Home is Where the Heart is

by Mack, Christie

  Cassie’s face was inches from Jordan’s, their head tilting to different sides until their lips met and they shared a long, passionate kiss together as their tongues instantly danced together.

  She brushed her fingers against the side of his face, feeling the tiny hint of stubble along his jawbone as she stood on her tip toes just enough to give him a longing stare into the dark brown eyes she couldn’t seem to forget.

  “I’m glad you did,” she whispered, her breath hot against his skin.

  She kissed his mouth once more, and then placed a trail of kisses along his stubble, showing him just how much she was glad to see him. “We’re so glad that you’re here. Welcome home, baby.”

  She couldn’t wait to welcome him home properly tonight.

  Her words pulled on his heartstrings, suddenly making everything so real and right, like he was where he was supposed to be all along.

  And as Cassie closed the door behind him, blocking out the world around them, he knew despite the home he had built for his new life in Miami, he learned he could still lead a sporting career while slipping quietly into a family-man lifestyle with his high school sweetheart. He could have the best of both worlds, and now that he had it, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Never in a million years did he think coming home to Yellow Valley to see his ill father would rekindle the spark he once felt for Cassie nor would he have assumed he was a father. But as Jordan sat here surrounded by his adorable son and girlfriend, he realized that life really did come in the most unexpected ways, and that home is where the heart is, because his family was his most favorite team he could ever belong to.

  All I Ever Wanted – Chuck Wicks

  Always You – Ashliegh Lisset

  Beautiful – Ben Rector

  Best I Ever Had – Gavin DeGraw

  Bring You Back – Brett Eldredge

  Bruises – Train featuring Ashley Monroe

  Carolina – Parmalee

  Crash My Party – Luke Bryan

  Crazy – TJ Hamilton

  Dance Hall – Danielle Bradbery

  Do You Think About Me – Carrie Underwood

  Duet – Wes Mack featuring Carly McKillip

  Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me – Hunter Hayes

  The First Time – Boys like Girls

  Get Me Some of That – Thomas Rhett

  Golden – Lady Antebellum

  Have a Little Faith in Me – Mandy Moore

  Holdin’ On – We The Ghosts

  Home is Where The Heart is – Lady Antebellum

  Home to Me – Sarah Darling

  Hundred Million Dollar Soul – Kate Voegele

  I Just Can’t Live a Lie – Carrie Underwood

  If You Ever Get Lonely – Love and Theft

  Just a Show – Rachel Potter

  Just like That – Brandon Ray

  Leave Love Alone – Carrie Underwood

  Man I Thought You Were – Katie Armiger

  Maybe – One More Girl

  Music Feels Better – Selena Gomez

  Never Should Have Let You Go – Simple Plan

  Nothin’ Like the First Time – Lady Antebellum

  One Song Away – Cassadee Pope

  Our Great Unknown – The Archers

  Perfect – Simple Plan

  Red – Taylor Swift

  Red Cup Hands Up Long Brown Hair – Boys like Girls

  Right Here for You – July

  Save Me – Daisy Mallory

  Shake Em’ Off – Brandon Ray

  Someday (I Will Understand) – Britney Spears

  Somethin’ like Somethin’ – Dakota Bradley

  A Song About Love – Lee DeWyze

  Standing in the Dark – Lawson

  Summer Girl – Leighton Meester

  This Kind of Town – Justin Moore

  Turn My World Around – Gloriana

  Wanted is Love – Phillip Phillips

  When I’m With You – Simple Plan

  When You’re Lonely – Jana Kramer

  Who I am with You – Chris Young

  Without You – Joe Moore

  You Don’t Know Her Like I Do – Brantley Gilbert

  First and foremost, I’m still in utter disbelief that I’ve published my first novel. I can’t remember a time that I didn’t write. As a child, I had always written story after story until I was old enough to be given a laptop for my birthday, and I was introduced to the wonderful world of fan fiction, which spurred my love for writing even further until I decided to write my own original story in the hopes that one day it would be published. I have always had aspirations in becoming a writer, but I never thought it was truly possible until I discovered the incredible world of Indie Authors and self-publishing. Never in a million years did I think I would be one of those indie authors until I hit publish.

  This book was a work of love, and wouldn’t have been completed without the support of those near and dear to me.

  I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love and support of my mum, Ellen, who if she hadn’t insisted I pursue my writing further, you wouldn’t be reading this right now. I can’t thank her enough for the unconditional love she and my dad give me, and for everything that they do for me. I have always been encouraged to keep writing, buying me my first laptop for my birthday so I didn’t have to write so much in my notebook and get a hand cramp because I had written too much. She will constantly tell everyone how smart I am, although she’s probably biased.

  To my brother, Phillip, who is always there for me when I need help. Thank you for being such a wonderful brother and being kind enough to buy me a Macbook Air when I know you didn’t have to, but it’s the little things that you do for me that I will cherish forever. To say your gift has come in handy is an understatement. You love to torment me from time to time, but I suppose that’s what little brothers do best, and I wouldn’t want you any other way.

  To my sister Judith and brother-in-law Mark, who may live interstate, but whom I know are there to support me forever. I love you, and thank you for giving me three of the most gorgeous nephews and niece to love and cherish. A little piece of Kane, Jack and Abbie were inspiration enough for me to be able to bring the character of Jake to life on paper, or in this case, computer screen.

  To Nicole, my brother’s amazing and supportive girlfriend. We haven’t known each other long, but you have become one of my best friends in the short time you have been a part of our family. Thank you for our shopping trips together and taking the time to read this book, telling me how much you adore it, even though I know you’re not much of a reader. It means a lot to me to know you like and believe in my writing. Phillip couldn’t have found a more lovely and caring partner to share his life with, and I can’t think of a better future sister-in-law to welcome into our family than you.

  To my amazing beta readers, which if it wasn’t for Goodreads, I would never have discovered the likes of Melissa, Jade, Julie, Brandi and Carolina, whose guidance throughout the writing and editing process has been a big help to me.

  To those on Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter who have added my book to their TBR list, liked my page or retweeted my status updates, thank you for following an unknown author and taking a chance on me before you have even read the book. You have no idea how much I appreciate knowing people are actually looking forward to reading my book. It is so crazy and surreal.

  To my cover designer at goonwrite.com, I can’t thank myself enough for randomly browsing Google one day for an inexpensive cover designer and finding you. I look forward to working with you again on my next book.

  To the wonderful editors at Hot Tree Editing, I will be forever grateful for the day I saw you pop up on Facebook and decided to contact you.

  And last but not least, to the readers. Thank you for taking the time to read a little unknown author’s debut book. Jordan and Cassie’s story came to me one night in a dream and refused to leave me alone until I put words to a blank word document. I hope that you love and hav
e fun reading about them as much as I did writing their story.

  I'm a 27 year old Australian girl who loves nothing more than finding a really good romance book you can't put down until the characters get the happily ever after that they deserve. It was through reading that I decided to put pen to paper, or in this case, fingertip to computer key, and jot down the stories my brain comes up with. When I'm not reading the endless supply of books added daily to my iPad, I can be found tucked away with my laptop in front of me as I write about the many characters begging me to tell their story, one book boyfriend at a time. You can drop me a line at any of the social networking sites listed below.

  Facebook

  Twitter

  Goodreads

  E-Mail

  Website

  This ebook was designed and formatted by

  www.emtippettsbookdesigns.com

  Artisan ebooks for discerning authors and publishers.

  Text copyright © 2014 by Christie Mack

  All rights reserved

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, business establishments or locales is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.

  Cover design by goonwrite.com

  Edited by Hot Tree Editing

  Interior formatted by E.M. Tippetts Book Designs

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  About this Book

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Epilogue

  Playlist

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  About the Book Designer

  Copyright Notice