Chapter 3
ADAM
Cold air cuts through me as I run from my truck to the entrance of Sweet Cakes. Another cold front moved in last night, threatening to dump more snow on our small town. If this weather continues, it’ll be a long, hard wait for summer.
Ricky’s waiting for me at the front counter with an extra coffee in hand.
I pull my work gloves off and wrap my hands around it.
The sharp contrast between my frozen fingers and the heat seeping through the paper cup make my hands itch.
One sip, and I instantly feel better. “Thanks, man. I needed this.”
Ricky raises his brows. “You ready for this meeting? You look nervous.”
“I’m ready.” I run my fingers through my hair and yawn. The past two weeks have been hectic. I promised Camille the estimate a week ago, but I missed that deadline. I hate postponing projects, especially estimates, but I didn’t have a choice.
The job I’m hoping to win from a former Chicago client, Craig Armstrong, unexpectedly took me out of town for several days. I thought I had at least another week before I’d hear from him. He’s not the type of client I can push off. I had to say yes when he called or risk losing the job.
I rub my hands down my face and yawn. “Just tired. Craig is running me through the ringer. It’s exhausting.”
“Any word on when he’ll make a decision?”
“Knowing my luck, never. One minute he’s acting like everything is on fire and we’re behind schedule, and the next he’s dragging this thing out like we have all the time in the world.
He’s driving me crazy.” Which is true, but it isn’t the reason I’m tired.
I can’t tell Ricky I couldn’t sleep last night because I’m anxious to see Camille again.
That woman affects me in ways I don’t want to acknowledge.
There’s chemistry between us, and it draws me to her.
But it’s more than that. She’s friendly and funny, but she’s hiding something beneath her smile.
I catch the occasional glimpse of sadness in her eyes when she lets her smile slip.
There’s a secret there—I’m sure of it—and she protects it like a precious gem.
“Do you have everything you need to refine your estimate?”
“Yep, got it all right here.” Ricky lifts his bag sitting next to his stool. Electrical upgrades aren’t my area of expertise. I know enough to give ballpark estimates, but I need Ricky to tighten the numbers.
“Good.” I run my fingers through my hair again and sigh.
Camille said she had the money, but I can’t stop worrying that she’s not going to be happy about the estimate.
I tried like hell to bring the numbers down, but the amount of work she’s asking for is not only extensive, but also expensive.
She says she knows that, but every client does.
Yet they’re always shocked when I give them the quotes.
“Man, what’s wrong with you?” Ricky looks at me with concern.
“I told you, I’m tired.” I slump in my stool and wave at Rachel.
“Nah, not buying it.” He narrows his gaze. “Is she that awful?”
“Is who that awful?”
“The woman who bought the chalet.”
“Camille?” I shake my head, avoiding his stare. “No, she’s nice enough.”
A knowing grin spreads across his face. “You like her, don’t you?”
“Who?” I shoot a sideways glance at Ricky. I don’t like where he’s going with this.
“Oh, don’t play dumb with me.” He looks down his nose at me. I damn well know what he’s talking about, but I don’t want to admit it. “Camille. You like her.”
“Please. I don’t know anything about her.
” Which is true. Yes, I thought about her at least once a day since we met, and I’m more excited to see her again than I should be.
But the truth remains. I don’t know enough about her to say I like her.
At least not in the way Ricky is referring to.
I’m interested in learning more. That’s it.
“Attraction doesn’t require a deep understanding of a person.” He laughs, and I grunt.
Thankfully, Rachel walks over and saves me from having to respond to his remark. “Did you need something else?”
“A half dozen of your chocolate croissants, please?” I say as I toss some cash on the counter to cover the bill plus a little extra for all the freebies she keeps tossing my way. I remember what Camille said about chocolate croissants. And I feel no shame in using them as a way to earn her favor.
“Sure thing, hon.” She smiles and takes the cash I laid out for her. I peer at Ricky out of the corner of my eye and catch him staring at me with a suspicious scowl.
“What?” I say a little too harshly.
“Yep, you’re right. You don’t like her at all.” He slaps my shoulder and laughs. “Gotta grab a few things from my truck. I’ll meet you outside.”
I grumble, not because he calls me out, but because he’s right. I hate that he knows me that well. I learned a long time ago that I’m incapable of hiding my feelings from my close friends. I’m an open book.
I wave at Rachel, and she smiles. Even she can tell I’m looking forward to seeing Camille again. How is it that I’m feeling excited and nervous about seeing a woman I’ve only met once? Twice if you count our run-in outside the coffee shop.
I only hope she’s looking forward to seeing me again, too.
Ricky’s standing beside me with a mischievous grin on his face and a spark in his eyes. He looks at me instead of the door. I’m already nervous, and his watchful eyes are making me even more nervous to see Camille again.
“Stop looking at me like that.” I turn my back to him and knock.
Camille answers, and she looks more beautiful than she did the first time I met her.
She’s wearing a pale pink sweater with matching dress pants.
A bright pink sheer scarf that brings out the gray streaks in her long, dark hair is draped around her neck.
With high heeled shoes and dainty pearls dangling over the scarf, she definitely doesn’t look like she belongs in Watercress Falls.
She looks like she’s ready to walk the runway in a fancy fashion show in New York City.
“Adam.” She shoots me a huge smile that hits me straight in the gut. Yeah, Ricky and Rachel have me pegged. I like Camille. “It's so good to see you again.”
“Sorry it took longer than anticipated.” My body heats under her stare, and every one of my nerve endings feel like they’ve been hit with a jolt of electricity.
“Not a problem. It gave me time to get more settled. Please come in.” She steps aside, waving us in and out of the cold air.
“This is Ricky. He does all the electrical and furnace work for my projects. Ricky, this is Camille.”
“Oh, please, call me Cami.” She offers her hand to Ricky, and I wish I had a reason to take it instead.
“Pleased to meetcha, ma’am.” Ricky smiles and shakes her hand.
A ping of jealousy rushes through me seeing Ricky’s hand wrap around hers. It’s so stupid, especially since I know Ricky isn’t the least bit interested. I shouldn’t be jealous of a married man.
But I can’t help it because I recall the feel of her soft, delicate hand in mine. I bet they’d feel good running down the ridges of my chest until they reached …
Stop it. What the hell is wrong with me?
I’m creating a problem for myself. If she looks down, she might notice that problem.
I fake a cough and turn my back to them. I have to hide my embarrassment and my body’s reaction to the mere thought of her hands on my bare skin.
“I hope you don’t mind … that I brought him along.
” I say over my shoulder, still faking a cough between words.
I take a second to adjust myself before I continue.
“I’d like him to refine his estimate on the electrical work identified on the inspection and replacing that old furnace sooner rather than later. I’m surprised it’s still running.”
“Of course. Whatever you need,” she says.
I finally have myself under control and turn around.
The sun beams through the window behind her and filters through her pale pink sweater.
It’s thin enough that the sun illuminates the curves of her breasts and waist that otherwise are hidden from view.
I swallow hard, fighting back my body’s urges once again.
“If you could direct me to the breaker box, I’ll start there,” Ricky cuts in. I glance in his direction and catch the smirk on his face. I’m gonna hear about this later.
“Great.” She waves for Ricky to follow her down the hall that leads to the garage. She looks over her shoulder at me and says, “Adam, if you want to take a seat in the kitchen, I’ll be right back to go over the numbers.”
“Sounds good.” I nod.
Ricky gives me a wide-eyed grin as he passes and mouths get it together as he walks by. I wave him off, ignoring his silent remark.
My eyes are transfixed on Camille. For someone who claims to be such a klutz, all I see is a graceful, beautiful woman. Even her high heeled shoes barely make a sound as they lightly clank against the hardwood floors.
I take a seat at the small table in the kitchen where we sat the first day. I smile when I catch a whiff of coffee. I glance at the pot and debate on whether it’s appropriate for me to pour myself a cup or if I should wait for her to return.
The decision is taken away when she returns a few minutes later. “I think Ricky is all set. Can I get you some coffee?”
“Yes, please.” I smile and lift the box of pastries I brought. “I got you some more chocolate croissants.”
“Oh, you are the devil,” her southern accent comes out strong and she laughs. She pulls a couple small plates out of the cabinet before joining me at the table. “Every time I visit the coffee shop Rachel forces a new pastry on me.”