Chapter 16

At seven o’clock that night, Val returned to the Front Street Boutique. He’d thought about Cameron all day no matter what he’d been doing, willing the clock to go faster so he could see her again. Despite the constant distraction of one luscious Brahmin beauty, he’d actually been productive. He’d taken a five-mile run, plowed through a stack of documents on one of his ancillary cases, and written up a few reports he had in the queue. But throughout the day, he’d really been working toward one thing: her.

“Hey,” she said, stepping out of the store and locking the front door behind her. “Thanks for calling earlier. What did you have in mind for tonight?”

“Dinner. And then a swim.”

She looked up at him and tilted her head. “A swim? In the harbor? Or do you have a pool stashed away somewhere on your boat?”

He smiled. “That would be awesome, but no. I don’t have a pool.”

“Where, then?”

“I’ll tell you after dinner,” he promised. “Do you want to head back to your place to get a swimsuit?”

“And the alternative is …?”

“No swimsuit.” A wicked grin formed on his face.

“Since you’re not telling me where we’re swimming, I think a suit will be the safest bet.”

“Touché.” He placed a hand on her back and led her down the street. “Dinner first.”

“The LMK?”

Val shook his head. “No. They close early on Sunday nights.”

“Oh, you’re right. The Schoolhouse, then?”

“Nope. Not the Schoolhouse.”

“You are such a tease,” she mock-complained.

He stopped dead in his tracks and she stopped, too. “Actually, I’m not,” he said, trailing a finger down her jaw and enjoying her little shiver. “But I can be.”

“I like the way that feels,” she whispered.

“Yeah? That makes two of us.” Then he covered her mouth with his, and for a few long moments he simply reveled in the way she fit against him so perfectly. When he lifted his head, the glazed look in her eyes told him everything he needed to know. “We keep this up, and we won’t even make it to dinner.”

“And that’s a bad thing?”

“You won’t want to miss this,” he promised, grabbing her hand before it could snake up his shirt. If they started going down that path, things would be over even before they got started. And he had big plans for them tonight. “Come on.”

He led her back to his boat, where he’d set up a table and two chairs on deck. She helped him carry up their provisions from the galley—two one-and-a-half-pound boiled lobsters and a bottle of champagne.

A little crease formed between her brows as she regarded the bottle. “I wouldn’t have figured you to be a champagne kind of guy.”

“I’m not. But I aim to please, and I know you are definitely a champagne kind of gal.”

At that, she laughed, and popped that cork right off without even flinching. “Are you going to grab a beer?”

“If you insist.”

“I do.”

He shrugged. “Who am I to say no to a lady? I’ll be right back.”

It didn’t take long before they were both cracking and laughing and tucking into the lobster.

After consuming their share of crustacean, they went to wash their messy hands. When Cameron came back on deck, she sank down into her chair with a happy sigh. “Thank you. That was just delicious.”

“Glad you enjoyed it. Picked them up fresh from the docks this morning.”

“I have to admit, before tonight I’ve never had the pleasure of cracking one open myself. They usually come already opened,” she said with a laugh.

“Ah, Cam. Why am I not surprised?”

“Hey, come on,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “I did all right.”

“For a novice.” He reached for her hand.

“You have to give me more credit than that,” she protested.

He smiled and brushed his lips over the back of her hand. “How about you come back for some more practice. Say, next weekend.”

She smiled. “I’d like that.”

They basked on deck for a while and watched the sun set. The sky turned from blue to amber to pink, casting a warm light on Cameron’s beautiful face. Her eyes were glowing, and when she squeezed his hand, his heart did a funny flip-flop. He wasn’t surprised at the feeling. Sure, she was a princess, but she had more than a few things in her favor. For one, she wasn’t afraid to try new things. Case in point: cracking lobster. She didn’t care if he drank beer. And she was a terror in the sack. Plus, he’d started to think that she didn’t seem to care a whit about his background—or lack thereof.

And the guilt that he was feeling about investigating the congressman had waned a bit, now that Cameron had told him she was cutting ties with Junior. There’d be no excuse at all to get her involved when she had no reason to be around the guy or his family.

In the darkening light, she turned to him. “What now?”

“Ever had a frappe?” he said, happy to get out of his own head.

“Like the coffee drink? I usually go for lattes.”

He shook his head. “Nope. A frappe is like a milkshake, only thicker.”

“Ice cream? Ooh, one of my weaknesses.”

“Come on, then.”

He helped her off the boat and together, they walked down the pier. Right next to Babs’s Clam Shak was a weather-beaten, stand-alone building that sold cold confections. Cameron’s eyes widened as she looked at the sizes of the frappes being enjoyed by other patrons.

“I don’t think I can drink a whole one by myself,” she confessed.

“Then we’ll share.”

They decided on chocolate, and when she took her first sip, she closed her eyes.

“This is just sinful.”

He grinned and took a long, hard pull from the straw. Rich chocolate flavor danced across his tongue, the iciness going straight to his brain. As they took turns sipping from the straw, he couldn’t help but feel like a high school kid on a date. God, she made him feel young—a very, very dangerous thing. Because now that he’d gotten a taste of her sweetness, experienced how she made him feel, he didn’t know how he was going to settle for anything less.

She gave so easily, so readily of herself, it was amazing she hadn’t been eaten alive by her crowd. That was the thing about high society—on the surface everyone seemed so polite, so proper, but underneath they could be vipers. Cameron wasn’t like that, and he realized that her dress, her posture, and her manners were her armor—protection against those who would try to hurt her.

But for him, she’d let her armor down.

They were walking past the Clam Shak on the way back to Val’s boat when a familiar voice called out.

“Val Grayson, that you?” Babs Kincaide hollered from inside the Shak. “C’mere.”

Giving Cameron a look that said we’d better do what she wants, he escorted her over to the Clam Shak. There were a few people sitting at the picnic tables out front, finishing up their late dinners.

“I’m just closing up for the night,” Babs said. “See you two got a frappe. Any good?”

“Very,” Cameron said. “It’s my first.”

“Hmf,” Babs responded. “I expect you already ate dinner.” Cameron confirmed it. “Well, next time, see that you stop by the Shak before heading over to Frappetown. Everyone knows that nothing beats fried clams and a frappe.”

“We will,” Cameron assured her.

“And you,” Babs said, turning her sharp-eyed gaze onto Val. “I hope you’re behaving like a gentleman.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Val said, evenly meeting her gaze. “As always.”

Babs snorted again. “I s’pose that’s more true for you than it was for any of your brothers. Though I have to say, I’ve been impressed with all of them lately.”

“They’re all reformed.”

“Hardly, though not for lack of trying by their women.” Babs turned to Cameron. “Lemme tell you something about this man,” she said, pointing a finger at him. “He got his brothers where they are today, taking care of them when they had no one else.”

“We had my parents,” Val interjected.

“Your parents, may they rest in peace, weren’t around long enough to see things through,” Babs added. “No, it was you who made them men. I hope they’re grateful.” She turned back to Cameron. “Just so you know what you’re getting.”

Val watched Cameron carefully. “She knows what she’s getting,” he said, placing a hand at the small of her back and urging her on. “Good night, Babs.”

“ ’Night.”

They were almost back to his boat when Cameron spoke into the night air. “Babs is … something else, isn’t she?”

“I can think of a few other words to describe her,” he said wryly.

“I think she means well.”

“You think the best of everyone, don’t you?”

“Yes. Mostly.” Cameron frowned a little and handed him the frappe.

It looked as if she was about to say something else, but then she straightened her shoulders and brightened up. “What now?” she asked.

“How about that swim?”

“You know I’m game.”

“Yeah? Let’s go, then.”

Val drove them to a secret spot he knew on the west shore. There, nestled in the rocky coves, were the best night swimming spots on the Cape. He cut the engine to his truck, grabbed a couple of towels from the back, and led Cameron through the brush to an outcropping. Then in quick order, he stripped off his shirt, shorts, and boxer briefs. The moon was full and high, and there was enough light to see her eyes widen. He liked that even after seeing him bare, he still had this effect on her.

Smartly, she pulled her tank over her head, folded it, and placed it on a nearby rock. Then she shimmied out of her pants, folded those neatly, and placed them on top of her tank. She pulled off her sandals and flicked off her bra and panties before turning to face him.

“I decided to skip the swimsuit.”

He cleared his throat. “I can see that.” Though he had seen her naked just a few hours before, his breath caught in his throat. She was gorgeous. He drank her in, eyes raking over her small, high breasts, lean torso, flared hips, and long legs. He was finally able to drag his gaze back to her face. Slowly, he walked to her and took her by the hand.

“Come on,” he said. “The rocks are sharp, so I’ll go first.”

“Okay. Now may not be the best time to tell you this, but I’m not the strongest swimmer. I can doggie paddle and do a few rudimentary strokes, but it just doesn’t come naturally to me.”

“Don’t worry, Cameron. The water’s calm tonight and I’m a really strong swimmer. I even lifeguarded a couple of summers at the pool. If there’s any issue, I have you. Got that?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

He led her to the edge of the outcropping and eased himself into the chilly water, holding her hand as she did the same. It was high tide, so the drop wasn’t that far. From experience, he knew that at low tide, the distance between the outcropping and the water could be as much as seven feet—something way too dangerous to deal with in the dark.

“Now what?” she asked, treading water, her hair floating around her shoulders like a mermaid’s.

“Watch,” he said, and swept his arm through the water, just under the surface. Tiny pinpricks of light shimmered and glittered as they moved.

Her mouth dropped open. “Incredible.” She repeated his movement. “What are they?”

“Bioluminescent phytoplankton. They emit light, but when you stir them up like this,” he said, sweeping his hand through the water again, “they get concentrated together and look like they’re glowing brighter.”

Cameron spun and twirled in the water, laughing each time the glowing intensified. “It’s magical,” she breathed.

Val barely trusted himself to speak. Her approval of this spot was important—more important than he’d initially wanted to acknowledge. He’d been coming here since he was a kid. Ever since his dad had shown him.

She spun back to him. “Thank you,” she said, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him. “Thank you so much.” There was something caught in his throat. A lump he couldn’t budge. They were still treading water, and he felt the gentle brush of her leg against his. Before he could say or do anything, she pulled away to float on her back. Her eyes were closed and she looked utterly blissful, so he did the same. The moon was bright, reflecting on the water, the plankton shimmering around them like in a dream.

They stayed like that for another fifteen minutes. And then, when the wind began to pick up, they clambered out and dried off before hopping into his truck.

Riding back to town wearing only his drawers and a towel wasn’t new for Val, but it sure must have been for Cameron. Yet she sat regally in her seat with her towel draped around her like a queenly robe. He was no longer surprised at her vigor for life. Or how young she makes me feel.

Still draped in the towel, and giggling only a little, Cameron walked from his truck to her cottage. “Why don’t you come in? I have lots of hot water,” she tempted.

“I’m not going to say no to that.”

They made love in the shower, wet hands and hot mouths everywhere, eventually spilling out onto Cameron’s comfortable bed. When they were finally sated, they curled up together, she with a glass of wine and he with a beer, which she’d confessed she bought just for him. Cameron twined her fingers through his hair and lazily stroked. He closed his eyes and drew her closer.

“Thank you,” she said.

“You’re always thanking me,” he said, his tone light. “What is it for this time?”

“Dinner. Tonight. Everything.” Her voice started to sound a little choked up.

He opened his eyes. “Hey, Cam.” He stroked her face with a finger. “Hey, don’t cry.”

“I’m not crying,” she said, her eyes bright. “It’s just that it’s all so new and it’s so wonderful, and I’m sorry that it has to end.”

“I see.” He stopped stroking her cheek. Of course it had to end sometime. She’d go back to her world and he to his. He’d known this day was coming since he’d kissed her outside her store. Still, he couldn’t help but wish it had lasted for just a little longer.

Her hand stilled, too. “Oh, Val, it’s not like that. No—I just meant that the weekend has to end. I have to go back to Boston tomorrow. I can’t put it off any longer.”

He relaxed a bit. “I have to go back, too. We could go together,” he offered.

“Yes. Yes, I’d like that. And maybe …”

“Maybe what?” He barely dared to hope.

“Maybe you could come with me to one of my friends’ parties next weekend? The invitation said ‘plus one’ but I just RSVPed for myself, not truly wanting to go with anyone else, and now I’d like to go with you, so it’s an easy thing for me to …”

“Cam,” he interjected. “I’d love to come.” She wanted to extend this and so did he. Truth be told, he didn’t want to give her up. She was his, for as long as she wanted.

“You would?”

“Yeah, I would,” he said. “A gorgeous woman invites me to a fancy party? Of course I want to go. There’s going to be champagne, right?” His lips curled up in a smile.

Her lips curled up, too. “Undoubtedly.”

“And snobby guests.”

“Loads.”

“And society folks?”

“Naturally.”

“You’ll wear a dress like the one you wore to the Kirkland Awards?”

“What color?”

“Violet. Like your eyes.” He wasn’t joking anymore and she knew it.

“I have one that shade.”

“Is it sexy?”

She licked her lips. “Yes.”

He gave a little growl.

“I should be the one making noises. You have no idea what a suit does for your shoulders.”

“You want shoulders? I’ll show you shoulders,” he said, and flexed until his muscles popped.

She laughed, and he kissed her until they were both breathing heavily. When he pulled back, he took in her tousled hair, her swollen lips, and her slumberous gaze. “You have yourself a date.”

“Thank you,” she said again.

“I have an idea. Why don’t you stop thanking me and instead, show me how appreciative you are?”

She gave him a huge smile, and spent the next two hours doing just that.