Ben couldn’t believe he’d heard right and glanced at his brother. The shocked expression on Alex’s face said he’d heard the same thing.
“I don’t understand, Dad.”
“Let me spell it out. You’re acting like a damn jackass because Camille Halliday is gone.” Tom’s voice went hard. “The difference between you and me is that you’re in a position to do something about her.”
“Maybe he shouldn’t.” Alex was dead serious now.
“Of course he should.”
His older brother faced off with their father. “In my opinion Ben dodged a bullet when she left Blackwater Lake.”
“She never promised to stay,” Ben defended. “It was always her plan to prove herself here then move on to a higher-profile property.”
There was no reason for his father to know about the bargain. Obviously he’d pulled off making him believe he cared about her, but somewhere in the pretending he’d begun to actually care.
“Women are trouble,” Alex continued. “Thank your lucky stars she’s outta here before doing real damage to your impressionable young heart.”
Too late, Ben thought. She’d made an impression on his heart that would never go away. He was in love with her. He hadn’t seen it coming, hadn’t been looking for this to happen, but every night the truth hit him like cold water in the face. She was gone. The worst part was that he missed talking to her. He needed to hold her. Touch her.
“You know, big brother, just because you had a bad experience doesn’t mean every woman can’t be trusted.”
“From what I’ve seen, your track record with women isn’t great.” Alex’s mouth pulled tight. “Judy dumped you for a ski bum and went back east. Cam headed west. That only leaves ladies from north and south to put you in your place.”
“Judy was wrong for him. And Cam isn’t like the woman you brought here, Alex.” It took some of the sting out of Tom’s words when he put his hand on his oldest son’s shoulder.
Oddly enough Ben’s anger was anesthetized by his brother’s bitterness. He’d been deceived and dumped by a woman who took away everything he’d ever wanted, everything he loved. Ben understood where he was coming from, but their father was right. Cam wasn’t like that woman. She was straightforward and honest. She’d told him about the baby and he didn’t say the right thing, hadn’t stepped up. Being in a state of shock was no excuse. Then she’d left without a word. He’d called her, but she was dodging him.
Ben knew he’d go crazy if he didn’t talk about it. He looked first at his brother, then his father. “Cam is pregnant with my baby.”
“Are you sure it’s yours?” Alex’s eyes turned dark and hard. Obviously he was remembering how he’d been lied to.
“I’m sure.”
“Damn it, Ben—” His father wasn’t in the habit of swearing, so when he did, the McKnight kids listened up. “That’s even more reason not to do what I did.”
“I’m not sure what you mean, Dad.”
“When your mom died after giving birth to Sydney, I was angrier than I’d ever been. Mad at her.”
“Why?” Alex stared at him.
“She left me with three small kids to raise all on my own. I didn’t know how. She was your mom and I couldn’t do it the way she did. I couldn’t do it without her.”
“At the risk of sounding conceited,” Alex said, “you did a great job. The three of us turned out pretty good.”
Tom’s expression was full of regret when he looked at his oldest son. “You raised your brother and sister when you were just a boy yourself. Because you’re like your mother.” He sighed. “I couldn’t get over her and I didn’t want to try. I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I’m a one-woman man and Linda was the only woman for me. And take it from me, Alex, that woman you brought here to Blackwater Lake wasn’t the one.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Alex shook his head, clearly not open to trying again any more than his father was.
“As for you,” Tom said to Ben, “I don’t want you to shut down like I did. You’re different with Camille. Your spirit is lighter. You were happy—”
“Please don’t say she completes me.” Ben was going for humor but sounded kind of desperate. Because the truth was that Cam did complete him.
His dad’s eyes twinkled. “When a man’s been completed, he can see when it’s happening to someone else. Especially when that someone is his son.”
“Cam is something special,” he agreed.
“So what are you going to do about that?”
“Give her time,” he said.
“How long has she been gone?”
“Two weeks.” It felt like two years.
“Have you talked to her?”
“I’ve called and left messages because she doesn’t pick up. She calls back and leaves voice mail that she’s fine.” He shook his head. “But—”
“Yeah, but. So you haven’t talked to her. It’s been long enough.” Tom’s voice was firm. “Don’t be stupid, Ben.”
“Don’t sugarcoat it, Dad. Tell him how you really feel.” Alex grinned. “As fun as it is watching you call my little brother names, I’ve got to go. Work to do.”
“What could possibly be more important than my house?” Ben demanded.
“Mercy Medical Clinic. We’re finalizing all the details to start the expansion. I have a meeting with the architect. Suellen Hart. From Texas.”
“A belle from the Lone Star state.” Payback time, bro, he thought. “All big hair, sexy Southern drawl and attitude.”
“Bite me.” Alex scowled, then turned his back and walked away. “I’m so out of here.”
Ben watched until his brother’s truck peeled out of the lot, the big tires spinning and spraying dirt. He stopped laughing when he saw the determined look on his father’s face. “What?”
“I’m serious, son. Camille is good people. Not only that, she’s carrying your child. What are you going to do about her?”
He definitely could have handled the situation better when she’d told him about the baby, but the more he thought about it, the more he knew biding just a little time was the right thing. Somehow he had to find the words to explain to his father.
“I know waiting isn’t a proactive strategy, but in this case it’s the best way. Dad, her family gave her the lodge because to them it was a losing proposition anyway. She was set up for failure.”
“They didn’t trust her?”
Ben nodded. “She had a rough childhood and made some bad decisions, but she matured and changed. To her the lodge was a way up the success ladder, a way to prove to her family she’s not that screwed-up kid anymore. The job in Arizona was her goal all along.”
“Goals change. She got the job.” His father frowned. “She didn’t need to take it.”
“Yeah, she did. That’s what I’m trying to explain. She needed to know that she could follow her dream if that’s what she wanted. She needed to know she was worthy. I had to let her go.”
“Is this like that bird analogy? If you let it go and it comes back of its own free will—”
“Yeah. If she does that, then I know I’m her first choice.”
“If she doesn’t?”
“Then I’d have made her miserable by standing in the way of her trying.” Ben blew out a long breath. “I love her too much to do that.”
His father nodded. “Have you thought about the baby?”
“Of course. Whatever happens, my child will know me and I’ll be a part of his life. Even if I have to leave Blackwater Lake and practice medicine in Scottsdale.”
Tom nodded. “Okay, son. That’s good enough for me. I trust your judgment.”
Ben really hoped that trust was justified. When he’d first discussed the bargain with Cam, she’d wondered what would happen when she left, how he would keep the women away. He’d said he would pretend a broken heart, then come up with plan B.
He’d never dreamed his heart was in real danger, or that Cam was his plan B.
Chapt
er Fifteen
Cam looked around her new office at the Halliday Hospitality Inn. It was decorated with enlarged photos of the Grand Canyon and beautiful rock formations. The colors were Southwest-inspired—brick red, gold, beige. One wall was windows and gave her a view of Camelback Mountain and the clear blue Arizona sky. She even had a conversation area with a leather couch and chair separated by a coffee table for more informal meetings. It was big, beautiful and her heart ached because it wasn’t Blackwater Lake.
There were no trees, towering mountains or grass. That wasn’t entirely true, but most of the landscaping was done with rock. Very creative designs, but still hard stone. Never in her life had it occurred to her that she’d look at a pile of rocks and think landscaping. But Scottsdale was in the desert and one couldn’t afford to waste water.
“Oh, who am I kidding?” She looked at her cell phone resting on the desk. It was her only connection to Ben. It was where all his texts and messages were stored, where she could hear his voice. “I wouldn’t care if peanut shells were used in my yard if Ben wanted me.”
A knock sounded on her office door just before it opened. Her father stood there. “Got a minute?”
“Dad. This is unexpected.” She stood and moved from behind her desk. “Are you checking up on me? Have I screwed up already?”
“I just want to see if you’re settling in all right.” Something that looked like regret flashed in his eyes. “And I’m here because I can be. You’re only a hop, skip and jump from L.A. now.”
As opposed to Blackwater Lake, which wasn’t easy to get to. It wasn’t an easy place to forget, either.
“Is Mother with you?”
“Yes. The spa at this property is one of her favorites. She’s getting some kind of facial, or massage, that involves eggplant and arugula.”
She laughed. “It’s probably seaweed and cucumber.”
“Whatever.” He waved his hand dismissively. “I heard her say something about vegetables and tuned out the rest. Don’t tell her I said that.”
“Mum with Mom. Got it.” She tilted her head and stared at him. Who was this funny, playful man and what had he done with her father? He looked the same in his pin-striped navy suit, powder-blue shirt and coordinating tie, but this was a side of him that she didn’t know.
“I didn’t tune out the part where she wanted me to tell you to clear your schedule for this evening. There’s a place we’d like to take you to dinner.”
“There’s nothing to clear because I don’t have any plans.” That sounded just too pathetic, but was also the truth.
“That’s not good. You need a social life. All work and no play...” He shrugged. “You get my drift.”
“I do.” M.J. had said the same thing. “But I’m really busy right now. Still doing my homework on this property and getting up to speed. There’s a lot to learn, especially before beginning construction on the new tower.”
Her father sat on the couch and she settled beside him. “How are things here?” he asked.
“Not bad. Even in this slow economy we have the capital to add rooms.” She crossed one leg over the other. “We get a lot of businesspeople and families on vacation. I’m going to check into the marketing campaign to see what we can do about getting more people in the door.”
“You should call those friends of yours from the tabloids.” He actually winked.
Now she was really weirded out. The same man who’d held her responsible for being stalked by reporters could actually make a joke about it? The world had gone mad, or maybe it was just her.
This was about business. “The employees are on their best behavior, but that’s to be expected with a new sheriff in town.”
Cam remembered joking with Ben about Blackwater Lake’s Sheriff Marshall and then gave herself a mental shake. It was another reminder that she hadn’t found the saying “out of sight, out of mind” to be true. She hadn’t seen Ben for a few weeks and couldn’t stop thinking about him. And the baby.
“So the place is running like a well-oiled machine?”
“Pretty much.” If you didn’t count the little problem she’d brought with her. Settling her hand protectively over her still-flat abdomen, she gave her father the best carefree smile she could manage.
He looked around the room. “How do you like your office?”
“It’s really big.” And very far removed from the registration desk. No M.J. right outside her door. Although she had a very efficient assistant, it just wasn’t the same.
Dean Halliday nodded his approval. “You’re doing a great job, Camille.”
And that was another thing. No one here called her “Cam.” It was either the full first name or “Ms. Halliday.” Maybe it was too soon and she was too impatient, but she missed the personal connection.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I’m really proud of you.”
“Probably surprised, too, considering that I didn’t set a very high bar in my formative years.”
“That’s in the past. You’ve put it behind you and worked incredibly hard. I’m very proud of the woman you’ve become.”
This level of praise was unprecedented and unexpected. When he found out about the baby he’d want those words back. “I appreciate you saying that.”
“You’ve blossomed into an astute businesswoman. If your brother had lived, I don’t believe he could have done better. It’s important that you know I have every confidence in you to take over for me when I step down.”
Cam stared at her father, trying to absorb what he’d said. This was something she’d never thought to hear and, to her horror, she burst into tears and buried her face in her hands.
“What’s wrong?” He sounded bewildered and patted her shoulder.
She was just as surprised and wanted the earth to swallow her whole. “S-some b-businesswoman.”
“I meant what I said. Never expected tears and I’m getting the feeling they’re not happy ones. So let me say this. You don’t have to take over for me if you don’t want to.”
She dropped her hands and stared at him. This time she asked the question out loud. “Who are you and what have you done with my father?”
“I deserve that.” He sighed. “After what you said in Blackwater Lake, I’ve done a lot of soul-searching. Your mother, too.”
“You told Mom?”
“Yes. And you’re right. We just weren’t there for you after your brother died. Stupid, really. We lost one child and instead of focusing on our two surviving girls, it’s like we lost them, too.” Sadness made the lines by his nose and mouth deeper. “We were devastated and immersed ourselves in work. And I put too much pressure on you. When life is out of control, you control what you can.”
“I’m sorry, Dad, about what I put you and Mom through.”
“In hindsight I believe you were trying to get our attention. Your mom and I were just too emotionally drained to understand the behavior. I’m the one who’s sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She twisted her fingers together.
“It’s not.” He shook his head. “But I’ll do better. And I want you to know I’m incredibly proud of you, Cammie.”
The childhood nickname started the tears all over again, and this time her father pulled her into his arms.
“Tell me what’s wrong, sweetheart.”
“You might want to take back what you just said about being proud. I’ve messed up again, Dad.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
“It is. I’m pregnant.” She lifted her head and met his gaze. “The baby is Ben’s, in case you were wondering.”
“I wasn’t.” He tightened his arm around her. “I’m at a loss here. If this were business, I’d know what to do, what to say. But this is you and I’ve already made so many mistakes.”
“You don’t have to do or say anything.”
“Yes, I do. I’m your father, but this is new territory. Should I ask what his intentions are? Beat him up? Throw vegetables at him?”
&nb
sp; “It’s my problem.” She brushed moisture from her cheeks.
“You’re my daughter and that makes it mine.” He thought for a moment. “Does Ben know?”
“I told him before I left town.”
“And he still let you go?”
“He was in shock.”
“I know how he feels, but that’s no excuse.”
“He’s called, but I’ve been avoiding talking to him.”
“You have to sooner or later,” he said.
“I know.” So much for Halliday backbone.
Her father blew out a breath. “Do you like it here in Scottsdale?”
“Yes,” she said automatically.
“Be honest. You can tell me the truth.”
“Okay. I miss Blackwater Lake. I miss the town, the wilderness, the people.” It was a place where someone noticed you were pregnant and bought you a test to find out for sure.
“I miss Ben.”
“Do you love him?”
“Yes.” She felt the tears welling again. “I guess I hoped he’d come after me.”
“Okay, then. This I can help you with.”
“What?”
“Don’t be a doormat,” he said. “Go after what you want.”
“I don’t think he wants me. Or the baby.”
“Did he say that?”
“No.” Not exactly, but the house he was building wasn’t for a family. “But I didn’t give him much chance to say anything.” She met his gaze. “The thing is, at first we were just pretending to be a couple.”
“What?” He stared at her. “Why?”
“Women were coming on to him. Faking sprained ankles to get his attention. It was disruptive to his medical practice and he felt the need to do something. He figured if word got out that he was dating someone, they’d leave him alone. In return, he helped me connect with the people. He grew up there. He knows the quirks, the personalities, and gave me practical, commonsense advice. More than anything I wanted to be successful there so I could prove to you I could do it. Then I’d get my dream job. So we made a bargain.”
Her father thought this over, then nodded. “You wanted it badly enough to make a deal. I think I see what’s going on here. Why he didn’t come after you.”
The Doctor's Dating Bargain Page 18