Page 63 of Becoming
“I can’t say I disagree with her.”
Rebecca chuckled. “You’ve been spending way too much time with my aunt. Have you been taking notes, Eve?”
“That woman is someone I would rather spend less time with,” Eve joked. “Unfortunately, it seems I need her increasingly these days. So, my misery means yours, too.”
“Gee, thanks. It just so happens I agree, as well. Samantha is my past. Cassidy, I hope, is my future. I need to make things right. This is the first step to doing that.”
“I wish I had your balls, Mistress. Doing what you need to do for what you want.”
Eve sounded so forlorn, Rebecca felt sorry for her. She was pretty sure that there weren’t many people in this world that would think to feel sorry for someone who seemed so incredibly fortunate. If they only knew the real Eve.
“I know you hate it when I talk about certain things, so I’ll just say this; You’re the bravest woman I’ve ever known, Eve. The moment you remember that you’ll have everything you want.”
Eve cleared her throat. “I’ll get in touch when I hear something about the club. And, Rebecca? I’m going to suggest that you keep it as is, along with privileges. It is where you and Cass met. That must hold some significance despite the other memories.”
Rebecca smiled. She did have a point. “I’ll think about it. Right now, I need to go home and seduce my girlfriend.” Home. Odd how good it felt to say that word. To feel it. The best part about it was it didn’t matter where she was. Home was wherever Cassidy was.
Eve laughed. “Go get her!”
CASS’S OLD WORK truck rumbled into the driveway behind Rebecca’s Mercedes. As usual, her heart did a little happy dance seeing that her girlfriend was home. Now if they could just get past this bump in the road. Cass was determined to put an end to it tonight. She wanted to be close with Rebecca again. And that didn’t just mean sex. Although, sex was always welcome. Always! She hopped out of the cab, ready to take off in a sprint to find her lover when she heard a car pulling into the driveway.
“Oh, crap.” Cass plastered a smile on her paint-stained face and jogged up to the car. “Mom, dad! Hey!” Cass opened the door for her mom, hugging her when she got out. “This is unexpected.”
“We figured we’d come visit you since you’re apparently too busy to come to the house.” Beverly Giles stood at least five inches shorter than her daughter, but there was no mistaking her authority. Her slightly graying, brown hair fell just past her shoulders, giving her an almost youthful look. The only trait that mother and daughter shared was blue eyes, and Cass only had one of those. The amber colored one she got from her dad.
Cass rolled her eyes. “You know, Mitch hardly ever comes home, and you don’t give him grief over it.”
“Your brother doesn’t live ten miles away,” her mother reminded her.
“Bev, leave our daughter alone. Hey, kid.” Russell Giles gave Cass a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. There was no mistaking that this was Cass’s father. She got her height and build from her father, even if he had let himself get a little soft around the edges the older he got.
“Dad. You know, if you’d called I could have tried to make it home earlier and been more prepared.”
Russ chuckled. “There wasn’t a chance in hell of that. Your mom caught wind of the fact that you might have a serious girlfriend. She didn’t want to give you the opportunity to talk us out of visiting.”
“This is why people hate lawyers,” Bev muttered.
“Because they tell the truth?” Cass asked cheekily.
“Is it true?” her mom asked in lieu of an answer. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
Cass sighed. “I don’t know how the hell you guys know everything, but yes, I do.”
“I’m guessing that’s her fancy ride?” Russ nodded towards Rebecca’s car. “And, if her car is here with you just getting home, I’m guessing serious is the right word.”
“You should’ve been a detective,” Cass chuckled. “Come on. I’ll introduce you. Just try not to embarrass me or interrogate her too much.”
“You know your dad. Once a lawyer, always a lawyer.”
“I was talking to you, mom.” Cass unlocked the front door, hoping Rebecca wouldn’t be too upset with her springing the parents on her like this. Not that Cass had any control over it at the moment. She was relieved (and slightly disappointed) when Rebecca was nowhere to be seen as they walked in. On the one hand, she’d have a chance to give her a heads up. On the other, the emptiness of the room echoed the distance that was between them these days.
“Hmm, cleaner than usual. This girl must be a good influence on you,” Bev hip-checked her daughter. The truth was, she was hurt that Cass hadn’t come to her with the news. Her daughter was only twenty-five, but her brother was only a few years older and already married with children. The way Cass was playing the field, Bev didn’t think she’d ever see her young daughter settling down. She was curious as to what kind of woman could make that possible.
“Ha, ha. It’s funny because it’s true. She is a good…” If it had been possible to swallow her tongue, Cass would have. As it were, all thoughts melted from her brain, her mouth became dry—other places not so much—and she had a split second to think of anything that would keep her parents’ attention on her. She grabbed her mom and hugged her fiercely. “Missed you. Both of you! Get in here, dad.” She clumsily pulled her dad into the hug and held on tightly. Oh, my God!
Rebecca’s eyes widened. Oh, my God! She foolishly tried to cover her body before realizing that would not work. Since there was no graceful way of meeting Cassidy’s parents with a crotchless bustier and Mistress’s mask, she turned on her heel and ran back to the bedroom.
“So, yeah, um, I’m gonna just, um, go take a quick shower and wash this paint off of me. Then, we can, um, go to dinner. ’Kay?” Cass patted her mom’s shoulder and started towards the bedroom, trying not to run.