by Lisa Oliver
Cam’s Chance
Arrowtown Book 5
By Lisa Oliver
Cam’s Chance (Arrowtown #5)
Copyright © Lisa Oliver, 2019
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Cover Design by Lisa Oliver
Background and model images purchased from Shutterstock.com.
First Edition November 2019
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, Lisa Oliver. [email protected]
No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the internet or any other means, electronic or print, without permission from Lisa Oliver. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights and livelihood is appreciated.
Cam’s Chance is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Table of 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 Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Epilogue
About the Author
Other Books By Lisa/Lee Oliver
Dedication
To Amanda and Carla – as always, you lovely ladies make my words shine.
For the rest of you who are reading this – yes, I am talking to you personally – please remember how amazing you are, how you have more strength than you know, and how wonderful my world is with you in it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Chapter One
“I don’t want to hear about it. I’m not coming back!” Cam looked up, making sure the door to his office was firmly closed, before turning his attention back to the phone. “We’ve been through this a million times. I don’t care how much money you offer me…”
Cam frowned at his screen as a hissed amount came through.
“What the hell are you smoking? You don’t have that kind of money for a government contract.”
He raised his eyebrows as the voice on the other end of the phone spoke quickly.
“Oh, I see. It’s a private job. Your circumstances have changed now that your old man is dead. How sweet. You finally got your hands on all his money. Lord knows that’s all you’re ever concerned about. I’m still not interested.”
The voice on the other end rose in annoyance.
Cam had had enough. “No, you listen to me. We had a deal. You swore you would lose my number. I’ve cleaned up your messes a dozen times and after the shit that went down last time… NO. Stop right there,” he added as the voice tried to interrupt. “People died. My friends died. I’m not letting that shit happen again.”
The tone on the other end of the call went soft, cajoling, and Cam heaved a huge sigh. “There’s no point in trying to con me with that shit either, Austin. Threats and seductions just don’t work for me, and besides, I’ve seen your dick. I wasn’t impressed. You’d fuck a rattle snake if doing so meant you’d get your own way. Now, there’s a thought. How about you do that. But leave me out of it.”
Tapping the screen to end the call was never as satisfying as slamming down a phone receiver, but it would have to do. Leaning back in his chair, Cam ran his hands through the bristles on his head. After months of letting his hair and beard grow, he’d finally shaved it all off, head and face. He felt strangely naked without it all. But Arrowtown was in the middle of a heat wave, and since some stupid bear shifter had grabbed his hair the week before in an attempt to stop himself being thrown out, Cam decided some stringent personal grooming was in order.
“Fates save me from idiots and stupid people,” he muttered, his mind still on the call as he heard a knock on his office door. Righting himself in his chair, he looked down at the papers covering his desk, before calling out, “enter.” Looking up, he saw it was Darwin, an ex-stripper who was now one of his best bartenders. “What’s up?”
“Nothing much.” Darwin bounced in, flopping in the nearest chair. “The bar’s quiet. Just the locals in. Everything’s stocked for the evening crowd. I just came in to see if you wanted anything to eat, before I headed off for the night.”
“How are the little ones doing?” Cam had been as shocked as anyone else when Simon, Darwin’s mate gave birth to twins, in his shifted form no less. Even the Doc was sure Simon’s shift would kill the little ones, as it usually did with any non-furry shifter males who could give birth. But no. It seemed Simon’s snake form was the only way a male of his kind could give birth and the twins had been running Darwin and Simon ragged ever since.
“They’re walking, already. Can you believe it?” Darwin ran his hand over his forehead. “I swear the only peace I get is when I come in here.”
Cam hid his smirk by rubbing under his nose. “You know, if you’re ever getting too tired and want some time off…”
“No. No.” Darwin shook his head quickly. Then he groaned. “Gods, doesn’t that make me sound like a horrible parent? But Simon is just so calm and good with them. Throw up, tantrums, teething, and that’s all times two because of course those little darlings do everything together. Simon just takes it all in his stride. I swear that man’s a saint in a snake skin.”
“He has the added benefit of being able to work from home most times,” Cam agreed. “But the offer’s there. I’m sure I can get Nicky or Sue to cover for you if you want to spend more time bonding with Sebastian and Thomas.”
“I do bond with them,” Darwin said with a glower. “The last time I ended up covered in glue and a million shades of glitter. It took me a week to get it all out of my hair.”
“I did wonder if you were trying out a new look.” Cam let his grin show this time. “But no, thank you. I grabbed a sandwich earlier. Everything is all quiet in here. I can run the bar until Nicky comes in. You head off home and enjoy some quality family time.”
Darwin pushed himself out of his chair. “I adore my twins with everything I have and would die for them in a heartbeat. But I swear, if I don’t get some quality Simon time soon, I’m not going to be responsible for my behavior.”
Cam’s grin widened. “Sounds like you need to get laid. That might improve your mood. Why don’t you get Seth to babysit for a night? I’m sure he could handle two extra little ones for one night.”
“Hmm, that could be an idea. We haven’t done that for a while.” Darwin’s smile was a lot lighter now. “Yeah, I’ll do that. See i
f I can’t drag that man of mine out for a good meal and a night of passion. Could be fun.”
Sauntering over to the door, Darwin turned just as he opened it. “Hey, did you see a new bakery opened up in town? Just next to Mrs. Hooper’s store. The smells coming out of that place are amazing. Could be an idea to put in an order – see if they want to supply us with lunches now that Mary’s handed in her notice. I know you tried Hazel at the diner, but she’s already too busy with her own business. This place is new, and you still haven’t got the catering ordered for Mary’s going away party.”
“Shit, I’d forgotten about that.” Cam rustled through his papers. “When’s Mary leaving again?”
“Friday.” Darwin chuckled. “I’ve already organized her gift and charged it to the bar. The rest of the staff are coming in Friday lunch for her farewell. I mentioned the bakery because I thought it might be an idea to call them and see if they can cater for say fifty people at short notice. Think of it like a sort of job interview for them.”
“Well, we can’t have Mary cooking on her last day, can we.” Cam gave up on his papers and reached for his phone. “I’ll call Mrs. Hooper and get the bakery number. Go on. You’ve done your bit. Get home to your twins.”
“I’m calling Seth first. You call the bakery pronto and then get your ass out to the bar. Dave Hooper is in with his cronies. You know what they get like when their glasses are empty.” Darwin nodded as he left, closing the door quietly behind him.
“I thought Mrs. Hooper had that old fart on a drink budget,” Cam grumbled even though Darwin had gone. But the young mouse shifter was right. Dave Hooper should be his first priority. Pocketing his phone, Cam got up, stepping around his cluttered desk and headed out to the bar. He could make his call after he’d made sure Dave wasn’t helping himself. The last thing he wanted on a quiet weekday afternoon was to deal with a drunk buffalo shifter on a bender – or Mrs. Hooper’s wrath if he let it happen.
/~/~/~/~/
Fergus was in the process of transferring a huge tray of buns from the oven to the bench top when the phone rang. Without missing a beat, he slid the bun tray onto the counter, and reached over to swipe up the phone. “Arrowtown Bakery. What delectable delights can the Fabulous Fergus send your way today?”
A cough sounded on the other end and then a deep chuckle sent shivers down Fergus’s spine. “Fabulous Fergus, ha?” The chuckle was still there. “Well this is the not-so-fabulous Cam, from the bar at the end of the main street. I don’t think we’ve met.”
“Er… Yes, no.” Fergus wanted to fan himself. That voice! Makes my insides all mushy. “I mean, I’ve seen the bar obviously, but I haven’t had a chance to call in and introduce myself yet. Bakery hours are the opposite of yours, I reckon.”
“Hmm, they probably are.”
What is this man? He sounds better than a double chocolate chip cookie smothered in chocolate sauce.
“Anyhow, I wanted to talk to you about the delectable delights you’re promising,” Cam continued.
Me, on a platter, covered in chocolate and strawberries. “Yes.” Fergus’s voice squeaked and he cleared his throat and tried for a deeper tone. “I mean, yes, of course, how can we help you today? I was told you have a fully functioning kitchen.” Fergus knew, because Mrs Hooper, who’d rented him his space, told him the bar and the local diner were his only other competition in town and that they stuck to home-cooked basics instead of pastries and breads.
“We do have a kitchen, yes,” Cam seemed pleased Fergus knew that much. “But my bartender Darwin was suitably impressed with the smells coming from your establishment, he recommended you for the catering of a lunch we’re giving on Friday for one of our staff who’s leaving. You could think of it as a prelude to future business opportunities if it helps.”
Helps what? The bakery had only been open two weeks, but already Fergus was seeing a profit. However, he didn’t have it in him to alienate one of the longest running businesses in his new town. It just wasn’t in his nature. “That is very sweet of you to think of helping me. I’m sure we’ll have plenty to discuss after the luncheon. Can you tell me, how many people, shifter types expected, and so on?”
Fergus listened with half an ear, scribbling down details, his mind already planning what he’d have to do to fill such a large order, while still keeping his fledgling business stocked, all on such short notice. He was going to be working until midnight just to keep up. He only came out of his business mindset when Cam said, “I’ll look forward to meeting you on Friday.”
“What?” Fergus dropped his pencil. Bending down, he clipped the side of his head on the counter. Ouch. Fergus rubbed his head, before bending to retrieve his pencil. “No, no, I won’t be there. Someone has to keep the ovens burning here, you know. But you have my assurance, my staff will be there at eleven thirty on Friday. They will set up, serve, and clear everything away afterwards. Thank you so much for your business. Have a fantabulous day.”
Dropping the phone on the counter, Fergus sprawled across it, letting out a long sigh. His whole body thrummed, and that was just from hearing Cam’s voice. I am in so much trouble, he thought, vowing he would avoid the enigmatic Cam as much as possible. The last thing he wanted as a new business owner was to be seen as an easy lay.
“Boss, boss?” Sarah, his assistant came running in and gasped seeing him prone across the counter. “What’s wrong? I heard you groaning.”
“Did I groan?” Fergus turned his head and eyed his new friend from the counter. “Of course, you heard me with your cute little bunny ears. I can assure you, any noise coming from my lips wasn’t intentional.” He sighed as he pushed himself upright again. “We have an order. A big catering job for Friday and I need…”
“Oh, who is it for? Where?” Sarah grabbed one of the fresh buns off the tray and started pulling bits off and nibbling them. “Wow, these taste so good. I’m so glad I’m a shifter and run around a lot, or I’d weigh a ton working here.”
“I weigh a ton in my shifted form anyway,” Fergus picked up a bun of his own. “Now, where was I? Oh yes, So Cam called, from the bar…” He trailed off expectantly and Sarah didn’t disappoint.
“Oh, my gods, you talked to Cam? Isn’t he dreamy?” Clasping her bun in her hands, Sarah sighed. “But he doesn’t look at little bunnies like me. He’s got that, ‘I’m a big tough military man’ type vibe going on, and oh, but he’s so sweet too. Like when Doc needed a scanning machine for the pregnant people, he had a fundraising night, and they raised heaps of money. Of, course that was the night the sheriff raided the bar – not the new sheriff but the old one and then…”
“Are you telling tales out of school, Sarah?” Deputy Joe’s head peered around the door. “I came in for a coffee and to see if you had any of those white chocolate and raspberry muffins left, but there was no one at the counter.”
“Joe.” Fergus beamed. He’d taken a liking to the big buffalo shifter the moment he saw him. Even though Joe was actually checking him out for security purposes, making sure Fergus wasn’t one of his long distant relatives, the two men got on from day one. “I put your muffin aside for you, figuring you’d be in. How’s your adorably grouchy other half? And those equally adorable twins of yours?”
“Petra is babbling every waking moment, and Finch seems to love listening to her. As for Doc, he’s just as grouchy, but I’d never want him to change.” Deputy Joe stepped in twirling his hat on his finger. “Did I hear you talking about Cam over at the bar?”
“He’s so dreamy,” Sarah said with another sigh. Her bun was almost gone. “And oh, he called, and he gave Fergus a big order. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“That’ll be for Mary’s going away party, I reckon,” Joe said with a smile. “That could be regular business for you, if you can get it Fergus. You’ll have to wow him with your muffins.”
“I wow everyone just by walking down the street,” Fergus said with a toss of his hair, but he grinned to show he was teasing. “Okay, so we abso
lutely have to make sure the order is our best yet. I need to tempt Cam’s taste buds. What type of shifter is he?”
Joe tapped the side of his nose and shook his head. “No one knows, but he’s the only one of his kind in this town. I do know he can make a bear, a wolf, or a lion nervous, so don’t get on the wrong side of him.”
I’d far rather be under him, calling his name, Fergus thought with a sigh. Shaking off any sexy thoughts, because that really wasn’t appropriate in his spotless kitchen, he grabbed a piece of paper and started planning a menu to wow the man with the spine-tingling voice.
Chapter Two
Cam stood near the back of the bar, keeping a wary eye on things as staff and locals alike made the most of Mary’s going away party. Mary, a cute lioness with a sassy nature and a strong right hook, had met her mate not ten feet from where Cam was standing. Now, her belly had swollen so big she could barely see her toes and her mate had finally put his foot down and insisted she give up her work so she could stay home and prepare for the litter they were expecting.
Rubbing his chest, Cam ignored the way his errant thoughts of family and litters tinged the corner of his brain and poured himself a large whiskey. He never got drunk but having a glass in hand was a good way of stopping him reaching for his phone. Ever since hearing ‘Fabulous Fergus’s’ voice three days before, Cam couldn’t stop thinking about the man and that was unusual enough to bother him.
His affairs, if they could be called that, lasted from five to twenty minutes long depending on how urgent his need and how well a person moved. He made a point of never fucking anyone who lived in town, although his office desk at the back of the bar saw a bit of action from visitors moving through town. But the operative word was ‘through’. Cam never thought twice about a person after his cock was tucked back in his pants again, and he made sure to only scratch an itch with people who had the same attitude.