Cam's sisters and their families had arrived en masse at noon. After his sisters had covered him in teary kisses and met Evan, his nephews had mobbed him, pulling him to the ground, mixing hugs with wrestling moves. Cam had seen them intermittently throughout the years, but he was still amazed at how much the children had grown. Soon the wrapped packages in the next room stole their attention, and the children wasted no time getting to the presents. Cam sat next to his dad and watched the pandemonium. His oldest sister, Maria, tried to keep some semblance of order insisting the kids take turns and thank their grandparents after opening each gift. He saw his mother take Ricky into the kitchen, where he knew she would park him on a stool and put him to work with some small task. A moment later, he noticed Evan, who had been speaking with Lena, follow them. He slipped from the couch while his dad was helping his nephew, Jamie, sit on his new bike.
Cam peered around the doorway and saw Ricky sitting at the kitchen island peeling carrots. Evan was perched on the stool next to him, cutting celery. She focused on her assignment as she spoke. “Your job is more important than mine.”
“Why?” Ricky asked.
“Because carrots are easier to see and taste. Nobody notices the celery,” she said.
“The carrots are important,” he repeated, continuing to peel them.
Kate looked up at her with a warm smile. “I was an only child too. They’re my family, and even I get a little overwhelmed sometimes. It's normally not this crazy. Cam's really showing you the full force of the Canto family.”
“I love it,” Evan replied. “It's exactly how I imagined.”
Over his shoulder, Cam heard a door open and close and a new commotion.
Kate said to Evan. “That will be Cam's grandparents, Aarón's mom and dad. My parents won’t arrive until dinner. They’re a little more sedate than the Canto crew.”
“Thank you for having me, Mrs. Canto.”
“Please, Evan, call me Kate.”
“Kate,” Evan amended. “You’re so kind to include me at the last minute like this.”
His mother snapped the ends off of green beans as she spoke. “What's one more? Besides, I know my son, and if you feel about him the way he feels about you, this will be your first of many family holidays in this house.”
Evan lifted her head to speak just as shouts echoed from the front of the house. “Camilo! Get out here. Your grandparents want to see you with their own eyes!”
Cam backed away, but not before his mother cast a knowing glance in his direction.
He turned and nearly plowed into his sister, Lena. They were the closest in age, only ten months apart, and she and Cam shared a bond.
“Well, well, well, Teen Wolf, still spying, I see.” She called him by his childhood nickname. When she teased him about spying, she wasn’t referring to the CIA. He was routinely chased, screamed at, and grounded for eavesdropping on his older sisters.
“Busted,” Cam confessed.
“She's it for you, yes?”
“Yes.”
“If you tell me you felt dad's stupid zing, I’m going to kick your ass.”
Cam pulled his lips inward.
“You’re kidding?” Lena threw her hands up. “I certainly never felt a zing with Jake. Maybe that's why we’re divorced.” She tapped her chin. “Nah, I’m pretty sure it was the banging the secretary that did it. Maybe she felt a zing.”
“I’m sorry, Leen.” Cam put his arm around her, and they walked to the front of the house.
“Don’t be.” She waved the apology off. “My zing is out there.” She thumbed over her shoulder. “And your zing is in the kitchen. You better go grab her. You know abuela is going to search the house until she finds her.”
Cam shook his head with a smile. “You’re right about that. I’ll get her and introduce them. Then I’m going to steal her away for a bit. I think it's a little crazier than she expected.”
“What? This family?” Lena grinned. “Nah.”
Cam took Evan for a walk on the beach. It was a blustery afternoon, and Kate had given Evan a cream-colored cardigan to wear over her dress. Cam wore battered jeans and a black cashmere turtleneck. He held her hand as they strolled along the shore.
“How long have you done that kind of work?” she asked.
“I was in the Navy for eight years, six of them as a SEAL. The CIA for four. I was a NOC, which means non-official cover officer, during that time.”
“And it's over now?” she asked.
“I left The Agency last year,” he explained.
“But you were undercover in Mallorca.”
Cam picked up a seashell, blew the sand from its iridescent interior, then tossed it aside. “It was unfinished business from my past, but it's over now.”
“And playing the role of Gemini March's lover was part of that unfinished business?” she asked.
He took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. “Evan—”
“It's okay, Cam.” She cut him off. “I understand that in that role, Miguel had to do things that Cam would never do. It would be demeaning to you to say that it was no hardship to seduce a gorgeous woman. If it's not something you have a choice in, then it's difficult no matter what.”
Cam pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “Thank you.”
“The guy in high school? The one I told you about who forced me?”
Cam gave a stiff nod.
“He was the best-looking guy in our class. When I tried to tell one of my few friends about what happened, she waved it away. In her mind, every other girl in my position would have said yes, so the fact that I didn’t was my mistake. Like it was my fault. So yes, I understand better than most about having to be with someone you don’t want to be with no matter how things appear.”
Holding her close, Cam spoke into the wind. “When you told me that story… I still want that guy's name. He needs to be taught a lesson.”
“He's in jail. He took the fall for an insider trading scandal at the financial firm where he worked. So justice was served, karmically at least.”
She heard his noncommittal grunt as they continued forward. A subject change was in order. “What will you do now that your secret agent days are over?”
“I work for a small firm, Bishop Security, based in South Carolina.”
Evan stepped out of her flip flops, lifted the hem of her honey-colored sundress, and stepped into the surf. “I’ve never been to South Carolina. When I was a kid, I had a map on my bedroom wall with pushpins in all the states I had visited. I’ve been to Alaska, even Hawaii, but never South Carolina.”
“I plan to remedy that shortly.” He kicked off his Nikes, rolled up his jeans, and followed her into the ankle-deep water. “I’m bringing you back with me.”
Evan beamed at him. “So Cam is bossy. I think there are a few traits you share with your undercover identity.”
“Yeah, I’m trying to work through that.”
“And you will,” she reassured him.
“Thanks.”
“I think the Miguel I knew in the caves had a lot of Cam mixed in.” She gathered up the hem of her dress and reached down to touch the foamy water.
“What makes you say that?”
“The first time I saw you? When you frightened me off the beach the day I came to investigate the markers? I was terrified of you. I couldn’t for a second imagine getting to know that man. But in the caves, whatever the reason, I saw Cam beneath the surface. Every rude comment Miguel made, Cam was there being kind to me or protecting me. So if you think I don’t know Cam, you’re mistaken.”
“Actually, that wasn’t the first time we met.” He took her hand and continued walking.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“The stingray?”
Evan looked at his beautiful face, her eyes shifting from one golden iris to the other. “Oh my God, that was you? You rescued me?”
“I’m a SEAL, ma’am. No man, or woman, left behind.”
She
threw herself into his arms then almost immediately broke away, covering her face with her hands. “I barfed on you!”
“Several times.”
“Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. That has to be the worst how-did-you-two-meet story of all time.”
Cam picked Evan up like a bride and sank down in the sand with her in his arms. “And that's what makes it the best how-did-you-two-meet story of all time.”
“Says the gorgeous man who saved the bleeding, puking girl.”
“You also punched me and flipped me off.” He grinned.
“Cam—”
“And I still thought you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.” He kissed her temple.
“I don’t believe you for a minute, but I love you for saying it.”
“You love me?” He asked with such an earnest innocence, Evan felt her eyes mist.
“I love you, Cam. I should have told you when you showed up in Palo Alto. I’ve felt it for so long, but as I told you in Mallorca, I don’t express my emotions easily. The first time you touched me and I didn’t flinch, I knew you were different.” He winced. “No, Cam. Don’t for one second think that Miguel Ramirez was the man who touched me in that cave. It was you, Camilo Canto. You can call yourself The Incredible Hulk for all I care. I see you.”
She beamed at her beautiful, complicated man.
He tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear. “I think I’ve been waiting my whole life for you. I love you, Evan.”
Before she had a chance to respond, he was kissing her. She snaked her arms around his neck, getting lost in his powerful physique. She hadn’t been hoping for the touch of a man, she realized. She had been hoping for the touch of this man.
Cam pulled back and cupped her rear. “The Incredible Hulk, huh? If we can get a minute alone, I may make you call me that.”
“I’d like to scream ‘Cam’ a few more times if it's okay with you.”
“More than okay.” He took her hand and pulled her to standing. “Come on. We need to get back.”
Cam paused on the stoop of his family home and kissed his woman. Evan glanced over his shoulder, and he followed her gaze to the window by the door where a curtain rustled.
“I think we have an audience,” she whispered.
Cam leaned his forehead against hers. “Yeah, that happens a lot around here.”
“We should go inside. I know your mom went to a lot of trouble. We shouldn’t be late.” She tugged on his arm.
Cam stayed where he was. “I love you.”
She smiled up at him. “I love you too.”
“Come on.”
They entered Cam's family home, and chatter and laughter halted behind two closed double doors. Cam opened them with a flourish.
Before her was a dream come to life. Cam's entire family was crowded around the long rectangular dinner table.
Right on cue, his mother and father came in from a back hall that led to the kitchen. They were each carrying a turkey. Aarón set his tray on the sideboard and helped his wife place hers on the table.
Kate Canto wiped her hands on a dishtowel and said, “Merry Christmas, Evan. Shall we eat?”
She and Cam took the two remaining seats.
“Eat up, Evan. You’ll need your strength. We’ve got a bear of a puzzle started in the family room. It's Van Gogh's Starry Night,” Aarón added.
The food-laden table blurred through her teary gaze, making the setting seem even more like a fantasy. Cam leaned down and whispered in her ear. “How’d I do? Is this what you imagined, querida?”
“It's better.” She turned her eyes to him. “You’re here.”
“Ready for your first big holiday meal?”
She nodded as he wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “I love you, Cam. So much. And I love experiencing all of these firsts with you.”
Her innuendo had the desired effect, and he squeezed her thigh under the table.
“Looking forward to many more,” he whispered.
Once they were seated, Cam's abuela said the blessing, and all hell broke loose. Voices increased in volume as children demanded food and changed seats, and people argued about the Dolphins and discussed the alligator living on a nearby golf course. Through it all, Cam kept his big hand on her knee. She circled his wrist and held him in check when his fingers occasionally wandered, an action which, oddly, brought a pleased tilt to his lips. She couldn’t take the time to analyze it, though; she was too busy soaking up every second of this big, loving, chaotic, argumentative, wonderful family.
She leaned into Cam's body. “Merry Christmas, Cam.”
He put his arm around the back of her chair and kissed the top of her head. “I can’t imagine a better present for Christmas than you.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
Beaufort, South Carolina
December 25
T
he hospital room looked like a Christmas store had exploded. An artificial tree sat in the corner with an entire stuffed zoo beneath. Twinkle lights rimmed the ceiling, plastic snowmen perched on the sill, elves sat on shelves, and candy canes hung from a string over the door, a sprig of mistletoe among them. Calliope and Twitch had gone wild. Twitch had even cast a video of a roaring fire to the television bolted to the ceiling. Emily sat upright in the bed, holding the newest addition to the Bishop family. Nathan had dozed off in the chair beside her bed.
Tox walked in, his head parting the candy canes like one of those beaded curtains in a head shop. “It looks like Santa Claus threw up in here.”
Calliope followed her husband into the room. “Shut up, gigante. It looks festive. I don’t want the baby's first images of Christmas to be a sterile hospital room.”
“She can’t even focus on the boob in front of her. You think she's going to remember this room?” Tox asked.
“I’ll remember it,” Emily spoke from her bed. “It's just the most thoughtful thing.”
Tox stage whispered to Nathan, “Is she crying?”
Nathan leaned over and wiped her tears, then kissed his daughter on the top of her head. “Hormones, I think. She cried at a cough syrup commercial earlier.”
“The wife had a cough, and the husband drove to the pharmacy in the middle of the night!” Emily defended. “It was sweet.”
Deciding that topic had reached a natural conclusion, Nathan turned to his friend. “Is Miles with you?”
“He's on his way.”
“I’d like to speak to you both when he gets here,” Nathan explained.
“I’m here.” Miles Buchanan loped into the room carrying a wooden rocking horse. “I figured the boys could use it until she's old enough. What's up?”
Nathan stood and walked over to the Buchanan twins. “You may or may not know that we haven’t asked anyone to be godparents for our children.”
Tox stood a bit straighter, sensing the follow-up.
“We’d like to ask you two to be godfathers to the boys. Miller to Jack and Miles to Charlie. Emily has already chosen her childhood best friend Caroline to be Charlie's godmother. Calliope, we’d like you to be Jack's.”
Calliope sat on the bed and put an arm around her friend. “Oh Emily, I’d love to be Jack's godmother. Thank you.”
Tox laughed. “Great, now they’re both crying. Thanks, man. It is an honor.” He clapped Nathan on the shoulder. “We’d be honored. Right, Mi?”
Tox and Nathan looked over at Miles, who stood still as a statue, his eyes glassy. He cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Yes, of course. Honored.” Miles echoed his brother. “I’m going to grab a coffee. Can I get anyone anything?”
“Coffee, black,” Tox requested.
Nathan withdrew his wallet. “I’ll have the same.”
“I got it.” Miles turned away, set the rocking horse down, and hurried out the door.
“He's okay,” Tox replied, seeing Nathan's puzzled expression. “He went from having no one to… us in just a few months. I don’t think he realized what he was missing.”
&
nbsp; Nathan nodded his understanding.
“And what about daddy's little girl? Who will guide her on the path of life and, you know, teach her how to pick locks and get a fake ID?” Tox rubbed his palms together.
Nathan shook his head at the ceiling. “What have we done?”
“Hey.” Tox held up his hands. “I didn’t even mention boys.”
Emily cut him off. “We’re going to ask Chat to be this little angel's godfather when he gets back. He flew home to spend Christmas with his family. And of course Twitch, her namesake, to be godmother.”
“Namesake?” Twitch poked her head around Tox's imposing frame.
“Namesake,” Nathan confirmed. “Twitch, we’d like you to meet our daughter. Charlotte.”
Twitch walked over to the pink bundle and gently pinched the baby's bootied foot. “You named her after me?”
Emily covered Twitch's hand. “Is that okay? We know you don’t like to be called Charlotte, but we love you, and we love the name.”
Twitch beamed through her tears. “Of course it's okay. I’m… well, I’m speechless.” She ran a gentle hand over the pink cap of the now sleeping baby. “Hi, baby Charlotte.”
“And you’ll be her godmother?” Emily asked.
“I’ll change all of her grades to As.” Twitch laughed.
Nathan stepped up to the bedside. “What makes you think her grades won’t be As to begin with?”
Steady stepped into the room, Ren followed. “Is there some sort of holiday today? I can’t quite remember.” Plucking the mistletoe from among the string of candy canes, Steady dangled it above his head. Bouncing his eyebrows up and down, he offered, “What do you say, Calliope? Spread a little Christmas cheer.”
Tox growled. “Brother, I will lay you out.”
“No?” Steady turned his attention to Emily. “What about you, Em? You up for a little smoochin’?”
“Brother, I will instruct Tox to lay you out.” Nathan didn’t bother looking up from his phone.
“So, no swingers in the group then. Noted.” Steady walked over to examine the menagerie under the tree. “Any word from Cam?”
Nathan answered, “Just that he's with Evan. And he sounded very happy about it.”
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