He cupped her cheek, and she grazed her teeth across his thumb as he watched her, his steel-blue eyes burning with lust. He slid his hand between them and massaged her pulsing bundle of nerves, stretching out her orgasm and heightening the surge of pleasure roaring through her body. And in this moment, when nothing existed except the two of them, she saw every raw part of Camden Bergen. His pain, his desire, his agony all bound tightly together as he joined her, succumbing to the friction of their lovemaking.
“I found you,” he bit out before swallowing her cries of pleasure with a kiss.
Their sweat-slick bodies slowed, and she rested her head on his shoulder as the whirl of the washing machine died down, the cycle completed.
Camden hummed a contented sigh against her temple, and she caught her breath.
“Why do you keep saying you found me?”
He swallowed hard. “Because I did. I found a beautiful woman, and all I want…”
He tensed, his features growing tight as if it took every ounce of strength to stop his words from tumbling out.
“What do you want?” she asked.
He pressed a whisper-soft kiss to her lips then released a slow breath. “All I want is to spend every minute of this summer with you.”
Those were the words that came out, but somewhere inside her, she knew that it wasn’t what he’d intended to say.
Did he want more? Did he want her? And what did she want?
Yes, they were playing house. But it couldn’t be more than that. The school year would start. She needed to get Glenna’s unit prepped to be rented. She was stretched financially as it was. She had to take this for what it was. Two people who’d agreed to enjoy each other’s company for the summer.
Her heart might want more, but her head would win. With her lists and plans, it always did.
She stroked his cheek. “I think we’re going to be doing a lot of laundry this summer.”
He grinned, a sweet, grateful smile that nearly broke her heart.
“Loads and loads,” he replied with a naughty glint in his eyes. “Now, let’s get you on top of that dryer. We’re not done with the laundry yet.”
13
Camden
“Can we do one more lap, Cam?” Bodhi called over his shoulder.
Camden grinned, maneuvering his mountain bike on the path to pass a little girl on a tricycle as he rode along with the other families celebrating Father’s Day at Baxter Park.
He glanced over at Cadence, pedaling on her bike beside him. “What do you say?”
She smiled at him. That beautiful, sweet twist of her lips he’d grown to love over the last few weeks. And he got to see it every day, all day, and every night until she drifted off to sleep in his arms.
They’d been doing lots of laundry these past two weeks. He’d kissed every inch of her body and caressed every sweet curve. He’d even moved Glenna’s bed from where it sat on the far wall to rest against the wall that separated his bedroom from hers just to be that much closer to her when he couldn’t have her in his arms.
All that—and he still wanted more.
Her sexy sighs and breathy moans set his pulse racing, but when she’d whispered sweetest dreams, Cam, before falling asleep, his heart would swell—near to bursting—at the sound of Mountain Daisy’s sign off.
He’d died and gone to heaven. He just couldn’t let anyone know.
And they weren’t just good at laundry.
They’d made a great team as site leaders at Baxter Park’s Bergen Adventure Summer Camp. She’d set the structure in place that made it run like clockwork, which allowed him to tweak how they approached teaching each activity. But more than that, working year-round at the different resorts in Switzerland over the past decade had exposed him to different ways of breaking down and teaching each skill to master winter and summer mountain sports.
All that time he’d spent as part of the background, shoveling snow and building trails, had given him a front-row seat to observe different teaching methods, and in turn, he now had the knowledge and skills to improve how they did things at Baxter Park’s Bergen Adventure Summer Camp.
Switzerland was his prison—his self-inflicted punishment.
He’d never assumed that his exile had garnered value. But it had. And he only knew that because Mountain Daisy had brought him back.
“Let’s do it! After all those pancakes, I should do fifty more laps,” she answered with a smile that made him want to move mountains to keep her happy.
The Father’s Day celebration at Baxter Park started with a midmorning pancake breakfast. The same pancake breakfast he’d attended with his family every Father’s Day. It had a been a Bergen tradition: pancakes at the firehouse followed by the bike parade.
But for the last decade, Father’s Day had been one of his worst days. He wasn’t a big drinker, but on the second Sunday in June, he’d open a bottle of whiskey and start pouring until it became the third Monday.
But not today.
Today, Bodhi had burst through the door that connected his room to Cadence’s, brimming with excitement. They’d ridden their bikes around the park each evening after dinner, and the determined six-year-old grew more confident with every ride.
Look at where you want to be. Find that spot and focus on it.
Each time he borrowed his father’s words and offered them up to Bodhi, the sting of regret dulled a little.
He and Cadence came around the bend and found Bodhi stopped and talking with another little boy.
Bodhi waved them over, and Camden immediately recognized the other child.
Logan Klein.
“Can Logan and I play on the playground for a few minutes?”
Camden shared a glance with Cadence.
“Are you here with your family, Logan?” she asked.
The boy kicked at a clump of grass and shook his head. “My mom and dad are on vacation. Miss Carrie is babysitting me for the weekend.”
Poor kid to have his parents check out on Father’s Day weekend. Even though the freckled boy was unkind to Bodhi on the first day, the kid had dropped his bully facade thanks to the nurturing camp environment. He’d turned out to be a good kid who craved attention and seemed to be raised by a slew of nannies and babysitters.
Camden looked over to see their Bergen Adventure head counselor, Carrie Mackendorfer, walking over.
“It’s so great to see you guys! I was just about to take Logan over to the playground,” she said and patted Logan’s slumped shoulder.
Cadence started to answer when a man’s voice cut her off.
“Excuse me, Mr. Bergen, would this be a good time for a photo?”
He glanced over and saw a young man with a camera coming toward them.
Press.
But he didn’t have to run thanks to Elle Reynolds-Bergen.
She’d written a piece on him for the Bergen Mountain Sports website, highlighting his use of Bergen gear over the years. Several outdoor blogs and adventure sports magazines had picked it up. And just like that, Elle had shaped the narrative of his return.
He glanced at Cadence. “Do you mind?”
“Actually, could we get a photo of all of you?” the photographer asked.
Carrie shook her head. “I’m only Logan’s babysitter. I can’t give you permission.”
The photographer turned to him. “Then, how about the three of you?”
He and Cadence had spoken with a reporter earlier in the week for a piece the local paper was running on summer activities for families in Denver. The Bergen Mountain Sports PR department had set it up, and he could hardly believe that just a handful of weeks ago, he’d been holed up in a cabin, unrecognizable with a scraggly beard and a hollow disposition desperate to escape being a Bergen.
“Sure, that would be fine,” Cadence answered.
The photographer pointed toward Smith Lake. “Why don’t you all stand next to that willow. We can get the lake in the background.”
They took off their
helmets, leaned their bikes against a bench, then followed a skipping Bodhi to the spot next to the tree.
“Thanks for putting up with this,” he said softly.
She waved him off. “I’m the one who should be thanking you for doing the Father’s Day Parade with Bodhi. I know it means everything to him.”
He smiled as Bodhi jumped up and grabbed onto a tree branch, his long, gangly legs swinging beneath him.
“He’s a good kid, Cadence.”
“Yeah, he is.”
Bodhi dropped and ran over and took his hand. “Can I be in the middle?”
“I can’t see why not,” Cadence answered.
Bodhi reached for his mother’s hand, and the three of them stood together, smiling and holding hands as the photographer snapped away.
“Just look natural. Talk amongst yourselves. I’d like to get some non-posed shots,” the man said, adjusting the lens.
He glanced down at Cadence as Bodhi twisted from side to side, still holding onto them. They didn’t have to try to look natural. They’d fallen into it easily.
“You’re good at this,” Cadence said.
His brows knit together. “At what?”
She reached up and smoothed his collar. “Being you.”
“It’s only thanks to you.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t bring you back to Denver. You did that all on your own.”
The muscles in his throat tightened. She had no idea all this was because of her. He’d screwed up a few times and gotten damn close to letting the cat out of the bag. Lost in a haze of dreamy disbelief, he’d called her Daisy and alluded to knowing her, to finding her.
But thank Christ, she hadn’t connected him to Mac.
She still jumped every time her phone pinged with that hopeful glint in her eye, but she hadn’t heard from her online friend in weeks.
He couldn’t be both Mountain Mac and Camden Bergen to her. He felt bad enough when that spark in her eye would disappear, and she’d tuck her phone back into her pocket.
The photographer came in closer and gestured to the ground. “How about a seated shot?”
Bodhi dropped onto the grass then climbed onto his lap once he and Cadence were seated.
“Perfect! Ms. Lowry, would you mind leaning in?” the photographer asked.
Her shoulder pressed into his, and he glanced down at her. With those sky-blue eyes and golden hair blowing in the breeze, she looked like every perfect summer day all wrapped into one stunning woman.
“Look, Mommy,” Bodhi said, climbing off his lap. “Daisies!”
The boy ran over and picked one of the flowers growing in a clump next to a cluster of other wildflowers.
Bodhi handed her the daisy as the photographer kept clicking away. “It’s like the ones I always find on your pillow from the Flower Fairy.”
Cadence bit her lip, and her cheeks grew pink.
“You mean the Flower Ninja,” Camden replied as Cadence held back a grin.
The boy crinkled his nose and sat back on the ground. “Nope, it’s still a fairy, Cam.”
He held Cadence’s gaze then glanced at the flower in her hand. “Here, let me,” he said, taking the daisy and sliding it into her hair.
She touched the bloom delicately. “How do I look?”
If beauty, kindness, and grace had a face—it would be hers.
He stared at her. This would be the image he’d return to when he was back in Switzerland, far away from this perfect summer.
“You look like every dream I never knew I had.”
She smiled up at him. “That might be the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“What about when I told you that you smelled good—like the cafeteria at school?” Bodhi asked.
Cadence held back a chuckle. “That’s right, B. That was by far the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“Cam’s can be the second sweetest,” Bodhi added with a resolute nod.
“I’m good with second place,” he said, staring into her eyes.
The photographer took a step back. “I think I’ve got plenty.”
“Can I go play with Logan now?” Bodhi asked, gesturing toward Carrie who was pushing Logan on a swing.
Cadence checked her watch. “I don’t think so, sweetheart. I didn’t realize how late it had gotten, and we still need to go visit Daddy today.”
Daddy.
A lump formed in his throat. It was so damned easy playing house with Cadence and Bodhi. Easy because it wasn’t permanent. Easy because it was just pretend.
A father should be reliable and steadfast—the kind of man who put his family first.
A father didn’t run away.
Cadence handed him his helmet. “Are you ready to go home?”
Home. Christ, where was his home?
He pasted on a smile. “Yeah, let’s go.”
“Can I ride over and say goodbye to Carrie and Logan?” Bodhi asked.
Cadence nodded. “Sure! And would you ask Carrie if she can still babysit you on Friday night? Camden and I have Abby and Brennen’s joint bachelor and bachelorette party.”
That lump in his throat doubled in size. Bren and his fiancée had decided to forgo the traditional—and often rowdy—bachelor and bachelorette fetes for a small, intimate gathering of friends to celebrate their upcoming nuptials. And as much as he was happy for his brother—both of his brothers—it still served as a glaring reminder of what he couldn’t have. What he couldn’t be.
A husband.
A father.
He could pretend, but that could never be his life.
“Sure, Mom, I’ll ask her,” Bodhi answered then strapped on his helmet and biked the short distance to the playground.
“Cam?” Cadence said and touched his arm. “Are you okay?”
He nodded.
“Are you thinking of your father?”
He nodded again.
“Are you going all bobblehead on me?” she asked with a teasing grin.
He chuckled. “No.”
Her expression warmed. “Good.”
He stared down at the handlebars on her bike and traced the C+B scratched into the metal.
“C and B,” she said with an air of surprise. “Those are your initials.”
“Yeah,” he answered, staring down at the letters that had called him back.
“Maybe it’s a sign,” she said.
The breath caught in his throat. “What do you mean?”
“Maybe you were destined to spend the summer with us.”
His gaze slid to the daisy stickers. “I thought it might be more.”
She cocked her head to the side. “More than what?”
“Carrie says she can still babysit me on Friday night,” Bodhi called, riding up to them.
Cadence watched him a beat before turning to her son. “Thanks, B. Are you ready to head home?”
“The last one back is a rotten egg!” he called, setting off down the path.
“We better…” Camden began, feeling the heat of her gaze burning into him.
“Yeah, we don’t want Bodhi getting too far ahead of us,” she finished.
Shit! He had to stop. But Christ, in those moments where the dream of a life with her felt so close, it was like he was injected with a truth serum and could barely hold the words back from tumbling out.
I’m here because of you. It’s always been you. It will always be you.
She started off, and he followed, looking past the park patrons to keep Bodhi in his sights. The boy veered off the park path and stopped before crossing the street. But thanks to the holiday, the sidewalk was blocked with cars parked in the driveways.
“Just stay on the road and keep to the right,” Cadence called to her son.
The boy nodded and crossed, maneuvering his bike onto the street when Camden caught sight of a Jeep speeding down the road.
Music blared from the car’s stereo as the Jeep edged out of its lane—the driver’s head bent as she st
ared at her phone and unknowingly, headed straight for Bodhi.
“Bodhi, get on the sidewalk!” Cadence called.
But the boy kept pedaling down the road.
The vehicle got closer, veering, inch by inch, into the wrong lane onto a collision course with Cadence’s son.
“Cam! He doesn’t hear me. And that car!” Cadence cried, panic lacing each word, and his body took over.
Pumping his legs, he pedaled hard and passed Cadence. With Bodhi in his sights, he assessed the situation as the boom of the car’s bass thumped out a rhythmic beat, getting closer with each second.
In the space of a breath, he made it to Bodhi just as the driver glanced up. The Jeep swerved, and he reached out his arm, hooking it around Bodhi’s waist and plucking the boy off the bike. A metallic scraping cut through the air as Bodhi’s bike hit the ground, and he maneuvered them past a parked car to crash onto the safety of the grassy strip that separated the street from the sidewalk.
The vehicle screeched to a halt and the sickening scent of burning rubber lingered in the air.
“Is he okay?” the young woman asked over the thumping bass.
“Get off your phone and pay attention to the road,” he called, clutching the boy in his arms.
The woman blinked and grew pale as the gravity of her situation sank in. She nodded, turned off the music, then slowly continued down the road just as Cadence jumped off her bike and joined them in the grass.
“Bodhi! Baby! Are you hurt?”
The boy shook his head. “I’m sorry, Mommy! There are so many cars, and I couldn’t find a place to get onto the sidewalk.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she held Bodhi’s face in her hands. “I can’t lose you, too. I can’t!”
“You won’t, Mommy. See, I’m okay. I didn’t even scrape my knee.”
Cadence gasped, working to catch her breath. “Thank you, Cam. I don’t know what I would have done…”
He wrapped his arm around her—the three of them huddled on the grass together.
“I’d never let anything happen to you or Bodhi. He’s okay, Cadence. We’re all okay,” he added gently.
Man Find (Bergen Brothers Book 3) Page 17