Free Joining the Party by Cheryl Dragon Page B

you’re my girlfriend. Okay?”
    Her cheeks pinked up. “Okay. You’ve confirmed it to people?”
    “Better me than Ham.” Dom kissed her nose then took her mouth.
    Cassie took a step back. “One more thing. Did I watch enough of the party to get to take photos of you?”
    She was so deadly serious about her question that all Dom could do was smile.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    Jessica’s Salon was like a second home for Cassie. It’d belonged to a great aunt in her family, and Jessica had started working there young. When the aunt’s older sister passed on, Jessica had inherited the salon and a lot of expectations.
    Cassie loved seeing Jessica in her element. She was such a social creature that the only place for private talk was in the back waxing rooms. Jessica was hip enough to bring the popular things from Shreveport and New Orleans to Lucky Springs. The sting from the bikini wax lingered, but Cassie knew it was worth it.
    “Put on this new cooling moisturizer.” Jessica handed her a sample tube.
    “Thanks. What we do for men.” Cassie applied the cream and knew the tingle of being waxed would only make things more fun later.
    “Men? You mean your man. Dominic, right?” Jessica asked.
    Damn! Cassie had to watch her mouth more. “Of course. I meant generally. Women do crazy stuff for men, and all they shave for us is their faces. Or Dom’s case his head, too.”
    “True. So you’re happy?” Jessica leaned on the table as Cassie got dressed.
    She mulled the question for a moment. “Yes, I am happy. It’s so weird. They’ve lived next door for years. Dom and I talked here and there, but he never asked me out or made a move.”
    “Well, I know Mrs. Jenkins thinks it’s a great idea. And everyone around here loves it. Keep you around and get a woman in that house. That’s a lot of men to manage, but you’ll handle it.”
    Cassie shrugged, knowing Jessica probably meant cooking. “Ham is on his own schedule. Monty and Alex really run the house. They don’t need me. But I like them. The house is huge so it’s not like they’re short on space.” She didn’t want to get sappy but couldn’t stop smiling.
    “You could’ve done a lot worse. Everyone likes Dom. Hardworking, polite and close to his family.”
    “So no one cares about the interracial thing?” Cassie didn’t care, but knowing the general opinion in the town gave her the power of information.
    “No, he’s part of the town. People were worried you’d bring home some Yankee snob who hated it here and drove us all nuts.” Jessica poked her cousin in the arm.
    Cassie laughed and nodded. “Okay, I can see that. I wish Frank would come home and settle down with you.” Jessica was strong and knew who she was. She deserved a great guy, but she couldn’t control him.
    “Me, too. But I’ll get over it. I’m tired of hoping and waiting.” She put the supplies away and sanitized the work area. “So does this mean you’re settling down with Dominic and staying?”
    Answers swirled in her head. “It’s only been a few weeks. I don’t want to get clingy and crazy on him. I want to see how it goes. I’m happy and not running off anywhere right now. Good enough?”
    Jessica hugged Cassie. “I’m happy for you, too. Just hold onto it; don’t run from a good thing.”
    Cassie nodded. “Will do.” Jessica had a few years on Cassie and occasionally handed out snippets of big sisterly advice. This time Cassie had to agree.
    * * * *
    After the salon, Cassie came back to the Meriwether house and found Dom assembling her lights in his bedroom. They’d only grown closer, and she’d overheard Alex and Monty debating whether to set up the spare bedroom for her or if she’d rather stay in Dom’s room.
    They wouldn’t make that ultimate decision, but it touched her that they wanted her to move in. She’d circulated even more in the town. Lunch with Kitty and Violet Ann confirmed their reports were true. Everyone thought she