“Cassie.” He stood there.

She blinked, waiting for the image to vanish.

Instead, one brow cocked up and he tipped his cowboy hat back on his head, the morning sun shining on his face.

She blinked again, harder. He didn’t move. He didn’t waver or vanish. He stood there, all too real. “Sterling?”

“Yeah.” The voice rolled over her, deep and gruff and so familiar her throat went dry.

Sterling... She couldn’t breathe or think or look away. It might not make sense for him to be here now, but he was. Just as big and strong and handsome as ever. It wasn’t fair, really. He had no right to stand there, looking like he belonged, while those warm brown eyes swept over her face.

He wasn’t surprised or rattled or the least bit...upset.

She swallowed. Why should he? He was the one who left. He wasn’t the one left behind.

She resisted the urge to slap his face or run away. The past was the past and she was so over it.

Right. Sure. Keep telling yourself that.