Cassidy wasn’t fond of blind dates. Never had been. But Erica promised her that she’d “love” Kathryn. Cassidy reminded herself that Erica had said the same thing about Claudia. However, Erica forgot to mention that Kathryn only ate chicken, never beef. So she’d had to scramble to adjust the teriyaki beef kabobs to include one with chicken breast. Sure, it wouldn’t have the twenty-four-hour marinade on it—one hour, at the most—but it was the best she could do on short notice.
“So do you like her?”
“I’ve hardly talked to her. I’ve been busy thawing a chicken breast.” She glanced over to the pool. “Besides, she and Amber seem like they have a lot to talk about.”
“They haven’t seen each other in months.”
“I thought they worked together.”
“Not anymore. Kathryn’s in Irving now.” Erica leaned closer. “How great would it be if you two started dating? We’d get to see you more often, that’s for sure. I can’t believe this is only the second time you’ve invited us out here.”
“Is it?”
“I know you have a long list of friends, Cassidy. I’m glad we at least have warranted two visits now,” she said with a laugh. “So what happened with Claudia? You were dating for over a month. That’s a record for you, isn’t it?”
Cassidy shrugged. “It was okay. I wasn’t going to marry her or anything, so I didn’t see the point in drawing it out.”
“Still looking for that soulmate, huh?”
“Yep. I’ve never been one to settle. Not in business and not in my private life.” She took the pitcher of margaritas from the fridge and topped off Erica’s glass. “And…it’s kinda fun to date.”
“Well, you have variety, that’s for sure,” Erica teased. “Who was this last one?”
“Larson. On our first date, she invited me in for a nightcap and sex.”
“Right up your alley,” Erica smirked.
Cassidy stared out at the pool. Was that right up her alley? “I don’t know. There’s a huge difference between sleeping with someone—sex—and making love. And honestly, I can’t remember the last time—if ever—that I’ve done the latter.”
“I think you need to give them more than a month, Cassidy. It’s hard to get to know someone in a few weeks.”
“It only takes a few weeks to know if they’re the one or not. Sex is just sex.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s my age.”
“Your age? What? You don’t like sex anymore?”
Cassidy laughed. “I like it as much as I always have. I would just like to get to know them a little first, I guess.”
“How old are you again?”
“Forty-four. A few weeks ago.”
“Did you have a party?”
“God, no. The last party I had was when I turned thirty. I may do one at fifty, though. Depends on my frame of mind at the time, I guess.”
Erica touched her arm. “Well, you probably don’t want to hear this, but Claudia was heartbroken.”
“Come on. She knew the score. I never once said anything to make her think I was emotionally involved.”
“That always seems to be your problem. You don’t let yourself get emotionally involved.”
“I know you’re friends with Claudia. But she wasn’t the one. I’m sorry if I hurt her.”
“Oh, she’ll get over you. They always do, don’t they?”
Cassidy wasn’t sure how to reply to that and she was thankful when she saw Amber hold up her empty glass. “Your wife wants a margarita refill. I guess we should join them.”
“I’ll take the pitcher. And I’d love to get in the pool if it’s still heated.”
“It is. But the weather is getting warmer. I’ll probably turn it off after the weekend.” She motioned with her head. “Go ahead. I’ll grab some towels.”
* * *
“Now who do you have over?” Laura murmured.
She’d resisted picking up the binoculars, telling herself once again that it was just wrong—wrong!—to spy. Especially now that Cassidy was going to pay her four hundred and fifty bucks a month to tend to her lawn. She didn’t need binoculars to tell her that these other three women were new. Judging by the kiss she’d seen, two were obviously a couple. But…also judging by the way Cassidy treated the other woman, they weren’t a couple. New date, perhaps? Blind date? Her friends trying to set her up?
This one wasn’t for her either, Laura thought. Who picks your dates? Blond again. Thin, but not as bony as the anorexic one had been. Watching her throw her head back as she laughed…nauseating.
Oh? What was that? Margarita?
She couldn’t stand it any longer. She snatched up the binoculars, focusing on the new blonde. Okay…pretty cute, although she’d bet a hundred dollars that blond wasn’t her natural color. Early thirties, maybe. She looked at the other two. They appeared to be a little older. Then she found Cassidy. She was smiling. She was chatting. It looked forced. Then Cassidy stood and pulled her T-shirt off. Not a bikini, but a black one-piece again. Oddly disappointed that it wasn’t a bikini, Laura lowered the glasses, just in time to see Cassidy look her way.
She ducked down below the windowsill. God, did the woman have a sixth sense or what? That’s the second time she’d almost gotten caught.
“You have got to stop with the damn binoculars.”
A margarita sounded good, though. Pity she had no tequila. She leaned against the wall with a sigh. How sad was it that her sole entertainment was spying on her neighbor? Maybe next weekend, she’d plan a trip to the city. Surely she could find someone to have dinner with. Or she could pop over to Carla’s house, see the kids, talk Carla into springing for dinner. She thought her mother might actually like to have the house to herself for a night. Yeah…maybe that’s what she’d do. Of course, that meant she’d have to tolerate the twins. Was it worth it?
She sat there for a while longer, twirling her hair in her fingers. She had thick, unruly hair, not thin and silky like the women at the pool. Maybe she should go blond. They seemed to be having much more fun than she was. Then she remembered when she was in her twenties and the hair color episode from hell. He assured her it would be a beautiful, light blond. It would look great on her, he’d said. Nope. Ronald McDonald red on the first try. Orange when he tried a second time. And then a shocking off-white was the last result as he attempted to “tame” the color. Her hair was so frazzled, she was afraid to touch it for fear it would break off.
She sighed. Maybe she’d stick with her natural color. Nothing exciting about light brown, but it wasn’t all that bad. She ran a hand through it. She could stand to have a trim, though. Maybe she’d do that on Monday.
* * *
Despite Kathryn’s obvious willingness, Cassidy had no desire to have her share her bed. Perhaps it was true what she’d told Erica. What was wrong with getting to know someone before jumping into bed? Did everything have to end in sex? Couldn’t they at least wait until a second date? Claudia had been a sex machine and even she hadn’t suggested bed on their first date.
But Larson? Yeah. Cassidy didn’t even remember their dinner, what they’d talked about. All she remembered was being pulled into an apartment and not leaving until the next morning. The weekend here? Much of the same.
And now Kathryn? Hell, they hadn’t said more than a handful of words. Apparently margaritas, and then wine, had made Kathryn lose any inhibitions she may have had. She’d run her fingers up Cassidy’s arm teasingly after dinner. She’d flirted. She’d touched. And no doubt, after being initially disappointed to be going to bed alone, she’d crashed into a deep, alcohol-induced sleep.
And now here she was, sitting alone on the patio, the water of the pool rippling in the light wind. Erica and Amber were in bed. Kathryn was in bed. And she, after attempting to sleep, was sitting here listening to the night sounds—frogs in the trees mostly—and feeling a heavy sense of loneliness settle over her.
Was it her age that was making her feel this way? She’d never given her age much attention before, but turning forty-four had been more traumatic than she’d let on. Because forty-four was one very short year from forty-five. And forty-five was too damn close to fifty.
And she still hadn’t met the love of her life.
She stretched her legs out, staring into the darkness. Maybe she was trying too hard. Or maybe she wasn’t trying at all. Flitting from date to date, bed to bed, never settling long enough to really get to know any them.
Oh, she knew them, all right. Take Kathryn, for instance. They had zero in common. From what she’d learned, Kathryn was a movie buff. Rarely missed a new release. Her? She could think of twenty things she’d rather do to kill a couple of hours than sitting in a movie theater with a hundred other people. Kathryn also liked shopping and malls. “I could spend hours just browsing.” Cassidy would slit her wrists. And, of course, there was the whole “I don’t eat beef” thing. Who didn’t like a tender, juicy steak, medium rare? And the teriyaki beef kabobs? They were sinfully delicious. Add to all that, she simply wasn’t attracted to her in the least.
So, yeah, she already knew that there would be no second date with Kathryn, if you could even call this a first. But Cassidy would be a good hostess. She’d already planned brunch for tomorrow. And if the forecasted rain showers held off, they could enjoy the pool a little before heading back to Dallas. She would then tell Kathryn she’d enjoyed meeting her and leave it at that.
And the next time Erica—or any other friend—tried to set her up, “No thanks” would be her answer. She could find her own dates. That had never been a problem.
Or maybe that was the problem. There was always—always—a date.