Jade tugged on the man’s pant leg, wanting to be picked up. He didn’t hesitate before scooping her up.
“This little one is adorable.”
“Thank you.” Kip’s pulse beat in her ears, stealing the joy from the day.
He would have questions. Cameron hugged her to his side as if he sensed her panic. Her heart slowed.
Two horses moved closer and Jade squealed as she tried squirming from Mountie’s arms. She wasn’t scared. Jade had no fear. Jade would get those horses if it were the last thing she did. “Horsey.”
“Yep. That’s Butter and Bean,” Mountie said, obviously content to have another horse enthusiast on board.
Kip assumed Butter was the butter-colored one and Bean was the brown one but she didn’t ask.
“You want to pet them? They’re both big babies.”
“No.” Jade’s answer belied her actions as she threw herself forward in the man’s arms.
“Don’t worry,” Kip assured him. “She says no to everything. I’m certain she can say yes but I’ve never heard her do so.”
Mountie focused on her. “Are you scared of horses?”
It had been a long time since she’d been around any large animals but they seemed nice enough. “No sir.”
“That’s good. Climb over that fence and take this little girl to pet Butter and Bean before she explodes.”
The expression Cameron wore said a thousand things. All of them led to him dying over this later. He was enjoying the hell out of her discomfort and it looked as if she was climbing a damn fence. Fan-fucking-tastic. As she pulled herself up the first wooden slat, Cameron’s hand found her ass. Kip rolled her eyes and considered accidentally on purpose kicking him in the balls before deciding she liked that part of his anatomy too much. Lucky bastard. It wasn’t that Kip didn’t love the outdoors, she just happened to love the coconut oil, sand between her toes outdoors—not scaling wooden walls and horse shit between her toes outdoors. Only Jade’s excitement spurred Kip on. Her willingness to make an ass of herself also had a little to do with the happiness shining in Cameron’s eyes. Maybe. A little.
She landed safely on the other side and Cameron kissed her, making her climb worthwhile, before handing Jade over the fence. Kip popped the squirming toddler on her hip and prayed for strength.
“You better be glad I love you, monster,” Kip grumbled, heading for the horses that appeared way larger on this side of safety.
“You want to tell me why you never come home?”
Kip picked up the pace at Mountie’s rumbled question. Maybe it was safer on this side of the fence after all.
The flash that had been in Kip’s eyes before she’d turned away promised he’d pay for this later. For now, Cameron was enjoying the moment. It was rare for Kip to ever look out of place. Even inside a hard-core sex club, she’d held her own. A pair of horses and climbing a fence seemed to be the line in the sand. She’d stepped over it. It would be so much fun taking his punishment for this. Unfortunately the instant she was safely on the other side, his dad had ambushed him. Cameron swore he could feel Kip’s evil grin as she walked away, leaving him to his fate. As usual, his dad didn’t wait for him to answer before flying into a lecture.
“I mean, at first we thought you stayed in Vegas because that’s where your doctors are and you needed your space after what happened. After a while we thought maybe you loved your job too much to leave. I guess we sort of hoped that was the case since the only other possibility was you didn’t want to see us.”
All those things were true, to an extent. “Of course I want to see you. I’m here.”
His dad snorted. Cameron scrubbed at his face. He’d learned from experience it wouldn’t do him any good to argue. His father was bent on delivering a speech. As usual, it wouldn’t get him anywhere, but the man wouldn’t be happy until he said his piece. Releasing a heavy sigh, Cameron set his elbows on the fence and settled in. Nothing was ever easy where his dad was concerned. In spite of the situation, a smile touched his lips. Butter nosed Kip’s elbow, knocking her off balance. Jade’s blonde curls bounced as she turned in her mother’s arms and pointed a chastising finger at the horse. Even from where he stood he could hear her admonishing, “No, bad horsey.” A low chuckle escaped him.
In his distraction it took a minute for the silence to penetrate his mind. Glancing over, he found his father watching him. There was no way his dad was finished already. Cameron lifted his eyebrows in question.
After a moment of simply staring at him, his father shook his head. “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you?”
Cameron smiled. Unapologetic. His dad blinked as if noticing something for the first time. With a sigh, his dad mimicked Cameron’s pose, leaning on the fence.
“Tell me about this girl then if we’re not going to talk about anything else.”
Cameron stared at Kip, trying to think of what to say. Thousands of emotions surged through him. “I love her.”
“I can see that much for myself. What I was hoping for was a bit more like where’s she from? What are her folks like? Do you plan on marrying her?”
Cameron sighed but his dad didn’t relent.
“Come on, Cam. You’ve got to give me something to take home to your mom. She’ll want all the details.”
That was true. “I believe she’s originally from Texas but from what I understand she spent most of her life traveling the world. She doesn’t talk about her parents.” Kip really didn’t talk about her parents. It was odd. He’d never noticed but he hadn’t wanted to talk much about his either.
“Don’t think I didn’t notice you avoided my last question.”
Cameron couldn’t lie and say he hadn’t pictured coming home to Kip and Jade every night. If anything, he could see it too well. He’d fantasized about that life a thousand times since meeting her. What Cameron couldn’t envision was Kip saddled with him for life. She could have anyone. What if she looked around and realized it one day? As much as Cameron would like to believe he’d accepted the scars covering over half his body, there was a small part of his brain that couldn’t help but wonder why Kip would waste her time on him. She refused to let him hide from her but still… As if she felt his doubt, Kip turned her head and caught him staring. A slow smile stretched her lips. He’d been waiting for that smile. She winked. He knew she was the one.
“Yeah,” Cameron said. “She’s not getting away from me.”
* * * * *
The hum of the engine was the only sound filling the otherwise silent car. The occasional set of headlights flashed over Kip’s face and every time it happened, Cameron glanced over to make sure she was still sleeping. Jade had worn her out. Not to mention she’d been on top of her game, charming his dad into smiling nonstop. At one point she’d even made the old man blush. It was no wonder she was exhausted. Even when Cameron realized he was smiling into the darkness like an insane person, he still couldn’t stop. Glancing in the mirror, he checked on Jade. Her blonde curls shimmered despite the dark. She was out. A lump rose in Cameron’s throat. Everything he loved the most was here in this car. Sometimes, at the oddest moments, he worried it would all slip away.
The face of Kip’s phone lit with an incoming call. She didn’t stir. Since Brian and Terry had his number, Cameron didn’t wake her. If it was an emergency, they could call him. Another car passed and Cameron glanced over again. The sensation in his chest grew. She did something to him. She always had. That was why he’d fought against her so hard. Kip could crush him in an instant and his dad’s questions made Cameron realize something he’d intentionally ignored. He knew next to nothing about her life before she came to Vegas.
He knew her. Her smile and kind heart were as familiar to him as his reflection. Her wicked sense of humor and undying loyalty were things he depended on but he didn’t know what had made her who she was. Kip’s past was a mystery. In his defense, he had none. Cameron hadn’t realized it until he really thought about it but he’d nev
er met a woman who didn’t talk about herself until Kip. More than that, she didn’t invite other people to turn the conversation her way. She asked pointed questions or spoke of moments that included everyone present. There was never a time he could remember her saying a single thing that led backward. Cameron was as much to blame as anyone—he hadn’t asked. It was no secret Josh had abandoned her in Tennessee while she’d been pregnant with Jade. That was as much as Cameron wanted to know about that situation. The last thing he needed was more reasons to hate the man.
Cameron took a deep breath. One man’s loss was his gain. Kip’s phone lit again, illuminating the console between them. It darkened just as quickly. Text message, he surmised, letting it go. She’d see it when she woke up. Barely two minutes passed before it happened again. With a sigh, Cameron glanced at the face. If something had happened to Brian or Terry, he’d feel like shit for ignoring their messages. Josh’s name flashed across the screen. Cameron dropped the phone as if it were made of acid.
She would have to deal with Josh eventually. Cameron didn’t want to fight and saying anything about the situation with Josh would lead to an argument. It always did but she really couldn’t let this go on forever. Kip needed to put her foot down. Josh needed to get out of her life. It drove Cameron insane every time he thought about it. He checked on his girls again. How could anyone walk away from them?
Before Cameron could stop himself, he pulled to the shoulder of the road and was across the car, capturing Kip’s mouth. He could feel a smile shaping her lips against his. When her fingers brushed through his hair and her tongue touched the corner of his mouth, Cameron thought his chest would explode. There was so much inside him, begging to escape, he didn’t know where to go with it. He’d quietly loved her for so long. Now that he had her, he wanted to smother her in affection. Instead, Cameron tried pouring his love into his kiss. There was no way she couldn’t feel it. Even after he’d pulled back an inch, Cameron couldn’t move away. The way Kip’s fingers rested on his cheek made him wonder if she felt the same.
“I was dreaming about you,” Kip whispered. “You were smiling. Don’t ever stop doing that. It would break my heart.”
Cameron realized Kip was still more asleep than awake. Guilt ate at him for disturbing her. Sometimes he thought he might go insane if he couldn’t touch her.
“Go back to sleep, baby. You still have about an hour.”
She was already asleep before Cameron had his seat belt in place. Between Cameron’s racing thoughts and his stupid heart making plans for the future, the final hour went by in a blur. He half expected Jade to be raring to go the second the engine died, but neither Kip nor Jade budged. Jade’s tiny snores seemed loud now that the car was quiet. Cameron smothered a chuckle over the sound. For a minute, he simply stared at his girls, wanting to keep them. Surely by now they’d accepted they belonged with him. He’d been there since day one. Taking them home and then going home to an empty house had gotten old a long time ago.
Giving up on his hopes for the future for the night, Cameron turned in his seat. Something captured his attention. A wisp of clothing or a brightly colored shoe? Either way, it looked as if someone was sneaking out of Kip’s bedroom window. Reaching between his seat and the door, Cameron retrieved his service weapon and quietly exited the car. Staying low, he kept to the fence line and out of sight. The man wasn’t running. He was strolling away from the house as if he had every right to be there. The instant Cameron glimpsed his large frame and profile, he knew. This had to end.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Josh froze at the bellowed words, fucking Cameron out of the fight he was itching for. With his back to Cameron, Josh held up his hands, showing his surrender.
“On your knees.”
One knee hit the ground, followed slowly by the other. Cameron couldn’t believe Josh wasn’t trying to talk his way out of this or make a run for it. He calmly accepted his fate.
“Hands behind your head.”
As Josh laced his fingers behind his head, Cameron moved in, keeping his service weapon trained to the back of Josh’s skull. Cameron wasn’t taking any chances. All he needed was an excuse and Josh wouldn’t live to see another day. Rage like Cameron had never known flooded his veins. This man was a plague upon the lives of the woman and child Cameron loved. Never again.
“No!”
The scream ripped through the night air, startling him. Kip raced in their direction. Josh shifted forward as if he meant to meet her halfway. Cameron pressed the gun closer.
“Don’t move,” Cameron warned before switching his focus to Kip. “Get back in the car, Kip.”
Her steps didn’t slow. If anything, her pace increased. “No. Don’t hurt him.”
The panic in Kip’s tone had Cameron searching her face for answers. The sheer terror in her eyes shocked him senseless long enough for Kip to throw herself on Josh before Cameron could intervene. Wrapping herself around him like a monkey, Kip snaked her arms and legs around him, protecting as much of Josh as possible. She even went as far as cupping the back of the man’s head, blocking the barrel of Cameron’s gun.
“No, Cameron. You can’t do this to me. Please? You can’t.”
Fury replaced his shock. How could she protect the man? “Move, Kip. I just caught Josh sneaking out of your home. He’s been following you everywhere for months. There’s no telling what he’s capable of.”
A sob tore from Kip’s throat, sounding as if her soul was ripping from her chest. Her pain was almost tangible, rocking Cameron on his heels.
“No,” she whispered. “Please, Cameron.”
Tears streamed down her face. He lowered his weapon and took a step back. So this was how it was. She loved Josh. How had he missed it? She brushed her fingers through Josh’s hair, completely focused on the man now that Cameron was no longer holding a gun to his head. Her hands ran down his sides.
“Are you hurt? Oh my God, Jozsua. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, baby. It’s okay. Take a breath. Breathe with me.”
Cameron couldn’t tear his eyes away as Josh’s chest rose, inhaling deeply as he held Kip’s gaze, attempting to lure her into a normal breathing pattern and calm her panic. The thick Russian accent coming from Josh’s lips seemed so unnatural, Cameron’s mind refused to work. The whole scene felt surreal. He expected to wake up at any moment and leave the crazy dream behind.
Josh swiped at Kip’s tears. Cameron swore he heard his heart shatter. She’d risked her life for Josh and allowed him to comfort her. It was as if Cameron had disappeared. He wanted to be angry but his chest hurt too badly. Once she was assured Josh was unharmed, Kip finally focused on Cameron. There was no way she couldn’t see his heart breaking. Her face hardened, making things worse. Keeping her eyes locked on him, Kip came to her feet. She ate up the distance between them. If Cameron thought he couldn’t be any more surprised by the night’s event, he was wrong. She punched him in the arm.
“How dare you? I’ve lost everyone and everything.” More tears fell. She swiped at them angrily. “How could you even think of taking my brother from me as well?”
Cameron opened his mouth, intent on defending himself until her words sank in.
“Your brother?”
Kip threw her hands up. “Yes! My baby brother. Who the fuck even does that to someone they’re supposed to care about?”
Josh stumbled to his feet. Cameron switched his gaze between them, doing his best to fit the mismatched pieces together in his head.
“Your brother?” he repeated, incapable of grasping the concept.
Josh moved to stand behind her, bracing his hands on her shoulders. He looked resigned.
“Don’t call me your baby brother. I’m only six months younger than you are,” Josh said, sounding as stoic as he looked.
Cameron shook his head. Their words didn’t make sense. Even as mentally fucked as he was, he knew the math didn’t match their claim.
Kip shushed Josh. “I’
ll call you whatever I like. You’re Kon’s baby brother and therefore you’ll always be mine by extension. Deal with it.”
“Wait. Wait,” Cameron said, slashing his hand through the air and bringing their argument to an end. “What the fuck? This guy is your brother?”
“In-law,” Josh supplied as if his statement cleared up anything at all.
“In-law?” Cameron knew he was repeating everything they said. He just couldn’t stop. “I thought you were an only child. I’m just…” He paused, grasping for words. “I’m not following.”
Josh rolled his eyes. “I’m her husband’s brother, dumbass. It’s not that hard to work out.”
“What in the hell is going on out here?” Terry said, causing everyone to turn in his direction.
Jade sat on his forearms with her tiny arms wrapped around his neck. Shit. Cameron had been so focused on this bullshit he’d forgotten she was still in the car. She pointed a finger at Josh and flashed a toothy grin.
“Unc Jos.”
A luminous smile stretched the man’s face. He held out his arms and Jade threw herself in the man’s direction. Terry let it happen…as if Jade did so every day. Cameron watched the entire scene play out with a terrible sense of disconnection. Husband. Josh had definitely said husband. It was amazing how a single word was all it took to level everything. His life. His heart. Their future. It was all gone. Scratch that. It had never existed because Kip belonged to another man.
He couldn’t look away from her. She had lived with Terry and Brian for as long as he’d known her. No doubt there was a reason for her being there. Perhaps they were separated or God only knows what, but it didn’t matter. Kip was someone else’s wife and he was an idiot. A fool who’d been lied to even if it was by omission. She’d never given him a choice. Surely she knew he’d never trespass in someone’s marriage. It went against everything he believed in.
“I have to go.”
Kip’s gaze shot to his. Cameron didn’t know what she saw in his face but he didn’t miss the pain in hers. It didn’t matter. It couldn’t because she didn’t belong to him. He headed for the car without a backward glance. Terry said his name but Cameron ignored him. The man obviously knew everything and had said nothing. There wasn’t a doubt in Cameron’s mind. Kip followed on his heels but didn’t try to stop him. Without meeting her gaze, he unstrapped Jade’s car seat and pulled her bag from the floorboard. A pain hit him in the chest as he handed them to Kip.
Undamaged Page 7