Read Online How Cassie Got Her Grind Back by Heather Rainier - Free Book Online

say, in the nicest way possible, that your attire tonight is the exact opposite, which makes me feel even worse. This isn’t what you originally intended to wear tonight, is it?”
    With a shake of her head, she said, “Too matronly?” She’d asked in the spirit of fun, but there was still a kernel of fear that she’d gotten it wrong again when she’d selected the black maxi-dress with three quarter sleeves and a modest V-neckline, with a lightweight shrug worn over it.
    “No. You look very pretty. I feel guilty if I’m the reason you went to the other extreme. Your shoes are sexy as hell, though. When we were dating, did I ever tell you how much I loved your legs?”
    Heat flooded her cheeks, and she gaped for a second. “I-I don’t remember. That was thirty years ago. My legs aren’t exactly those of an eighteen-year-old anymore.” She burst into giggles and then finally said, “You’re just speaking your mind tonight, aren’t you?”
    “Clearing the air.”
    “Good. Well, then, in all fairness I could tell you that, while the dress may be demure, what’s beneath it definitely isn’t…once you get past the Spanx.”
    He didn’t seem surprised by the hint or put off by her admission to needing support garments. “It’s not true unless I see for myself.”
    She pressed her lips flat, not sure what to say and succumbed to another fit of giggles. He smiled, looking rather pleased with himself, and they spent a few minutes catching their breaths and gathering their thoughts. “I could never stay mad at you for very long, Samson.”
    “I’m relieved to hear it. Why do women torture themselves into those Spanx garments?” he asked. There was a sparkle in his eyes, as if he wanted to say more, but on the subject of torture or Spanx, she wasn’t quite sure.
    “Well, since we’re shooting for complete transparency here, it’s because I need to flatten my dimples. Otherwise they’re visible. Yuck.”
    He arched a dark eyebrow at her. “Are you calling my taste in beauty into question?”
    Cassandra patted his lapel and smiled, determined to set the moron straight. “There’s fantasy and reality. The fantasy part is the lingerie I have on and how it would look on me under low lighting. Annnnd then there’s the harsh light of day that would make my ass look like a bag of puppies wrestling each other. I deal with the reality so you can have the fantasy.”
    Samson had the audacity to roll his eyes before grinning down at her. “You’re trying to get away with insulting your body by giving me fantasy lingerie images and then talking about puppies wrestling. It’s all kind of adorable in my mind.”
    “Again with the fantasy as opposed to reality. I wear them to make myself more comfortable in my clothes. How about that?”
    He muttered something unintelligible but shook his head and smiled when she asked him to repeat himself. “Want to get a drink and take a breather? I have a surprise for you.”
    Once back at the table, she discovered the surprise. Ivan was there as well, sitting at their table with the rest of her friends. He’d changed over the years, like they all had, but the sweetness in his eyes was exactly the same and so was the warmth in his open smile as he stood and held his arms wide.
    “Ivan!” she exclaimed as she hugged his neck, giggling as he lifted her gently off her feet and spun her around.
    Well, this is kind of perfect, isn’t it? And she didn’t even care that plenty of people around the room were watching their little reunion.
     
    * * * *
     
    Jubilation filled Ivan’s chest as he held her in his arms. He didn’t care if everyone saw him holding her. They hadn’t seen each other in so long the scrutiny was worth it as it hit him just how much he’d missed her.
    The first eye contact with her affected him the same as it always had. The thumping beat of his heart was the same. The longing was, too. He’d spotted her on the dance floor with his brother moments