“How’s work going?”
“Great!” I latch on to that so hard I almost shout the word. “Super. I love it.”
His eyes widen. “Does my beard bother you that badly?”
“No. Why?” It really doesn’t. In fact, I think it’s sexy and—well, let’s just say I won’t be sharing what I really think of it with Knight. It will cross boundaries that have been set in place for almost a month now.
“You’re acting weird.”
“Maybe I’m taking lessons from Quinn.”
He laughs, his white teeth flashing in the semi-dark. “That would not be a good idea. “
Glaring at him playfully, I cross my arms over my chest. “Why not?”
“Because I like you the way you are.”
Cue swoon. I let my arms fall. “I met the mother of one of your ex-girlfriends.”
“Oh no.” He shakes his head “Whatever she said, I swear it’s probably true.”
I laugh. “Ariel ring a bell?”
He winces. “Yeah. Old high school flame.”
“I’m pretty certain her mother poisoned my donuts for marrying you before Ariel had a change to reconnect with you... um...” I rub my temple. “Maybe I should stop going to Bette’s.”
“Shit, Cam. I don’t want things to be awkward for you.”
“They are already are. Since I agreed, too, there’s no use in getting upset about it.”
“Except you are upset.”
“I don’t like getting in the way, and I don’t like feeling as if I’m the other woman.”
“Trust me, you’re not.”
“But I am. I basically snapped up an otherwise eligible bachelor under false pretenses.”
“Stop right there.” He rubs his hand over his face. “I’m not a commodity. I haven’t lived there in years, sweetheart. If—and this isn’t meant to be an insult—it wasn’t you, I’d eventually be with someone else. It was wrong of Ariel’s mother to put you in a position you couldn’t defend.”
“What position would that be?”
“My wife,” he says softly, and chills run down my spine.
“But I’m not.”
“They don’t know that, and it looks like word is getting around, too.” His gaze drops lower, as if he’s trying to see something off screen.
“What?”
“Quinn yelled at me via text for not replacing the rings you lost.”
I close my eyes and drop my head into the palms of my hands. “Barron asked me point blank about them, and Quinn... she’s beside herself over engagement rings right now because some woman whose family owns a paper mill is marrying Barron.”
When silence greets me, I peek at Knight through my fingers. He looks so thoughtful I uncover my face completely. “What’s wrong?”
“Just odd he didn’t tell me.”
“We didn’t tell them about us, and we have a baby,” I point out. “Maybe he’s not the sharing type.”
“Barron?” He gives me an incredulous look. “He used to sneak his report cards into our family Christmas cards. The guy has no shame.”
“Well, maybe—”
The baby monitor picks up Hazel as she starts to fuss.
“Is that my baby girl?’” he asks, a smile making his face light up.
“Yeah, uh, give me like a minute and I’ll be right back.” Without waiting for an answer, I dash to her room, covering her faces with kisses as I pick her up.
“Wanna see Knight? He’s waiting for you.” I change her diaper in record time, sanitize my hands, and grab a burp cloth before heading back to the living room. “Here she is,” I sing out.
“Hazel,” Knight calls. Astonished, I watch my daughter immediately start searching for him. Her eyes get all big as soon as she realizes that he’s, well, he’s in my phone. “You need a bigger screen.”
“As soon as I—”
“I have an iPad that’s never been opened in my office. I had it shipped there to give River for Christmas, but Auntie Quinn beat me to it.”
“I can’t take that.”
“And I can’t take it back.” He waves at Hazel, and she coos at him. “Guess she doesn’t mind the beard.”
“That’s because you look like a bear, and she likes bears.”
“Harsh, woman.” He clutches at his chest, and I roll my eyes. “Maybe next time, she can wear the necklace I got her.”
“Oh, she does wear it, except when she sleeps. I can’t... I’m too much of a worry-wart to chance it. I’m sure it’s fine, but—”
“No need to apologize for being an amazing mom,” he assures me. “Man, she is beautiful, Cam. Just like you.”
A flush of heat runs through me at his praise, but before I can thank him, Hazel starts to get fussy. “It’s pre-dinner dinnertime.” I lift my shirt and hunker down slightly, so I don’t flash him. Once Hazel is nursing, I take a deep breath and focus on Knight again. He has a bemused look on his face... “What?”
“You’re glowing. Being in Castle Beach is good for you and Hazel.”
“I’ve been walking home each day.”
“There’s a car—
“I know, but seriously, Knight, I need to be able to provide some things on my own. And my two feet work really, really well.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
I sit back a little, letting out a groan. “However, I’m not going to lie and say I don’t wish my new job included free massages.”
“I can take care of that when I get back. Personally.” His eyes grow heated and for once, he’s not throwing money my way. “But only if you want me to.”
I swallow. I do want him to. I want... I want what I can’t have because I can’t have a one-sided relationship filled with nothing but the baggage I bring into it. This man deserves so much more than that.
“Knight, I...”
“You’re all I think about, Campbell. I know you think you owe me, but the day we met in Atlanta, I think you saved me. And now, now you’re saving my family. In the last three weeks, I’ve spoken with my siblings more than I have in the past six years. That’s a lot of talking and catching up, sweetheart, and it’s all thanks to you. It’s not perfect by any means, but it means a lot to me.” The honesty in his voice makes me want to cry.
“You’re all I think about, too,” I admit. “I don’t like going one day without talking to you. Isn’t that too much?”
He leans forward in his chair, his silver eyes piercing. “I’m of the opinion that when you know it, you simply know it. And I know, Campbell, that you’re it. In the meantime, we can take it as slow or as fast as you want.”
“You mean... like date my fake husband?” I ask, nervous laughter bubbling up.
He grins. “Yeah, like date your fake husband. Think of it this way. We can’t do anything but talk, so I think we’ll know faster than most if things will work out.”
“I thought I was it?”
“You are, but you have to believe it, too.”
WITHOUT QUINN AND BARRON as buffers, dinner at the King house is a quiet affair, even with River and Hazel at the table with us.
Luckily, I catch Knight’s niece on a good day. She’s full of life and talks a mile a minute about everything she thinks about. Her father, Knight’s oldest brother, pays attention, but he, by no means, is as gregarious.
As for Ophelia... she’s like a sad princess out of a fairy tale with her dark hair, pale face, and miserable eyes. She can’t stop looking at the beach while she picks at her food. I don’t blame her. If the love of my life went missing, I’d go looking for him, too.
Especially since a body still hasn’t been found.
Jane Ellen does her best to keep the conversation going with me, but even she stops talking after a while. However, I don’t think she’s sad like Ophelia. I get the sense she refuses to be anymore.
Or at least she’s not going to be when we’re around her.
In private, we all let our guards down.
While River plays peek-a-boo with Hazel, I tr
y to engage Duke in conversation. “Knight said the family business is in shipping.”
“It is. I don’t know how much he shared with you, but we’ve made a lot of strides since KGS went under ten years ago.”
“That’s good news. My father owns a financial advisory business and he always said if you wait long enough, a fortune lost can be found again. I guess he meant things are cyclical.”
Duke nods. “I’d agree with that.” He turns to Jane Ellen. “River and I have to leave soon. I promised Laken I’d—”
“I don’t want to go,” River says, shoving her chair back. “You can’t make me.”
“River.” Duke grabs her chair and pushes it into place again. “We can talk about this in the car.”
“You don’t bother to listen to me. No one does.” She screws up her face, and I can practically see the storm clouds rolling in. “If you cared about me, you wouldn’t force me to spend time with her.”
“She’s your mother,” Duke says patiently, but I can tell this isn’t the first time they’ve had this conversation. “She wants to get to know you. Give her a chance.”
“I hate her.” This time, she shoves back her chair and runs from the table, her legs carrying her up the stairs, feet pounding loudly as she goes.
“Sorry about that.” Duke exhales, getting to his feet and walking in the same direction River ran. “I’ll go talk with her.”
Ophelia rises, pushing on the table for support it seems. “I’m going home. Thank you for dinner.”
Jane Ellen sighs thickly. “At least let me call for a car, dear.”
“No, but thank you.” Ophelia pastes a smile on her face. “It was really nice to meet you. I’m sorry I wasn’t friendlier, but I don’t have it in me right now.”
“That’s okay. I’ll be here when you’re ready.” I don’t know why I say this, or even if I will be here, no matter if Knight and I do date over the Internet or not.
As soon as everyone is out of earshot, I lean over to Jane Ellen, who looks as if she’s dying to say something.
“Out with it.”
“Are you going to leave my son?”
I nearly choke on my water. “What?”
“Clearly, our family has issues, and a past we’re trying to break free from... and with Laird... are you the kind of woman who can face that sort of thing head on and stay?”
“I didn’t marry Knight’s family.” Reaching for her hand, I capture it easily and squeeze. “But I did gain a family when I moved here.”
Her chin trembles. “I miss him.”
“Me, too, and he’ll be back before you know it.”
She smiles. “Won’t that be wonderful?”
I hope so.
Chapter 16
Knight
“LAST NIGHT I DREAMED I was surfing with Laird.”
Campbell’s face softens, but she doesn’t press me for more. Like every time we talk, she waits for me to gather my thoughts. I try to do the same for her, especially when she’s had a rough day with Hazel and she’s the only one who can console the baby.
I wish like hell I was there with her to help, and not just because I’m stuck in a country where we’re not wanted.
“He was laughing at me because I kept wiping out—so not like me. I’m an expert surfer.”
Campbell nods, a teasing light in her eyes. “Of course.”
As I pace the tent I’m living in, I toss the football one of the former residents left behind up and down. “Just wait until I get back.”
“You say that a lot.”
I glance at her. “I mean that a lot.”
“I’m simply hoping you can live up to the hype.” She shrugs a little, her loose shirt sliding off one creamy shoulder, so low that I get a glimpse of the uppermost swell of her breast.
I swallow hard at the sight, and my dick stirs.
“So far, I have to wait until you get back to see you surf, cook a steak on the grill, take me to the boardwalk, teach Hazel how to properly dig for sand fiddlers, fly a kite...” She taps each finger as she goes. “Did I miss anything?”
“Back rub.”
She snaps her fingers. “That’s right. But I’ve had that promised before and wonk, wonk, wonk... I was a sad trombone with a sore back.”
A part of me is jealous, because I know she’s serious, but the other part of me, the part that craves Campbell’s happiness, is pleased she’d say something like that. It means she trusts me with her past, and that’s she comfortable joking around about it, too.
“I’m going to do you so good.” I sway my hips back and forth, miming rubbing her back at the same time. “You’re going to love—”
“Die laughing at you.” She falls to one side, giggling, and my heart turns over in my chest at her reaction. She’s fucking adorable. “Please don’t ever do that dance again. Not even joking.”
“But those were my best moves.” I’m half tempted to bust out the running man, but there isn’t enough room in my tent.
“I’ll teach you new ones,” she says with a sassy wink, then presses her hands against her mouth. “I forgot to tell you, but I recorded Hazel rolling over last night. I’ll send it to you after we finish talking.”
“Holy shit. I want to see that.” I run a hand through my hair. “She’s going to be grown by the time I get home.”
“She’s four months old, Knight, not fourteen.”
“Yeah, but those four months represent two I’ve missed with her.”
Campbell gets all quiet, and I wonder if I’ve gone too far. “You talk a good game, King, but when reality hits you, things might be different.”
“All I know is that compared to this, where you guys are is heaven.”
“I know.” She licks her lips, making them shiny. Lush. “Do you think you could come home early?”
“Only if something bad happens at home, or command pulls us out.”
She raises a hand. “I vote command.”
“You, me, and all the other guys.” A yawn splits my face. I’m eight hours ahead of her, but I stay up as late as possible so we can talk over Skype, which she finally got after she agreed to use the iPad for our almost three times a week chats. “I don’t think I can stay up much longer, Cam.”
“Then go to bed.”
“Kiss Hazel for me.”
“She’ll eat your face back.” She mimes what Hazel does now whenever anyone tries to kiss her. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. “Night Knight.”
“Funny.”
“Don’t blame me. I didn’t pick out your name.”
I cock a brow at her. “I think you need to get a burn jar.”
“Whatever.” She smiles at me. “Talk to you in two days.”
“Not if I email you first.”
“I hope so.”
We end our chat, and I ease down onto my cot, wishing like hell that command really would send us packing. At this point, I don’t see it happening. We’re making progress with the local leaders. Strangely enough, Boston’s Pashto is better than anyone else’s, so good that the leaders talk to him over higher-ups with similar command of the language.
“Hey, Big Poppa,” Boston says from outside. “You up?”
“Go away.”
He opens the flap and sticks his head in. “Next time you talk to Campbell, tell her I said hello.”
I flip him off.
“Seriously, dude, I mean it. She’s a good one.”
“I know she is.”
“Don’t fuck it up when she doesn’t need your help anymore.”
I turn his way. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Boston shoves the flap wider and steps inside. “Look, I don’t want to point out the obvious, but I do want to win a bet.”
“A bet on what?”
“How long you’ll stay with this one.”
“C’mon. Don’t y’all have better shit to do?”
“Yeah, no.” He holds his hands up. “Don’t pretend like your MO isn’t to love them un
til they don’t need you... and then move on to the next damsel in distress. The needier, the better.”
“Fuck you, Boston. You make me sound like a creepy who preys on women.”
“Nah, man. You’re the exact opposite. You want them to be happy and, uh, sufficient and whatnot.”
“And whatnot. Fuck me, who knew I was such an asshole to women?” I roll over, signaling I’m done with this conversation.
“You’re not a tool, King. You just can’t help yourself, but this time... it feels different.”
“Thank you, Dear Abby.” I grab the pillow and cover my head with it. “Now go the fuck to sleep.”
“Don’t make me lose the bet.”
“Don’t make me get out of bed.”
Boston leaves, but his words and accusations... they stay with me for a long time.
Chapter 17
Campbell
QUINN POURS TWO GLASSES of wine, offering me one.
I decline, so she downs both and pours another, just for one this time.
“Bad day?” I ask. I wasn’t on the schedule today, so there’s no telling what drama went down at the salon.
“Hardly,” she scoffs, then hiccups. “I’m the best stylist this side of the Atlantic.”
And she’s officially drunk.
“Have you eaten today?” I push a bowl of snack mix at her.
She pushes it back. “Do grapes count?”
“Yes.”
“In liquid form?”
I shake my head. “Nope.”
“Then nope.”
I take the bottle away and pour it down the sink, only hardly anything comes out. “Holy crap, Quinn, this bottle is almost empty!”
“Not to worry, I drank it on the way over.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“I Ubered a golf cart, okay?” Quinn rolls her eyes and weaves to the back porch. “Clients can drink, but stylists can’t.”
I follow, sitting down across from her. She props her long legs on the ottoman, wriggling her bare toes. “Want to share what’s really bothering you?” I never had a sister, but with Quinn, it’s easy to assume the role of the elder, wiser sister... even if she’s two years older.
“Tate Prescott.”
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