Cassie sat alone in the kitchen, eating her drive-thru burger in silence. She scanned the room and released a contented sigh. She loved the Miller house. It was a spacious bungalow with a living room that had a stone fireplace in the center of the room that vented up into the ceiling. Furniture surrounded the fireplace to make it the coziest place in the whole world. The living room opened up to a dining room, just off the kitchen and the dinette that she sat at occupied a small corner of the trendy kitchen. Eryn and Ben recently renovated the kitchen, and the white cabinetry and black slate countertops seemed more modern than what you would expect a farm kitchen to look like, but it worked. The appliances were stainless steel, and everything was pristine. How Eryn managed, this, that, and everything still boggled Cassie's mind because she couldn't comprehend being that organized.The house had four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Eryn and Ben had the two bedrooms with private, adjo
"What happened? Jesus!" Randy rushed to her side, lifting her chin to survey the damage as she sobbed louder. His concern for her plight only made her feel worse."I can't do this anymore." She paused, trying to catch her breath between sobs. "My life sucks balls, and I'm an emotional mess. I'm sorry you had to see this. I probably look like the walking dead right now."Randy released her chin and shrugged. "You've had a shitty week. You don't need to explain."Cassie tried to compose herself, but the tears kept coming. She felt like an idiot because Randy had never seen her fall apart before. It didn't seem to faze him, but it embarrassed her just the same."Why are you here?" She sniffed, choking on the words. She needed to get a hold of her emotions but couldn't stop the tears."Jason called to discuss video surveillance. He'll be coming by the office tomorrow to sign the consent forms and drop off the key. He told me he gave you a couple of days off." He paused. "I though
They arrived at Randy's house a few minutes later. Cassie shuddered, realizing they were not going to a bar. Given her overactive erratic behavior, being alone with Randy might not be the best idea. Adding alcohol to the mix probably wouldn't mesh well with her hyperactive hormones."I thought you said we were going for drinks?" Trying to sound casual, she clenched her fists, digging her nails into the flesh. She knew the answer but was dreading the words."We are, but I'm not taking you to a bar looking like that. People will think you're a whore, and I beat you." Randy gestured towards her fat lip.She giggled despite her nervousness, knowing he had a valid point. "Fair enough. I hoped no one would notice, but honestly, I feel too shitty to care what anyone thinks." Following Randy into his house, she scanned the newer, bi-level home, thinking it seemed enormous for just one man. Randy didn't have a wife, so he could live however he chose. The entire house was a bachelor's w
Cassie woke face down in a puddle of drool. She lifted her throbbing head to survey her surroundings and moaned. She was in a strange bedroom. Panicking, she flipped over, and lifted the blanket to assess the damage. Although she wasn't totally naked, she was down to her bra and panties which definitely raised the question. She turned her head to discover a naked Randy passed out on his stomach next to her with his firm bare ass to the sky. Grinning, she took a moment to admire his finely sculpted butt while wondering if the front was every bit as fantastic.It was difficult to extract her dirty mind from the gutter back to reality, but the question as to why Randy was naked next to her did the trick. She frantically searched her memory for any recollection of how she ended up in his bed, but she came up empty. Tequila amnesia. It was the worst.Too many questions caused her head to ache more, and she didn't want to deal with any of them. Flipping the blanket over Randy's ass
Cassie and Randy entered the office and greeted Daniel. He sat slumped at Cassie's desk, looking tired yet focused on the computer screen. He glanced their way to acknowledge their arrival. "Hey." He sounded as though he had a rough night, too."So, Daniel, I hear you got suckered into a puppy," Cassie teased, trying to coax his attention from the screen. He motioned towards the waiting room where a chubby yellow lab puppy dozed under a chair. "Little bitch kept me up all night whining, and now she sleeps?" Daniel rolled his eyes dramatically. "Bloody hell. It's like having a child." Cassie made a move towards the puppy, but Randy playfully shoved her aside, lovingly scooped up the puppy, and whisked her away to his office."What's her name?" Cassie turned back to Daniel."Petunia.""Awwwww." She melted a little. "I love the name.""I thought I needed a lady in my life." His tone perked up, and he grinned, and his sexiness factor ricocheted off the scale. Seriousl
When Randy dropped Cassie off, she found Eryn chilling out on the porch. She hoped Eryn wasn't pissed at her for not coming home. With everything that was going on, Cassie had forgotten her friend. Overcome with guilt, she hung her head in shame as she approached Eryn. "I'm sorry I didn't call. Were you worried?" "Randy texted me yesterday to tell me that you were with him. It was no biggie." Eryn giggled as she reached for her phone and held it up. Cassie gaped at the screen that displayed a picture of her holding up a shot of tequila to her fat lip, looking completely plastered. She must have been in the hot tub, at that point, because her bra straps were visible, and she was topless."What an asshole! I'm going to kill him." Cassie tried to snatch the phone, but Eryn pulled it out of reach. Eryn gasped between hysterics. "You look so hilarious!" She held her side, trying to rein in her laughter. "I'm sorry. Hey, what happened to your lip?" "Long story," Cassie said
Cassie pulled into the office parking lot just as Daniel climbed off his motorcycle. The sunset behind him created an enticing silhouette of his body against the bike, and a swarm of unspeakable images invaded her perverted mind. It didn't help that he had several things going for him that she found utterly mouth-watering: a sexy, mystery accent, a motorbike, and not to mention, his orgasmic touch."If he has tattoos, I won't be able to contain myself," Cassie muttered, peeling her dirty self out of the van. As she walked towards him, her trepidation increased.Daniel looked up from whatever he was doing with the bike and nodded a hello."So, are we good to go? I want to get this over with, as soon as possible. It's ladies' night." Moving past him, she strolled towards the garage that housed the office surveillance van. The white cargo van had Mona's Cleaning Service decaled in bright purple on the side. Randy insisted that the van have a cover name, so people wouldn't be sus
They arrived at the fence to the Schmidt house to discover that it didn't have a gate or at least one that they could find in the dark. They skimmed the wood with their hands, trying to uncover a gate, but there didn't seem to be one."We'll have to jump over," Daniel whispered as he scanned the alley for witnesses. He crouched down and made a step with his hands to give Cassie a boost. Whispering her thanks, she grabbed his shoulders, and stepped onto his hands. He flipped her up, and she was over without incident. Seconds later, Daniel stood by her side. He scaled the fence like it was nothing, and it was probably six feet high. Impressed, Cassie shot him an approving grin. Before going in, they double-checked the fence to see if there was a gate but still couldn't find one."Who doesn't have a gate on their fence?" Cassie complained as she dug the key out of her pocket. The backyard was split by a long line of shrubs that cradled an enormous deck off the back door. They ma
Margot Woods whipped open the door and beamed before yanking Cassie into a mama-bear hug to beat all hugs. Cassie went limp in her arms as Randy chuckled at the exchange."My sweet girl," Margot cooed as she pulled from her embrace. "I've missed the dickens out of you.""I've missed you too, Mom." Cassie giggled, reached for Randy's hand, and followed Mom inside. They entered the living room where her father was seated, and Mom disappeared into the kitchen. Cassie scanned towards the kitchen and then the dining room, looking for Sara and Greg. She had been dreading this encounter, but Randy forced her to put on her big girl panties and face them. So here she was. Baby steps.Sara's laughter could be heard from outside. Cassie moved to the sliding doors to the backyard and stared out through the glass as Randy moved in behind and kissed the back of her head. The scene before them was like something out of a mushy Hallmark Christmas movie. A young couple laughing and throwing
Focused on work, the hours passed. Again, voices from out front caught Cassie's attention although she hadn't heard the door chime. She stepped out into the hall and almost fell over with shock. Sara stood in a small circle with Daniel and Karly. She spoke quietly while holding Karly's hand and resting another on Daniel's arm.They appeared engrossed in whatever she was saying. Nothing about the conversation seemed hostile, so Cassie quietly backed into her office while briefly catching her sister's eye. It looked as though Sara had it handled. Cassie knew it wasn't her business and hoped it would stay that way.A few minutes later, Sara knocked and then entered the office. Cassie noted a sense of peace on Sara's face that could be attributed to the 'cleaning of house'."I've put everything to right, except for Greg," she sniffed as if trying not to cry. "I've tried, but I just can't find the words. And how do I explain my gift or your gift or dad's or all of it?"Cassie shrugg
By noon, they arrived at the office, ready to roll. Feeling safe, Cassie and Randy strolled hand in hand through the front door in broad daylight. Gone was the sense of doom. Gone was the man who wanted her dead. Karly rose from her place at the front desk and greeted them with a smile. Her brown bob framed her face which held a lovely glow. "Welcome back. You must be relieved that Bolton's under house arrest," she said, her eyes conveying concern for Cassie. Karly didn't know that Bolton took his life the night before, and neither did Daniel, unless his precognition revealed the truth. They had no way of telling Karly without giving up Randy's initial intent or Daniel and Cassie's abilities, so Randy and Cassie agreed to just let it all play out.Cassie grinned with relief. "It's definitely good to know he'll have a difficult time taking another shot at us."Daniel appeared next, moving down the hall towards them. He smiled and nodded a hello as if all was well in the world. He
Cassie rose early and with Mooch in tow, headed straight to the barn. Overnight a blanket of fresh fluffy snow covered the slush by at least two feet, but the still air defied the evidence of last night's blizzard. The silence was amazing. She paused, closed her eyes, and inhaled a long slow calming breath. The cool morning air flushed her cheeks, but she welcomed the feeling, she welcomed the prairie chill that ripped through the fabric of her jacket. She was alive. Bolton was gone and she could really live again. As she continued towards the barn, she noticed a spring in her step, and her body didn't feel rigid with worry. She fed the horses and then took Mooch for a walk around the property.She imagined a check list of things to deal with and crossed off Bolton's name. Immediately below his was Melody. Crazy, bonkers, completely unbalanced, Melody. The only person left wandering around that hated Cassie with a passion fueled by serious imbalance.What would Bolton's de
Cassie took Mooch to bed. They snuggled in and she took comfort stroking his ears. He was asleep in seconds, but she lay awake wondering.Sleep was a touchy subject for her, but tonight she intended to utilize her abilities, to gain some insight into Bolton's death. She needed to know if he did indeed kill himself, and if so, why? It just didn't make any sense. She could see it, if he had finally exacted his revenge and killed her, as a way of escaping prison, but before he got to do the deed? No. She just couldn't accept it.Closing her eyes, she focused, relaxed, drifted: Mist surrounded her, the blinding kind, so she knew she was close. Within seconds it began to clear, and she could take in her surroundings. Bolton entered his home through the front door and walked straight passed her as she stood in his living room unnoticed. He dropped a backpack on the dining table, left the room for a minute and returned with a pen and paper in one hand and a handgun in the other. Focused o
Eryn fired up the truck, laid her foot on the gas, and they sped from the yard. "You're up," she said. "Where to? I'm not sure if I want to know but what did you see?""It was Randy, he's going to shoot Bolton and kill him." The words tore from her mouth like a dagger to the heart. "I can't believe he'd do this.""Jesus," Eryn hissed. "Do you know when? Where?""I saw this while awake and the last time that happened it was an immediate thing. We need to go to the city, to Bolton's house, to try to stop it, but I think it's too late." "Why would he do that?" Eryn said. "I mean, Bolton was busted lighting fire to his house and yours, he was going to jail." Cassie remained silent, but she could feel Eryn's suspicions grow in the awkward air that surrounded them. "Spill, lady."Sighing, Cassie shook her head. She literally couldn't keep anything from Eryn, so she said, "I had a dream that Bolton planned on shooting me, and Daniel confirmed, saying he had the same dream.""Oh,
Twenty-four hours of cyber stalking, mini-naps, and watching the tag on Bolton's car go to his place of work, Thomas Tire and Auto, and then home, felt like a lifetime. With an ankle monitor on, Bolton lead a boring existence, but so far, he'd adhered to the court mandated restrictions. They caught a break in surveillance thanks to a buddy of Randy's at the station who provided them with Bolton's work schedule that he submitted for monitoring. Randy thought he'd have the poison figured out by tomorrow and would plant it while Bolton was at work.The plan was falling into place. It was a shaky plan that Cassie wasn't comfortable with and poison seemed ridiculous and obvious. A gun to the head, that made sense, but Randy though it was too loud, messy, and hard to wash their hands from it. Like a caged animal, Cassie was sure as she paced the floor of their room that if she didn't get out of the hotel soon, she'd lose what was left of her mind."So," Cassie drawled. "We gotta kick
Cassie drifted back in the sofa and dropped against the cushions, tipping her head back to stare at the ceiling. Stunned wasn't enough of a word to describe watching your sister make a man forget he impregnated her. It was beyond bonkers. But it happened. It was epic, and as far as Cassie was concerned, terrifying. The implications of Sara's new gift were off the charts."We need to undo what she just did," Cassie blurted out."What's that now?" Daniel asked, clearly confused by her statement.She swung her head on the cushion to address him. "Seriously? You don't remember? It's the reason you're even here." Cassie eyed him as if he might say otherwise, but everyone in the room except Daniel knew the truth.Daniel laughed and then gaped at Cassie as if she were insane. "What are you on about, Cassie?" Daniel's genuine look of confusion was all they needed to know. With very little effort, Sara had wiped him clean. The sinking feeling in Cassie's chest returned, and she fough
The door to the room opened and everyone filed in. Dad rushed to greet Cassie with a hug, and Cassie looked towards her sister who stood off to the side, arms crossed, eyebrow arched, looking as if she anticipated an apology.Randy offered Sara a chair and she took it, looking uneasy. Cassie eyed her perfect bombshell sister. Sara looked amazing, rocking her almost pregnancy figure with a cute grey maternity sweater and jeans. She glowed, radiantly, and Cassie was sure she had never seen her sister look so beautiful. "So, what's so important that you just had to see us?" Sara asked not even trying to disguise the fact that she felt put out.Dad pulled away, noting Cassie's worn appearance, and turned to address Sara. "There is much to discuss, Sara. I need you to promise to listen carefully to all that is said. Do you trust me?""I mean, you've only been my dad for like five minutes." she said, eyeing Cassie for confirmation so Cassie nodded. "I guess," Sara said. The fact