Hometown Hotshot Read online

  Hometown Hotshot

  C. Morgan

  Contents

  Description

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Epilogue

  Want More?

  Come Swoon With Us

  About the Author

  Description

  She should send me packing… for good.

  Five years ago I left home and didn’t look back.

  My high school sweetheart got pregnant so we got married.

  I’m not that guy. Not entirely.

  Then it turned out she wasn’t pregnant. And my future seemed to reopen in front of my eyes.

  I was a boy. Not ready for a family.

  So I did the only thing I knew to do – I ran.

  Now I’m back home, and the only thing I want is her.

  And I’ve changed. I’m not the hometown hotshot I once was.

  But she has a list of things she wants me to do to make sure I’m all the good parts of the boy she fell in love with and the man she wants to trust again.

  Game on.

  Chapter 1

  Jake

  “Wow, Mom and Dad. You really don’t move on, do you?”

  I sighed as I looked around my room. It felt weird, being back in my childhood bedroom. And even weirder since my parents hadn’t done anything with it. After five years of being away, my bags sat on that old, rugged carpet. Posters of bands I enjoyed during my teenage years lined the walls. My closet was still full of my old clothes, shit I didn’t fit in any longer in styles that made me chuckle to myself. What the hell I was thinking back during those days?

  I sighed as I walked over to my bed. I hadn’t been back in Roosevelt since graduation, since I’d set out to conquer the world, or at least explore it. As I sat on the edge of my bed, I thought about all the adventures I’d had. My monthlong summer stint in New York City. Living out of hostels and reselling tickets to major events to put money in my pocket. Spring break in Los Angeles, where I watched the sun set over the water every night in some shoddy hotel with girls spread out across my bed. I’d been everywhere, to major cities on both coasts, trying to find a life that suited me.

  It took all this time, you dumb-ass.

  I fell back against my mattress. My body bounced as I stared at my ceiling. I snickered when I saw the empty spot, too. The dirty outline of where the mirror used to hang on my ceiling made me chuckle. Of course my parents had removed that. I grinned at the memories. Girls I brought back home from dates. Nights I threw parties at my parents’ house while they were out of town.

  Liv.

  It took me five years to figure out the best life I could have ever had was back in my small hometown I’d run away from right after high school.

  I pushed myself out of bed and walked out into the hallway. The long corridor was lined with pictures: photographs of me with my arms slung around the guys’ necks, football pictures of me scoring winning touchdowns, school portraits, birthday pictures… And me at prom, with Liv in that beautiful, shining red dress I’d never forget as long as I lived.

  “Olivia,” I whispered.

  I raised my fingers to the picture and slid my touch over her face. Olivia, the girl I’d loved, who’d come to all my football games and was the one reason why I’d graduated with a 3.0 GPA intact.

  Olivia, the girl I’d left.

  The girl you still love.

  I laughed as my hand slid over the picture, causing it to swing on the wall. I had no idea if she’d want to see me or if she even knew I’d come back. Hell, I didn’t even know if she was still in Roosevelt. For all I knew, she’d gone off to reach for her own dreams, found herself someone else to be happy with.

  I’d left her behind. And she had no reason to take me back.

  Doesn’t mean I won’t try, though.

  “Jake, you here?” Mom called out.

  “We’re going to play some cards tonight! You in?” Dad asked.

  I walked down the hallway of our ranch-style home, which sat on the corner lot of the seven acres of farmland my parents owned and worked on in order to support me. I couldn’t help but feel as if I’d let them down. I walked into the kitchen and embraced them both, giving them massive hugs that threatened to bring tears to my eyes.

  “Welcome home, son,” Dad murmured.

  I used to think my parents were lame, sitting at home every night playing card games and board games, snacking and drinking juice out of wineglasses. Not so much, though—the calm, alluring night of card games and juice called to me.

  Except…

  “I actually told Percy I’d meet him for a drink this afternoon,” I said.

  Mom nodded. “We understand, sweetie. Another time?”

  I licked my lips. “Yeah. Another time.”

  Dad patted my shoulder. “Great. We’ll see you then.”

  I kissed Mom on the cheek and gave Dad one last bear hug. Then, I was out the door, like I’d always done to them, leaving them behind for greener pastures. Guess old habits died hard. I climbed into my beat-up truck and cranked the engine, listening to it sputter before it came to life.

  Need to check on that later.

  Ten minutes later, I sat down in front of my high school best friend, the one person I’d kept in contact with from this town, other than my parents.

  “Jake! My man! Welcome home,” Percy said, chuckling.

  His massive hug picked me up off my feet, reminding me why he had always run defense on our high school football team. I laughed with him and hugged him back. Then, we took our seats in a booth that practically groaned underneath his weight.

  “You put some muscle on, buddy?” I asked.

  He snickered. “More like fat. But you? You look good. So, why the fuck are you back in this small-ass town with those good looks?”

  I shrugged. “Just wanted a place that felt like home.”

  “And New York City didn’t feel like home?”

  “Nope. Neither did Los Angeles. Or Dallas. Or Wilmington. Or Miami.”

  “Shit. I’d love to call Miami home someday.”

  “I think this place will always be my home, Percy.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “You hated this place in high school.”

  I shrugged. “I was young and dumb. We all were. The truth is, I never should’ve left.”

  “Does this have anything to do with Liv?”

  “I mean, I never should’ve ended shit in the first place. I loved Liv.”

  “Do you still love Liv?”

  “Can I get you two anything?”

  The waitress interrupted our conversation, and I nodded.

  “A beer. Whatever’s on special. Thanks,” I said.

  “Whiskey. On the rocks. Double,” Percy said.

  “Coming right up,” the waitress said.

  “Whiskey? You’re a whiskey man now?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “What do you think put the weight on?”

  The two of us had a laugh before I cleared my throat.

  “Is Liv in town still?” I asked.

  Percy grinned. “You do still love her.”

  “I’m here to make amends. Nothing else.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Uh-huh, she’s in town? Or uh-huh, you don’t believe me.”

  “Can’t it be both?”

 
I paused. “Is it both?”

  “I got a question for you.”

  “I’ll try for an answer.”

  “What if Liv don’t wanna talk with you? Or… fix anything?”

  I grinned. “You know I can be persuasive when the time calls for it.”

  “And you know Liv always saw through your bullshit.”

  “This isn’t bullshit. I want to fix things. I left things on bad notes with a lot of people. And I know that’s why I can’t push forward. Guilt, I guess.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Is she in town or not?”

  He smirked. “Actually, yes. She is. And I know where to find her.”

  “You gonna fill me in?”

  “Depends. You paying for food?”

  I snickered. “And the whiskey’s what put it on?”

  “You’re gonna have to do better than that if you want information.”

  “Drinks and food are on me tonight.”

  “My man! That’s the way to do it.”

  The waitress came back with our drinks, and we ordered food, with Percy ordering enough for three people. We ate and drank, shot the shit, caught up on things around town. But I couldn’t stand it anymore.

  “Where is she, Percy? Please.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you use that word before,” he chuckled.

  “Tell me where I can find her. Seriously.”

  He sighed. “She works in my store, man.”

  I paused. “Your store?”

  “Yeah. I took over my pop’s shop in town after he passed. The general store?”

  “Liv works in your general store? And you didn’t once mention this over the past few years?”

  He shrugged. “Didn’t think you cared to know about what your ex-wife’s up to.”

  “She’s not technically my ex-wife, since the marriage was annulled. And yes, I do care about what she’s up to.”

  “So, now you know.”

  “Dick.”

  He laughed. “And make sure you remind Liv of that distinction when you see her, by the way. I’m sure she’d love to hear about it.”

  And as my smile faded from my face, reality dawned.

  This isn’t going to be as easy as I thought.

  Chapter 2

  Liv

  I sighed as I stocked the shelves at the Roosevelt General Store in the middle of town. I always knew when the seasonal changes were occurring, because certain things always flew off the shelves. With the dawning of autumn, tarps were all the rage. Candles, too. Anything to warm up a back deck and keep it dry. I slid the candles into their rightful places. I heaved the heavy tarps off the cart and into a stack in the corner. And when a movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention, I turned.

  “Welcome to Roosevelt’s General Store. How may I help you?”

  “Hey there, Liv.”

  His eyes were the first thing I saw. Those piercing hazel eyes. I saw those eyes in my dreams, and, embarrassingly enough, my fantasies. My eyes connected with a man I never thought I’d see again. The boy from high school. My first-ever love.

  The boy who’d shattered my world.

  I slowly rose up as our eyes locked. I felt frozen in my tracks. Jake made his way for me, his boyish smile igniting his features. He’d grown but was still just as good-looking as the first time I’d ever laid eyes on him. Blond hair he kept intricately tailored, nicely cut and swept back from his forehead. Hazel eyes that sparkled with his smile. All six foot two of him towered over me. His strong jawline held up his boyish smile, and his cheekbones could cut glass.

  He’s put on more muscle than I remember.

  And it looked spectacular on him.

  “Liv,” he said, smiling.

  I cleared my throat. “Yes?”

  “How—you, uh—hey there.”

  “You already said that.”

  My hormones raged out of control. But my emotions didn’t have to. Just because my ex-husband wanted to walk through those doors after five years of no contact whatsoever didn’t mean I had to entertain his presence.

  “Right. Yes. Um, how have you been?” he asked.

  “Fine. Is there anything I can assist you with?” I asked.

  His smile grew wider. It slithered into a deadly, beaming ray of sunshine, one that used to get me to agree with everything he wanted. One that used to weaken my knees and slip my panties right off my body.

  Not this time, though.

  “Actually, there is. I’d like to take you out, if you’re free tonight,” Jake said.

  I blinked. “Take me out.”

  “Yes. To dinner. Are you still a fan of that diner up the road?”

  I snickered. “Wow, still as brazen as ever.”

  “I guess some things don’t change.”

  “Unfortunately,” I said flatly.

  “What?”

  “I’m not free tonight. I’ll be working.”

  “The store closes at seven. Says so on the door.”

  “Then, I’ll be busy tonight.”

  He nodded. “Okay. What about tomorrow?”

  “Still busy, Jake.”

  “This weekend?”

  “Nope.”

  “Take pity on me here, Liv. I’m trying.”

  I shrugged. “Sorry. Not my problem.”

  “You want me to get on my knees? I’ll beg, if it’s required.”

  I shook my head. “You’ve never been good at it. Too brazen.”

  He blinked. “I’ll get better, if that’s what it takes.”

  “What?”

  “The brazenness can change, if you don’t like it.”

  “Yeah, no. Things like that don’t change about someone.”

  “They can. They do all the time. And I can do that. I can change.”

  “I’m sure you can.”

  “If that’s what it takes to get you to have dinner with me? In a heartbeat.”

  “Jake Samuels?”

  Tandy’s voice rang out from the corner of the store, and I whipped my head over. Tandy was the general manager of the store. And the look of shock on her face mirrored the shock I felt in my gut. She walked over to us, her eyes casing Jake slowly. When she looked over at me, she paused.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  “Why wouldn’t she be?” Jake asked.

  Tandy turned to face him. “Because none of us ever thought we’d lay eyes on you again. Yet, here you are. Harassing my employee.”

  “I’m not harassing. Just talking,” he said.

  “I second that, actually,” I said.

  “I’m not harassing you, Liv. I’m just trying to get you to have dinner with me,” he said.

  “No, I mean the ‘not ever seeing you again’ part,” I said.

  “Did she turn you down?” Tandy asked.

  “I did,” I said.

  “Then, you can head out the same way you came in. Unless you need something from our store,” Tandy said.

  “Now, wait a second. All I want to do is get her some food. That’s it,” he said.

  “It’s never ‘just it’ with you,” Tandy said.

  “Has the heat from our high school days really not died down?” he asked.

  “Maybe you should’ve waited ten years instead of only five,” I said.

  Tandy laughed, and the high-pitched giggle made me wince. Jake wrinkled his nose at her, then turned his attention back to me. Tandy’s laughter always sounded fake to my ears. Never quite… right. Still, it didn’t stop Tandy from launching into what she always did.

  Reliving the “good old days.”

  “Do you remember that night at the school play?” she asked.

  “I need to get back to work,” I said.

  “The volcano night?” Jake asked.

  Tandy snapped. “That’s the one. Where you made the mountain backdrop for the play explode like a science fair volcano?”

  “Work time. Thanks, guys,” I said.

  Jake chuckled. “I remember
that night fondly. Don’t you, Liv?”

  I paused in my tracks. With my back to him, my eyes fluttered closed. I remembered that night fondly. As if it happened yesterday. After the catastrophe that had been that play, Jake’s text made sense. He’d messaged me before the play, telling me he had a way to get my attention. To this day, I still had no idea how the hell he’d gotten my phone number. But the baking soda volcano at the play had my attention fully. Completely.

  Enough for him to entice me into his truck.

  I relived that moment—the first time we kissed. We parked ourselves in a cornfield after the play that night and made out furiously in the seat. I still recalled the feeling of his hands up my shirt, cupping my breasts, stroking my skin, before slipping up my skirt as he massaged my thighs. I blushed at the memory as my eyes ripped open. I felt Jake grinning at me as I cleared my throat.

  “I’ve got some stocking to do. You two have fun down memory lane,” I said.

  Then, I went and hid myself between the shelves, stocking merchandise, trying to do my job, and quickly stealing glances of Jake between the gaps in the shelving. What the hell was he doing here? And why did he want to take me out to dinner? Did he really think he could fix things after abandoning me like that? He’d broken my heart beyond repair when he left.

  And there was nothing he could do—or say—to get me to give him another chance to break it.

  Chapter 3

  Jake

  Seeing Liv again supercharged my memories. As I drove through town after seeing her at the general store, I saw the town through the eyes of our memories. The ice cream shop I took her to on our first date. The diner she always wanted to eat at after school. The pathways we walked, hand in hand.

  The alley where I first parked my truck for us to make love.