“Wait—you told the team I had the building?” Cam asked. It was far from a done deal.
“Relax.” Ian held up the beer. “We’ve got this. Everything is going to come together.”
A server wearing black and white held up a tray of hors d’oeuvres as about twelve people milled around in small groups. A small bar was set up in the corner of the patio so people could enjoy the unobstructed ocean view, with the sun just setting and stars already dotting the sky. Cam didn’t mind the setup, but poor Bowie had been booted out of his usual resting place near the patio furniture and seemed beside himself with all the commotion.
Ian put an arm around his shoulder. “The guys I’m about to introduce you to are the owners of Dudley and Dolittle. They’ve come all the way from LA. I think we need to emphasize that we’ve all but locked in the location.”
Cam suddenly saw Hadley’s determined face, plotting to stop him any way she could. Waves of guilt shot straight through him.
But thinking of her also reminded him of the insecure kid he’d been. Of not being good enough. Of feeling like a failure. Except, once again, he simply could not afford to fail now. He had to rebuild his life, and he had to succeed, or he’d have…nothing.
Ian pulled him back and spoke in a low voice. “We have to tell Dudley and Dolittle that we’re committed and ready. Dudley’s assistant alluded that if you’re not a sure thing, they’re going to try for Tom Brady.”
“Tom Brady?” Geez. These people didn’t mess around.
“This is the power team, as far as these deals go. Once they choose to invest, they go all the way. We have to be decisive and quick, or we’ll lose the deal.”
“Got it.” Ian did his job, and his at times unapologetic pushiness had served Cam well over the years.
He soon found himself shaking hands with Mr. Dudley. Or had Ian just introduced him as Dolittle? They even looked similar, both with expensive haircuts and slim-line suits. And they both kowtowed to him, which was phony to the max.
For the hundredth time, he glanced over at Maddy’s bungalow next door. He was almost certain Hadley would be staying there and kept waiting for a door to click, a light to turn on. But so far, nothing.
Ian introduced him to an expensively tailored suit named Rocco. “We love that the flagship restaurant will be smack dab in the center of your hometown, Cam. It will really liven things up amid all those kitschy little mom-and-pop businesses. We crunched the numbers and we think with all the tourist traffic, we could do very well here. And if this one takes off”—he gestured upward with his hands—“New York. LA. Chicago. The sky’s the limit.”
“That’s terrific,” Cam said, but inside he just felt…off. Anyone who wore sunglasses once the sun had already set couldn’t be trusted.
“Our job is to expedite and get things rolling,” Rocco said, “which we can do in a number of ways. I brought some plans based on what our architect drew up.”
Whoa. The architect he’d taken to Pooch Palace the other day had already drawn up plans?
“Yes,” Mr. Dudley (or Dolittle?) said. “I hope you don’t mind, but we’re in a time crunch. We’re very good at what we do, Mr. Cammareri, and we know very well that it’s urgent to seize our window of opportunity.”
“What kinds of plans are we talking about here?”
“All the restaurant chains we own are fairly similar in scope and design,” Rocco said, “so it wasn’t too difficult.” He must’ve seen the uncertainty in Cam’s eyes, because he patted him on the shoulder. “No worries. Trust us. We’ve been down this road before.”
“Gentlemen, can we get you a drink?” Ian telegraphed Cam a look that said Let me take care of this. “Our staff just invented something fun called the Camminator to celebrate.”
Our staff? Did he mean the two guys tending bar who looked no older than twenty?
“You okay?” Ian pulled Cam aside on the way to the bar. “Think of all the reasons you want this. Financial security for life. Revitalization for your town. A comfortable life for Mrs. Edwards, who can sail into retirement with a fortune. I don’t see a downside here.”
Financial security for life. The town, reinvigorated. Maddy, happily retired. Lucy potentially working as his chef—if he could change her mind.
Hadley would eventually accept her grandmother’s retirement. She would go back to LA. He’d be the one to stay on here. So he needed to start building his future now.
It would all work out in the end, in the best way for everybody.
He shouldn’t be worrying about Hadley with so much else on the line.
Yet he was worrying.
Cam walked over to the edge of the small patio. The old bungalow was small but immaculate, the little patio tiny but tidy, with a bajillion-dollar view. An image appeared in his mind, of him sitting out here with Hadley, just the two of them, on a warm summer night. With a glass of wine and a warm breeze blowing, just enough to keep them cool from the hot day. With a sky so dark you could see a million stars, and maybe silver ribbons of moonlight glistening on the water in front of them. Him holding her in his arms, soft and warm.
What was wrong with him? He’d been fine until that handshake in Maddy’s hospital room. That simple touch had caused him to…remember things. Feel things. Like how much he’d loved holding her. How perfectly her hand fit in his.
It made him feel protective, which was exactly what he did not want to feel.
She would kill him if she got wind of that. She didn’t need or want his protection.
And he needed to stop with the sentimentality.
He could not restart his life unless he took this opportunity.
Servers suddenly appeared with trays of green and blue fluorescent bubbling drinks. Reluctantly, he accepted one, but it looked more like something to remove grass stains from his uniform than a classy summer drink.
“So what will it be, Cam?” one of the investors asked.
He forced a smile, telling himself again that it was the right thing to do. “I’m in.” He raised his glass for a toast. “Let’s do it, gentlemen.”
* * *
The party was winding down when Cam made his way onto the beach with Bowie. As Bowie sniffed around, Cam took in a big breath of air. He should feel relieved now that he was forging ahead with the restaurant plans, which were clear, logical, and well thought out. All he had to do was let his people handle their end and relax a little. And steer clear of Hadley and hope that in time she’d see this was best for everyone. In the meantime, he’d avoid her as much as possible until she returned to LA.
Suddenly Bowie tore through the brush and headed straight for the water. Cam emerged from the path to see the dog running straight for the person approaching them—Hadley.
Seeing her in that yellow dress, carrying her sandals and walking along the shallow water with Jagger at her heels, stopped him in his tracks and flooded him with raw longing. He didn’t know if it was the warm summer night or the moonlight washing over everything, or the unexpected sight of her, but he just…stopped, right in his tracks.
Bowie was smarter. He trotted up and began running circles around Hadley, excitedly jumping up and down. She bent down to receive a sloppy kiss on the side of her face amid the sniffing, pawing, and tail wagging. Jagger, not to be outdone, showered Hadley with as much enthusiastic love as his buddy.