Page 5

Rebecca playfully flipped Eve off. “I’ll admit I imagined flogging the hell out of him, but Cassidy is the only one that gets the pleasure —and pain— of Mistress.”

Eve chuckled. “On that note, why don’t you just email the information? You should go home and get some of that frustration out.”

Rebecca shook her head. “Nope. Tonight, Cassidy and I have a date with relaxation. Just… being with each other.”

“Aww, I love those kinds of dates,” Lainey cooed, stroking Eve’s soft hair. “Sometimes just being is what we all need to recharge.”

“I agree,” Eve said. “Perhaps yours and Cass’s busy schedules contributed to this meeting getting to you more than usual?”

“Maybe.” Rebecca sighed. Her body and mind were tired. She was looking forward to doing absolutely nothing tonight with her favorite person.

“Hello?” Rebecca tossed her keys on the table beside the door and set her briefcase down. She kicked off her shoes with a sigh of relief. She knew Cassidy was home since her truck was in the driveway, but no one answered. “Probably in the shower,” Rebecca told herself. She was tempted to go and join Cassidy, but her fingers were still wrinkled from this morning’s shower. Rebecca smiled. What a wonderful start to her day. If only it had stayed wonderful. If only McEnroe hadn’t reminded her of someone from her distant past.

She checked the time and saw she had a few minutes to spare before her five o’clock date. And since Cassidy’s enticing naked body was upstairs in the shower, Rebecca thought it best to stay downstairs and occupy herself. Just send Eve and Lainey the business plan and shut down, Rebecca ordered herself.

Rebecca frowned when she walked into her office. There was a faint scent she didn’t recognize lingering in the air. She shook it off as she settled behind her desk, reaching for her trackball mouse. Her frown deepened when it wasn’t in its usual place and her computer was on. Again, she shook it off. Cassidy probably needed something. Doesn’t explain the scent.

“Babe?”

Rebecca looked up into Cassidy’s bi-colored eyes. She was dressed in basketball shorts and a tank top, her feet covered in fluffy socks. It was such a ridiculous outfit. Rebecca couldn’t help but smile.

“Hey, baby. Have a nice shower?”

Cass walked further into the office with a sly grin. “Not as nice as this morning. You were pretty far away just then. Everything okay?”

The bad meeting is still bothering you. Your brain is playing tricks on you, Rebecca. “Yeah, everything’s fine, baby. Were you in here earlier using the computer?”

Cass shook her head. “Nah, I don’t like touching your stuff. Well, I like touching your stuff, but not this stuff,” she grinned. “Why?”

“You know you can, right? I don’t care if you’re in here. I have nothing to hide, and you won’t hurt anything if you need to use my computer.”

Cass walked over to the desk, propping her hip on it as she addressed Rebecca. “I know, babe. But I wasn’t in here. I left my site around three thirty, stopped by Ellie’s, grabbed some food, and hightailed it home. Then I hopped in the shower to get the paint off me. Nothing I needed was in here until you came home. Is something wrong?”

God, she’s so sweet. “No, not wrong. Do you smell that?”

Cass sniffed the air. “Sorry, babe. But I’ve either been wearing PPE or sniffing fumes all day, so don’t trust my nose. What is it?”

“It’s a perfume or something I don’t recognize. And my computer was on. I could swear I turned it off last night before we went to bed. Or put it in sleep mode.”

Cass’s brows furrowed. Something was bothering Rebecca, and Cass didn’t like that. She knew Rebecca wasn’t secretive about her office. There wasn’t anything the two of them didn’t share. But Cass still asked for permission most of the time out of respect.

“Oh! The maid service was here today, right? Maybe one of them knocked your mouse while they were cleaning? That could explain the perfume in the air, too. Or maybe it’s some cleaning stuff they used?”

Right. The maid service. They had only recently hired a service to keep up with the housework when they were too tired to do it themselves. Rebecca had forgotten they were scheduled today. She relaxed, chuckling at her paranoia.

“Sorry. I forgot they were here today.”

“It’s okay, babe, so did I. Did you check your computer? Is it still locked?”

Rebecca glanced at her screen. The lock screen was there, the cursor blinking in the box to input her password. “Still locked. I… I don’t know why I got so bothered.” Rebecca sighed. “That’s not true.”

Cass slipped off the desk and got to her knees in front of Rebecca. This was a far cry from the last time she was in this position. “Becca, something has you rattled. What happened today? You said you had a meeting. Did it not go well?”

Rebecca took Cassidy’s face in her hands and kissed her. “Can we talk about this after I’ve changed and get some of Ellie’s food in my belly? I think I’m a little hangry.”

“Of course, babe. Do you want to take a shower while I get dinner set up? I’ll make some flower tea, too. That always seems to help calm you.”

“Yeah, that sounds wonderful. I will email the Sumptors and then shut down everything for the night. I’ll only be a few minutes.”