Luke laughs. “I’d love to do it again. But I better not, or we’ll still be standing here in the morning.”
“I’m okay staying right here till morning.”
“You might be okay with that, but I’m not sure your parents would be.”
“Good point.” My parents are pretty cool, but staying out all night, maybe not. Finding me standing on the front porch with my lips locked with a boy, definitely not. Even though they do seem to like Luke.
Luke kisses me on the nose. Such a cute move, it makes me giggle.
Smiling at my outburst, he moves back to holding my hands and asks, “Will I see you tomorrow at the beach?”
“Yes, please,” I respond quickly. Luke bends his head to kiss me one more time briefly before saying, “See you tomorrow.”
He turns to leave.
I can’t believe Luke has me falling for him after only one date. We’ve known each other for such a short time, but still, I feel this thing between us is special. The strength and suddenness of my feelings are a little scary. I already can’t imagine not knowing him.
Chapter 2
Cassie
The Present
Shit!Theregoesmyphone vibrating across my desk, demanding my attention. The screen lights up, and sure enough, it’s my mom calling again. It must be the third call today.
At least this time I’m not in the middle of a presentation to my new team and manager, which was what happened earlier in the day.
Before my phone scoots right off the edge of the desk, I snatch it up and swipe to answer, “Mom, you do realize I’m working, don’t you?”
“Cassandra Mary-Anne McCarthy, is that any way to answer the phone to your mother?” she responds with a good dose of offense in her South Carolina drawl.
Damn, when she calls me by my full name, it makes me feel like I’m a five-year-old caught with my hand in the cookie jar. How does this woman still manage to do that? Seriously, I’m a professional woman living miles away in Manhattan.
Spinning my chair in an attempt at privacy in the open-plan office, I paste a smile on my face and whisper, “No, ma’am. Sorry for being so snappy.”
I take a deep calming breath before continuing, “But, Mom, I’m trying to make a good impression in my new job with my new team. I can’t be spending time at work talking to you on the phone.”
“Oh, darlin’, I do understand and I am so dang proud of you getting that fancy new job, in New York of all places. I guess we just miss havin’ you here.”
Thirty-two years living in Florida, and the woman still sounds like the day she left Charleston, South Carolina.
“I know. I miss you and Daddy too.”
I feel bad now. My new job is great, but it’s hard being so far from home. I truly do miss Mom, Dad, and my two sisters. We're a close family, and before my move north, we would see each other at least two or three times a week.
My family are my biggest supporters, always have been. In fact it was their encouragement which convinced me to take up the promotion and make the big move north.
“How are you all doing?” I ask my mom.
“We’re all fine down here. Chloe thinks she did well in her exam on Wednesday, and Alice, Tom, and the twins were over for dinner last night.”
Chloe is my super clever younger sister still at Harvard studying law. Alice, my older sister by three years, is my go-to girl with the best life advice. She lives around the corner from our parents, in wedded bliss with her husband, Tom, and the cutest ever three-year-old twin girls. I must book a flight home for a weekend visit soon.
Mom rushes on without pausing for breath, “I really called to tell you somethin’ exciting that happened at the mall this mornin’. I bumped into Margaret Steele, and you’re not gonna believe this. She told me her boy Luke is livin’ in New York City too.”
My heart contracts painfully at the mention of the name Luke Steele.
Mom continues, but I’m only half-listening. “You two were quite close in high school, weren’t you now? Or was it middle school? I don’t remember which. Anyway, it’s not what’s important here. Margaret and I had a good ol’ chitchat. We swapped your numbers so you two young kids can get in touch. Did you know he’s single too? He was such a gorgeous boy. I bet he is one handsome young man now too. And a hero serving our country and all.”
