And she’d said, I’ll never be more sure.
And he’d said I love you. And then—
She was suddenly choked up and badly in need of air. Worse, she realized that he’d stepped out into the hallway to make a call.
She rotated the ring on her finger. She was falling for him all over again. Yes, she was afraid. To trust herself after being hurt. To start something when they had so much unresolved between them about the future of her grandmother’s building. Not to mention all the uncertainties about her own future.
Maybe she didn’t have all the answers. But maybe she could let herself…take a chance. Take a trip down memory lane with him to a time when she was really happy.
It was only an afternoon, right?
“We’re all set,” he said, pocketing his phone as he walked back in. “I’m going to drop us off at home and then I’ll pick you up in a half hour. Dress for the beach.”
“Okay, let’s do it,” she said, sweeping scattered papers into the box. She realized that for the first time in a long time she was…excited. To go to the beach. And to be with him. She looked up at his handsome face and smiled. “Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter 20
Cam sat behind the wheel of his ’65 Mustang convertible, watching Hadley toss a beach bag into the back seat and climb in. She looked pretty as a picture wearing a white swimsuit cover-up, a floppy sun hat, and a big smile.
One afternoon. He had that much time to show her that they were the same people they used to be when they weren’t standing on opposite sides of a fence.
He needed to do it, for reasons that he didn’t fully understand. But it had something to do with Nick and lost opportunities and not letting the best relationship of his life go.
Plus other things Nick had said were worrying him. Cam had made success his all-time goal.…He needed to be the best at everything he did. Was he still really struggling to prove his worth, even though their mother was long gone? Who exactly was he trying to prove himself to?
Hadley was shaking her head.
“What? What is it?” He hadn’t even had a chance to put his foot in his mouth yet.
“Of course you’d buy a red sports car,” she said, the corner of her mouth tipping up in a smile.
“Well, it beats that red Chevy Astro I had back in high school, right?” Before he could stop himself, he reached over and rubbed a little blob of sunscreen off her nose. He was pleased her breath hitched at his touch. If she was feeling the same things he was feeling, he intended to find out. Today.
“I wouldn’t call that old Astro red exactly,” she said. “Unless you’re defining rust as red?”
“Ha!” he said. “Those were the days.”
The soft expression in her eyes melted him. “We had fun times,” she said.
He dropped a hand from the wheel and it accidentally grazed hers. He met her gaze again. “Especially the times we played hooky.”
“We only did that a few times,” she said.
“Because you wouldn’t skip class.”
“You talked me into it,” she said, “and we both got detention.”
“It was worth it.” He suppressed a grin. “Buying T-shirts on the boardwalk was fun.”
She punched him in the arm. “I don’t remember anything else we did.” But she was smiling.
He wanted her to remember. And from what he was going to show her today, she’d remember even more.
“So where are we going in this flashy car?” she asked.
“Somewhere you’ll like.” In answer to her puzzled expression, he impulsively reached down and squeezed her hand. He couldn’t stop himself. And…it just seemed right. To him. But to her?
She glanced down at their hands, then up at him. “Okay,” she said softly. “You’re in charge of the afternoon.”
“Is the car too flashy for you?” Most women fawned more over his car than over him. But not Hadley. She was about to give him grief about it, he could tell.
“Well, it does attract attention,” she said.
“You’re going to forget all about that when you feel that sea breeze flying through your hair.” And then he started the car with a little jolt. “Hold on to your sunbonnet, sugar.”
“Call me sugar again and you’re going to be wearing it yourself.” She gripped the brim of her hat against the breeze.
He grinned. “Noted.”
He drove out past the marina, following the shoreline until he pulled onto an out-of-the way road he hadn’t driven for a long time.
Her eyes grew wide. “You’re taking me to the Crab Shack?” They pulled into the familiar parking lot, memories from their favorite teenage hangout flooding him. He didn’t miss the excitement in her voice, and he hoped what he was about to do would make her happy.
“It’s empty,” she said, noting that the squat, square little building was vacant, the blinds drawn, and the parking lot abandoned, weeds growing through the cracks in the pavement. “Where is everyone?”
“The Millers are moving to Florida.”
“Oh no!” she said. “I’ve been so busy since I’ve been back, I haven’t thought of this place. But I can’t imagine it not being here.”
“Best crab burgers on the East Coast.”
“And best jalapeño poppers. Not to mention the crazy Christmas lights they used to put up, remember?” He gave a smile at that. “Bob and Marilyn. Are they okay?”
“They’re fine.” He pulled out of the parking lot and continued a short way up the winding road. “Just ready to move south to be closer to their grandchildren.”
At a bend in the road, Cam turned into the driveway of a picturesque Tudor-style cottage.
Hadley gasped. “I’d forgotten all about this place. But why are we at Bob and Marilyn’s house?”
“You’ll see.” The property sloped down to a little bluff overlooking the ocean, complete with a winding stone path and wild roses blooming everywhere. When he ran to open the door for Hadley, she hesitated, her expression wary. But he held out his hand, lifting a brow as if to say, Why not?
Finally, she took it. A small victory. As they walked together to the house, the door opened and a gray-haired couple greeted them.
“Order’s ready,” Bob said, carrying a basket. “Can I put it in your car?”
“I can get that.” Cam took it from him. “It’s enough you got it ready for us.”
“For you, we have curbside pickup.” Marilyn came right up and hugged Cam. “We’re so glad you’re back, Anthony. Makes us sad about leaving.” Then she engulfed Hadley in a hug too. “Hadley! I’m so glad you’ve come home too.”
“Mrs. Miller,” she said. “Great to see you.”
“My good friend Gladys just fostered an older dog for Ivy, and it’s a match made in heaven. Oh, and I see you and Cam have found each other again.” She clapped her hands together. “That’s so wonderful!”
Bob put a hand on his wife’s arm. “We should let them get to their picnic.”
“I really appreciate you doing this for us,” Cam said, surveying the house. “Find a buyer yet?”