She made a noise that sounded like a post-orgasmic contented sigh, and Cassie put her hands over her ears. “Ew. I never want to hear that again.”
“Look again. Her name’s Taryn Taylor.”
“I don’t know what Taryn’s last name is, but maybe it’s just a coincidence. That can’t be her.” Even as she said it, Cassie didn’t believe it. Taryn was an unusual name; it couldn’t be a coincidence. When Rachel looked like she might begin stamping her feet like a spoiled child, Cassie took her wrist and pulled the phone into a better viewing position. She didn’t think the overhead hospital lights could transform a hot butch into a stunning femme, but they were making it hard to study the image with the intensity Rachel demanded. “Fine. She has similar features and longer hair. Maybe they’re sisters.”
Rachel wrinkled her nose and pulled her arm away. “Who gives two of their children the same name? I’m telling you; it’s her.” She tapped the screen a few more times. “I looked at the stunt team’s social media, and they’re in Vegas. Didn’t Taryn say she might be staying longer for work?”
“She did.” Cassie popped her makeup back in its pouch and zipped it up before dropping it into her bag.
“And what work is it?”
“I have no idea. We didn’t get that far.”
“Mm… What about this? Do you recognize her?”
Cassie glanced at her watch, wishing she was running late so she could extract herself from this weirdly interrogative exchange. Unfortunately, her Uber was ten minutes away, so she had plenty of time. She looked at Rachel’s phone and saw the older woman who’d been with Taryn at the club. Her arm was draped over Taryn Taylor, and now that Cassie concentrated, there was more than a passing resemblance. “Okay, I see it more now.”
“Ha! I told you.” Rachel danced a little victory jig. “Ask her where she gets her wigs from. Sara’s daughter is about to have chemo, and she wants a recommendation.”
“Sara’s daughter? She’s only fifteen, isn’t she?” Cassie asked, and Rachel nodded. Damn cancer had no respect for anyone. “Does she have adequate insurance?”
“The co-pays are expensive, and her cleaner salary can’t cover much. So she’s attending that new clinic on West Twain Avenue in Spring Valley. They provide a lot of free and reduced fee care for people in need.”
“That sounds amazing. Will you text me the details? I’d like to visit and see if I can help.”
Rachel smiled and rubbed Cassie’s shoulder. “That’s sweet of you, but when do you have enough time to give any away for free?”
She had a busy schedule, like most people, and with regular visits to her mom, her free time was incredibly limited. “Maybe I could make some time.”
“If you discover how to make actual time, you’d be a rich woman, and then you could work there for free.”
Cassie shrugged. “Let me worry about that and just send me the details, okay? Anyway, how do you know it’s a wig and she just hasn’t cut her hair short for a change?”
“It’s a hunch.” She flipped through her phone some more. “Look at this.”
Cassie watched Taryn smile at the video camera—yep, it was her Taryn; she’d recognizethatsmile anywhere, and her nose had the same slight bend in it, although Cassie couldn’t see a scar. Then she pulled on her helmet and drove to what looked like the far end of a roof. The camera panned out to show where Taryn was headed, and Cassie recognized San Francisco’s skyline. Her heart jumped into her mouth as the rest of the video played out, ending with Taryn landing on amovingboat. Her stomach roiled, and her heart took up residence in her mouth. She pushed Rachel’s hand away. “I’ve seen enough.”
Rachel narrowed her eyes. “You’re still going to dinner with her, aren’t you?” When Cassie didn’t respond immediately, she grasped her by the shoulders. “You’re not interviewing your potential wife; you’re going for dinner and then you’re going to have amazing sex. What she does for a career is irrelevant to your needs. Yes?”
“You’re so base,” Cassie said and grinned. “But yes, her career is irrelevant.”
“Good.” She released Cassie’s shoulders and patted her ass. “Now, go get that itch scratched.”
Cassie pushed her bag into her locker and headed out of the doctor’s lounge to the waiting Uber. She greeted the driver, whose aftershave bordered on overpowering, and shimmied into the back seat.
“Strip traffic is bad tonight. It’ll take about twenty minutes,” the driver said.
“Thanks for letting me know, but there’s no rush.” From what she’d learned of Taryn, Cassie decided she wouldn’t mind waiting and would probably prefer it just so she could watch Cassie strut toward her in stilettos. She pulled her phone from her purse, googled Taryn Taylor, and began to watch more videos.
When the driver eventually got to Sparrow & Wolf, Cassie pushed open the car door, grateful for some fresh air. The driver’s scent had been so strong, it’d almost given her a headache. The restaurant door was opened for her by a boy who didn’t look old enough to be out this late, and then she was greeted inside by the maître d’. He gestured behind him, and her eyes settled on Taryn. She smiled, smoothed out her skirt, and prayed the stone-tiled surface would be kind to her heels. She didn’t want to be rushed to her own ER or fall inelegantly at Taryn’s feet. Cassie wasn’t averse to being at Taryn’s feet, of course, but she’d want to be there after a slow, seductive crawl down the length of Taryn’s body.
From the hungry expression on Taryn’s face, Cassie had been right; Taryn did indeed enjoy watching her catwalk-like approach.
Taryn stood and held out her hand. “Are you sure you want to eat here? Taco Bell is only a few minutes away.” She looked at Cassie’s shoes. “I could carry you if you didn’t want to walk in those lethal weapons.”
Cassie took Taryn’s hand and swept her gaze over her upper body, which was sheathed in a snugly fitting, navy-blue button-down shirt. She couldn’t see the chest muscles Rachel had observed, but she did wonder whether Taryn wouldactuallybe capable of carrying her.
Taryn quirked her eyebrow and folded her sleeve up to her elbow. “Are you checking out my body to see if I can make good on that offer, or are you just objectifying me generally?”
