She offered her cup and he refilled it, then his own.
“Valentina had a seizure and died when Mariana was five. I was on deployment.”
Cameron gasped.
“She didn’t want me to go on my last trip. Her mother always said she had a sixth sense about things and she was afraid for me. Turns out, she was the one we should have been concerned about. I’ll never forget when my CO called me into his office and told me that Valentina had died. I was frantic. I was immediately issued compassionate leave and headed for the States, but it took almost three days to get home. Three days of grief and fear for how Mariana was holding up while my parents rushed into town to comfort a heartbroken five-year-old.”
“That sounds awful.” Cameron’s eyes conveyed a compassion he wasn’t sure he deserved.
He hadn’t listened to Valentina’s concerns. Had put them off because he was doing his duty. “I came home to a little girl who was mourning her mother and I didn’t know what to do. I got a crash course in being a single parent. It was too much, so my parents moved to town to help. She stayed with them during my deployments. I hated leaving them when we moved here, but by taking this assignment at Ft. Dunwoody, I can give Mariana stability. My new job is non-deployable, which was why I applied for the position.”
“Is that what you want, to put down roots here?”
He couldn’t mistake the hope in her voice, but he had to be honest with Cameron. “I think so. I can’t deny that I miss the brotherhood with my old unit, the bonding that you have when you put your lives into each other’s hands. But this is the right decision for Mariana, and what’s best for her has to come first right now.”
“You’ve done a great job with her. She’s been a good friend to Lizzie—”
“And Lizzie has been wonderful to Mariana. It was so hard for her to be the new girl yet again, but since we’re near Ft. Dunwoody, I guess the kids around here are used to it. It seems, too, that our girls have gotten the idea that they’d benefit if the two of us spent time together.” He waved his hand over their picnic.
Cameron laughed. “Or the movies. Or the unplanned dinner. I’ve got to have another talk with Lizzie, because clearly the first one didn’t stick. These tricks need to stop.”
He linked his fingers with hers and held his breath. “As long as you agree that you’ll keep spending time with me. Without the girls’ meddling.”
She sighed. “I don’t know. I just don’t know.”
She may not be sure yet, but he was, and that was good enough for now. He extended the wine bottle again. “How about you have another glass of wine while we talk about how I can change that I don’t know to a yes?”
A bright light shone between them. “Evening, folks. What are we doing here tonight?”
He turned to see uniformed Park Police, two of them, towering over them. He leapt to his feet, Cameron right behind him. “Having a picnic, officer.”
“Is that a bottle of wine?”
Okay, so he looked young for his age, but was this guy really asking if he was old enough to drink? “I’m much older than twenty-one, officer. So is she.”
“Are you aware that it’s illegal to possess or consume alcohol on National Park land?”
Alex emptied his cup onto the grass behind him. “I wasn’t aware of that, no sir.”
He could see it now, being summoned into his CO’s office after getting a ticket for drinking on the National Mall. He’d never live it down. As the new guy, they were always looking for ways to tease him. It was all in good fun and expected when he transferred units, but this would feed the joke pool for weeks. Months, even.
Cameron’s expression remained neutral. It would be nice if she would join him on Freak-Out Street right about now, but she’d gone so calm he couldn’t tell if she was concerned about the officers glaring down at them.
The other officer scanned their picnic blanket. “Are those sandwiches with the crusts cut off and potato chips?”
Cameron finally jumped in. “Well, you see, officer—”
The officer held up his hand and gestured for Alex to lean in. “Just a little hint… if you want to romance a woman, you need to step up your game.”
The two officers laughed as they sauntered away. “Get rid of the wine… and have a nice evening.”
When Alex turned back around, Cameron was wiping tears from her eyes. Oh, shoot, she was upset, after all. He rushed to put his arms around her, but she pushed him away.
“Oh, honey. It’s all right. You don’t need to cry.”
Instead of sobbing, though, she guffawed. She literally laughed out loud at him, doubled-over and practically dancing in a circle. “Yeah, Alex, you need to step up your game.”
Relief filtered through him, making him a little giddy. “You think so, huh? Well, maybe you’re right.”
He lowered his head, ready to show her that he had plenty of game, but other voices interrupted him. No way was he getting caught making out on the Mall, not after he’d just avoided a ticket for illegally drinking. The guys at the office would never let him hear the end of that.
Chapter Five
Cameron shut the door behind her and dropped the picnic basket on the floor. She should have said no when Mom had suggested the outing. Alex had given her an out when they got to his car. Another check mark on her list: cared about her feelings. So many check marks, in fact, that Cameron couldn’t ignore the possibility any more.
And boy were there possibilities. As long as they could stay out of jail. She chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Good evening to you, too, Mother. I’m not sure I’m speaking to you right now. I can’t believe you conspired with the girls to send us on a picnic. And oh, by the way, did you know it’s against the law to drink wine on the National Mall? How did I learn that, you ask? From the two Park Police who approached our picnic.”
Mom’s eyebrows shot up under her hair. “Are you serious?”
“Thankfully they let us off with a warning, after a few choice words about the contents of our picnic. They were giving Alex pointers.”
“That’s pretty amusing.”
She couldn’t argue with that. Not to mention, sense of humor was on her list of attributes for the perfect guy, and Alex had multiple checks in that category. “Whose idea was it?”
“The girls. They wanted to do something special for you, and that word takes on a new meaning when you’re talking to ten-year-olds. They express their love by sharing their juice boxes and cutting the crusts off your sandwiches. I thought it was sweet.”
She couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Yeah, it was.” But her amusement was short-lived. Tonight’s date was different. They’d turned a corner and changed from being the parents of girls who were friends, to… what? She couldn’t put her finger on exactly how she would define her relationship with Alex.
He had almost kissed her.
Mom rested her hand on Cameron’s arm. “I was about to make myself a cup of coffee. How about you join me?” She grabbed two mugs out of the cabinet. “The girls finally dozed off about thirty minutes ago. I tell you, one is exhausting, but two of them together, and I am wiped.”
“I didn’t expect you to handle it alone. I’d planned on being here. That is, until I was hijacked by two ten-year-olds and their sixty-year-old co-conspirator.”
Mom shrugged as she poured coffee. “Someone had to give you a shove. You’ve been saying for years that you weren’t ready to date again. But I’ve been watching you. You like this man. Even if you’re not ready to admit it to yourself yet.”
Cameron stared into the dark, swirling liquid.
“Talk to me, sweetheart. What’s going through your mind?”
After the past few weeks, Cameron could use an ear to bend. “I’ve always wondered if Josh’s leaving had more to do with me than his need for adventure. And then when I first met Alex, he was wearing his uniform. In my mind, I thought he would be like Josh. Always having his eye o
n the horizon, never content to stay in one place. Not wanting to be with me.”
“You have to know that Josh’s leaving had nothing to do with you.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to shut down my inner critic.”
Mom sipped her coffee. “And now that you’ve had a chance to spend some time with Alex, what do you think?”
“They’re nothing alike. Alex talked a little bit about his deployments and his guilt over leaving his wife and Mariana. Did you know she died while he was overseas?”
Mom pressed her hand to her chest. “That poor man.”
“Alex opened up to me in a way I hadn’t expected. You know Josh never wanted to talk about serious or emotional things. Alex doesn’t keep his feelings bottled up.”
“Sounds like you guys got to know each other a lot better.”
“We did. And you’re right, I do like him… but I’m scared?”
“Of what?”
“Of falling in love with him and having him leave. I mean, he checks off a lot of boxes on my list, but—”
“Honey, you need to get rid of that ridiculous list. I wish you would stop thinking with your mind and start feeling with your heart. Falling in love with someone isn’t about ticking items on a list and measuring his pros and cons. It’s about whether he makes your heart soar.”
“I thought I had that with Josh and look how that turned out. And Alex is in the Army. He could be sent overseas at any time. How can anyone live like that?”
“A lot of men and women do. You’ve seen that for yourself, living in St. Judith.”
Cameron flopped her head into her arms. This was all too much. She’d married Josh and thought that was it. That she was done with dating and falling in love. But here she was, a single mother faced with that emotional turmoil all over again. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Cameron, look at me.”
Cameron lifted her head.
“You’ve been happier recently. Since you met Alex and started spending time with him, even if that time is in the presence of two precocious ten-year-olds. But I think the girls have the right idea. Alex is a good man, he’s a good father, and your daughters get along. If you ask me, that sounds like a solid foundation to build a relationship on. I’m not saying you can’t be cautious, but unless you plan to spend the rest of your life alone, you have to give yourself permission to be happy. Permission to fall in love again. And personally, I think Alex is the perfect man to explore a relationship with.”
Mom sipped her coffee like she hadn’t just completely turned Cameron’s life upside down. But Cameron couldn’t disagree with Mom’s words. Or the butterflies that built houses in her belly any time Alex smiled at her.
He had a great smile.
Maybe Mom was right and it was time to shove her fears down and take a chance.
Chapter Six
Alex brushed down his jacket and shifted the bouquet of flowers from hand to hand. He didn’t know why he was so nervous. This was just a date. With a beautiful woman.
Heck, he should have sprung for the roses. But she’d told him her favorite flower when she thought he’d sent them to her. After the dinner he thought he’d been invited to.
He and Mariana had been invited, just not by Cameron.
This time was different. He had called her two nights ago and asked if she would go out to dinner with him. She only hesitated a moment before saying yes.
And he’d been nervous ever since. It had been a long time since he’d officially asked a girl, no, a woman, out on a first date. High school, really, when he’d asked Valentina to go to the school dance. And he hadn’t dated since she’d died.
Yet here he stood, after leaving Mariana with his teenaged neighbor for the evening, about to go out to dinner with Cameron.
But not if he didn’t stop thinking about everything that could go wrong and ring the bell.
He drew in a deep breath and pressed the button.
The chime had barely finished ringing inside when Cameron opened the door.
And right behind her, the huge white dog that had nearly thrown up on his shoes the first day bounded across the living room.
He stepped into the house and slammed the door before the dog launched himself down the street. A runaway dog would derail their date for sure.
“Boomer!” Cameron yelled, but the warning came too late to stop Boomer from colliding with him. Alex threw his arms out. No luck. This dog was huge… and strong… and pressing his front paws to Alex’s chest.
“It’s the flowers.” Cameron reached unsuccessfully for the bouquet that he had painstakingly assembled this afternoon. “He loves flowers. Even though they are. not. good. for. him.”
Boomer swung his head back and forth, his thick nails digging into Alex’s chest, trying to reach his snack. Alex yanked the crushed blossoms out of the way and practically threw them at Cameron.
“Boomer, down,” she yelled as she held the flowers high above her head.
After two attempts, Alex grabbed Boomer’s collar and wrestled the dog away from Cameron.
“He’s not mean at all. I think he just doesn’t know his size. Or what not to eat. Or when to behave.” She slumped. “Okay, so he’s not a very good dog, but he’s the one Lizzie picked out from the shelter and I just couldn’t say no.”
“He’s, uh, very friendly.” Alex struggled against the huge shoulders of the sleek, white dog, as the pooch slobbered happily on his jacket. He turned his head away and grimaced. Boomer had some impressive doggie breath.
“Lizzie, come get Boomer.”
Lizzie bounded down the hall and skidded to a stop on the hardwood floor. “Hey, Mr. Sanchez. You look great.”
Cameron reminded her daughter why she’d been called. “Lizzie, the dog.”
Lizzie waved her hand. “Come on, Boomer.”
The dog immediately stopped struggling and pranced behind Lizzie on her way to the kitchen.
Alex exhaled and stood. Heck of a way to start a date.
“Oh, Alex. I’m so sorry.” Cameron stared and he looked down. The jacket he’d brushed lint off on the porch was now covered in hair and slobber, his tie was askew, and his shirt was half pulled out of his pants.
“No worries. This is all fixable.” He tucked his shirt in, straightened his tie, and brushed some hair off of his jacket. The slobber stain would dry—eventually.
“See, good as…” With Boomer the guard dog slash welcome wagon out of the way, Alex finally had a chance to really look at Cameron in a half-sleeved red dress that fit her perfectly and stopped just short of her knees.
“Alex?”
“Sorry. I was… uh, you look great.”
Her smile grew along with a slight color on her cheeks. “Thanks. Hold on just one minute. Mom?”
Barbara stepped into the living room.
“Can you put these in a vase in my room and close the door, please?”
“Absolutely. Hi, Alex. Nice to see you. You two have a great evening.”
Cameron grabbed a purse off the table and hurried out, Alex right behind her. As soon as he closed the door behind them, she heaved a huge sigh. “Just once, I’d like to have something go like it’s supposed to.”
He chuckled. He’d learned quickly that nothing was predictable when you had kids. Or dogs, apparently. “It’s fine.”
“I had asked Lizzie and Mom to deal with Boomer while you picked me up, but, well…”
“I was greeted by Boomer anyway.”
“I thought Lizzie had put him in his crate. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I knew what I was getting into when I asked you out. How about we put all that behind us and have a nice evening?” He motioned toward his car.
“Where are we headed?” she asked once he had pulled out of her driveway.
“I thought we’d go to dinner at the Army Navy Country Club.”
“Country Club. Impressive.”
“Naw. I think they stash the Warrant Officers out on the ninth green.”
She laughed. Good. That was what he was going for. Now he could relax. After Boomer’s welcoming embrace, the date had nowhere to go but up.
He tried to tell himself not to be nervous. This was the same Cameron who’d laughed with him and the girls over Italian food. The one who ate ham and cheese sandwiches with the crusts cut off because that was what their kids had made for them.
“Wow.” Cameron’s eyes widened as they wound through the expansive lawn of the country club after driving through the white gates. She gestured to a directional sign at the first fork in the road. “That’s the way to the golf course. I believe you said the ninth green?”
Good thing she appreciated his quirky sense of humor. It typically made an appearance when he was nervous. Like tonight.
But they didn’t need to rent golf carts to get to their table after all. A few minutes later, they were seated in a quiet corner of the main dining room. A huge chandelier glittered in the center of the room, illuminating the small open space in front of the quartet that played music quietly.
Cameron’s eyes sparkled as she unfolded her napkin into her lap. “You look handsome in that suit. I’ve always seen you in your uniform or in casual clothes. But you clean up nice.”
“Thanks. As I’m sure you appreciate, I don’t have a lot of chances to get dressed up. Going out means to the local deli or fast food. You look beautiful, by the way, in case I didn’t say it already.” He chuckled. He hated being nervous. Had he told her already that she looked nice? Before or after Boomer?
A pink tinge crept up her cheeks and she lowered her eyes. “Thanks. I don’t get many chances to dress up, either.”
“Hopefully I’ll give you many more opportunities.”
“I don’t know.” She waved her hand between the two of them. “I’m just not sure what this is.”
He linked his fingers with hers. She trembled. It was slight, but it was there. At least he wasn’t the only nervous one.
He didn’t have anything to be worried about, right? This was just Cameron. And she had agreed to go out with him. “In case you can’t tell, I’m attracted to you. You’re a great mother and intelligent and strong. And you’re the first person I’ve considered letting into Mariana’s life since her mother died.”
Mommy Loves The Military Man (Mommy's Little Matchmakers Book 2) Page 6