Home is Where the Heart is(55)

After a couple of long, lingering kisses, Jordan wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she comfortably sunk back into his loving embrace like old times, suddenly remembering what it was like to be held by him all over again. It felt nice to be in his embrace, to feel his touch against her skin making her feel all warm and tingly inside, but knowing she couldn’t act on those feelings.

“Let’s go back in to Jake,” Jordan said. Cassie agreed, and for the first time all morning, her head cleared as they made their way back into their son’s room.





One week had passed following Jake’s stay in hospital. He was home now and on the mend from his surgery removing his appendix. At the time, Cassie had allowed Jordan to stay at her house for a few nights knowing he hadn’t wanted to leave his son’s side, the guest bedroom becoming his temporary home for a little while.

Cassie knew his health was quickly improving back to that of the active five-year-old boy she loved with her whole heart when his appetite increased and he began pushing her buttons through excessive questioning and asking for things he knew he wouldn’t be allowed. Cassie couldn’t blame him though, and she preferred to have a persistent child rather than a sick one.

Summer vacation had officially commenced a couple of weeks ago, and Cassie was thankful Jake was able to recover at home without taking sick days from school. Even though he was only five, she would have dreaded making Jake miss so many days of school.

“Mommy, I’m hungry,” Jake whined as he wiggled his small body around on the kitchen stool he was sitting on watching his mother make him breakfast.

“I know you are, baby. That’s why I’m making you some delicious pancakes.” Cassie gave him a big smile before turning her attention back to the pan where she flipped the pancakes she was cooking.

“Can I have chocolate chips too?”

“I don’t know. Chocolate isn’t a breakfast food.”

“Please, Mommy?” Jake pleaded with his mother, his bottom lip dropping and giving her puppy dog eyes she could never say ‘no’ to.

“Yeah, Mommy, please? It’s summer vacation,” Jordan teased as he appeared in the kitchen entryway. Cassie should have realized it would become two against one, and she bet it was probably a bad move to let Jordan keep Jake today while she went to work. His sexy Texan accent slipped into his words, making her heart melt a little more.

“Well, okay, but just this once, and only because you’re on vacation from school.” Cassie gave in.

Jake jumped off the stool, diving into the pantry where he located the chocolate chips, and then came back to his seat holding the bag.

“Are you going to have some too, Daddy?” He peered up at him with eyes identical to his father’s.

Jordan glanced over in Cassie’s direction and took in the way her messy blonde hair twirled as she moved from side to side at the stove. She was simply breathtaking.

Before he could speak, she said, “There’s plenty here; you’re welcome to some if you’d like.” Jordan didn’t think he could ever get sick of the southern drawl people from his hometown spoke with. Cassie’s voice had always turned him on.

He patted his stomach. “Why, thank you, darling. I sure do love your cooking. It will be nice to have it again.”

Cassie turned around, cocking her head to one side and allowing her loose curls to frame one side of her face. “They’re just pancakes, but it’s nice to hear you’ve gotten your accent back. At least you haven’t forgotten where you came from.”

“Hanging out with y’all for the past few weeks, it’s rubbed off on me. People in Florida don’t really have an accent, unless they speak Spanish, so I guess mine had just faded. No matter how big I get, or how small of a town Yellow Valley is, I could never forget where I come from,” Jordan said, shrugging his shoulders.

Not if it leads me back to you, he said to himself. He wasn’t too sure he had the courage to admit it to Cassie right now. It probably wasn’t the right time.

Cassie didn’t say much at all after that. Once she finished cooking the pancakes, she placed them onto a plate and set it down in front of Jake and Jordan.

Jake’s smile grew bigger and bigger, and she couldn’t help but notice the uncanny resemblance to his father sitting next to him. They really were like twins.

“Yum! Thanks, Mommy.”

Cassie returned his smile. “Be careful, honey-pie. They’re very hot.”

Jake just nodded his head, busily humming away to himself as he bowed down to the plate full of pancakes, blowing on them in an attempt to cool them down a little bit.