Home is Where the Heart is(5)

Oh, crap! Cassie thought. There was the same smile that had always made her heart grind to a stop and burst into a million different pieces. His smirk would tug on her heartstrings at its sudden appearance; he always knew she was putty in his hands when he’d break it out. She could never resist his sweet and handsome face, especially when his dark brown eyes showed their slight twinkle in her direction.

Time had definitely been good to him. His caramel skin was almost impeccable, despite the tiny bit of black growth showing on his chin, around his jawline, and on his cheeks. The tattoos inked onto his forearms made Cassie wonder why he felt the need to cover his gorgeous skin in permanent ink—not that the tattoos didn’t make him über-sexy and appealing to her right now. He was still just as swoon-worthy and handsome as she remembered him being—maybe even more.

“You haven’t changed,” he murmured softly. “I can still make you fall at my feet.” He drew out his words and let them linger as his chocolate-brown eyes burned into her skin. It felt like they would leave a mark once he disappeared.

And there was that charm she was drawn to in the first place. Yep, he definitely had not changed at all.

“I honestly didn’t even see you come in, but I…um, heard you were back…and about your dad. Is he okay?” Cassie tried to sound as unpretentious as she could possibly be, despite the fact she detested his father. The feeling of dislike wasn’t one-sided either. Jordan’s father never approved of their relationship to begin with, and Cassie always got the impression he thought she was holding his son back from achieving and furthering his dream of playing football professionally. At least his father could be happy knowing she wasn’t a part of his son’s life anymore. His dream of playing football as a career had finally turned into a reality for him.

Jordan tucked a hand into the front pocket of his dark-colored jeans. “He’ll be fine. The doctor said he would be able to come home from hospital in a couple of days. He just needs to learn how to take life easier, and his diet needs to change slightly, but he’ll get there eventually.”

“How long are you back?” Cassie let the words slip right out. She needed to know how long his presence would last, disrupting the life she had built for herself since he had been gone.

Jordan shrugged. “A little while, I don’t know yet. Football isn’t in season right now, so I’ve got some free time on my hands. I guess I’ll see how well my Dad recovers; he doesn’t make a very good patient. Being back home also gives me the opportunity to catch up with people I’ve been thinking about and looking forward to seeing again since I left town.”

Do you mean me? Just thinking he was talking about her gave Cassie butterflies, and made her heart beat a little faster. She had a good life as it was; she didn’t need her ex-boyfriend waltzing back into town and completely turning her world upside-down.

Cassie could only hope he wouldn’t feel the need to insist they see each other again while he was here. She didn’t know if her heart would be able to handle being around him again; although, she knew it was a long shot she wouldn’t run into Jordan again somewhere. Yellow Valley was too small to not see somebody around town.

“Yeah, how long has it been since you were last here?” Cassie asked him out of curiosity of what his response would be; even though she already knew the answer, she pretended not to.

His head tilted to the side as his eyes continued to drill into her. “I don’t know; it’s been a while. Maybe six years ago, when I left—I guess I just never found the right time to come home again.”

Cassie couldn’t help but see a sparkle in his alluringly dark eyes and knew her question had been answered, and she was sure her cheeks were bright red against her pale skin, feeling herself flush. She was definitely the complete opposite of Jordan, compared to his naturally dark tan complexion. You wouldn’t see him blush.

It’s not right for me now, but you’re always putting yourself first, Cassie could have said, but didn’t. She let those words pass by without mention.

“So, are you leaving already?” He sounded almost disappointed when he asked, like he was hoping their conversation could continue some more. He didn’t have the authority to make her stay any longer than she needed to. She couldn’t be with him and reminisce their glory days—not tonight, and not ever. Those moments were simple compared to her life now.

Cassie had been naive to think she and Jordan could actually make it work after high school—that his aspirations of playing football wouldn’t get in the way of their relationship. Cassie knew love was overrated. She wouldn’t let herself be drawn back into his intoxicating affection all over again. She had changed. She had a life that didn’t include him.