Chapter 20
Everything ached the next morning as Emma rolled off her pillow, aware of her hair sticking to her face where she’d been lying in her drool. She groaned. The room was still dark so it couldn’t be too late.
She felt on the side table for her phone to check the time when Cam’s voice scared her, causing her to drop it on the floor.
“Good morning, sunshine.”
“Why do you sound so chipper?” Her throat felt sore. Probably the shots she remembered tossing back with Lulu.
“I’ve already had breakfast, a hot shower, and took a little stroll earlier this morning. It’s a beautiful day,” he said, his smile clear in his voice.
Emma got the distinct impression he was enjoying this. “What time is it?”
“A quarter ‘til noon.”
She popped up, then regretted the quick movement as her stomach did flips and her head throbbed. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“No, why?”
“Our massage is at twelve-thirty.” She let out another groan.
Cam chuckled, heading for the blackout curtains. “I guess you better get moving.” He pulled them open, laughing at the sound of Emma plopping back on the bed and turning to see her with a pillow over her face.
He was pretty sure he could make out some muttered expletives into that pillow. “There’s food on the desk. I figured you’d be hungry when you woke up. I put a yogurt, bagel, and apple in the fridge from breakfast, and I just got back with a chicken pasta and salad from lunch in that brown box. It should still be warm.”
She slid the pillow to the side, using all her willpower to get up and not waste this day away. Why did she think it would be fun to let loose last night? Suddenly all her reasonings felt poorly placed now. Emma went to look for her dropped phone but noticed the two water bottles on the nightstand, a packet of Advil and the trash can on the floor beside it.
She looked up at Cam, and he could’ve sworn it was something like surprise and awe in those eyes. “You did this for me?” she asked in the most incredulous sounding voice he’d heard.
He shrugged like it was no big deal.
She smiled, not thinking it was no big deal at all. It was a huge deal to her. Asher used to get so pissed off whenever she had one too many, which she wondered if he was giving that same attitude to Lauren today or not, not that it was her business. But for Cam to take care of her and think about how she might be feeling this morning, the butterflies that kept making their appearance this week softly rubbed against her heart at the gesture.
She grabbed a water, the medicine for her aching head, and bent down for her phone. She quickly checked to make sure there was nothing of urgency then slid it onto the nightstand and stood up. Jeez, she had to start moving slower.
“I’m going to take a quick shower and get changed so we don’t miss our appointment,” she told him.
He nodded. “Sounds good. But hey, if you don’t feel up to it, I don’t blame you. I’ll cover whatever cost they charge for last-minute cancellations.”
She smiled again. “That’s not necessary,” and as she went to pass him for the bathroom, she reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder momentarily. “Thank you.” Then she went to get ready for the day, fully intent on downing some food after she didn’t smell like a liquor store.
It was a small thing and simple words, yet Cam felt like puffing his chest out or something equally ridiculous at how Emma made him feel. He would’ve done it for anyone. Hell, he’d done it numerous times for his friends back home over the years. That’s what you did for the people you cared about, you took care of them and made sure they were good to go and safe. Yet he got the feeling that maybe Emma wasn’t used to receiving that kind of consideration.
That caused him mixed feelings, but one thing was for sure. She’d never have to worry about being cared about if she was with him. That was a fact.
◆◆◆
The massage had been a godsend Emma acknowledged as they took a seat at one of the outdoor bistro tables at the hotel. She rolled her neck, then took a drink of her water bottle before sitting it back down and grabbing the iced coffee she’d also gotten.
“How are you feeling?” Cam asked, also juggling water and coffee.
Emma was trying to rehydrate, especially after the massage and hangover, but there was no way she’d survive this day without caffeine.
“Way better.” She leaned back in her chair. “I think I could’ve laid there the rest of the day if they’d allowed it.”
He laughed. “I’m surprised you didn’t fall asleep, too.” Cam had passed out in the first fifteen minutes.
“I don’t know how anyone falls asleep during a massage,” she exclaimed. “It feels way too good to miss out on.”
“Exactly! It feels way too good and relaxing.”
She shook her head. “Were you awake for the hand massages?”
“Nope.” Her laughter made him smile bigger.
“I swear I would have never thought such a simple thing on the hands could be life-altering.” He gave her a funny look. “Here, give me your hand.” She stuck her arms across the small round table.
Cam leaned forward, obliging. Emma took his hand in hers and began her best mimic of the massage they’d done. To her credit, it did feel pretty damn incredible, although he wasn’t sure if it was the pressure or the simple fact that her hands were touching his.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?”
“It’s something,” he said, his fingers lightly closing around one of her hands. She didn’t pull back immediately and he stared down at their joined hands.
“I like your hands,” he admitted quietly.
Emma could feel her chest tighten. “Why? They’re just hands.”
“I like that they’re both soft and rough.”
She bit her lip. “I’ve never been one of those girls with cute hands. I don’t think I even quit biting my nails until after I graduated college, and my polish is always getting chipped.”
He reached out for her other hand, entwining his fingers through both of them across the table. “I think they’re perfect.” He liked her painted nails, the calluses, and small scars.
Emma knew in her heart that something was happening here. Not just in this moment but between them. Looking across the table at this kind man, willing to go along with her shenanigans after only just meeting her, made her nervous and excited. He was wearing a light blue shirt today that she’d bought him from her shopping trip earlier this week and it brought out his eyes the way she’d known it would. He looked so good and dreamy, relaxed even, in his khaki shorts, his brown hair highlighted in the sun, and that stubble-covered jaw looking delicious enough to eat.
She swallowed. She so badly wanted to ignore whatever this was, but she also knew they should address it. At least talk about it. She was about to do just that when a familiar voice called out their names, followed by its friendly face and smile.
“There you are,” Henry was saying as he approached their table.
Emma started to pull back her hands, but Cam held tight. “Hey.” She smiled up at him.
“I’ve been looking for you,” he said.
She sat up a little straighter. “Why? Is everything okay?”
He slashed his hand through the air. “Oh, yeah, yeah. Nothing like that. I meant Cam.” He looked at Cam who appeared surprised, if not a little worried. “I got us a charter for some deep-sea fishing,” he explained. “They were booked up for the week so I left my information and it turns out they got a cancellation for this afternoon, but we got to get over there.”
Cam noticed it was positioned as though he was going and not being offered, not that he’d have said no since who wouldn’t want to go deep sea fishing? He looked toward Emma to gauge her thoughts, but Henry added more.
“I set you girls up with some horseback riding on the beach since we’ll be gone. No sense in us having all the fun.” His grin was genuine and wide.
Horseback riding did sound like a blast, Emma thought, even if she was fighting off the end of her hangover. “Thanks, Henry.”
“Don’t mention it.” He turned back toward Cam. “Go get whatever you might need and meet me in the lobby in fifteen minutes.”
Cam nodded. “Have you already told Asher or do you need help finding him?”
“He’s not coming. Gets motion sickness out on boats,” he said matter of factly and Emma nodded in confirmation.
“Okay then, I’ll get ready.”
Henry gave him a slap on the back insisting they’d have fun before rushing off.
“He appears to be in a hurry,” he noted.
Emma laughed. “Bring lots of water. I bet he’s making you rush so he has time to stop off for a case of beer.”
He grinned. “Really?”
“Oh, yeah. There’s nothing that goes together like an ice-cold beer and reeling in some big ones,” she said in her best Henry voice.
Cam laughed, then asked, “Should I be worried about it being just the two of us?”
She raised a brow in question.
“He thinks of you like a daughter. What if he’s deemed me unworthy and wants to push me overboard?”
Emma’s burst of laughter could be heard for miles no doubt. “You’re ridiculous.”
Cam smiled, but the thought really had crossed his mind.
◆◆◆
An hour later, after a stop at the liquor store on their way, Cam and Henry were on a boat listening to the owner tell stories of catches from his previous outings. The man was a local and exceptional storyteller, Cam decided, or maybe that was because he was a fisherman. As his mom used to say, all those who could cast a line could tell a story.
Admittedly, Cam was a bit nervous about spending the rest of the day with Henry, but he was also excited about being out here. Emma had insisted on sending him with her extra bottle of sunscreen and making sure he wore a hat. He’d be lying if he didn’t acknowledge he liked her fussing over him.
It would’ve been nice to go riding horses with her, especially at sunset, but he was far from disappointed as he added bait to his rod.
The afternoon started out quiet as they let their guide fill them in and make suggestions. They caught some keepers and tossed others back, and as promised, the man knew just where to take them to get good-sized pelagic fish on their hooks.
Cam was enjoying himself, having accepted whenever Henry cracked open a beer and passed it to him, then another one for himself. After several hours, or what Cam was guessing was enough time for Henry to know Cam would be more relaxed, he got the vague sense that the man was beginning to feel him out some more, but not as his boss, but rather as a dad to the beautiful woman back at the resort.
After several questions and many conversations, Henry said, “So, tell me about yourself, Cam. I know what you do for a living, but what do you do for fun?”
“I have a close group of friends back home,” he started. “We normally try to get together when our schedules allow it. It used to be more often, but as we get older it seems to get harder. Now that my friends are pregnant, I’m guessing we’ll make the hour drive more often to gather at their house. Wouldn’t miss seeing their little one grow up for the world.”
Henry made a grunt that sounded like agreement. “Family is important, don’t you think?”
“Absolutely.”
“Sometimes it’s not always the people you’re born with but the people you choose,” he added.
Cam swallowed and nodded, understanding exactly what he was saying and not saying. “I couldn’t agree more.”
“Me personally, I feel lucky to have my daughters, all three of them.” His inclusion of Emma in that statement was not lost on Cam. “As a father, my only interest is that I do what I can to protect them and that they’re happy.”
“It seems as though you’re doing a good job at that,” he responded.
Henry held his pole, the line still out in the water, as he turned to look at Cam. “I’m not as blind as those three may like to believe,” he said, making the hairs on the back of Cam’s neck raise. “I know what goes on in their lives, and I’m aware of the dynamics. I’d be a moron if I hadn’t gotten nervous when Lauren first told me she was dating Asher. Having raised girls, I know enough to understand that something like that could easily get in between friendships.” He cleared his throat. “However, I also know Emma like my own, and I could tell she wasn’t too banged up about it all. She’s a strong one, always has been.”
The last sentence was said with such pride that Cam wished Emma was here to witness it. However, he bet Henry did a good job making his love and how proud he was of her known already.
“I’d have to agree,” Cam said about her strength. “She’s a force of nature in the best way possible and I feel luckier than you could begin to imagine to be here with her.” Henry gave him a look that he couldn’t quite read, but the man gave a quick, sharp nod.
“As you should,” he said. “She’s something special. They all are. And though I was hesitant about it at first, I can see that Asher wasn’t a good fit for Emma. Sure, they’d made things work for a long time and were comfortable. And I do like him, don’t get me wrong there, I respect the man and am glad to know Lauren is happy. However, that doesn’t change the fact that his nature, although he meant good, was suffocating and overbearing to Emma, if it didn’t downright rub her wrong sometimes.” Henry let out a chuckle, giving Cam the impression that some memories were coming to mind.
“But that same nature speaks to a part of Lauren and compliments her nicely,” he said then shook his head, turning back to the water with a far-off gaze, as though he was deep in thought. “Sometimes it’s hard being a dad,” he admitted. “You don’t always get it right and you have to pick and choose when to offer your insight. I held my tongue when Emma was with Asher because I never saw it going anywhere.” He looked at Cam again, his eyes squinting at the edges of his sunglasses as if he was choosing his next words carefully.
Cam stayed quiet and let the man continue.
“You on the other hand,” Henry trailed off and Cam held his breath. “I like you for her, not that it’s my decision. You light her up in ways I’ve not seen her shine since she first walked in our front door, dealing with more than any kid her age should have had to shoulder.” He shook his head, not noticing the deep sigh of relief leaving Cam’s body.
“She’s happy and herself around you and I’m glad to see it,” he said matter of factly. “It’s not easy. Hell, it’s never easy worrying constantly about all three of them, but I’ll do it ‘til the day I take my last breath and then probably keep on doing it when I’m long gone.” Henry took a drink of his beer.
Cam smiled and did the same, battling a war raging inside him at the relief of having this man’s approval while kicking himself for being part of a lie that put Henry at ease thinking Emma was happy. Cam hoped he was making Emma happy, even if it was just by supporting her, though it was clear listening to Henry that she never needed to bring a pretend boyfriend on this trip. These people cared about her more than anything. Hell, he already cared about her just as much.
“Now just don’t go screwing it up,” Henry said to him.
Cam clenched his teeth, trying to silence the guilt and shame forming a pit in his stomach. “I can promise you that’s the last thing I ever want to do.” Then more to himself than Henry, he said, “There’s no one else I’d rather be with.”