had left almost every detail and decision up to her except for one. His only request was that their nuptials take place at his parents’ exquisite two-story cottage in Bailey Island, Maine.
He’d been informed that Emily had invited Cassie to attend the pre-wedding festivities along with the family and bridal party and this meant at some point they would be almost forced to interact. As if that weren’t awkward enough, he assumed that Landon would be present as well. Seeing her again would reopen painful wounds and he was doubtful he was strong enough to witness the two of them together— as a couple .
After his attempts to express how he felt about her on her voicemail went unanswered last fall, he’d decided to abstain from contacting her again. He’d questioned many times whether or not he’d misread their kiss. He’d certainly felt as though it had reignited his feelings, but maybe it hadn’t for her. Maybe there wasn’t a connection like he’d thought—maybe it had been one-sided. He’d always been gifted in deciphering the female mind, but when it came to Cassie, he was utterly clueless.
He’d casually dated a handful of women since last fall, but they’d quickly fizzled out. Once his promotion was granted, he’d found it particularly difficult to sustain a relationship. There just weren’t enough hours in the day to fulfill his duties at the firm and entertain the opposite sex, and even if there were, he doubted he’d find anyone that generated the same feelings he felt for Cassie.
* * *
“What do you mean you can’t go?” Cassie asked, angrily.
“I’m sorry, honey. If it were up to me I’d be there with you, but I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t ?”
“Cassandra , this is business . Sometimes last minute catastrophes occur and I have to personally attend to them—this was completely unexpected and it can’t be ignored !”
“ Sometimes ? Landon, this happens regularly! Every time we have an event to attend that doesn’t involve one of your prospective clients, you bail—every time! Why should this situation be any different?”
“Oh c’mon, Cassandra—that’s not true!”
“Oh, really? Well, let me ask you this… when did you first learn that you were needed in Seattle?”
Landon hesitated for a moment before answering. “Um… I found out a few weeks ago.”
“You’ve known for several weeks and you’ve waited until the day before we are scheduled to leave to tell me that you’re not coming?”
“This is why I hesitated and didn’t tell you at first… You’re completely overreacting right now.”
“You have no idea how insignificant you’ve just made me feel right now.” Cassie got up from her desk and picked up the stack of charts in front of her. “I have to go. I have a patient in ten minutes.” She walked to the door and opened it, signaling him to leave. He advanced toward her and leaned in to give her a kiss goodbye. She turned her head and his lips met her cheek instead .
“Call me when you get settled tomorrow”, he said.
Cassie waited for him to leave and then slammed her office door. She’d been comforted in knowing that she didn’t have to face Jacob alone, but Landon’s sudden abandonment changed every thing. Hysteria overwhelmed her and she prayed that she would find the strength to defy Jacob’s magnetism.
CHAPTER NINE
Maine was a breath of fresh air, literally. Cassie steered her car onto the interstate exit ramp and approached the small town of Bath. It was an all-American little town, complete with its own historic personality. She continued down a narrow, two-lane residential road lined with towering Maple trees on either side. The sizable hardwoods were in the beginning stages of changing color and the leaves were falling with every subtle breeze.
She finally came upon the historic bed and breakfast and parked her car in the gravel lot. The three-story mansion was a traditional
He’d been informed that Emily had invited Cassie to attend the pre-wedding festivities along with the family and bridal party and this meant at some point they would be almost forced to interact. As if that weren’t awkward enough, he assumed that Landon would be present as well. Seeing her again would reopen painful wounds and he was doubtful he was strong enough to witness the two of them together— as a couple .
After his attempts to express how he felt about her on her voicemail went unanswered last fall, he’d decided to abstain from contacting her again. He’d questioned many times whether or not he’d misread their kiss. He’d certainly felt as though it had reignited his feelings, but maybe it hadn’t for her. Maybe there wasn’t a connection like he’d thought—maybe it had been one-sided. He’d always been gifted in deciphering the female mind, but when it came to Cassie, he was utterly clueless.
He’d casually dated a handful of women since last fall, but they’d quickly fizzled out. Once his promotion was granted, he’d found it particularly difficult to sustain a relationship. There just weren’t enough hours in the day to fulfill his duties at the firm and entertain the opposite sex, and even if there were, he doubted he’d find anyone that generated the same feelings he felt for Cassie.
* * *
“What do you mean you can’t go?” Cassie asked, angrily.
“I’m sorry, honey. If it were up to me I’d be there with you, but I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t ?”
“Cassandra , this is business . Sometimes last minute catastrophes occur and I have to personally attend to them—this was completely unexpected and it can’t be ignored !”
“ Sometimes ? Landon, this happens regularly! Every time we have an event to attend that doesn’t involve one of your prospective clients, you bail—every time! Why should this situation be any different?”
“Oh c’mon, Cassandra—that’s not true!”
“Oh, really? Well, let me ask you this… when did you first learn that you were needed in Seattle?”
Landon hesitated for a moment before answering. “Um… I found out a few weeks ago.”
“You’ve known for several weeks and you’ve waited until the day before we are scheduled to leave to tell me that you’re not coming?”
“This is why I hesitated and didn’t tell you at first… You’re completely overreacting right now.”
“You have no idea how insignificant you’ve just made me feel right now.” Cassie got up from her desk and picked up the stack of charts in front of her. “I have to go. I have a patient in ten minutes.” She walked to the door and opened it, signaling him to leave. He advanced toward her and leaned in to give her a kiss goodbye. She turned her head and his lips met her cheek instead .
“Call me when you get settled tomorrow”, he said.
Cassie waited for him to leave and then slammed her office door. She’d been comforted in knowing that she didn’t have to face Jacob alone, but Landon’s sudden abandonment changed every thing. Hysteria overwhelmed her and she prayed that she would find the strength to defy Jacob’s magnetism.
CHAPTER NINE
Maine was a breath of fresh air, literally. Cassie steered her car onto the interstate exit ramp and approached the small town of Bath. It was an all-American little town, complete with its own historic personality. She continued down a narrow, two-lane residential road lined with towering Maple trees on either side. The sizable hardwoods were in the beginning stages of changing color and the leaves were falling with every subtle breeze.
She finally came upon the historic bed and breakfast and parked her car in the gravel lot. The three-story mansion was a traditional
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