anything other than food?” she asked and then laughed as Casey pretended to be offended by pouting her lips and making a face.

“I can vouch that she most definitely thinks about other things besides food,” Lorna said with a wink, causing Casey’s cheeks to redden.

“Knock it off or I’ll cut you off,” Casey teased back.

“Yeah, right,” Lorna said and rolled her eyes.

“Time for me to exit,” Yalen laughed as she left the family room and headed for the kitchen.

“What am I going to do?” Emily asked as she paced back and forth in front of the couch. For someone born in the Ukraine, she spoke impeccable English.

“You got yourself into fucking mess. Your fucking problem, not mine,” Karzi Borovsky said in chopped English with a thick Russian accent.

Emily stopped pacing and turned to look at the man sitting on the couch. He looked like a miniature version of a bulldog with a thin, black moustache. “She’s not like the others. She’s going to come after me and I know it.”

“Stupid fucking bitches, how many times I told you not get attached to mark?” he yelled, his voicing rising in anger.

“I tried not to, Karzi, and I know I should have ended it before she figured it out.” Emily had told herself that many times since the day Yalen had confronted her. She had made too many mistakes where the author was concerned. She had gotten too close but she couldn’t help herself. She had begun to have feelings for Yalen and the second that happened she should have ended everything.

She normally didn’t get attached to her marks, she stayed indifferent. In her mind, she made them seem as if they were inhuman. It was the only way she could do what she does. These women were just objects that provided an end to a means and that means was money—it was always about money and how much she could get.

Yalen was different though. She was kind and caring and extremely beautiful, and very talented. Although she had never told Yalen, she had secretly ordered all five of the author’s books and loved them all. Yalen had a great sense of humor that made Emily laugh when she was having a bad day. She had made so many mistakes with Yalen and now she was scared. She knew from their many conversations that Yalen was an intelligent and confident woman who wouldn’t take kindly to being scammed.

Karzi stood up and brushed his hands down the front of the suit jacket he was wearing. “Vlad be very angry with mess. Pray mark of yours not follows through with threats.”

“Fuck Vlad,” Emily mumbled under her breath but Karzi heard it.

Karzi shook his finger at Emily. “Word like that get fucking ass killed,” he warned. He walked over to the door and jerked it open. He turned and looked at her. “I don’t care of details.” He pointed his finger at her. “Handle and do quietly. I don’t want be one who tell Vlad how bad you fucked this.” He then left, slamming the door shut behind him before Emily could respond.

“What am I going to do?” Emily said and begun pacing again. “First thing is to get the hell out of here.” She stopped pacing and went to her bedroom, opened the closet door, and took out her suitcase.

In Yalen’s last email, she had told Emily that she was coming after her and she knew it wasn’t a matter of if, but a matter of when. It was a confrontation she wanted no part of. She would go underground, leave the country until things cooled off and hopefully, Yalen Martinez would forget she had ever met her. At least she hoped so, for her sake as much as Yalen’s.

She really did care about Yalen and didn’t want to see her get hurt. If Yalen followed through with her threats, she would unknowingly be putting her life in danger. Vladimir Lebedev wasn’t someone to mess with and if his business interests came under fire, he wouldn’t hesitate to have Yalen killed—everyone was replaceable and dispensable.

Chapter 4

On the outskirts of Reading, England, not far from the village of Tidmarsh, sat a twenty-thousand square-foot, lavish estate. The nearest neighbor was more than five miles away, which provided the privacy Vladimir Lebedev and his colleagues needed to conduct their business.

Several men dressed in black pants and dark khaki camouflaged jackets with double barrel shotguns strung over their shoulders, patrolled the area surrounding the house. Out near the fence line, several men walked the perimeter with German Shepherd guard dogs. 

Inside the house, men were positioned at all entrances, including the large family room.

With a menacing scowl on his face and a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth, Lebedev looked up at Karzi. His right eye twitched as he leaned forward in the chair. It took everything in Karzi to keep from taking a step backward. He knew the look and from his experience, it wasn’t good. 

Lebedev inhaled deeply on the cigarette. He leaned his head back and blew the smoke in the air. He looked at Karzi. “Bring the suka to me. I take care of her,” he said, using the Russian word for bitch.

Karzi nodded his head in understanding. As much as he hated to do it, he had to tell Vlad that Emily had screwed up. He tried to put it off as long as possible but when it was apparent that she had disappeared, he had little choice. “If she fight?”

Lebedev leaned back in the chair and crossed his legs at the ankle. He smiled and then shrugged. “Do whatever takes. If she resist, ubeyte suka.”

Karzi nodded. “After I kill bitch, what do you want with body?” 

Lebedev laughed sinisterly, his lip curling up into a sneer. He shrugged again. “When you are done, throw dead fucking pizda’s body in Thames. Let little fishy’s have feast on fucking cunt.”

Although Karzi had drilled into the women’s head not to get attached to their marks, he had broken his own rule. He had let himself get attached to Emily and killing her would be one of the hardest things he had ever done but he knew what he must do. He should have listened to the twins when they told him to be careful where Emily was concerned and now he had to deal with Vlad and he knew if he did not carry out Vlad’s direct order, Vlad would not hesitate to put a bullet into Karzi’s head. No woman was worth dying over, especially one who was a whore, even if she was a former whore.

“We need make example. Send warning to other girls,” Lebedev said, pulling Karzi from his thoughts.   

Karzi pulled a cigar out of his breast pocket and lit it. “And mark?”

Lebedev leaned forward and picked up the photos lying on the coffee table. He looked at the picture of Yalen and smiled. “What her nationality?”

Karzi glanced at the photo and shrugged. “Is Mexican.”

Lebedev frowned. “Not Mexican. Politically wrong, Karzi. Should say Hispanic,” he laughed.

“American whores all look same,” Karzi shrugged.

“Dark skin. Very attractive. Asian clients pay well, da?” Lebedev asked, still looking at the photo.

“Not good idea, Vlad. Would raise questions,” Karzi said, shaking his head.

Lebedev shrugged and ground his cigarette butt out in the ashtray. “If she come, kill her. Not big deal. What is background this suka? You talked contact at ‘Yard’?”

Karzi shook his head. “Not good. Was CIA. Maybe big problem.”

Lebedev’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Aww beautiful and dangerous,” he said with a hint of admiration in his voice.

Karzi nodded. “Contact says very good CIA. Intelligent. Use word, dogged.”

Lebedev frowned. “Dogged? What is meaning?”

Karzi thought for a moment on how to explain the word. “Is stubborn … not fear.”

Lebedev laughed and nodded. “I will change mind for her.”

Karzi, with a concerned expression on his face looked at Vlad. This worried him very much. His contact knew all about her and had told Karzi about a joint operation that she had been involved in several years ago involving the FBI. She was dangerous and if they took her lightly, the contact said she would make them pay. The contact also told him that if Yalen threatened to come to England, it was just a matter of time before she did, and they needed to be ready. “She come. We be careful,” he said, finally.

Lebedev grunted in disgust. Karzi was overreacting. He was giving this American woman too much credit. After all, she was just one person and she was a stupid fucking woman. To Lebedev, women were nothing more than objects to be used and they were disposable, just one-step up from a cow or pig. He treated his dogs better than he did his women.

This woman didn’t scare him and if she did make the mistake of coming here, he would personally take pleasure in killing her himself but not before he had his way with her. He glanced at the photo and smiled. Yes, he would definitely have his way with her first before slitting her pretty little throat.

Karzi pulled out a newspaper that he had tucked under his arm and tossed it on the table.

“What is this?” Lebedev asked, picking up the paper.

“Turn page over,” Karzi instructed.

Lebedev flipped the page back. He glanced at it and then looked up at Karzi. He held his hands in the air, palms up. “What?”

Karzi leaned over and tapped his finger on the page, which showed a photo of Briana Latham. “Read.”

Lebedev read the small caption beneath the photo. “So?” he shrugged, still not understanding Karzi’s meaning.

“Is photo Emily use for mark. There is reward for name of woman. I tell you, mark is dogged.”

“Materi Ublyudok,” Lebedev yelled motherfucker in Russian as he stood up from his chair. He reached over and patted Karzi on the cheek. “We prepare. Make copies of photo for men. Take to airports. She come, I will know,” he said. Maybe this American woman was smarter than he thought but it didn’t matter. He was stronger and more powerful. He would take care of her like he took care of all threats to his business. 

Karzi nodded. He would place men at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and London City Airport. He would cover them all. If Yalen was coming, chances were she would be landing at one of these airports and if she did, he wanted to be the first to know, even before Vlad. Vlad was being too careless where this woman was concerned.  

“Ivan say about this … American woman?” Lebedev asked, motioning with his hand at the photos on the table. Ivan Gorchavski ran their operation in the United States.

Karzi shook his head. “Is waiting for contact in America.”

“Better have good information what I pay asshole. Two weeks is deal with Albanian. I want no problem, understand? Deal with Dessert House problem, so others get no smart idea like Emily.” He looked at the guard standing near the door and nodded.

A few minutes later, the guard returned with a semi-nude woman with blonde hair. The frightened woman’s eyes darted around the room. She looked at Karzi and then Lebedev, her lip quivering.

“Bring to me,” Lebedev demanded.

The guard gave the woman a hard shove. She stumbled and barely caught herself to keep from falling down. Lebedev slowly circled the woman and then stopped directly behind her. He roughly groped her breast and then grabbed her by the hair, jerking her head back, causing her to whimper. He lightly brushed the back of his hand down her cheek. “Very pretty. Such waste, Natascia,” he said, pulling harder on her hair, causing her to cry out in pain. Her body visibly shook as he held his free hand out toward the guard.

“Please, Vlad, no,” Natascia begged, tears running down her cheeks.

“I must set example,” Lebedev said as he took the gun from the guard. Karzi jumped slightly as the gun went off. He looked down at his shirt, now spattered with the woman’s blood and pieces of her skull where the bullet blew out the front of her forehead.

Lebedev laughed as he let go of her hair. Natascia’s lifeless body dropped to the floor with a thud. “Go clean up,” he instructed Karzi. “Take suka to Dessert House. Dump on floor. Show what happen if get idea to leave.”

Yalen slid the patio door open and ran into the family room. She snatched her ringing cell phone off of the coffee table and looked at the caller ID. “Hello,” she said into the receiver, slightly out of breath.

“Good morning, sunshine,” Lorna said with a little too much cheer in her voice. “How’s the weather up there? Have you got your latest novel finished yet? When are you inviting me and my better half back up for a weekend getaway?” Lorna asked, firing question after question at Yalen without giving her a chance to answer.

“Knock it off, girlfriend. What’s the scoop?” Yalen asked in a serious tone although she was trying her hardest not to burst out laughing at Lorna’s theatrics.

Lorna laughed. “What? Can’t I call just to say, ‘hey, what’s up and how you doing’?”

Yalen dropped down into the recliner and sighed heavily. “Dios! Please stop teasing and tell me what you found.”

“It’s only been a week since we ran the ads, so what makes you think I got something?”

“Because I know you as well as you know yourself. So, you have exactly two seconds to tell me what you got or I’m going to climb through this phone and strangle you,” Yalen laughed. Any other time she would have found the banter amusing but this was serious and she had been on pins and needles all week hoping that her plan would work. Her patience had reached the breaking point.

Lorna chuckled. “You’re a spoilsport,” she teased and then quickly added, “We did get something. Actually, we received over twenty-five hundred phone calls but we found your girl, at least we think it’s her. ”

This news made Yalen sit up straight. “You’re kidding?” she asked, wiping her sweaty hand on the top of her pant leg.

“Nope, I’m not kidding.”

Yalen’s heart was beating so fast, she could feel the pulse pounding in her neck. “So who is she then?”

“Your mystery girl is a former Victoria’s Secret model and she lives in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.”

Yalen took a deep breath and leaned back in the chair. “And her name is?”

“Briana Latham and before you ask, she’s twenty-nine years old.”

“Hmm … pretty name. You said she’s a former model?” The name definitely fit the woman. She could easily see how Briana would be a model. She was beyond beautiful with a body to match.

“Yeah, and she’s retired,” Lorna chuckled.

Yalen frowned. “Retired? She’s only twenty-nine. How can she be retired?”

Lorna laughed. “In model years, hon, that’s like being fifty.”

“I suppose. Do you have a phone number and address for me?” Yalen’s mind raced as she began to formulate her next move.

“I do … but what are you going to do with them?” Lorna hesitantly asked.

Yalen got up from her chair and walked over to the large bay window that over looked the lake. “I haven’t gotten that far yet but talking to her is high on my priority list,” she said as she watched a gull dive down in the water and come up seconds later with a small fish in its mouth. That’s how she felt right now, like the cliché—a fish out of water.

“All right but whatever you decide, I want you to keep me and Casey posted. I don’t want you getting into trouble and I don’t want to get a phone call at two in the morning saying that I need to bail you out of jail for stalking a beautiful woman.” Lorna laughed but Yalen knew she was only half-joking.

Yalen leaned against the doorframe and massaged the back of her neck with her hand. “Jeesh, it’s not like I’m going to attack her or something but I promise not to get arrested.”

“Glad we got that cleared up. Check your email. I just sent you the info.”

Yalen smiled. “Thank you, and I promise to call you once I make a decision.”

“Keep your nose clean,” Lorna laughed just before she hung up.

Yalen tossed her phone onto the coffee table and headed for her office. “Okay, let’s take a look,” she said and signed onto her laptop.

To make sure no one saw them, Karzi waited until the late evening before going over to the Dessert House. 

The Mercedes, with its black tinted windows, slowly made its way through Soho, turned onto Old Compton Street, and then turned right onto Wardour Street. It came to a stop just before reaching Oxford Street.

He waited for Andrei, his driver, to come around to the back of the car and open the trunk. Lying on top of the spare tire and wrapped in a dark blue sheet was Natascia’s body.

Karzi looked around to make sure no one was watching. He laughed at his own paranoia. So what if someone was watching. It wasn’t like anyone would call the police and even if they did; they had contacts at Metro who would make sure the complaint was never processed.

He nodded at Andrei, who reached down and grabbed Natascia’s hands. With one quick move, he jerked her body out, flinging it over his shoulder as if she were a sack of flour.

Karzi led the way around the side of the house and up the short set of steps that led to the hallway. He pulled out a set of keys from his front pants pocket and unlocked the door. He pushed it open and stepped off to the side to allow Andrei through.

“Wait here,” he instructed. He turned and walked down the hallway toward the living room. Just as he suspected, the women were gathered together. Two were lounging, on either end of the couch, while three others sat on wooden chairs along the far side of the wall.

One lone woman stood near the front window looking out into the yard. All six women were young, less than twenty years of age. They were attractive, a mixture of blondes and brunettes and five of the six were topless, wearing underwear only.

Karzi turned and walked back down the hallway and returned a few seconds later with Andrei following behind him.

The women looked first at Karzi and then Andrei, their eyes stopping momentarily on the bundle thrown across his shoulder before their eyes returned to Karzi. He could see the fear on their face and he knew that their hearts were probably racing as well. They knew what was wrapped in the sheet.

He nodded at Andrei, who promptly dumped Natascia’s body in the middle of the floor. The women gasped as the sheet fell away, exposing Natascia’s face and the gaping hole in the front of her forehead.

He pointed his finger at the woman lying dead on the floor. “Happens if try to leave. Is warning from Vlad,” he said, looking at each woman in the room. “Now tell. Where is Emily?”

The women looked at him, saying nothing.

“Okay,” he said, nodding his head. “We do hard way.”

He walked over to the couch and violently grabbed the brunette closest to him by the hair. She cried out as he snatched her up from the couch. With a smile on his face, he reached behind his back and pulled a gun out from his waistband. He crammed the muzzle against the side of the woman’s head. “I ask again. Where is Emily?”

“Please, Karzi, don’t hurt me. I know nothing about. I swear,” the woman begged as tears flowed down her cheeks.

He looked at the other women. “Tell me,” he growled through clenched teeth. The women remained silent, which served to fuel Karzi’s anger. Without a second thought, he pulled the trigger, shooting the woman in the side of the head. Her body slumped to the floor.

He grabbed the other woman on the couch and jerked her to her feet. “I ask one time more.”

“I tell you,” the woman standing near the window said.

Karzi smiled as he walked over to her. “Seri, you know answer?” he asked.

“She leave London. Has passport to U.S.A.”

Karzi’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “When?”

“Tomorrow from Heathrow.”

“Thank you, Seri,” he said and to everyone in the room’s surprise, he shot her in the middle of the chest.

Several of the women gasped in horror, while others sobbed and wept openly. “Next time I have question, you answer. You run, you die,” he said and then left the room.

Karzi leaned back against the counter in the kitchen. He held his hands out in front of him. They were visibly shaking. He hated this part of his job but it was the only way he could survive. He felt his temper flare as he thought about Emily. How could she put him in this position? She had to know that Vlad would send him after her. He had warned her to clean up her mess and now her mess had become his and that pissed him off.

He would never admit it but a part of him secretly hoped that she had already left the country. Emily knew the score though and if he did find her, he would kill her. Emily was now a danger not only to Vlad but to Karzi too. Her mistake was in knowing too much. He felt chills run up his arms. He had a gut feeling that a lot of blood would be shed over Emily’s mistake.

Emily, with a laptop bag slung over her shoulder stopped in front of the Four-Leaf Internet café on the corner of Camden High Street and Hawley Crescent in Camden Town. It was a Sunday afternoon and the markets had taken over. The streets and local warehouses were filled with stalls, selling everything from chic clothing to antiques and art, and shoppers were everywhere.

Her eyes slowly scanned over the people on the opposite side of the street. She could not afford to be seen by anyone connected to Lebedev or his associates. She had been gone for over seventy-two hours now and from past experience, she knew she had already signed her own death certificate. By now, Lebedev as well as Karzi would be looking for her and if they found her, she was as good as dead.

She looked at the people on the sidewalk behind her and then in front one last time before she pulled open the door to the café. She knew she should have already left the country and each minute she stayed, it was one minute that brought her closer to death.

Just as she new Yalen would come after her, she also knew Lebedev would not stop until she was dead—she knew too much and in her line of work, knowledge didn’t equal power, it equaled misery, which in the grand scheme of things, equated death.

She looked around the café and spotted a seat off to the left of the row of computers near the front window. She hurried over to the empty chair and quickly opened the bag, pulled out her laptop, and connected it to the docking station. She flipped open the lid and waited for it to boot up.

Once the connected icon appeared, she quickly signed into her Hotmail account. She had nineteen emails. The last one had come in less than two hours ago and it was from Yalen.

She took a deep breath as she opened the message. All it said was that Yalen was coming after her.

“You have no idea what you’re doing,” she whispered and for the first time in three years, she did something she had never done before. She typed a reply, an honest reply. It was the first truly honest thing she had ever said to Yalen. She took another deep breath and hit the send button and then quickly shut her laptop down.    

Just as she had done a few minutes ago, she systematically scanned the area around her. She waited several seconds and then left the café. 

“What are you doing on this side of town?” Eileen O’connor asked.

Emily immediately recognized the voice coming from behind her. “Damn it to hell,” she muttered under her breath. She slowly turned and looked at the attractive, young red-haired woman. “Hi, Leeny, I just needed to run a few errands,” she lied.

Leeny did a quick look around just as Emily had done earlier and then grabbed Emily by the elbow and pulled her into a recessed doorway. “Are you out of your bloody fucking mind? Do you have any idea what’s been going on?”

Emily decided to play dumb. “What do you mean?”

“You know bloody damn well what I mean,” Leeny hissed, her British accent becoming more pronounced the more agitated she became. When Emily didn’t respond she continued. “Vlad had Natascia killed as an example to all the girls who had thoughts of buggering out and then Karzi killed Tatyana, and then Seri when all of us refused to give up information about where you buggered off to.”

“Oh, god,” Emily groaned. She felt like vomiting. Three women whom she had considered friends are now dead because of her. She was unable to stop the tears that spilled down her cheeks. “I never meant—”

“It does not matter what you meant to happen,” Leeny angrily interrupted and then her voice softened as she looked at Emily. “This is not your fault because you are not the one who killed them but you need to leave England and you need to do it fast. The longer you stay here, the easier it will be for them to find you and when they do, they will kill you. Seri told Karzi that you were going to the U.S. and leaving through Heathrow, so you must not go there.”   

Emily’s heart was racing in her chest. “Are you going to tell Karzi you saw me?”     

“I should,” Leeny, said, shaking her finger in Emily’s face. “You’re not just risking yourself here and the quicker you’re gone, the safer we will all be.” Leeny thoughtfully looked at Emily. “The twins tried to talk Karzi into going after your family.”

“Oh no,” Emily cried. The twin sisters had tried on more than one occasion to get Emily and a few of the other girls in trouble. At one point, Emily had grabbed the older twin around the throat and threatened to kill her. Emily now wished she had.

“Those two cunts will get theirs one day,” Leeny smiled.  

A sudden thought occurred to Emily, her eyebrows rising. “Come with me, Leeny.”

Leeny shook her head. “Are you crazy? He will hunt us down if I leave with you and then he will have his men kill my parents and sister. He will kill your family, too.”

Emily took Leeny’s hands in hers. “I know he threatened to kill my matuska but I can’t do this anymore. I’d rather be dead,” she said, shaking her head adamantly back and forth.

Leeny placed her hands on Emily’s shoulders, giving her a gentle shake. “Listen to me. It will be harder for him to find you if you go by yourself.”

Emily wiped off the tears on her cheeks. “I know. Please promise that you’ll leave before it’s too late. None of us deserve this.”

Leeny pulled Emily into a hug. “I promise. Now, you must go before it is too late,” she whispered in Emily’s ear.

The tears continued to run down Emily’s cheeks as she watched Leeny turn and walk quickly down the street.

Yalen entered her credit card number and then waited for the confirmation. After a few seconds, it was confirmed. She would be landing at McGhee Tyson Airport in less than 4 hours. From there, she would rent a car and drive the rest of the way to Gatlinburg.

“Dios. What if I get there and she’s not home or she’s away somewhere? Then I guess I will just have to wait.”

Being in Tennessee waiting for Ms. Briana Latham to get home was better than sitting here and doing absolutely nothing. Just as she was about to get out of her chair, her cell phone rang. She made a dash for the living room, not bothering to check the caller ID, she answered it a split-second before it went to voicemail, “Hello,” she said into the receiver.

“Yalen Martinez?” the man with a distinctive British accent asked.

“Yes. You are Mr. Chilton I presume?”   

“Yes, ma’am, you have presumed correctly,” he replied and Yalen could almost picture the small grin on his face.

Yalen felt a headache coming on. She rubbed her left temple with her fingertips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you although it’s only through the phone but it’s still nice to finally put a voice to the man behind the emails.”

Chilton laughed and said, “Likewise, Ms. Martinez.”

Yalen sat down in the recliner. “I’m hoping this phone call means you have good news for me.”

“That would depend on what you define as good news.”

Yalen leaned back in the chair. “At this point, any news is good news.”

“The good news is that we were able to find out who the Blackberry was registered to and that is where the good news ends I am afraid. The man who registered that device is Karzi Borovsky.”

Yalen tried to place the name. Several seconds went by without either one of them saying a word. “I’m sorry but I don’t recognize the name,” she said finally.

Chilton cleared his throat. “Karzi Borovsky is employed by Vladimir Lebedev.”

Yalen shook her head. “I’m sorry, Mr. Chilton, but that name means nothing to me either.”

“To most people it would not but here in England, there are very few people who do not know who he is. He is the head, how do you Americans say it—ah yes, he is the head honcho of the Russian Mafia.”

“Are you serious?” Yalen asked, not believing what she was hearing. What were the odds that she would meet someone online and then have this person turn out to be connected to a mobster? She couldn’t write a thriller this good.  

“I wish I were, Ms. Martinez. Mr. Lebedev is not a lovely person and Scotland Yard as well as MI6 have been trying to close his operation for five years. When I made a few enquiries with a mate of mine at the Yard, I was told that all attempts have failed.”

Yalen shook her head. “Did your contact elaborate?”

“No, she did not. However, it was what she did not say that piqued my interest, so I did more searching on my own.”

Yalen smiled at the idea of his contact being female. “And that would be?”

“I think they may have some internal problems and by that I mean someone is feeding Lebedev inside information.”

That statement made Yalen sit straight up in her chair. She could not count how many times she had been involved in operations when a cop or officer had been suspected of being on the take and those suspicions, ninety-nine percent of the time turned out to be well founded. Why should England’s police departments be any different or immune to corruption?

The idea of money, lots of money could make even a saint turn bad under the right conditions. “Exactly what does Lebedev’s operation consist of?” she asked, her thoughts turning to the mafia organizations here in the U.S.

“My mate stated that his main operation involves arms dealing and drugs. In the last few years they ventured into human trafficking and now online dating scams, or so it seems, as you have now experienced for yourself.”

“You mean sex trafficking?” She was still having a hard time wrapping her mind around all of this information. 

“Yes, ma’am, and over the past year, their business has flourished beyond belief. They have formed a partnership with the Albanians, and their specialty is sex trafficking. I wish I could give you more information but my source is tight-lipped where Mr. Lebedev is concerned.”

Yalen laughed. “Believe me when I say you’ve provided me with invaluable information and I appreciate your diligence in this matter.”

“I wish I could give you more but it is not possible without alerting those whom I, would prefer not to alert due to the danger that I, along with my colleagues and families would face. When you have a moment, look at your email and the corresponding attachments I have sent. It is a zip-file containing photos of Borovsky and Lebedev.”

Yalen could tell by the tone of Chilton’s voice that he was sincerely concerned and she knew that he had gone the extra mile in gathering this information for her at great risk. She would make sure he was compensated well for his effort. “I completely understand and thank you, so much for going as far as you did.”

“Ms. Martinez?” he asked with a slight hesitation in his voice.

“Yes?”

Mr. Chilton paused for a moment. “I have no idea what you plan on doing with this information, but I implore you to be careful. These men are quite beastly and they will not hesitate to kill you and then kill your family because they take pleasure from it. Borovsky’s reputation indicates that he may be somewhat daft, but he is extremely dangerous. Where Borovsky is daft, Lebedev is rather barmy.”

Yalen frowned. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you mean by barmy.”

Chilton chuckled. “It means that he is rather mad or as you Americans say, crazy in the head.”

“Interesting and thank you for your concern, Mr. Chilton. I can assure you, I don’t plan on becoming one of Mr. Lebedev’s victims,” Yalen said, although the thought had already crossed her mind several times during this conversation.

Mr. Chilton sighed heavily. “I am sure the majority of people killed by Mr. Lebedev uttered those very words as well. Please be extra careful.”

Yalen heard him say ‘cheers’ just before he hung up the phone. She leaned back in her chair. “This is unbelievable.”

Her thoughts turned to the CIA and FBI. If Scotland Yard was aware of Lebedev and his organization, she had no doubt that the U.S. government was aware of it as well. She would do a little more research online and see what else she could find out about the Russian Mafia.

She got up from the chair. The first thing she was going to do was check the email and download Chilton’s photos. Now that she had some names, she wanted to put a face to them. Afterward, she would give Reg and Lorna a call and fill them in on her plans regarding her trip to Tennessee.

She had no intention of telling them about Lebedev or the Russian Mafia. She knew they would try to talk her out of pursuing Emily, especially if she had ties to a criminal organization that wouldn’t hesitate to kill Yalen.

With cell phone in hand, Yalen headed toward her office. She tossed the phone on the desk, dropped down into her chair, and then signed onto her laptop. She pulled out her lap drawer and grabbed a notebook and pen. She waited for the internet icon to show she was connected and then signed into her email account. She clicked on the one from Chilton and then hit the download button. While the attachment downloaded, she jotted down several things in her notebook that she needed to look up.

When the download was complete, she clicked on the new folder displayed on her desktop. She opened it and then clicked on the jpg titled Karzi Borovsky. Yalen shook her head as she looked at the man standing in front of Westminster Abbey with two extremely attractive women, one blonde, and one brunette.

Dressed in a dark blue suit with a flamboyantly bright pink tie, Karzi stood between the women; his arms wrapped possessively around their waists. He was short and stocky with thick, black hair, and a thin moustache. The two women towered a good six inches over him.

He was smiling, showing a mouth full of straight, white teeth and if Yalen didn’t know better, she would have assumed he was just posing for a typical tourist picture. She wondered who the women were and if they were prostitutes.

She clicked on the next jpg titled Vladimir Lebedev. She didn’t know what she had expected but the man staring back at her had cold dark eyes—lifeless.

Lebedev was the opposite of Karzi. She would guess that he stood over six-feet tall with light blond hair that reached just above the collar of his shirt. Even through the suit, Yalen could tell that his upper body was rippling with muscles. Just like Karzi, Lebedev was flanked on both sides by two gorgeous women. The photo had been taken outside on a sunny day and behind them was a large building, possibly a warehouse. 

Now that she had their names, it was good to have faces to put with them.

She sent both pics to the printer. She was about to sign off when she noticed that she had an email in her spam folder. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. It was from Emily and said, “Yalen, I know you have no reason to believe anything I say to you now but this is the truth. My employers are very bad people and I’m, so sorry that I have now got you mixed up in my world. I don’t want you involved in my problems. Please, I beg you not to come after me. These men will kill you. I know you won’t believe this and I don’t blame you but I did and do care for you and don’t want to see you hurt. Please forgive me.” It was signed, Emily.

Yalen re-read the email and shook her head. “I’m afraid it’s a little too late for that because I’m already very much involved whether you meant for it to happen or not.” She closed the email in disgust and signed off. She grabbed her cell phone off of the desk and flipped it open. She searched through her saved contacts, looking for her friend Peter Kramer from the CIA but the name saved in her phone was, Patricia Klemmons. She pressed the speed dial and held the phone to her ear.

“Kramer,” the gruff voice said on the other end.

“Hey, Pete. Long time since we talked.”

“Well goodness sake. Is that you, Yalen?”

Yalen laughed. “Yep, the one and only. How have you been?”

“Aww, you know how it is. One day just blends into the next around here.”

Yalen snorted. “Yep, I remember it all too well. How are Marie and the boys?”

“They’re all good and I know you didn’t just call because you wanted to chat. What gives?”

They had been colleagues for more than fifteen years and Kramer knew her all too well. “There’s no fooling you, huh?” Yalen laughed.

“You know it,” Kramer chuckled.

Yalen leaned back in the chair and filled him on what she knew about the online dating scam.

“You want my advice?” he asked after she had finished.

“Do I have a choice?” Yalen asked.

“We always have choices and it’s the consequence of those choices that bites us in the ass,” Kramer said.

“Which, we both know all too well, right,” Yalen said, her voice tinged with sarcasm.

“Listen, Yalen, you’re no longer one of us, at least not in the official sense of the word. I think you should leave this alone. Mr. Lebedev has been on our radar and the FBI’s, for quite some time now. I’m sure you figured out that his operation is into arms dealing and that’s what we want him for.”

Yalen felt her temper flare. “What about those women who are being sold into slavery for sex? I know that you and everyone else in the agency know it’s not just happening over there and that these Russians are now doing it here in the U.S. Don’t they matter?”

“You know how it is, they’re collateral damage.”

Yalen could imagine him shrugging and it angered her. “Yeah, I know. Same bullshit, different day. We can sacrifice a few hundred women to prevent thousands of deaths.”

“I never said it was right.” 

Yalen shook her head. “No, but you agree with it though, don’t you?”

“That’s not fair, Yalen, and you know it. We’ve been after the leaders of this operation for several years and the powers that be aren’t going to mess this up by trying to save a few Russian prostitutes.”

That did it. Yalen was ready to jump through the phone. “They aren’t fucking prostitutes by choice. They are forced into slavery and we don’t do a damn thing about it.”

“I understand but we have to look at the big picture here,” Kramer sighed.

Yalen shook her head. “At least answer this, is the operation in London tied to the Russian mob in Brighton Beach, New York?” The line was quiet for several seconds without Kramer answering. Yalen finally said, “I’ll take your silence then to mean, yes.”

“It’s a nasty group. These guys aren’t like the typical Italian mafia that we’re used to dealing with here in the states and they aren’t like the Gambino’s or John Gotti’s of the world. They’re more brutal in ways you can’t even begin to imagine.”

Yalen felt as if she were about to explode with anger. “You seem to forget just how well I know about the Vory, Peter, and you’re wrong. I think I, of all people, have a very good idea about them, even better than you and the majority of operatives in the CIA. I’m going to London and I’m going to get some answers and if I can help these women, I’m going to try even if the U.S. and British governments won’t.”

“If you do this, Yalen, you realize that you’re on your own. You won’t have backup or support and if anything happens—”

“Just save it. I know the drill, Pete,” Yalen interrupted. “The CIA and the Bureau will distance themselves and deny any ties to me and or my involvement whatsoever if it comes to that.” 

“My hands are tied with this but what I can do is put you in touch with a contact of mine at Scotland Yard. Where are you now?”

“Visiting a friend and then heading home to pack and then I will be making arrangements to fly to London.”

“How soon before you leave?”

“Two days from now. That should give me plenty of time to make flight and hotel reservations.”

“All right. I will check with my contact to see what I can do to help you out once you get settled in over there.”

“Thanks, Peter. I appreciate it.”

“Be extra careful, Yalen,” Kramer said and then hung up. 

Yalen grabbed the pics from the printer tray and then hit the speed dial for Regina.

After several rings, Regina’s voice-mail picked up. Yalen waited for the beep and left a message. “Hey, Reg, it’s Yalen. With Lorna and Casey’s help, we figured out who the woman in the photo is. She lives in Tennessee and in…,” she glanced at her watch, “two-hours, I will be on a flight to meet her. I just wanted to touch base and let you know what was going on. I’ll chat with you later.”

She hung up and then hit the speed dial for Lorna.

“What’s shakin’ bacon?” Lorna asked cheerfully through the phone.

Yalen busted out laughing. “I swear you must have been born with a happy pill in your brain.”

“Would you rather I answered by saying what the hell do you want now?” Lorna chuckled.

Yalen leaned back in her chair and propped her feet up on the desk. “Nah, I think I like you just the way you are.”

“So, what do I owe the pleasure of this call, so bright and early on this wonderful bird-chirping morning?”

Yalen shook her head, a smile on her face. “I was calling to let you know that I made a flight reservation to Tennessee and will be heading to the airport within the hour.”

“Interesting,” Lorna said and Yalen could almost imagine Lorna nodding her head as she tapped her index finger against her chin.

“Is that all you have to say?” Yalen asked when Lorna failed to say anything else.

“Uh … have a good time, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Lorna chuckled.

Yalen shook her head again. “Seriously, I’ll give you a call later and let you know how it went, that’s if Ms. Latham is home.”

“Okay, I’ll let Casey know and we will keep our fingers crossed for you.”

“Thanks. I will talk to you later then,” Yalen said and then flipped her phone shut.

She got up from the chair and headed for her bedroom. She needed to get her carryon packed and get on the road.

END OF PREVIEW

Author Bio

Trin Denise lives with a house full of rescue pets, which all happen to be physically challenged. She is a huge advocate against bullying, especially when it comes to physically challenged children. Her writing career began eight years ago when her love of movies led her to write her first screenplay. Since that time, she has become an award winning/produced screenwriter and multi-published author. Worth Dying For was her debut Lesbian novel and will always hold a special place in her heart. 

Find out more about the author at: www.trindenise.com

If you have the time, friend her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter. She is always happy to meet new people.

Web site: www.trindenise.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/trindenise

Twitter: @trin_denise

Blog: http://trindenise.blogspot.com/

A Note From The Author

about For Now, Forever

In all of my books I always like to add a few paragraphs about where I get the idea for my story.

With “For Now, Forever”, it started out as just a short story of 7,500 words or less but I completely blew that goal and it ended up becoming a novella of 28,000 words. I had never written a short story before and my business manager encouraged me to give it a shot and this story is the result.

I got the idea because I had a flat tire on my boat trailer and I thought about how scary it would be to be in a strange place, on a dark and deserted road, and how interesting it could turn out if a beautiful woman who happened to be a lesbian stopped to help. I have friends who have had one-night stands, which I’ve never had one personally but I thought it would be a challenge for me to have my character, Cassie, go completely against character and do exactly that with this stranger she met on the side of the road. The hard part was writing the story in a way that didn’t make my two main characters come off as sleazy for giving into their lustful desire. As with all my story’s, I didn’t want to just write one that was purely erotic so I made the decision to throw a few twists in along with a little mystery. I could easily see myself expanding this storyline into a full-length novel just because I really enjoyed writing it. This was my first attempt at a short story and I hope I did it justice. 