“Right. Yeah. Weird, that’s where my first thought went when you texted.” He lifted the burger and took a bite, groaning in appreciation as I gawked at him. After swallowing, he looked over the massive thing that would have taken me at least three meals to devour. “This is amazing. Thank you.”
The man took another bite.
“Cam, did you hear what I just said to you?” Since he was still chewing, I continued. “You’re going to lose your dad’s case because my dad is pissed that you’re dating me.”
He set the burger back in its box. “Pika, I’m going to lose my dad’s case because Judge Bradley doesn’t think I’m capable of being responsible for a puppy, let alone my father’s care. The fact that I love you is the icing on an already burned cake.”
It didn’t matter that he’d told me every day for the last few weeks that he loved me—it still hit me in the heart like it was the first time.
“I…I…” No matter how hard I tried, words wouldn’t form.
“I am, you know—capable of taking care of a puppy. I was thinking maybe one of those English bulldogs with all the wrinkles, but I figured I’d ask what you thought first.” He took a sip of the shake and grinned.
“What I thought?” Was he utterly and completely mad? I’d just dropped a bomb, and he was thinking about babies and puppies?
“I thought you’d appreciate input.” He shrugged. “After all, I figured we’d end up living together and eventually married—when you’re ready, of course, if that’s something you’d be interested in.” He waved his hand like it was all a given. Like we weren’t cursed. “So if you hate bulldogs, then we’d have to pick another breed. They’ve got great temperaments, though. Excellent with kids. When we have them.” He tilted his head. “If you want to have them, that is. The marriage thing might not be your style, either. I’m pretty much at your mercy with those.” He took another bite of his burger.
My eyes darted around the room, making sure I hadn’t stepped into the twilight zone. Once I was sure that this wasn’t some really messed-up dream, I pinned him with a stare. “So you don’t think we should break up so you have a shot at winning this case? Because that’s where I was kind of headed with it.” I finished that last part so slowly, it almost felt like a completely different sentence.
He paused mid-chew.
“I mean, that’s his best shot, right? If we break up? If my dad sees you’re putting Art’s interests before your own? That’s what makes the most sense.” Now the words came fast enough to set their own speed record.
Cam finished chewing and swallowed, abandoning the rest of the burger in its box. “Is that what you want? To…” He shook his head.
“No,” I admitted in a whisper. “But isn’t this where I’m supposed to leave for your own good? Take the martyrdom road to help your dad and then hope that later, once this is all settled, we can be together?”
“Come here.” He shifted and pushed his chair back from the table.
I stood, my knees and resolve shaking as I took the few steps that separated us to stand between his knees.
“Do you love me?” he asked, looking up at me from under dark lashes.
“More than anything in this world.” I ran my fingers through his hair, more for my comfort than his.
“Okay.” He took my hips and guided me until I sat across his thighs, facing him. “Then, this is where you do that. Where you love me. That’s all I need.”
I melted, deflated, lost all the tension in my muscles as my fear vanished, but the worry set in. “But what about your dad?”
He ran his knuckles down my cheek. “I can only tackle one problem at a time, Pika. My first priority is and will always be you. This, what we have, isn’t something I’m willing to risk.”
I leaned into his touch. “I don’t want to lose you.”
“Then don’t.” His voice rumbled so low, I felt it in my palm where it lay against his chest.
“Will you hate me if you lose this case?” My darkest fear slipped out on a whisper.
“I will love you for the rest of my life, no matter what happens. None of this is your fault. Do you understand?”
I didn’t nod because I couldn’t lie. I was the reason my dad hated him. Being with Cam was only going to hurt him in the end. “I’m too selfish to let you go.”
“Thank God, because I’m not sure I’d know how to let you. I’m so damned glad you came to me instead of making the decision alone.” The relief in his eyes punched me in the stomach. I’d almost done it. Almost walked away.
“We’re partners, right?”
“Right.”
“You’re not going to go yell at my dad right now, are you? Because you’re not supposed to know, and if you tell him, then Pat loses his council seat…if they figure out he’s the one who told me, since they have an NDA about council meetings or something.”
Cam stiffened beneath me, and not in a good way.
“This happened at a council meeting?” he growled.
I nodded.
“You have to be kidding me.”
“Promise me you won’t go yell at my dad. You know it will just give him more ammunition against you, and I worked really hard to get Pat on your side.”
His jaw flexed, and he sucked in three breaths and let them out slowly before he relaxed. “You got Pat Lambert on my side?”
“I’m quite the politician.” I shrugged.
His lips lifted in what was almost a smile. “Okay. I’ll be good. I promise that I will not yell at your dad.”
“Thank you.” My forehead fell to rest against his. “I never wanted to complicate your life, Cam.”
He kissed me slowly, with a lazy thoroughness that had my hands gripping his shirt in fists before he was done.
“You’re not a complication in my life, Willow. You’re the reason.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Camden
I waited a full week to visit the barbershop. My hair had grown since I’d moved home three months ago, and it was time to get it trimmed back into shape.
At least that was my excuse.
Earl McGinty had his scissors close enough to my ear that I could hear the individual strands of my hair being cut. I knew better than to move a muscle.
His hands moved quickly, the product of decades of experience and expertise. When I wasn’t watching him in the giant mirrors that lined the wall, I had my eye on the four men who sat in the black chairs behind me, sipping their coffee and shooting me looks that said they weren’t certain exactly how they felt about me.