Chapter Thirty-Seven

Scarlett

I was scared and anxious to see if the band would show up for their recording session. Tom had been very diplomatic when he rejected their single, and they had all seemed okay with his request to do something different, but artists could be finicky.

Tanya buzzed my line.

“Hey,” I answered.

“The band just got here,” she whispered into the phone. “Tom’s taking them back.”

“Thanks!”

The entire studio was aware of what had happened yesterday. Cesar and Tom weren’t convinced they would show but had held their slot for the studio anyway. I quickly headed down the hall and joined them all in the studio.

Jerry was seated on the green velvet couch, making himself completely at home while Tom looked over the lyrics of the song they wanted to record. I looked over at Jerry and felt a little queasy. The man was a snake. I should have seen it before. Maybe I was only seeing it now because of the name and the connection to Cameron. I despised the man, and I didn’t even know if it was him. I felt desperately protective over Cameron and his little girl. If the slimeball currently taking up residence on the couch was truly the man responsible for hurting Cameron, he would pay. Of that I was sure.

I had every faith in Cameron and knew he would take the information I’d given him and run with it. When I heard a commotion in the hall, I smiled at the man giving me a lecherous look from the couch. I knew what was coming; he didn’t. That made me the one with the power.

“Uh-oh,” I said in a small voice and watched his face change from glib to pissed in an instant.

Cameron, followed by several men wearing jackets identifying them as DEA agents, flooded the room, guns trained on the singer and his group. I held up my hands along with Tom and didn’t move a muscle. The tension was high, and I didn’t want to get shot or do something that led to one of the police officers getting shot.

“Jerry Smith, you’re under arrest for a shitload of crimes,” Cameron nearly shouted. “Burning my house to the fucking ground is just one of them, you piece of shit. You’re going to prison for a long time.”

It was my turn to smile. My man had just given ol’ Jerry Smith what he had coming. Obviously, I was bummed about losing my first act, but there were singers on every corner. I would sacrifice everything, including my career, if it meant protecting Cameron and his daughter.

Jerry looked at me and licked his lips while one of the men read him his rights. When I shuddered with disgust, he burst into laughter. The sound was maniacal and made goose bumps pop up all over my flesh.

“Don’t even look at her,” Cameron hissed near the man’s ear as he held Jerry’s cuffed hands behind his back.

Jerry sneered. “I’ve seen enough of her.”

Cameron and I exchanged a look as the man was led out of the room by the DEA agent who had taken Jerry off Cameron’s hands. His buddies were led out as well.

“He knew you,” I said, thinking back to the night at the bar. “How did he know you?”

Cameron placed his hands on my upper arms and looked me directly in the eye. “I don’t know—yet. I’m going to find out. Can I come by later?”

I nodded, still disturbed that the man had stood there onstage, watching us dance. How had I thought he was good enough to sign to a record deal? It was scary to think how close I had come to working with a man capable of such horror.

Once the studio cleared out, Cesar and Tom both looked at me for an explanation. I awkwardly explained, hoping they would understand. They seemed more shocked than angry. Cesar was giving me another shot to bring in an artist, preferably one that wouldn’t be hauled off by the police.

By the end of the day, I was anxious to hear from Cameron. I had texted him several times and never gotten a response. I was trying to be patient and failing miserably. As soon as I wrapped things up at work, I headed home, hoping Cameron would be waiting there. He wasn’t.

Waiting to hear what had happened made me feel a lot like a caged lion. I was pacing my house, staring out my front window, checking my phone every two minutes, and stressing out in general. If Jerry Smith wasn’t the man Cameron had been looking for, I would be eating crow, and for some reason I didn’t think the guy was going to be real forgiving. He creeped me out, and I didn’t want him back on the streets.

Cameron’s truck crawled down the street, and I went to the front door, yanking it open and waiting for him to climb out.

“Well?” I asked as he walked up the driveway.

He smiled. “We got him.”

I led him inside. “Tell me everything!”

“You might want to sit down,” he joked.

I sat down and stared at him like a child waiting to hear an exciting story.

“I’ve been working with a special task force on occasion to help track down a man notorious for cooking meth all over the east coast. The DEA has been chasing him from one city to the next but has never managed to get him. They didn’t know his name or what he looked like and dubbed him the Cooker.”

My eyes widened. “Oh my god!”

He grinned. “I’ve been talking to people on the streets, asking questions about the guy as well as helping to serve a couple search warrants and talking to the people in the houses at the time. I gave out my card, asking them to call if they had any information.”

I nodded. “And that’s how he got your name.”

“Yep. He had targeted a couple other guys who were doing the same thing but didn’t get around to hitting them. Although, I just found out today that one of the guys who served on the task force had his car stolen a couple days ago. The investigators are probably going to connect the Cooker and his merry band of misfits too that as well,” he said, and I could hear the relief in his voice.

“How did he know where you lived?” I asked, still a little puzzled.

Cameron shrugged. “Google is an evil tool when it falls into the wrong hands.”

“When he saw us at the club that night, how did he know who you were?”

He shook his head. “I’m not sure. He’s locked up for now. They have the DNA to hold him on the arson, but it’ll take a lot more evidence to prove he’s the man behind all the meth houses.”

I was in shock regarding how everything had unfolded. Cameron’s job was dangerous. I had never really understood how dangerous until that exact moment. I thought about the families of the other cops and wondered how they handled the constant threat.

“Wow, so…it’s over. You solved two cases with one arrest. That must be some kind of record in your world.” I smiled, feeling proud I was able to help him a little. “Do you get a medal?” I teased.

“I don’t think so, but it’ll definitely look good on my record should I put in for a promotion.”

“That’s amazing. Good job. I bet your boss was impressed.”

He chuckled. “It certainly doesn’t happen often. I owe you for leading me to him. I think the guy thought he was above the law. I’m not sure what his plans were with you, but I’m glad we snatched him when we did.”

“I don’t think he was after me. I chased him down. I made it way too easy for him. I bet he thought he was the smartest man in the room, sitting there looking like the cat that ate the canary until you came in.”

“It all worked out. I hate that you had to deal with the creep, but I’m so glad you did. Good catch on those song lyrics. The DA is going to use them as evidence in my case,” he said.

“I saw you with that man the other day. Was that your insurance guy?” I asked, hoping to keep the conversation going. I didn’t want him to leave and hoped to stall him.

He nodded. “Yes. They weren’t exactly generous with their settlement offer. At this point, they’ll pay to rebuild the house as is. I will get a little something to replace some of the furnishings, but without receipts and pictures, a lot of the stuff is not going to be covered.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“It’s okay. I mean, it has to be. I do have the option of not rebuilding. The land value has increased quite a bit since I bought the home six years ago. I could sell that,” he said slowly, looking at me as he spoke. “I’d be given a decent settlement check after the lender was paid.”

“You’re going to move?” I said, feeling the loss all over again.

“I was thinking about it. Scarlett, I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to come right out and say it,” he said, his hand reaching out to take mine.

I licked my lips, mentally preparing myself for another harsh blow. “Okay,” I said, my voice barely above the sound of my breathing.

“I love you.”

I blinked several times. “What?” I said, feeling like a complete dumbass.

He smiled and leaned closer. “I love you. I’m in love with you. I didn’t want to fall in love, but I did.”

The words felt like they were floating in my brain, touching nerves and triggering all kinds of emotions.

“Cam?”

He nodded.

“I love you too,” I said with a smile. “And trust me, the last thing I wanted to do was fall in love.”

He chuckled. “I guess we both had our hang-ups, but here we are.”

“Are you staying in Nashville?” I blurted out, needing to know if I was going to lose him to distance.

“What? Of course I am.”

“You said you were thinking about selling the land…”

“Oh, that. Well, I was wondering if your offer still stood,” he said with that sexy grin of his.

“My offer?” I felt like my head was mud. Those three little words had tripped me up, and I didn’t want to think about anything else except that he loved me and what that meant.

“To live with you.”

“Yes!” I nearly jumped off the couch. “Absolutely! That would be great!”

He was smiling, a true smile that reached his eyes and made them squint a little. It was the first time I had seen it. It was beautiful, just like him.

“Ella will be overjoyed. She’s been bugging me about coming back here all week. She really likes you. I love how great you are with her. I know it’s a lot for you, but if you’re ready, I’m ready,” he said, looking a little nervous.

“I’m so ready,” I whispered as he leaned closer to me.

“I’m a lot to handle,” he said in a husky voice.

“I know, and I can’t wait to handle you.”

He grinned a second before his eyes fluttered shut and his mouth closed over mine. I let myself get lost in his kiss. It was gentle and sweet at first. It was as if he was sealing our confession of love for one another before he pushed harder against my mouth, prying my lips open with the pressure. It wasn’t long before that familiar passion ignited, and I felt myself becoming overwhelmed with desire for the man.