Home is Where the Heart is by Christie Mack Read Free Book Online Page B

step backward, refusing to be pulled into his sweetness all over again, even though all she could think about was the lingering feeling of his lips touching hers.
    Oh God! She couldn’t fall into his trap again, not when this time she had so much to lose.
    Sensing the palpable anxiety she was feeling, Jordan croaked out an ‘I’m sorry’.
    “I know you are,” Cassie babbled, sticking to her guns despite her body feeling differently, “but you need to leave. You can’t be here right now. We can talk some other time. You really need to go home and sleep it off.”
    “And talk to my parents,” Jordan quickly added with a wince.
    Cassie raised her hand. “That’s up to you.” His words were true. He did need to go home and talk to his parents, particularly his father if he wasn’t too sick to have a meaningful and honest discussion with his son.
    “Fine, I’ll go, but we’re not done here.”
    Cassie couldn’t say another word. Instead, she just gave a simple nod of her head, knowing he was right.
    As Cassie watched him walk toward the bright yellow taxi sticking out against the dark night, Cassie shut the door, slid down to the floor with her back against the smoothness of the white, painted wood, and let out one big sigh. It took all her energy trying not to think of what was next to come her way.

    The next morning, after sleeping last night off, Jordan approached his father with delicacy. He had only been home from the hospital for two days, but Jordan needed to say what he had to say. He had to get it off his chest before he lost his nerve. Sometimes, talking to his father made Jordan feel intimidated. He understood why Cassie didn’t like talking to him.
    Jordan’s father, Clive, was sitting in his armchair in the study reading the daily newspaper.
    “Did you know?” Jordan asked, getting straight to the point, which startled his father slightly, because he jumped. When he saw Jordan standing in the doorway, he folded the paper together and placed it on the pinewood coffee table in front of him.
    “I know I’m clever, but I’m still not clever enough to know what you’re talking about or able to read your mind. I have just come out of the hospital, so you’ll have to cut me some slack and help me out by telling me what you want to know,” Clive said, looking over the top of his reading glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose. He was an older version of Jordan, but with a receding hairline and some age spots on top of his scalp.
    Jordan drew in some air, and then exhaled a long deep breath. “Did you know Cassie was pregnant with my child?”
    “Well, of course I knew. I make it my business to know all about your life. That way I can handle it fittingly.”
    “It’s my fucking life!” Jordan exclaimed. There used to be a time when he wasn’t allowed to curse at his father. He wondered if that rule still existed, despite his age and the fact ferocity surged through his body right now. He couldn’t control the words spilling from the tip of his tongue, even though he should have been using a calmer voice for the sake of his dad’s health. His father was unbelievable, never admitting it when what he thought was right was actually wrong.
    “You shouldn’t need to handle it appropriately; I’m capable of doing that myself. I don’t need you interfering in a life that has nothing to do with you. You’re my father, not my agent. That’s what I pay Paul to do.”
    “You don’t understand, son—”
    “Oh, I understand perfectly clear, Dad. Cassie told me how you tried to bribe her with money in exchange for keeping our child a secret from me. Shit! She told me everything.” Jordan watched as his father showed no remorse whatsoever. No worry lines appeared on his face, like he wasn’t scared what this would do to his relationship with his only son. “Did you think she wouldn’t tell me? Did you actually think she would take your money? You must really think little of her.”
    “Son,