No expectations. Nobody relying on him.
He pictured his father next to him on the trail in mountain biking gear, gesturing to a point in the distance, and he dropped his chin to his chest, holding on to the memory. “If she’s the one, you need to let me know, Dad.”
Ping, ping, ping.
He glanced around the doily encrusted room and found his phone where he’d left it on a nightstand before getting into the shower.
Ping, ping, ping.
He only had an alert set for one thing.
He picked up the phone.
New message from Mountain Daisy.
He stared at the door. Was she in there? Was she curled up in bed just as he’d always imagined?
He opened the message.
Mountain Daisy: Hey Mac, I’m not sure if I’m dipping my toe into stalker zone. You didn’t reply when I sent you that bike pic, but I’ve missed our chats, and I’ve had one heck of a day. So, I thought I’d try messaging you again. How are you? I hope you’re doing well.
He released a slow breath.
Mountain Mac: Sorry, Daisy, I’ve had…
Jesus! How was he supposed to respond? I decided to cross the ocean to track you down only to find out you’re my brother’s fiancée’s best friend?
He shook his head.
Mountain Mac: Sorry, Daisy, I’ve had some personal stuff going on. I’ve missed you too.
Her reply dots rippled across the screen.
Mountain Daisy: Is everything all right?
Mountain Mac: No, nothing is all right! All I want in this fucking world is you. A “you” who doesn’t know I’m the runaway Bergen heir. A “you” who I could be someone new with. Someone who wasn’t the cause of so much pain.
He sighed, deleted the message, and started over.
Mountain Mac: I feel like I don’t know anything anymore, Daisy.
It was the damn truth.
Mountain Daisy: You have a good heart, Mac. Whatever it is you’re going through, I’m always here for you. Now, do you want my two cents?
This woman.
Mountain Mac: Always.
Mountain Daisy: Focus on what’s important. Once you do that, you’ll find your way.
He stared at her message and could hear his father’s voice: Look at where you want to be. Find that spot and focus on it.
The wording, nearly identical to Daisy’s message. The meaning, entirely the same.
Focus on what mattered.
That’s easy. It was Daisy. It was always Daisy.
A resolve he hadn’t known since he was a teenager pulsed through his veins. He had to tell her. He had to take the chance. He sat down on the edge of the old lady’s bed, Gertrude, Glenna, whoever, and listened as steps padded toward the joint door between the houses. It was Cadence. She was standing right there, her feet blocking the light coming from under the door.
He muted his phone.
Mountain Daisy: Mac? Are you there?
Mountain Mac: Yeah, I’m here.
Mountain Daisy: Good, I like knowing you’re here.
He was more here than she could imagine.
Mountain Mac: How are you? You mentioned having a tough day. Are you okay?
A pang of shame cut through him. This was a slippery slope. He knew damn well what her day had been like.
Mountain Daisy: I’m good—much better now that I’ve talked to you.
Shit! And this is what she did. Her magic. She made him feel…useful, helpful…needed. That was it! She’d given him purpose.
Mountain Daisy: Well, Mac, I think it’s time for this Daisy to get to bed.
He waited like one of Pavlov’s dogs for those four words to flash across the screen. Those four words that cracked his hard exterior every damn time.
Dots rippled across the screen as she typed, and his pulse kicked up.
Mountain Daisy: Sweetest dreams, Mountain Mac.
There they were, like a salve to his broken heart.
He smiled. He couldn’t help it.
Mountain Mac: Sweetest dreams, Mountain Daisy.
The muffled creak of mattress springs caught his attention and the light from beneath the door, disappeared. She’d gotten into bed. All these nights, he’d imagined her doing this, and now, he could hear her, just beyond the door, not miles and miles away but inches.
He rested his head against the door, closed his eyes, and focused on her face, Daisy’s face—no, Cadence’s face. He’d never considered physical attraction with her. He’d fallen for Daisy without knowing anything about her appearance. But he’d been drawn to Cadence from the moment he’d caught a glimpse of her after he’d crashed the cake party.
It made sense. The connection. The desire. It had to be because she was Daisy.
He went to the bed, pulled back the pink covers, and maneuvered his body into the snug space. Another creak came from the other side of the door. She must have shifted in her sleep, and the muscles in his chest tightened. Would she be in his arms soon? He’d pictured it. Holding her. Wrapping her in his embrace and never letting go.
He was so damn close.
He adjusted the pillows and rested his head into the pink softness and stared at the door.
“Tomorrow, Daisy,” he whispered, his eyelids growing heavy. “Tomorrow, you’ll be mine.”
6
Camden
Camden rolled over, hugging a pillow to his chest, then felt the bottom go out beneath him as he hit the floor with a sharp thud.
“What the?” he exclaimed, his voice thick from sleep.
He ran his hand down his chin and froze. This was not the bearded, woolly face he was used to. This was his new face, or maybe the revival of his old face. It didn’t matter because this was the face Cadence would be looking at when he revealed his identity as Mountain Mac. He got up and went into the small adjoining bathroom and looked into the mirror.
He stared at his reflection and released a slow breath. “You’re probably not going to believe this, Cadence, but I’m Mountain Mac. And I’ve been crazy about you from the moment I read your message on the mountain sports chat forum.”
Okay. That could work. It didn’t sound too crazy. She’d be surprised—that was a given. But after yesterday, after their little spat in the car and after their time spent breathless and staring at each other soaking wet in the shower, she had to have felt the connection between them.
Was it the fresh start he’d fantasized about?
No.
But he’d found Daisy. It was almost as if his parents had heard his plea and answered.
He pulled a fresh pair of jeans and a T-shirt from his pack, got dressed, then brushed his teeth.
This was the day everything was going to change.
He picked up the framed photo of Glenna and Gertrude. “I found her, ladies,” he said, then stilled at the sound of a sharp knock at the front door.
It must be Daisy—Cadence—Jesus, he had to remember, they were one and the same.
He went to open the bedroom door and reached for the knob, the antique glass knob with the daisy center, and a rush of euphoria surged through him. The signs were all there. The daisies. Cadence calling him a D-canoe just like in her first message on the forum’s main page. He hurried to the front door and threw it open, ready to confess everything.
But nobody was there.
He walked onto the porch and shielded his eyes. Christ! What time was it? With the sun that high in the sky, he must have slept through a decent part of the day.
“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.”
Camden descended the porch steps then stopped. “Bren?”
“Wow, Camden!”
Cam glanced over to find Abby standing next to Cadence.
“I told them to be ready for a new you,” Cadence said, watching him closely.
“Cadence, I…,” he began as his brother, his brother’s fiancée, and Cadence stared at him. “I shouldn’t have slept so late,” he said, chickening out.
He coul
dn’t tell her now—not in front of his brother and Abby. They’d need privacy.
“I told your brother to let you sleep a little longer,” Cadence said with a sympathetic grin.
Brennen held up a nondescript white bag. “She tried to protect you, Cam. But then, I knew you wouldn’t want this to get cold.”
“You shouldn’t have,” Cam said, shaking his head, but his stomach had a different story and growled.
Brennen grinned. “Santiago’s breakfast burritos used to be your favorite, and from the chorus coming from your belly, it sounds like they still are.”
“Not a lot of breakfast burritos in Switzerland,” he said, taking the bag and inhaling the heavenly scent of eggs, potatoes, and breakfast sausage.
Abby held up another larger bag. “We brought enough for all of us. And Bren and I were hoping to talk to the two of you. If you’re not too busy.”
Camden shared a glance with Cadence. She gave him a little shrug—her eyes telling him she was caught off guard, too.
He had to stop himself from grinning like an idiot. They already had a secret, subtle communication system. They just fit together.
Cadence gestured to her side of the house. “It’s so nice out. Let’s eat on my porch.”
“Perfect, but first I need to grab a few things from the car,” Bren said then jogged over to his Mercedes.
Camden followed the women onto Cadence’s porch. Abby took a seat on the hanging swing while Cadence gestured for him to sit in one of the two patio chairs on the other side of the snug space. He settled in and stared past Abby’s shoulder at Cadence’s bike, propped against the side of the wall, those daisies calling to him.
He was so damn close. He’d just have to wait until Bren and his fiancée left.
Cadence sat in the chair next to him as Brennen carried a box onto the porch, set it on the ground by his feet, and took a seat next to Abby.
Cam turned to his brother. “Are you going to tell me what’s in the box?”
“Eat first. Abby and I want to ask you—well, you and Cadence something,” Bren replied.
Cadence chuckled and unwrapped her burrito. “Oh no! I’m not sure how much good ever came out of the eat this before I ask you something scenario.”
Cam unwrapped his burrito and took a bite. Sweet Christ! It was good, but unease swept through him. What could they want?
“I promise, it’s nothing terrible,” Abby added.
Cadence pointed her burrito at Abby. “Do you need a kidney? You know you’ve got dibs if you ever needed one.”
She was just like this with him over chat—sweet, funny, giving.
Abby shared a look with Bren and heat rose to Cam’s cheeks.
“You guys can’t be asking for one of Cadence’s kidneys,” he said, glaring at his older brother.
Brennen bit back a grin. “It looks like you’ve got quite the protector living next door, Cadence. And no, bro, Abby and I decided not to add vital organs to our wedding gift registry.”
Cam’s anger instantly cooled when Cadence patted his arm.
“Down, boy! Nobody’s losing a kidney today.”
Abby leaned forward. “Well, Camden, Cadence has already kindly agreed to be one of my bridesmaids, and now that you’re back, Bren and I would love for you to be a part of our wedding, too.”
“Yeah, Cam, I’d like you to be my best man along with Jas,” his brother added.
Holy shit! Was this for real?
He hadn’t spoken one word to his brother in ten years.
He glanced between the happy couple. “Who, me?”
Brennen’s eyes went wide, and he looked from his fiancée to Cadence. “Flip, dude!”
“Yes, you!” Cadence and Abby answered in unison.
“Couldn’t be!” Abby sang.
“Then, who?” Cadence replied, dramatically feigning confusion.
Cam’s gaze bounced between the women then settled on his brother. “What the hell was that?”
He’d been gone a long damn time. His social skills may not be up to par, but he was not at all expecting anyone to break out into song over breakfast burritos.
“It’s a teacher thing,” Bren said with a chuckle.
“It’s the ‘Cookie Jar Chant,’” Abby answered as if this was common knowledge.
“Okay?” Cam replied. Maybe he did need another hour of sleep.
“You don’t have to worry about being in trouble with the ‘Cookie Jar Chant.’ But as soon as you hear one of them bust out the One, Two, Three. Eyes on me. Run for cover, brother,” Bren added and shared a knowing look with his fiancée who blushed in response.
It was weird seeing Bren so smitten.
But he forgot all about his love-sick brother when Cadence patted his arm again. “The cookie jar thing is just a little game that Ms. Quinn and I play with our students.” She turned to Abby. “What can Camden and I do to help?”
He held back a grin. It was all falling into place. She was already talking about them like they were a couple.
Abby’s expression grew serious. “We could use your help with some of the planning. I’ve asked my cousin to be my matron of honor, but with her writing schedule and the pregnancy with the twins—”
“Wait, twins?” Cam interjected.
Bren frowned. “I thought Gram emailed you?”
She had. It didn’t mean he’d read the message.
Cadence’s hand was back on his arm, and she leaned in, conspiratorially. “Here’s the Bergen brothers slash Quinn Reynolds cousins recap. Jasper and Elle Reynolds, that’s Abby’s cousin, are expecting twins this winter, and are both crazy busy with their careers.”
“Where are they now?” he asked.
“Our place in the Caymans,” Bren answered.
Cam frowned. “Working?”
“Man feasting,” Bren added with a wide grin.
Abby blushed. “And that would be the opposite of working.”
“Jasper’s on vacation?” Cam asked.
From the emails he did glance at, it sounded like his oldest brother was a workaholic who never took an hour of downtime, let alone went on vacation.
“Jasper’s come a long way. He and Elle are really happy and excited about the babies, but each has a lot on their plate. Abby and I were hoping you and Cadence could help out with the wedding stuff, too,” Bren replied.
Despite the warm breeze, a chill passed through Cam’s body. He hadn’t even been back a day. Everything his family did garnered publicity and playing a lead role in his brother’s wedding would undoubtedly attract attention…and questions.
Why is the runaway Bergen heir back? And why did he disappear right after the death of his parents?
His throat tightened. “I don’t think—”
“We’d be happy to step in and help,” Cadence said, cutting him off.
Abby sat back and sighed. “Thank you so much! Planning a wedding in just a few months is no easy feat.”
It was hard to believe that his brother—the brother who’d made headlines worldwide as a womanizing playboy—was sprinting to the altar.
“Why the rush to get married?” he asked.
Bren wrapped his arm around Abby and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Because there’s nothing I want more in this world than to have Abigail Rose Quinn as my wife.”
Cadence grinned at the happy couple. “I’m so excited for you guys. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure everything runs like clockwork.”
Brennen’s eyes went wide. “Which reminds me, I come bearing gifts.”
Cam tensed. “Bren, I told you back at Gram and Grandad’s place. I don’t need anything.”
Bren frowned. “What do you think this is? A box filled with money?”
Cam schooled his features. “I’m serious, Bren.”
His brother’s expression softened, and he opened the box. “One laptop—this is standard Bergen Adventure Camp issue. I’m sure you remember from your days as a counselor,” he said and passed him the computer.
Next, Bren pulled out a helmet. “This is to go along with your mountain bike. It’s still in the back of my car.”
“I didn’t know you mountain biked, Camden?” Cadence asked, watching him closely.
“Oh yeah,” his brother answered. “He and my dad used to ride the trails all over the city and up in the mountains. They especially loved to ride right over at—”
“Is that all that’s in the box?” Cam asked, cutting him off.
Maybe Bren was good with discussing their parents, but he sure as hell wasn’t ready to shoot the shit with his brother like nothing happened. Like it all wasn’t his fault.
“There’s one more thing.” Bren reached into the box and pulled out a small wooden box.
Camden stood and shook his head. “No, not Dad’s Patek Philippe.”
“What’s a Patek Philippe?” Cadence asked, coming to his side.
“It’s a watch,” Bren answered softly.
“It’s not just a watch,” Cam bit out and stared at the box.
It wasn’t just a watch. It was a watch that was worth a quarter of a million dollars—probably even more now. A watch he’d traveled all the way to Geneva, Switzerland with his father to purchase when he was sixteen years old. A watch that his father had told him would one day be his.
He just didn’t expect the day to come so soon and because of his actions.
Bren joined them. “They’re some of the finest timepieces ever made. Some would argue, the finest. Each watch is hand-crafted and can take up to two years to complete. There are no off the shelf pieces. It’s quite extraordinary. Cam and my dad got to visit their store in Switzerland.”
“Can I have a look?” Cadence asked.
Bren nodded and handed her the box.
She traced the gold Patek Philippe emblem with her fingertip. “It’s heavy,” she said, gazing down at the glossy, polished wooden box.
“They don’t mess around with the packaging. It’s solid wood and has metal feet. The official certificate is in there, too.”
Man Find (Bergen Brothers Book 3) Page 7