Blush & Bloom

Prologue

Cassie tapped restlessly on the driving wheel while she waited.

"Y-Your...your t-t-tick-", the operator's voice broke over the phone. Cassie frowned as she watched the studio lights turn on. She inquired distractedly, "I'm sorry. Could you repeat that?"

"Your two tickets for Nutcracker have been confirmed. Is there anything else I can help you with today, ma'am?"

Quickly declining, she thanked the man for his help and ended the call.

She stepped out of her car and walked towards Naomi's dance studio, giddy with excitement. The bottle of champagne was tucked tightly under her arm.

Cassie prayed that Naomi could spare her a few minutes to celebrate.

Poor girl, she thought.

Naomi had been so busy preparing for the play over the last couple of months that she just couldn't catch a break.

If she did indeed need to loosen up, Cassie hoped to wear that shiny black dress to the bar later on.

With who else could she possibly wear such a risque dress without getting in trouble with Alex?

Grinning mischievously, she slipped in through the back door of the studio as she plotted to scare the bejesus out of her friend.

After silently dropping off the bottle and bouquet by the entrance, Cassie tiptoed towards the soft piano notes that floated around gracefully....

...and stopped.

Her mind blanked even as the bottom dropped out of her stomach.

The corners of her eyes prickled as she watched Naomi rub her nose lovingly along Alex's.

Feather kisses, Alex called them. His favorite kind.

Alex.

Cassie's Alex. Her husband.

Her eyes blurred and her lips quivered as the betrayal ripped her wide open.

The couple were so lost in each other that they hadn't spotted Cassie yet.

Alex leaned forward to steal a quick kiss from Naomi, his arms holding her waist possessively.

Cassie pressed her palms against her wet cheeks as she fell to her knees. Her throat constricted and her breathing labored dangerously.

If she was reading the signs correctly, she was experiencing the beginnings of a panic attack.

Feeling faint, she extended her arms forward, looking for support.

"Breathe, baby. Breathe."

She braced against the pounding headache and looked into her husband's reassuring eyes.

She had only one question.

Why?