Page 27 of Second Chance Christmas

It would be so easy to fall for him again.

The thought came out of nowhere and made her sit up a little straighter.

Yes, it would be deadly easy. He was so handsome, so charming, so familiar. But she couldn’t trust him. She couldn’t trust anyone. Maybe if there was no Audrey…but Cassidy had to think and feel and choose for two now, and she couldn’t let someone into her heart if there was a risk they’d break it. Because Audrey’s heart would be on the line too.

She needed to be strong, to remember that while Leonardo made her feel amazing now, that hadn’t always been the case.

“Leonardo, tell me something.”

He expelled a breath, lifting heavy weights one after the other, eyes resting on her face.

“You must have a lot of women in your life.”

Something shifted in the depths of his gaze. “Must I?”

“You don’t have to lie to me,” she murmured. “I’m not in love with you anymore.”

He stopped lifting weights, carrying them towards the window and placing them beneath it.

“I’m not a monk, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Crap.

It had been, but the answer made her heart twist sharply. She glanced away.

She must have been a glutton for punishment because the next question that left her mouth was, “Has there been anyone serious?”

“I don’t have time for a relationship,” he responded.

“Come on, Leo. Other players have girlfriends, wives, families.”

“They’re not all paid what I am,” he said, lifting his shoulders. “There’s a lot of pressure on me to perform.”

She tilted her face to the side. “Did you ever see her again?”

Even obliquely referring to the woman he’d cheated with made Cassidy’s stomach ache.

“No. I told you, I didn’t know her. She was the friend of one of the girls who was dating a friend. I was very, very drunk, Cass.” He moved to stand in front of her, then knelt, so he could put a hand on her knee.

“Not so drunk,” she pointed out. “Or you wouldn’t have been able to cheat on me.”

He dipped his head in silent concession of that. “I didn’t even know her name.”

“Don’t.” Cassidy’s voice trembled. “Wow, I really thought I was done with being hurt by this. It was a lifetime ago. But that stings.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You’ve said that. And I know you mean it.”

“I wish I could—,”

She pressed a finger to his lips. “But you can’t. You can’t change it, you can’t undo it. That’s part of our history. Part of what made us who we are.”

“Yes. It changed me too, Cass. After that night, I have never let myself go in that way. I was so stupid. We were celebrating, I got caught up in it. There is no excuse. None. But I have been so careful ever since.”

Her lips pulled to the side, her heart aching.

“You never told your dad what I did.”

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