Chapter 25

Camden woke and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. The couch hadn’t been that bad; he’d slept well. He stood, stretching his back. He eyed the bed, but Kenzie wasn’t there. The bathroom door was open, the light off. Maybe she’d gone down to get breakfast without him. He had slept a little late. The clock said eight-thirty.

He picked up his suitcase and went into the bathroom. If she were at breakfast, he could take a long shower and not disturb her. He turned on the water and undressed. The hot spray felt wonderful on his back.

After his shower, he shaved and got ready for the long car ride. When he opened the bathroom door to find the hotel suite still empty, a prickling feeling started on the back of his neck. Where was Kenzie? He went to get his key card so he could check the breakfast area himself, when suddenly he saw her note.

Camden,

Thank you for everything. I feel bad asking you to drive back with me. I know you’re busy, and I’m sure you want to get back to your life after spending so much time saving mine. Go ahead and take your jet. I’m renting my own car to take back.

Thanks again for everything.

Kenzie

Below the note sat four hundred-dollar bills. His throat tightened, and a hole opened up in his chest. Kenzie had left. He pulled out his phone and called her. The line rang, and he waited for her to pick up. She didn’t answer. He called again, but still, no one picked up.

He crumpled the note and threw it back on the desk, raking his hand through his hair. When had she left? Why wasn’t she picking up her phone? Had something happened to her?

And then he realized that she’d done it on purpose. She didn’t want to be contacted. If she had, she would have picked up. She was running away like she always did. But this time, she was running from him.

He exhaled and sat in the hotel chair. He wasn’t ever going to see her again. The thought made him sick to his stomach. Finally, he’d fallen in love with the perfect girl, and she didn’t want him. Couldn’t even stand to spend one more minute with him. She wanted to be out of his life so badly, she’d snuck out of the hotel in the middle of the night.

Perfect.

He touched the hundred-dollar bills. The money she’d promised him the first day they’d met. A lump formed in his throat. She was finalizing their contract. Making it so she didn’t owe him anything. She didn’t want to see him again.

Finally accepting it, he called his assistant. “I need to fly home today. Can you make the arrangements?”

“Of course, sir.”

“Thanks.” He hung up and stuffed his cell in his pocket. Eating breakfast didn’t appeal to him anymore. He just wanted to go home and get back to work. He packed up his things and returned the rental car at the airport.

When he was on his jet, he leaned his seat back and closed his eyes. The smell of almond and coco butter made his pulse race. Her smell was still clinging to the seat. He was in trouble. Never had he felt this way about a woman before.

And she was gone.

***

Kenzie clutched the steering wheel, driving as fast as she dared down the interstate. This was the third day of solid driving, but she didn’t care. Staring at the road seemed to get her mind off Camden. At least, sometimes it worked.

When he’d called her that first day, she’d panicked and turned her phone off. She hadn’t wanted to talk to him. What was she going to say? I’ve fallen in love with you, but that’s not smart, so I need to get away from you? Arg. Why was she always the one to get herself into these messes?

She pushed the radio button and tuned in some pop music. She bobbed her head along to the beat. The song ended and “Cake by the Ocean” came on, and it reminded her of when she and Camden took off their shoes and walked along the beach at night.

The feel of the water rushing over her feet, and Camden’s hand around hers . . . she’d felt safe with him. She felt like she could trust him. The memory of that kiss in the moonlight brought tears to her eyes. Why had she told him she hadn’t wanted a relationship? She was so confused. The look on his face had made her heart ache.

She turned the radio off, but the memory of the beach remained. She wondered if he’d been upset when he’d read the note she left. Camden? Upset? Probably not. He was always so laid back. She couldn’t imagine him getting mad over that.

She tried to ignore the hollow feeling in her chest when thoughts of Camden plagued her, but it felt like it would consume her. She was in love with him. She’d tried to not fall for him, but it didn’t work. After only a week, she was madly in love.

The tears she didn’t realize she was crying ran down her cheeks. Maybe she would go home and pack. Virginia suddenly seemed too small a place to hold both of them. She couldn’t stand it if she ran into him in the store. She’d break down and cling to him and embarrass them both.

The thought of never seeing Camden again made it difficult to breathe. She was in trouble. She had to get out of Virginia before she did something stupid, like run to his office and beg him to give her a chance.