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Rebecca rolled her eyes and pushed Cassidy towards the bathroom.

“MOM, DAD?” CASS walked towards her parents with her arm draped around Rebecca’s shoulders. “I’d like you to meet the woman I love. This is Rebecca Cuinn.”

With a critical eye, Bev Giles studied the woman that had ostensibly stolen her daughter’s heart. The elegant blonde certainly wasn’t what she had been expecting and she was pleasantly surprised with Cass’s choice. The couple was a striking contrast, yet somehow, they fit perfectly. Her daughter was tall, slim, muscular, and androgynous in her black jeans and light gray Henley. Cass’s smaller companion boasted sheer femininity in cream-colored slacks and matching blouse.

Rebecca held her delicate hand out to Cassidy’s mother. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Giles.” After a firm handshake, she turned to Russell. “Mr. Giles.”

“Russ, please. And this is Beverly or Bev. Now I can see why Cass has been so preoccupied,” Russ replied with a grin that was similar to his daughter’s.

“I should apologize for monopolizing Cassidy’s time.”

“No, you shouldn’t,” Cass interjected before her parents could respond. “That’s my fault, guys. We’ve sorta been in the ‘getting to know you’ stage.”

“They don’t need details, honey,” Rebecca said quietly.

“Rebecca is right, Cass.” Bev was still stunned that Cass allowed anyone to use her full name. From the time she could speak, Cass was forever telling people not to call her Cassidy. But this woman—not girl—called her Cassidy as though it was the most natural thing. And Cass never even blinked. “Your father and I know what it’s like to be in the beginning stages of a relationship.”

“Hell, yeah, we do.” Russ waggled his eyebrows rakishly and clapped his daughter on the back.

Cass put her hands over her ears and closed her eyes tightly. “Oh, geez.”

Rebecca laughed softly. She imagined her own parents would have been just like this with anyone she had brought home. It was a bittersweet moment knowing that would never be. Don’t get caught up in things you can’t change, Rebecca. She cleared her throat and took Cassidy’s hands away from her ears. Thankfully, that effectively stopped the “la, la, las” coming from the younger woman. “I wish I had known we would have company. I could have cooked.”

“Ah, well that would be our fault,” Bev confessed. “We decided to surprise Cass so she wouldn’t have a chance to hide you from us.”

“Hide Rebecca? Ha! Never!” Cass once again wrapped her arm around Rebecca, standing beside her proudly. “I was selfish, not ashamed. If she would allow me to, I’d buy commercial time during the Super Bowl announcing my love for Rebecca.”

Rebecca blushed. It was not an easy task, making someone who spent their time dominating others blush. Cassidy seemed to do it with ease. “Um, why don’t we head on out to the restaurant,” she squeezed Cassidy’s arm and gave her a little tug. “Cassidy is always hungry after a long day of painting.”

“Yeah,” Cass agreed immediately, sensing Rebecca’s uneasiness. “I’m starving. Steakhouse down the street, meet you guys there.”

“Right behind ya,” Russ announced, rubbing his slightly pooched belly.

CASS SAT CLOSE enough to Rebecca in the booth that their thighs touched. She was just glad that her girlfriend wasn’t upset with her for being so brazen about their relationship with her parents. Cass promised she would try to tone it down, but she couldn’t help being excited that the three most important people in her life have finally met.

Once they were settled in, drinks were delivered, and food ordered, Bev turned her attention to Rebecca. She wondered if there was a subtle way of asking her age. “So, Rebecca, you seem to be comfortable at Cass’s home. Does that mean you’re living together?”

“Mom.”

“What? It was a simple question, dear.”

“Not exactly,” Rebecca answered before any arguments could start. “I have my own place.”

“Not for long.” Geez, Cass, word vomit much? She shot Rebecca a repentant look.

Bev looked between the two. This woman seemed to hold some sort of authority over Cass. Another rarity. Cass practically made it her mission to defy authority. “Where did you two meet?”

Another look between the couple had both Bev and Russ intrigued.

“We, um, originally met at a club. During Rand’s bachelorette party,” Cass explained, obviously leaving out certain details. “But we just happened to run into each other again a few months ago.”

“Months?” Bev asked with raised brows. “Isn’t it a bit soon to be moving in together or talking about love?”

She shot her husband a “help me out here” look, but Russ opted to stay out of it. He accepted his daughter’s lifestyle, but that didn’t mean he completely understood it. It was ironic since he had no problems talking about girls with his son. Whether or not it made him a coward, he let Bev take the lead on this one. Besides, he liked Rebecca. He couldn’t deny his daughter had great taste in women.

Cass shook her head. “I don’t think anything I say is going to change your opinion, but no, it’s not too soon. When you know, you know. You used to always tell me that. Now, when I know, you’re going to question me?”

“I’m not trying to start an argument, Cass. I’m merely wondering how well you know each other. You’re so young.” Bev’s eyes cut to Rebecca. She still couldn’t quite put an age to the svelte blonde and that nagged at her. “You do know that Cass is a painter?”