A Southern Reunion

A Southern Reunion
Lenora Worth

The story was for her own good. No matter how many times Cal Collins repeats this he still regrets breaking Cassandra Brennan's heart. Yet what choice did he have all those years ago? The truth would have destroyed her family.But Cassie is back in her South Georgia home once more, and Cal is rethinking that decision. From the moment they meet again all those intense feelings reignite and he wants another chance. First, he'll have to win her trust, which means revealing the truth. Then he can prove that a future with him is for her own good now.

Cassie shook her head and pulled away.

“Don’t lie to me.”

Cal tugged her back. “This is not a lie.”

“But everything else is. Something isn’t right here and no one will tell me the truth.”

He pushed his hand through her hair, tugged her even closer. “I only know that I came back here for you. And that is the one truth you need to remember.”

Then he kissed her, his touch tentative and tender until Cassie sighed and returned the kiss, her arms grasping him and holding him close. Cal wrapped her in his embrace, his touch demanding and deepening until she felt herself falling into a blinding mist of longing.

Dear Reader,

I have always loved a good Southern gothic saga. So I was thrilled to be able to finally write the one that has been in my head for many years. This was a complex story, and I admit I struggled with it a bit. But I’m pleased with the final product. I hope you will be, too.

When ready-to-wear designer Cassandra Brennan returns to Camellia Plantation in South Georgia, she finds several surprises waiting for her—the main one being the man who broke her heart years ago. Her estranged father is dying, and Cal Collins seems to be taking over her beloved home. But as revelations keep coming, Cassie finds things are not always what they seem, and she also discovers that even though she still loves Cal, he might be involved in an elaborate plot to keep her from finding out what really happened the day her beautiful socialite mother died.

I grew up in a big Southern family, so I know a thing or two about secrets and scandals. But in the South, we tend to bring out our eccentric family members and show them off! In Cassie’s case, however, she was embarrassed and ashamed that her own father had scorned her. The truth turned out to be a test of her love for Cal.

I hope you enjoy A Southern Reunion. I’d love to hear from you. Please visit my website at www.lenoraworth.com and send me a message. I’d appreciate your feedback.

Lenora Worth

A Southern Reunion

Lenora Worth

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestselling author Lenora Worth has written more than forty books for three different publishers. Her career with Love Inspired Books spans close to fourteen years. Her very first Love Inspired, The Wedding Quilt, won Affaire de Coeur’s Best Inspirational for 1997, and Logan’s Child won Best Love Inspired for 1998 from RT Book Reviews. With millions of books in print, Lenora continues to write for Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense. Lenora also wrote a weekly opinion column for the local paper and worked freelance for years with a local magazine. She has now turned to full-time fiction writing and enjoying adventures with her retired husband, Don. Married for thirty-five years, they have two grown children. Lenora enjoys writing, reading and shopping…especially shoe shopping.

To my darling Big Daddy, my husband Don.

You were the first person to ever read the original

version of this story. Thanks for sticking with me

for all these years.

We’ve come full circle.

CONTENTS

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

CHAPTER ONE

THREE THINGS HAPPENED the same week ready-to-wear designer Cassandra Brennan announced she’d be opening two more Cassie’s Closet boutiques in the metro Atlanta area.