New Additions

by Becky Harmon

  “I was thinking…” Cassie let the sentence hang.

  Kathleen met her eyes. “Yeah?”

  “You should stay another night.”

  Kathleen glanced away, focusing on her empty coffee cup. She wanted to stay and that’s why she knew she shouldn’t. “I’m not sure.”

  “I’m sorry,” Cassie said quickly. “I didn’t mean to push, and I wasn’t implying anything. You can sleep in the spare bedroom or move to a different cabin.”

  Kathleen couldn’t help but smile. Cassie’s rare display of insecurity was very endearing, but she didn’t like that her hesitancy was the cause of it. She didn’t have any doubts about her feelings toward Cassie. “I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

  “Well, it’s not an overstay if I offer.” Cassie held up her hands. “Let’s hang out on the beach for the afternoon and make the big decisions later.”

  “That sounds great.” Kathleen sighed internally. The big decision wouldn’t be any easier later, she was afraid. Cassie would still be attractive and desirable, especially in a swimsuit. She swallowed hard to cover her growing arousal. “Is it time for quiche yet?”

  “Go ahead and sample. I’ll run over and switch the laundry to the dryer.”

  “Okay. I’ll try to save some for you.”

  * * *

  Kathleen stole another bite from the plate beside her before leaning over to stroke Pandy’s belly. She was surprised when both dogs had remained with her instead of following Cassie. Zoey lay in the sun with her head tilted toward the house. She opened her eyes at the sound of Cassie’s return but made no effort to move.

  Cassie dropped into the chair beside her. “You waited. How sweet.”

  “I might have stolen a couple bites.”

  “Hard to believe it was frozen, right?”

  “There’s no way this was frozen. It tastes fresh and the crust is flaky.”

  “The toaster oven works magic on leftovers. Shelley likes to bake, so I encourage her and then I find all kinds of surprises in my freezer.” Cassie took a bite. “So, how did you end up working at Fosters?”

  “I grew up in the system…” Kathleen twitched, shocked by her admission. She bit her cheek to keep from saying more. She lifted her water glass and sipped slowly, giving herself time to gauge Cassie’s reaction. She had grown up in the system and she hadn’t been a good kid waiting for a home. She had been a rebellious teenager with a huge chip on her shoulder. Being deserted by one parent would have been hard, but when her father left too, Kathleen had become angry at the world.

  She didn’t talk about her childhood with anyone, especially about the fact that she had been a foster kid. She watched Cassie stare into the pasture, clearly giving her room to talk, but she didn’t have anything more to say concerning those years. She had put that experience behind her years ago and now she helped to make sure other kids didn’t have to go through the rejection that she went through. There wasn’t any judgment or sympathy showing on Cassie’s face, so Kathleen filled the growing silence. “I wanted to make a difference,” she said softly.

  Cassie glanced across the table and reached out, gently touching Kathleen’s hand. “I didn’t mean to pry.”

  “You didn’t.” Kathleen laced their fingers together, gripping Cassie’s hand tightly. “Sharing is not one of my qualities. I was astounded at how easily I responded to your question. I was waiting to see what else I might reveal.”

  “Your secrets are safe with me, but I really didn’t mean to delve into your personal life. I thought I was asking a work-related question.”

  “Okay, then,” Kathleen said, taking a deep breath. “Let’s pretend that’s what we’re talking about.”

  She squeezed Cassie’s hand when she started to withdraw it.

  “I was going to use that hand.”

  “You can use the other one. I want to keep this one for now.”

  Cassie laughed and, laying her muffin down, picked up her coffee.

  Kathleen studied Cassie’s profile as she again stared into the pasture. There wasn’t only one single thing she found herself liking about Cassie. She was the complete package. Personality, warmth and sex appeal. Kathleen loved the full cheeks that gave her a youthful appearance. Her body was curvy, leaving no doubt she was all woman though she hid it behind her flannel shirts. Kathleen met Cassie’s eyes and watched a teasing grin cover her face.

  “What’s that grin for?”

  “Do you want me to tell the truth or say that I was watching the goats play?”

  Kathleen followed her gaze into the pasture and laughed. “Since there aren’t any goats in sight, let’s start with the truth.”

  “I was enjoying the feel of your skin beneath my fingertips.”

  “Oh.” Kathleen hadn’t expected Cassie’s response to be so bold. She had been enjoying the feel of Cassie’s touch as well, but she knew talking about what she felt would move them past the flirting stage. She wasn’t sure if she could resist the next stage as she had the last.

  “Oh?” Cassie prompted.

  “I was waiting for the warning bells in my head to stop going off.”

  “‘Danger, danger!’”

  “You said it best last night. You are so dangerous.”

  “No, I said you were so dangerous.”

  “Let’s agree to disagree.” Kathleen looked at her watch. “What time is checkout?”

  “Eleven.” Cassie glanced at her own watch. “I should probably go hang out in the office. They’ll show up soon.”

  “Okay, let’s get to work then.” Kathleen stood. Pandy immediately jumped to her feet as well, but when Kathleen reached down to pet her head, Pandy collapsed onto her back. Kathleen ran her hands back and forth across Pandy’s stomach. “I’m starting to get attached to this dog.”

  “I think the feeling is mutual.”

  Zoey joined Pandy on the deck and quickly rolled belly up as well.

  “See what you started now.” Cassie pulled Kathleen away from them. “They’ll never get enough, so you have to spread it out throughout the day.”

  Both dogs jumped to their feet and followed Cassie and Kathleen into the house.

  * * *

  Cassie stopped at the door to the office. “You don’t have to go with me, you know? You can stay here or roam around.”

  “I’ll look over your shoulder for a while if that’s okay.”

  “Absolutely.”

  Cassie went straight to her desk and checked emails. Pressing the voice mail button, she jotted down the dates a former guest wanted to return. She tore off the page and taped it to the monitor screen.

  “We’ll call them back on Monday. I don’t return any calls or emails on the weekend unless it’s time sensitive.”

  “Is there anything I can do to help out?”

  “Not really. Make yourself at home. Look around, snoop or whatever.”

  “Would you like another cup of coffee?” Kathleen moved around the desk to the Keurig.

  “I think I’d like tea instead.”

  “Any specific kind?”

  “I like the vanilla green tea. If you don’t see any on the carousel, I have more in the back.”

  “There’s one,” Kathleen said, placing the small canister in the pot to brew. “Where are the refills? I’ll restock.”

  “In the kitchen cabinet to the left of the sink.”

  Kathleen disappeared into the small kitchen behind the office. Cassie returned to checking email, leaving the majority of messages marked as unread to be answered on Monday. Noticing Zoey and Pandy with their noses pressed to the door, she walked over to let them out. When she opened the door, she found Pete standing on the porch.

  “Good morning.”

  “Morning.” He glanced back over his shoulder. “Rory’s on his way over too. Do you have any bread we could use to make sandwiches? We bought some homemade rolls but realized this morning that they’re moldy.”

  “Sure. Come on in.”

  Cassie led the
way through the office and into the small kitchen. Kathleen was browsing the video shelf between the office and the kitchen.

  “Morning, Kathleen,” Pete said as they passed.

  “Good morning. I thought you guys were off on a bike ride this morning.”

  “We aren’t early risers when we’re here, and even when we do wake up before eight we don’t start moving until at least ten.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with relaxing, as Cassie is teaching me this weekend.”

  “She should try it herself too,” Rory said, appearing in the doorway.

  “No kidding,” Pete agreed.

  “If you guys are finished, I’ll give you your lunch choices.” Cassie gave them each a silencing glare.

  “We’re listening,” Rory said, giving her a little bow and motioning for her to proceed.

  “I have sliced bread or hamburger and hotdog buns. The bread and hamburger buns are both from the bakery.”

  “I think the hamburger buns would be best,” Rory said.

  “I concur,” Pete agreed.

  “The Jacksons are coming in,” Kathleen said to Cassie as she handed her the hamburger buns. “I’ll stay back here out of sight. I said my goodbyes last night. No need to do it again. If that’s okay?”

  “Of course. I’ll take care of them.”

  Cassie quickly checked the Jacksons out and recorded their reservation for next summer before returning to the kitchen. “All right, boys, time to clear out of here. We’re going to spend the afternoon at the beach.” She shoved the container of hamburger buns into Rory’s arms. “Now go.”

  Laughing, the guys disappeared out the door. Finally alone, Cassie turned to Kathleen. “Are you hungry? Do you need anything before we head to the beach?”

  “No, I’m good on food for a couple more hours.”

  “Great. Let’s go find you something to wear.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Kathleen followed Cassie up the stairs to find a swimsuit, but in the back of her mind she couldn’t help wishing it was for another reason. She faltered on the top step and Cassie turned to look at her. One glance at Cassie’s face and Kathleen knew they were having the same thoughts. Kathleen felt a flicker of fear pulse inside her and she glanced away. If they kissed now, there would be nothing to interrupt or stop them from going farther. What if too much too soon would ruin everything?

  Cassie quickly closed the distance between them and pulled Kathleen against her. “This doesn’t have to be a decision-making moment. We’re only picking clothes to swim in.”

  Kathleen exhaled the breath she had been holding. The comfort of Cassie’s arms settled around her and she gave a soft laugh. Panic wasn’t normally her first emotion when faced with the possibility of having sex and certainly not with a woman she found more attractive than any she had slept with in the past.

  Cassie stepped behind her, placing her chin on Kathleen’s shoulder as she wrapped her arms around Kathleen’s waist. Bound together, they took the last couple steps into Cassie’s room.

  Kathleen paused in the doorway, taking her time to appreciate the spacious room with more than the passing glance she had during Shelley’s tour the previous day. The queen-sized bed centered between two identical nightstands was covered with a quilted light brown comforter. The color of the stitched blue swirls matched the curtains and the subtle blue tint in the tan carpeting. A matching chestnut dresser opposite the bed was long, holding nine drawers and a mirror above it. There were small pictures and what looked like event tickets held in place by the frame down both sides of the mirror. The top of the dresser was clear of any clutter or personal belongings. On the right nightstand, there was a stack of books and a digital clock, but the left was empty. There was a long, squishy dog bed against both walls on either side of the bed.

  “Does it pass inspection?” Cassie asked, giving her a squeeze.

  “It certainly fits you.”

  “Unfortunately, I have to give Shelley most of the credit. She narrowed my selections and made sure all the colors matched. I just wanted blue, but she forced me to pick other colors too.”

  “So blue is the color of choice?”

  “Oh, yes. Everything should be blue.”

  “Let me guess, you had a crush on Smurfette?”

  Cassie spun Kathleen in her arms and sat her on the edge of the bed before pulling open a drawer on the dresser. “I thought about it, but she and Jessica Rabbit were both a bit too feminine for my taste.”

  Kathleen laughed.

  Cassie held out two sports bras, one black and one purple. “I should have warned you. I don’t do bathing suits. Just sports bras and running shorts. I have plenty of tank tops too, if you want to cover your stomach from the sun.”

  Kathleen pulled the purple bra from Cassie’s hand and took it into the bathroom. She paused as the feel and smell of Cassie surrounded her. There was one sink and the remaining counter space was covered with bottles, sprays, brushes and two hair dryers. All a contradiction to the casual appearance of the woman on the other side of the door. The floor was blue and white ceramic tile with deep blue rugs in front of the sink and shower. The L-shaped shower was larger but identical to the one in the cabin and ran along the back to a small dividing wall that separated it from the toilet.

  Kathleen removed her shirt and bra, laying both on top of a three-shelf unit at the entrance to the shower. The sports bra was a bit tight, but after some stretching it fit well enough to wear for a few hours. She would definitely need a tank top to cover it though.

  “Will that work?” Cassie called from outside the door.

  “It’ll be fine. Can I get a tank top too, please?”

  A few seconds later the door opened a crack and a pair of green shorts with purple trim and a purple tank top came flying through.

  “Thanks,” she called as the door quickly shut again.

  Kathleen pulled on the remaining clothes. When she opened the door, she found Cassie lying on the bed with her feet on the floor. She was wearing the black sports bra and black running shorts. Kathleen sucked in a deep breath as her eyes roamed Cassie’s lean stomach and the curve of her breasts. All exposed skin was a light bronze, and she wanted to run her fingers across Cassie’s stomach and feel the swell of her breasts. She imagined her pale skin contrasting with Cassie’s tan as she straddled her body, the hard tips of Cassie’s nipples under her thumbs.

  Cassie’s eyes flew open and she jumped to her feet, pulling on her tank top. “Ready?”

  Her face was flushed and Kathleen wondered if they each had been thinking the same things. Not willing to risk another moment alone with Cassie in her bedroom, Kathleen led the way back downstairs.

  She watched as Cassie added a couple bottles of water and clean towels to an already packed beach bag. Zoey and Pandy eagerly led the way and took the first swim before finding a shady spot nearby. Cassie pulled two long towels out of the bag and handed one to Kathleen.

  “Do you have sunscreen in there too?” Kathleen asked.

  “I do.” Cassie grabbed the bottle and held it up. “Shall I?” She stood up and approached Kathleen.

  Turning her back to Cassie, she pulled her hair off her shoulders. She had wanted to say no as soon as she saw the bottle was a lotion instead of a spray, but she knew the word wouldn’t come out. She wanted Cassie to touch her. To feel Cassie’s hands on her body. She heard Cassie rub her hands together, warming the lotion before she felt the gentle touch. Cassie massaged her shoulders around the straps of clothing before sliding her hands down Kathleen’s arms. Closing her eyes, Kathleen basked in the warmth of the sun and the heat radiating from Cassie.

  When she could take it no longer, she spun, sliding her arms around Cassie’s neck and running her fingers through her shoulder-length hair. She leaned forward, pressing her lips to Cassie’s. The kiss was soft and gentle but quickly deepened as their tongues met. Cassie slid her hands under Kathleen’s shirt and across her bare back. All thoughts were gone except the
feel of Cassie’s touch. For the first time she wasn’t analyzing her feelings or what was happening between them; she was simply letting it happen.

  A shrill catcall from the tree line made Kathleen jump and she stepped away from Cassie.

  “Geez,” Cassie exhaled. “I may kill them.”

  Kathleen caught a glimpse of Pete and Rory as their bicycles disappeared into the trees.

  She collapsed onto her towel. “And I may help you.”

  “I’m going to take a dip and cool off. Want to join me?” Cassie asked as she stripped off her tank top.

  “I better let the sunscreen soak in a little, but I’ll stick my feet in.” As she followed Cassie toward the water, she rubbed lotion onto the spots that had been missed. Her body was hot from the sun and even her own touch felt sensual.

  She watched Cassie enter the water quickly, diving under and then swimming toward the floating dock. The muscles on her shoulders rippled as her arms stroked through the water. Looks weren’t everything to Kathleen, but what she knew about Cassie, inside and out, was better than she could have imagined. Cassie’s relaxed personality didn’t show any signs of knowing how attractive she was; she only seemed confident in who she was. All of this only made her more desirable.

  When Cassie reached the dock, she turned back toward the shore. The rays of sunlight danced off her body and a huge grin covered her face. She’d barely been there twenty-four hours, but Kathleen felt lost. She quickly dipped her hands into the water and ran them across her face. She wasn’t ready to admit there was only one thing that might curb the heat coursing through her body, but from the moment she had shaken Cassie’s hand in the hallway yesterday she had either had her hands on her or had been dreaming of it.

  She picked up a towel and met Cassie when she emerged from the lake, water dripping from her body. Kathleen quickly handed her the towel before turning away, the desire to lick every drop of water off Cassie’s body hitting her hard. She was in for a long afternoon. She turned and walked back to her towel, dropping down on it. Like a ton of bricks one thought hit her. Why am I fighting this attraction?