problem?” Luke asked.
“Let her in. She came a long way after all this time.”
Luke leaned back in his leather chair and rested his elbows on the chair’s arms. “When did you take her side?”
Jake laughed. “Her side? Sir, it’s been years and I think you know where my loyalties lie, but you two have a history. She’s not like those other women who have seen the article and are vying for the role of Mrs. Luke Sutherland. I doubt Cassandra is looking for a ring on her finger from you.”
Luke swallowed. Maybe she wasn’t, but he’d been prepared to put that ring on her finger when she left. Well, in theory. He’d had the ring, but somehow he’d never found the right moment to propose. And then she was gone. His brothers had ridiculed him—hell, he’d blasted himself on more than one occasion—but she hadn’t even given him a chance to tell his side or explain his motives. Obviously, a marriage between them would have been doomed from the start.
If she’d been able to walk away so easily, then it was best he had never proposed. He’d been hurt, he’d been angry—maybe a part of him still was—but he wasn’t the same naive guy he’d once been. Now he was glad he hadn’t settled down. He loved the life he’d created and venturing back to his past wouldn’t do anyone any good.
“Stop thinking so hard,” Jake growled. “You know if you turn her away you’re only going to be wracking your brain over what she might have wanted.”
Damn it. Jake was right. That didn’t make the fact that she was back any easier to digest. Apparently, she could still get to him after all this time. Or, maybe if he saw her, perhaps she wouldn’t have any effect on him. She’d likely changed just as much as he had over such a long stretch of time.
There was only one way to find out.
Luke sat up and rested his arms on his desk. The decision volleyed back and forth in his mind. He had no clue what to expect. He hadn’t seen Cassandra in years, save for the time he’d looked her up on social media a couple of years ago. He’d found her still single and still just as sexy as ever.
But his curiosity got the better of him.
With a deep sigh and some serious concerns, Luke nodded. “Fine. Bring her in.”
As Jake left the office, Luke wondered what the hell he’d just done. Why would he purposely agree to see her again? They’d parted ways and agreed that was it. Yet now she was back. He didn’t know why, but he had to assume her abrupt reappearance had to do with Country Beat’s article on him.
He’d been doing just fine with his bars in Beaumont Bay and Nashville. He’d been contemplating expanding to other cities. Maybe Chicago or Atlanta. He wasn’t sure, but his life was always in forward motion. The only time he’d ever considered slowing down had been when he was with Cassandra, and look how that had turned out. Now, having any woman in his life would only hinder his career. He loved the country-music industry, loved the bar-and-restaurant lifestyle and loved combining the two. He didn’t want to change any of it, not for anyone.
Luke got to his feet, then cursed himself. Should he be standing, as if he was anticipating her arrival? Or should he sit and try to appear relaxed? Sitting might be a jerk move, but he wanted her to know he wasn’t affected by this visit. He could be casual with her, just like he would be with any other visitor.
Hell. She hadn’t even gotten through the door yet and he was already tied up in knots. How would he feel coming face-to-face with her? A chunk of time had settled between them and the weight of that firmly took root in his chest. There was a heaviness he couldn’t explain, but he didn’t have time to try to.
All thoughts vanished as Cassandra Taylor stepped into the opening of his office and met his gaze. Luke realized he should’ve remained seated because she nearly knocked the breath out of him.
There was something so familiar about her, and yet so new. That confidence, with the straight shoulders, the tipped chin and the determined eye contact, was certainly new. But the curves, the dark hair falling over her shoulders and the slight smirk on her lips brought memories rushing back.
Despite her familiar beauty