Countermeasure Read Free Page B

energy as usual.
    Cassandra grinned as she observed her friend of many years. A petite, blue-eyed, blonde-haired pixie, Jessica had always been easygoing and carefree—so different from Cassandra in every way.
    Ten years back, they had become fast friends after Cassandra tackled and humiliated the school bully, who had been harassing the tiny blonde. They still laughed at how red his face had turned and the ribbing he had taken from his friends when he couldn’t push Cassandra off his chest. Pinning his forearms with her knees, she had refused to budge until he had sworn before the entire school that he would leave Jessica alone.
    Jessica always told the story as one where Cassandra had saved her from the school bully. Little did Jessica know, she had in fact been the one to save Cassandra when she introduced her to a world with fewer rules and more fun. Since that day, Jessica’s self-proclaimed mission in life had been to break Cassandra’s straight-laced shell wide open—but so far she had only managed to crack it.
    “About time, Cassie,” Jessica sighed.
    “Oh please, Jessie. I am only a minute late. Besides, it’s not like we don’t know where we’re going; you’ll whine if we don’t go to Fuego’s in The Alley for Mexican.”
    Laughing, Jessica grabbed her hand and dragged her down the street. “Well, they do have the best enchiladas in town. What can I say? You can’t fix perfection.”
    Their walk to the restaurant was quick and Jessica kept Cassandra entertained with her description of her nap during Robert’s morning meeting. Apparently there was a lot of head bobbing involved, much to Cassandra’s chagrin.
    Reaching their destination, they walked through the door of the restaurant and waved to Eduardo, their regular waiter, as they headed to their favorite table. Within minutes, tea and chips and salsa were set before them as Eduardo let them know their lunch would be served shortly.
    Shaking her head, Cassandra grinned at Jessica. “Damn! Gotta love a place where you just have to walk in the door and have your every need met.”
    Jessica guffawed. “Well, almost every need. It will be every need when we walk in the door and they have gorgeous men waiting for us as well.”
    “Nope, not happening.” Cassandra took a chip, dipped it in the salsa, and popped it in her mouth. “Not interested in a relationship. Men are high maintenance, and relationships only bring pain.”
    Jessica flicked a chip across the table at her and sat back in her chair. Her expression became sober as she looked at her best friend. “Seriously Cassie, you don’t believe that.”
    Cassandra brushed the chip off her lap where it had landed. “Yes, I do. Look at Bob. My mom has been gone since…forever. He has never even so much as looked at another woman. I never want to feel that kind of pain.”
    Jessica shook her head and suddenly grinned widely. Seeing the grin, Cassandra shot her a questioning look.
    “Oh man, Cassie. When he walks through the door, you’re going down!”
    Cassandra, still not understanding, looked behind her at the restaurant’s door. “Who? What door?”
    Jessica let out a deep belly laugh. When she could finally breathe she gasped, “The man who is going to sweep you off your feet, sister. And the door? It’s the one you keep so tightly closed around your heart. It will happen. You have my word on it.”
    Cassandra narrowed her eyes at Jessica’s and leaned back so Eduardo could set their lunch plates down. Thanking him, she inhaled the enticing aroma of the enchilada. When he left, she picked up her fork and pointed it in Jessica’s direction, grumbling, “Not interested, Jessie. I have enough problems already.”
    They pushed the discussion about love aside and dove into the delicious food. Over the next half hour, they ate in comfortable silence intermingled with a soft moan each time Jessica took a bite.
    Cassandra sat back in her chair and groaned. “Damn, I’m