She shook her head vehemently. “You were the shining star of the school. You broke every record and stole every girl’s heart.”
He turned his sea-blue gaze on her. “The only heart I wanted was yours.”
Hadley turned to the sea with its familiar rhythms, sure and steady. Funny how the water looked like it was going to come and bowl you over, only to turn back at the last minute, every single time. She could use a little of that reassurance, because this conversation was threatening to do the same thing.
She pushed down the wild fluttering of her heart and made herself face him. “Then why? Why did you break it off? We were in love. At least, I loved you. I would’ve done anything for you, given you anything.”
I gave you everything. My heart, my body, my soul.
High school relationships rarely lasted. It was naïve to think that they’d been headed for forever. Nevertheless, what he said mattered. Really mattered, more than she’d realized.
Part of what had attracted her to Cooper was how beloved he was—by everyone. Yet his popularity hadn’t guaranteed him to be a good-hearted person.
Cam had a big personality too—but when she’d fallen in love with him, he hadn’t had fame or money. She’d just loved…him. But he’d left her too. And she needed to understand why so it didn’t happen again.
He heaved a sigh. “I figured it was just a matter of time before you broke it off with me.” He paused. “I wasn’t from an old town family. I didn’t belong to a country club. You were into leaving for NYU and I…I felt like a country bumpkin. I didn’t get my scholarship because of my smarts. I butted and tackled and pushed my way through the dirt to get a ride to college.”
None of that had mattered to her. It hadn’t mattered to her parents either, who’d loved Cam from the start because he’d been bright and ambitious and driven. Their concerns had been more about how fame and stardom would impact their relationship.
“I never cared about how much money you had.” Looking at him was a huge mistake. Those beautiful eyes of his were full of something she’d rather not see. The truth.
“I was a scared kid who had no idea how far I could go. I had to prove myself.” He shrugged. “I’m not making excuses for being a dumb kid.”
“I loved you, Cam.” She still couldn’t tear her gaze away from his face. “A lot.”
“I loved you too.” He took her hand. “And I’m sorry I hurt you.” She was caught up in the warmth of his hand holding hers, in the tender look in his eyes telling her that he meant it.
“Thank you—for saying that.” Her voice came out low and strange, choked up. She went to pull her hand away, sensing that something between them had shifted. Something that had nothing to do with high school love or teenage insecurities or resolving their long-ago past.
How could she tell him that hearing his explanation had closed a very old wound—one from years of wondering, maybe. But if she were completely honest, it had done something else. Opened the crack in her heart she was trying very hard to keep closed. The one that kept her from letting him in.
For a moment, she was mesmerized, lost in the heat of his gaze, in the feel of his strong hand over hers. She hadn’t felt this—this force—whatever it was between them that she’d always been helpless to resist—in all these years. Not like this.
She swiped her eyes on her arm so he wouldn’t see her getting emotional and stood up fast, looking down the beach. “Oh, Bowie’s wandering off. I better go grab him.”
The old dog hadn’t budged more than a few feet from where he’d been frolicking in the surf. And Jagger sat on the shore, chewing on a big chunk of driftwood. But she needed to step away, to break the strange connection still sparking between them.
Suddenly a man in salmon-colored shorts and a collared shirt patterned with rows of tiny whales approached. “Hey, Cam.” He handed him a bright green drink. “We’ve been looking all over for you. I brought you a Camminator.”
A Camminator? What the…
Cam touched her lightly on the elbow, sending an unwelcome shiver through her. “Hadley, this is my agent, Ian Felding. Ian, my friend Hadley. We…grew up together.”
“A pleasure,” Ian said, barely acknowledging her. “Cam, our investors are finally talking money. This is going to be huge. They’re really excited to work with us on this. Oh, and they brainstormed a name. They came up with Cammareri 1.0 for the flagship, and then each restaurant afterward would count upward from there. Isn’t that cool?” He hiked his thumb in the direction of the bungalows. “I think you should get back up there as soon as you can.” He turned to Hadley. “Nice to meet you, Hailey.”
“I’ll be right there.” As Ian headed back up the beach path, Cam turned to her. “I’ve got a little group of businesspeople up there. Everyone’s discussing the restaurant. Guess I’d better go.”
Cammareri 1.0 ran through Hadley’s mind as they walked back up the path in silence. It was the most impersonal name for a restaurant she’d ever heard, but it wasn’t her business to tell him so. While she’d been caught up in reminiscing, he’d been furthering his plan to take over the Palace without missing a beat.
As they approached the space between the two bungalows, she heard laughter. A crowd of people with drinks in their hands had gathered on his patio. He surprised her by walking her all the way to her door. “Look,” he said. “I…Do you mind keeping Bowie tonight? He really hates the noise and the crowd.”
“Of course I will,” she said, unable to keep the emotion out of her voice. He was giving her Bowie? Just when she tried hating him, he did something that made it impossible.
As if Bowie understood, he brushed by her legs and trotted into the house, Jagger right behind. But Bowie circled back and sat down on Hadley’s foot, an old habit of his. Her Bowie was back. And right now that gave her a great deal of satisfaction.
Dogs were easier to read than men, that was for sure.
Hadley flicked on all the lights within reach. As if illumination would somehow bring her some desperately needed sense.
Cam hadn’t changed since high school. He was still the life of the party, the extrovert, the guy who attracted anyone within fifty feet like a magnet. A force at getting what he wanted.
“Well, thanks for the talk.” She started to close the door.
“No problem. I— Look, about that.” He nodded toward the voices on his porch. “Those people. My agent—”
“Don’t, Cam.” She put up a hand. “It’s okay. We are who we are.” She tried not to look at him, because she knew she’d read a good deal of remorse in his face. But that wasn’t enough. Feeling bad about something didn’t count when you were still doing it.
“Thanks for Bowie,” she said quickly, and then closed the door.
Chapter 9
Cam walked into the Cammareri Vintage Home Remodeling office on Monday morning to find his sister in a panic. Lucy sat at her computer, trying to talk on the phone while Bernie wailed loudly in a sling around her mom’s neck. In the middle of the floor lay a large, brindle lump. On closer inspection, Cam saw that it was a bulldog, grunting and wheezing, its tongue lolling to the side.