NAUGHTY BUT NICE Read online

  At least the return address was Los Angeles, far from Pleasantville, Ohio.

  True to form when faced with something that scared her, she refused to think about any of it. She spent the day at Bare Essentials, arranging and rearranging stock on the new shelves and walls, getting more stock delivered by a grinning Daisy, who admitted to wearing crotchless panties—courtesy of Bare Essentials—beneath her uniform. Maybe Daisy wasn't quite as sweet as she appeared to be.

  While Cassie and Kate worked, they laughed and talked, and laughed some more, reveling in spending so much time together for the first time since high school. Their laborious efforts seeming a lot more like fun than revenge.

  The fun took a downturn when Kate threw her a knowing glance and brought up the subject of Tag.

  "You do remember the sheriff, right?" Kate asked, tongue in cheek. She was hanging silk robes according to size on a wooden rack. "The man who's given you three tickets. The man more gorgeous than sin itself. The man who whenever I bring him up you go slightly bipolar?"

  "He has that effect on people."

  "No, he has that effect on you. And I think you have that effect on him, as well. You going to do something about it?"

  "Such as?"

  "Such as … I don't know…" Kate opened another box and pulled out more padded hangers. "At least burn up a box of condoms together."

  Cassie, who'd just taken an unfortunate sip of soda, choked.

  Kate spun around, then laughed. "You liked that one?"

  Cassie wiped her chin. "You never used to say such things. What's come over you?"

  "We're talking about you. And the sheriff. I guess, judging by your reaction, I should have said second box of condoms, huh?"

  "Kate. Please." She sniffed, acting insulted because she didn't want to get into this, not when last night was stamped so indelibly in her mind. "We all know I never go back for seconds."

  "Yes, but we both know he's different. You're different."

  "It's not like that." Scowling, Cassie stared down at the shipment of thigh-high stockings she'd been folding. "I have no idea why we're even wasting our breath talking about it."

  Kate put down the hangers and came to Cassie. Took her hands, looked deep into her eyes, which Cassie hated because Kate seemed to see all when it came to her. "We're talking about it because I'm worried about you. I think Pete is a loose cannon, and I like knowing there's someone here who cares about you after I leave. I like knowing you care about him back."

  "I don't care about men."

  "I know." Kate squeezed her shoulders. "And for the most part, I agree with you. They're scum. But Tag is not, and I think you know it. I think you're scared of that very fact."

  "Look, you won't even admit you have a thing for that sexy Jack. You know, the guy who helped you with Flo's furniture. The one you got caught parking with while I was in New York. The two of you are sniffing around each other like crazy. So you tell me who's running scared here."

  Kate tightened her lips and went back to hanging silk robes. "I don't know what you're talking about."

  "Uh-huh."

  Kate placed three more robes in the display, moving very carefully, very purposely, as she always did when she was annoyed. She shot a look at Cassie.

  Cassie just lifted a daring brow.

  Kate twisted her lips, holding back a smile.

  Cassie didn't bother holding hers back, and suddenly they were both laughing. "We're pathetic," Kate said when she could.

  "Yeah. But at least we know it."

  They left out the deeply personal stuff after that.

  And later, when Cassie went home—where she showered and decided to hell with getting dressed again, to hell with anything remotely related to beauty—she tried to relax.

  Which is how she ended up on her couch with a half gallon of double-fudge chocolate ice cream and a spoon, wearing a large, shapeless T-shirt over equally large and baggy sweat bottoms, looking like a fashion don't.

  Comfort clothes and comfort food were heaven on earth, she thought, shoving in another mouthful as she sat on the couch with the remote, changing channels at the flick of her attention span.

  "Meow."

  She turned her head when Miss Priss leapt up to the back of the couch and balefully studied the ice-cream container. "I don't share."

  "Meow."

  Ah, hell. She held out the spoon and watched the cat curl up at her shoulder and very delicately lap at the offering.

  A loud rumbling made her jump until she realized it was coming from the cat. For a moment she seriously went still, thinking Miss Priss must be dying from some stomach ailment, but then she realized the cat was … purring.

  Apparently Miss Priss liked comfort food, too. "Well, what do you know, common ground."

  The cat's eyes were closed in ecstasy as she lapped at the spoon, and Cassie actually felt a melting low in her belly at how cute she looked. She dipped the spoon back into the container for more. "Maybe we can coexist after all, huh?"

  At the knock on the front door, cat and woman looked at each other. "You expecting company?" Cassie asked. "Because I'm sure the hell not." Reluctantly she set down the ice cream and padded into the foyer. She eyeballed the umbrella stand and one of the long-handled umbrellas in it, thinking that if Pete had somehow found her she could crack him over the head with one. Action plan in place, she looked through the peephole.

  Stacie stood there, smiling and waving at her.

  Cassie nearly groaned. She was so not feeling social. She looked like death warmed over … but then again, Stacie was holding an aluminum-foil-covered plate that looked loaded with incredible calories from heaven itself.

  Opening the door, Cassie's gaze locked on that plate, so she didn't anticipate the bone-crunching hug.

  "Oh, Cassie." Squeeze, squeeze. "You're here!" Stacie pulled back and offered the plate. "I don't know if you realized but we do a cookie exchange every month—me and Diane and Annie and some others—and everyone is still talking about Bare Essentials. About the party you and Kate gave for all of us. We're just so thrilled with what we purchased, we wanted you to have these goodies as a thank-you."

  Cassie, in the act of lifting the foil and eyeballing a meringue cookie, went still. "This is from … everyone?"

  "Everyone."

  "To me. Cassie Tremaine Montgomery."

  Stacie laughed. "The one and only. We sent Kate a plate, as well." Her smile faded a little. "That's okay, isn't it? Because actually, they wanted me to invite you to join our cookie exchange, but we thought you might think it was … well, you know, too small-town. Sort of stupid."

  "I … don't think it's stupid." In fact, she could hardly talk. She felt overwhelmed by their openness and generosity. "And if I wasn't leaving at the end of the summer, I'd join your cookie exchange. If, um, I could cook."

  Stacie grinned and hugged her again. "If you were staying, I'd show you myself. It's fun."

  "But I'm not staying."

  "I know."

  "I'm leaving soon as fall hits. I have some jobs lined up."

  "You lead such an exciting life," she said on a sigh. "Well … enjoy. Do you have any plans for the night? Maybe a hot date or something to go with that exciting life?"

  Cassie looked down at herself and laughed. "Yeah, hot date. Look at me."

  "I am. You're beautiful."

  "Stacie, I am dressed like a potato sack. I haven't combed my hair or put on any makeup."

  "Really?"

  Cassie started to laugh then realized Stacie wasn't. "Maybe you need glasses."

  Stacie shook her head, looking suddenly sad. "I mean, I can see you're not dressed for a photo shoot, as you usually are, but my God, most women would kill to like you do right now on their very best day."

  From inside, Cassie's phone rang. Stacie smiled again. "I'll let you go. Maybe tomorrow we can catch lunch together or something."

  "I…" She stared into Stacie's hopeful face and let out a breath. "I'd like that," she sa