“That chapter’s already been written.” She rounded his chair and sat on the sofa across from him.
“Doesn’t mean it can’t happen again.”
“Look, Cameron.” Hope closed her eyes and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands. “This is sweet and all, a lovely romantic gesture, but there’s a bigger problem lurking between us.”
“I know. I’m not good enough for you—”
“See? That’s the problem.” She looked up and scowled. “I don’t have a problem with your past. I know you were wrongly accused, not only by the judge and your parents, but also by me. I’ve forgiven myself and you, but you haven’t. I get why it’s hard for you to trust in others, but you have to let some of it go or we’ll never have a future. I’m not embarrassed by your past. I’m proud of you. Of what you’ve done with your life, of the person you became despite the shit you’ve been through. Cameron.” She inched closer to him, holding his hands in hers. “You’re an inspiration to others, not a disgrace. But if you can’t see yourself like that, if you continue to doubt my love for you, I don’t know how we can go on. I can’t be with someone who doesn’t trust me, who is always looking for the loophole.”
He shook his hands free from hers and scrubbed them across his face, then jumped to his feet and paced the bookstore. “Wow,” he muttered, more to himself than to Hope. She heard him utter a string of curse words under his breath as he scratched his head, pulling the short crop of hair that had grown back.
“Okay.” Cameron stopped in front of her, his fingers laced together behind his neck. “Let me get this straight.” He ran his tongue across his teeth and took a deep breath. “You love me. Even with my past, my present, how I lost Delaney, and may always be a target when a crime’s been committed. Even though my future isn’t spectacular. I make a decent living but can’t give you everything you deserve. And you still love me.”
“You’re finally listening.”
“Why?”
Hope stood and touched his chest. “I love this.” She slid her hands higher, cupping his head. “And I love what’s in here.” She trailed her fingers down his cheeks, stopping at his mouth. “And this. You’re a good man, Cameron Smithfield, if only you’d believe in yourself.”
“Sweetheart.” Cameron leaned his forehead against hers, tears sliding down his cheeks. “You mean the world to me. I know I don’t deserve you, but I’m going to work my ass off every day to prove how much I love you, to show you how much you mean to me. You and Delaney.”
“I know it will take time for you to have faith in me, in us.”
“See, this is where I’m not patient. I don’t want to wait any longer. Marry me, Hope. Be with me forever.”
This wasn’t what she had expected. Hope dropped her hands from his waist and touched her fingers to her mouth. “Oh.”
“That was an Oh, not a No, right?” His face twisted from humor to doubt to concern.
“I didn’t...I...I...” Her belly tingled, her heart raced, and her breathing became labored. Cameron wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Joy and elation ran through her veins and she wanted to dance around the bookstore and sing from the rooftops. But she couldn’t move. She wanted to freeze this moment in time for just a bit longer.
“It’s okay if you need time. You don’t have to answer me today. This wasn’t how I’d planned the proposal anyway.”
“You planned one?” So he’d thought about this and hadn’t just said the words as a way to end their argument, which had stopped being an argument the second he walked through the door and wooed her and her friends with his love story. With their love story.
“I did. And every time you’ve teased me I wanted to pop the question, just to show you how little patience I have when it comes to you.” Cameron reached for her hand, tugging her close. “And I mean that in a good way. You try my patience every day, Hope.”
“I do?”
“Hell yeah. With those seductive eyes and your slick curves.” His hands made a path down her sides along her ribs, stopping to clutch at her hips. “From the first day I met you outside your dorm, I’ve done all I can to contain my feelings for you. I’m worried I’ll scare you with the intensity of my emotions. I never knew love, never even thought about it, but your smile. When you directed it toward me I felt like...hell. I felt whole. Like I was worth something. I loved you then. And I love you now. I never stopped. I never will.”
Waves of emotion chilled her entire body, and his love warmed her soul. “I loved you then too. That’s why...I never would’ve slept with Justin if we didn’t have that time in New York. I thought it was you. Delaney. She’s here because of you. You’re more than her uncle, Cameron.”
He touched the pad of his thumb to her cheek and wiped away a tear she didn’t know had escaped. “I’ll be a good father to her. And husband to you.”
“I know you will.”
Cameron drew her body into his, cradling her face in his hands, and kissed her. It was slow and passionate and spoke of promises and forever. He broke the kiss too soon and dropped his hands to her waist.
“You need to finish this chapter.” He licked his lips, and she longed for them to be back on hers. With a gentle squeeze around her waist, he released her and picked up the book he’d carried in with him. “Open it,” he said, handing it to her.
There was no title etched into the red leather fabric, no gold lettering on the spine like she expected. Curious, she trailed her finger along the corner of the pages—there had to be close to 500—before opening it, a slight creak and snap from the book making the only sound in the room.
The title page was written in a different language. Spanish, French, German, she hadn’t a clue. Hope lifted her gaze to Cameron, curious and confused.
“Keep reading.”
“I can’t. I don’t know the language.”
“You’ll figure it out.” He nudged his elbow against hers, and she turned the pages.
“Oh.” Cut from the middle of the book was a square, and inside a small black box. Keeping the book open, she clutched it to her chest and looked back up at him.
“Open it.”
Hope lowered the book to the coffee table and took the box from its hole. She caressed the black velvet, knowing what was inside. It didn’t matter what the ring looked like, she’d say yes. Heck, she said yes before he gave her a ring.
Or did she? In her mind she did, but Hope didn’t think she said the words to him yet. Wanting him to understand it was about him and not the ring, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him hard. “Yes,” she said in between breaths. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
She jumped into his arms and he fell back into the recliner, both of them laughing when they bumped noses.
“You don’t even know what’s inside the box.”
“I don’t care. I’m marrying you anyway.” She smothered his face in kisses, and he nipped at her bottom lip until she slowed down.
“You’re forgetting there’s twenty feet of windows looking in on us right now and twenty bucks says Thing Number One, Two, and Three are out there looking in.”
“Let them look,” she teased, but toned down on the kisses. Her life was an open book and she didn’t mind people seeing in, especially now that she had Cameron in her life.
“So this last chapter in the book, how does it end?” he asked, taking the ring box from her and opening it up.
A beautiful, small and perfect princess cut diamond twinkled up at her. Hope held out her left hand, and he slipped the ring on.
“It doesn’t end. It’s just the beginning.”
“I like the sound of that. Do you like the ring?”
Hope wiggled her finger, loving how the light reflected off it, but more importantly, loving that it came from Cameron.
“It’s perfect. But when did you have time to get it? Two weeks ago you made it sound like we were over, and it was only a few hours ago I let you have it at the diner.”
/>
Cameron stroked her hair, pushing it out of her eyes for her. “I got it in Portland when you were with Delaney at her rehearsal.”
“You wanted to marry me then?”
“No,” he said, kissing her again. “I wanted to marry you the first time I met you.”
EPILOGUE
“WE SHOULD MAKE NEW Year’s resolutions,” Lily said, a glass of champagne in one hand, a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie in the other.
Hope couldn’t help but be a tad envious of how glamorous her friend looked, even sitting on a slightly battered couch in Books by the Ocean, nestled in a small Maine town; the woman always had a flair of elegance to her.
“We know what Alexis and Hope’s will be, now that they’re getting lucky every night.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?” Hope refilled her champagne glass, admiring her engagement and wedding rings in the light. Cameron had debunked his reputation of being a patient man, insisting they get married as soon as possible. Little did Hope realize he meant New Year’s Eve.
They’d hired a justice of the peace and said their vows in the snowy night at the vineyard and then partied all night with their families, friends, and neighbors. It was perfect.
“Babies. You’ll want them. No offense to Sophie, she’s a doll. Pretty soon our book group is going to turn into Mommy and Me play dates.”
“We have a few years to go before we’re restructuring our get-togethers,” Alexis said. She’d left Sophie at home with Ben, enjoying her champagne.
“You’re just grumpy because it’s your turn to be the designated driver.” Jenna popped a second bottle, refilling all the glasses but Mia’s.
“That’s partly true. So, Lily, what would your resolution be?”
“Me? Oh, I don’t know. Something for the spa. Maybe offer more services or revamp my website.”
“Boring.” Mia cracked open the tab of her diet soda. “How about finding a guy? I’ve been wanting to set you up for sometime. What do you say? Double date soon?”
Hope studied Lily as she bit her lip nervously.
“I don’t know. I’m kind of shy and really don’t have time to date right now.”
Lily had come to town almost two years ago, and little was known about her past other than she’d spent some time in Europe.
“Holy crap.” Alexis shot up, spilling half her champagne down her shirt. “My sister’s here.” She leaped over the coffee table and ran toward the front door of the bookstore.
Hope heard a lot of screeching, a few sniffles, then Alexis returned with her sister.
“Guys. This is my sister, Grace. Grace, you may remember Hope. She went to our high school. She graduated a few years ahead of me. You may have been too young to remember.”
“Gee. Thanks. Make me feel like an old grandma,” Hope teased and gave Grace a hug.
She looked nothing like her auburn haired sister. Grace had a gorgeous tan, long blonde hair, and blue eyes shadowed in smoky makeup and thick eyeliner. It looked stunning on her, though.
“I know you from the restaurant, right? The Happy Clam?”
“Sorry,” Alexis said. “I don’t see my sister much, and I forget she hasn’t been home since high school.”
“No need for the drama, Alexis.” Grace smiled politely at Mia. “You’re Ty’s sister, right?”
“Great. Another one of his conquests or groupies, which one?” Mia growled.
“Neither. We live in a small town. He’s hard to miss.”
“Have you met Jenna?” Alexis asked.
Jenna stood and reached out her hand to shake. “I moved here about five years ago. We may have run into each other before, though.”
“Maybe.” Grace cocked her head and furrowed her brow. “You look familiar too. But you’re not from around here, are you?” she asked Lily.
“Uh, no,” Lily stammered, letting her hair hang in front of her face. “Nice to meet you, Grace.”
“We’ve met.”
“Doubtful.” Alexis handed Grace a champagne glass. “You haven’t been back since Lily moved here. She owns the Sea Salt Spa. It’s heavenly. Knowing you, you’ll be there a lot. Lily, she’ll be your best customer.”
“Wonderful.” Lily set her glass down and picked up her coat. “I need to go. There’s...work. I...bye, ladies.” She hurried past them, leaving without her usual hugs all around.
“I hope she’s okay.” Hope wanted to follow her, but knew Lily liked her privacy. She’d check up on her in the morning.
Her cell phone chimed and she dug it out of her pocket, smiling when a picture of Cameron popped up.
Delaney’s spending the night at McKenna’s. House to ourselves. Hurry home. Now that I’m married, I’ve lost all my patience.
Hope snorted and typed a quick reply:
I’ve been drinking champagne. Mia is DD. I have to wait for her to bring me.
She waited for his response. When he didn’t reply, she tossed her phone into her purse and pretended to be engaged in the group conversation, which once again wasn’t about books. Mia had asked Grace about Europe while Alexis sat close by, seemingly intrigued by the conversation, but Hope knew from their girls’ nights out that she always felt like a number two when Grace was around.
At least she had Ben and Sophie. Jenna was engrossed asking questions about the museums and sculptures while Mia asked about the men. Typical.
Hope finished her glass of champagne, wishing she were cuddled with Cameron when the bell above the door chimed. She looked up and smiled wide as her husband walked through the door.
“You guys aren’t fighting, are you? Or are you here to write another chapter?” Mia rolled her eyes and kicked her feet up on the coffee table.
“Ladies.” Cameron tilted his head to the group. “I hate to steal my wife, but she’s needed at home.”
“Is Delaney okay?” Alexis asked.
“She’s at a friend’s.” Cameron’s eyes twinkled, and the group groaned.
“Get a room!” they hollered.
“That’s the plan.” He picked up Hope’s coat and held it out for her. “Have a lovely evening.”
“Who’s that?” Hope heard Grace ask.
“The latest book boyfriend come to life.”
THE END
Acknowledgments
Writing is a solo job. It can be hard to get motivated to write. My sprint girls, however, have given me so much inspiration and motivation to get the words down. Thank you to Natalina Reis, Alisha Vincent, and Sara Schoen for being my go-to girls. Whenever I need a boost, you’ve totally got my back.
Designing covers isn’t my specialty either which is why I’m extremely grateful for JM Walker at Just Write Creations. Seriously. I write you a narrative of what I think I like, what I sort of like, what I don’t like, and what I might want for a cover, and you patiently worked on countless drafts with me until we got it right. I absolutely love what you created for Where There’s Hope.
So we have a book and we have a cover, but some of the words and grammar and punctuation end up being a mess. Thank you to Silla Webb for her amazing editing skills. You helped turn some of my nonsense into a beautiful story.
And what would a book be without readers? To my Ricecakes, you ladies are invaluable. I appreciate you all so very, very much. Your encouragement, kind words, and dedication truly mean the world to me.
Of course, there’d be no book without the love and support of my family. Thank you for accepting and not questioning my need to retreat to write. I love you dearly. Without you, none of this would be possible.
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About the Author
Marianne Rice writes contemporary romantic fiction set in small New England towns. She loves high heels
, reading romance, scarfing down dark chocolate, gulping wine, and Chris Hemsworth. Oh, and her husband and three children. You can follow her all over social media, and keep up to tabs with her latest releases on her website: www.mariannerice.com
Read more at Marianne Rice’s site.
Where There's Hope_A Well Paired Novel Page 28