Green Mountain Collection 1 by Marie Force (16)

An hour into the gathering at the Abbotts’ barn, Cameron realized she wasn’t just in love with Will. She’d fallen for his entire family. Max had brought Chloe, and everyone had been extra nice to her, congratulating her and making her feel welcome. Even Molly and Lincoln had greeted her warmly, which had brought tears to Chloe’s eyes. Her relief was obvious, as was Max’s devotion to her. Cameron had a feeling the two of them would make a go of it.

Lucas and Landon had been called out to a house fire in Derby, but everyone else had made it to dinner.

Seated next to Will’s hilariously charming grandfather at dinner, she had been treated to a running commentary from the delightful Elmer Stillman.

He was in his mid-eighties with wispy white hair, twinkling blue eyes and an easy smile that was full of the devil. Like most of his grandsons, he wore a flannel shirt with faded jeans and was absolutely adorable.

“Now tell me about this so-called website you’re making for my store.”

“Dad, you’re monopolizing Cameron,” Molly said as she served dessert after a delicious roast beef dinner.

“I am not. I’m getting to know her, so leave us alone.”

Molly sent a sympathetic look to Cameron, who smiled to let Molly know she was enjoying her time with Elmer. Mindful of the fact that he’d only recently acquired a television, she gave him a basic description of the website and how it would work once it was finished.

“So anyone can go on this Interweb thingie and get information about the store at any time of day or night?”

“That’s right. Essentially, you’ll be open around the clock, even when the store is closed.” To her left, she noticed Lincoln feeding table scraps to Ringo and George, who had waited patiently throughout dinner.

“That’s mighty clever,” Elmer said.

“I like to think so.”

“You need to come over to my house. I have pictures and all kinds of stuff from way back when we first opened the store that you might find interesting.”

“I’d love to. I’ll ask Will to bring me over one day this week.”

“Let me know when, and I’ll make lunch for you.”

“It’s a date.”

“Gramps, are you moving in on my girl?” Will asked from his seat to Cameron’s left.

“No one told me she’s your girl, William,” Elmer said indignantly. “And now that she’s met me, you might have some competition on your hands, young man.”

“That’s right,” Cameron said, wrapping her hands around Elmer’s arm and leaning her head on his shoulder.

Elmer’s guffaw delighted her as did the laughter of the entire family.

“Watch out for the old man, bro,” Colton said as he finished a third helping of mashed potatoes while everyone else ate apple pie. According to his mother, he’d consumed enough food for five people. “He’s still got game.”

“You know it, boyo,” Elmer said.

Cameron insisted on helping to clear the table, even when Molly told her she didn’t have to.

“You’re our guest,” Molly said. “You don’t have to work.”

“I don’t mind at all, and it helps me to move around. I’m super stiff after my skiing lesson this morning.”

“You’ll discover all new muscles you never knew you had.”

“I’ve already discovered that sitting is excruciating.”

Hannah laughed as she joined them in the kitchen. “Does that mean it didn’t go well?”

“It was a disaster of epic proportions,” Cameron said. “I spent most of the time on my rear end.” While the others went to fetch more dishes, Cameron took advantage of a moment alone with Hannah. “How did the dancing go last night?”

“Fine,” Hannah said shyly. “It was fun.” She glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening. “I let him drive me home.”

“And?”

“And nothing. I danced with him, and I let him drive me home. That was enough for one night.”

“I’m glad you went.”

“I am, too.”

Ella brought a stack of plates to the kitchen. “Why do they always manage to get out of kitchen duty?” she asked of her brothers, who had scattered at the first mention of the word dishes.

“We don’t need them,” Charlotte said. “We can’t gossip with them around anyway.” She turned and zeroed in on Cameron. “So you and Will, huh?”

Cornered, Cameron wasn’t sure what she should say as she felt her face heat. “Ahh, um …”

“You don’t have to answer that, Cameron,” Molly said with a disapproving glance at her daughter as she carried the dessert plates to the sink.

“Oh, come on,” Charlotte said. “Like it’s a big secret he’s all gaga over her.”

“Charley,” Hannah said gently. “Don’t scare her away. We like her—and so does he.”

“It’s okay,” Cameron said, grateful for Hannah’s kind support. “I like him, too. He’s amazing.”

“We’ve always thought so,” Molly said, patting Cameron’s arm.

Will came into the kitchen and stopped short when he saw his mother and sisters gathered around Cameron. “I had a feeling you might need another rescue,” he said, squeezing between Ella and Charlotte to take her hand. “Let me get you out of this hornet’s nest.”

“Honestly, Will,” Charlotte said, giving him a playful shove that he easily deflected. “We’re not that bad.”

“Yes, you are, and I won’t let you scare her off. Besides, she’s sore from skiing, and I promised her some hot-tub time.”

It was all Cameron could do not to moan with anticipation of the hot tub. Every muscle in her body was aching—and not all of her aches could be blamed on skiing.

“Go on along, honey,” Molly said, going up on tiptoes to kiss Will’s cheek. She turned to Cameron and hugged her gently. “I hope you feel better. The girls and I are baking cookies for the nursing home tomorrow night if you’d like to join us.”

“I’d love to, but I’m not much of a baker. Not sure how much help I’d be.”

“Not to worry. You can help us polish off a bottle of wine or two.”

“Or three,” Ella said, making Hannah giggle.

“That I can do. I’d love to come if Will doesn’t mind driving me.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Great,” Molly said, beaming at her. “We’ll see you then.”

“Thanks so much for dinner. I really enjoyed it.”

“You’re very welcome. We’re glad you could join us, and thank you for the gorgeous flowers. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I did.”

On the way out, Lincoln gave her a hug. “Thanks for coming.”

“Thanks for having me. I love your family. They’re a lot of fun.”

“They have their moments,” he said as he beamed with pride. “See you in the office tomorrow.”

“I’ll be there.” She patted Ringo and George as the others said their good-byes. Cameron was sorry she hadn’t gotten a chance to find out if Hunter had worked up the nerve to ask Megan to dance. There’d been too many people around, and she hadn’t wanted to embarrass him with nosy questions. But she really wanted to know.

“We have to make two quick stops on the way home,” Will said when they were in the truck.

“Do I have to move?”

“Nope.”

“Good answer.”

He parked outside the store and ran inside, returning ten minutes later carrying a big box that he put in the back. Then he drove to the grocery store and was gone fifteen minutes before emerging with two brown bags that he also stashed in the back of the truck. They arrived at his house a short time later, and Will insisted on carrying in the bags she’d brought from Hannah’s as well as the groceries. He wouldn’t let her do anything.

“Just sit and relax,” he said after he stoked the fire and covered her with a down throw.

“I feel useless.”

“Feel pampered instead.”

This being in love stuff was not for wimps, she discovered as a barrage of emotions overtook her as she watched him move about the cabin. He put her suitcases in the bedroom and her computer bag on the desk in the living room. In the kitchen, he unloaded the groceries and then made one last trip to the truck for what he said was the most important item, which turned out to be a space heater he’d gotten at the store.

“You’re going to bankrupt the place with all the stuff you’re getting for me,” she said, even though she was touched by his thoughtfulness.

“We’re a long way from bankrupt, sweetheart. Despite what Hunter says. We call him Mr. Doom and Gloom behind his back because he’s always giving us worst-case scenarios.”

“That’s his job. That makes him a good accountant. Everyone should have one.”

“Is that another of Patrick Murphy’s business mottos?”

“Definitely. He lives and dies by his accountants. He’d tell you they’re the backbone of the entire business, and I have to agree with him. Mine keeps me out of jail and out of trouble with the IRS.”

“You’d look cute in an orange jumpsuit.”

“Sure I would.”

He joined her on the sofa and reached for her hand. “You’d look cute in anything—or nothing. I’m kind of partial to nothing.” Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed the back of it while gazing into her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here and that you’re going to stay for a while.”

“I’m glad, too.”

Neither of them looked away for a long, charged moment. “This is crazy,” he said softly, seeming as dazzled as she felt.

“Positively insane.”

“And yet …” He tipped his head ever so slightly and gave her the sweetest kiss she’d ever received.

“And yet.”

Smiling, he said, “I promised you a massage and a soak. Which one do you want first?”

“That’s a tough decision. What do you suggest?”

“How about the soak first to warm up your muscles and then the best massage of your life?”

She had little doubt that a massage from him would be the best she’d ever had. “Are you an ‘extraordinaire’ at that, too?”

He waggled his brows. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

“Okay, soak first then.”

“I’ll go get the tub ready.”

“I don’t have a bathing suit with me. I didn’t think I’d need one in Vermont in March.”

“You’re in luck. Mine is a nude-only hot tub.”

“Why did I know you were going to say that?”

“Be right back.”

Cameron stayed snuggled under the comforter until he returned a few minutes later to let her know the tub was ready. When she pushed aside the blanket and started to get up, the pain of abused muscles made her wince.

“Hurts, huh?”

“I feel like a baby, but yeah. It hurts.”

“Let me take care of you.” He helped her out of her clothes, moving slowly so she wouldn’t have to do much of anything.

“You’re very good at getting a woman out of her clothes.”

“I haven’t had that much practice,” he said, laughing.

“Could’ve fooled me.”

From a squat position he looked up from the task of removing her jeans. “There haven’t been that many, Cam. Honestly.”

“I believe you.”

“How about you?” he asked, diverting his attention back to her jeans.

She held on to his shoulder as she stepped out of each leg. “Let’s just say I’ve met enough frogs to know when I’ve found a prince.”

He stood up and placed his hands on her sides, under her ribs. “That might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me,” he said as he kissed her.

Cameron raised her arms and wound them around his neck, opening her mouth to his tongue. She couldn’t seem to get close enough to him even though he held her as tightly as he could without hurting her sore muscles.

He withdrew from her in increments, seeming stunned as he looked down at her. “Cameron …”

“Me, too,” she said, going up on tiptoes to kiss him again. “Me, too. Now how about that hot tub?”

“Yeah.” He blew out a deep breath. “Right this way.”

Will helped her into the steaming tub on his back deck and said he’d be out in a few minutes. “Relax.”

“It feels so good.”

“That thing saved me when I was skiing professionally.” He ducked back inside, desperate for a moment alone to collect himself after he’d nearly told her he loved her. As he gathered wineglasses and the half bottle of red left over from the night before, he thought about how she’d looked at him after the near miss.

She knew what he’d almost blurted out. And she’d said “Me, too.” What did that mean? She felt the same way? How amazing would that be? Should he take a chance and pitch his idea about her maintaining the site when it was built?

“No, no, no. It’s too damned soon. Keep your mouth shut, and play it cool. There’ll be time enough for making plans later.”

Eyeing her in the tub through the kitchen window, he shed his clothes and brought the glasses and wine bottle with him when he dashed through the cold and into the tub.

“That was very graceful,” she said of his splash down.

“You liked that?”

“Uh-huh.”

He handed her a glass, poured for both of them and set the bottle down outside the tub. “To sore muscles and hot water,” he said, raising his glass to her.

She touched her glass to his. “I’ll drink to that. I already feel so much better.”

Will pretended to be stricken by her statement. “That doesn’t mean you don’t want my world-famous massage, does it?”

“You’re not getting out of that. Don’t worry.”

“Good. I can’t wait to get my hands on you.” Will didn’t know where this flirty side of himself was coming from, but he loved that he could make her smile like that.

She slid closer to him. “I don’t want to make you wait.”

Since he was dying to touch her, he put his arm around her and loved how she rested her head on his chest. “This is nice,” he said, his lips moving over her hair. “I like having you here.”

“What do you do around here when I’m not here to keep you company?”

“I’m outside as much as I can be, and I spend a lot of time with my family and friends and the dogs.”

“How about when it’s just you, here by yourself with the dogs?”

“I read a lot.”

“So all the books on the shelves in the living room …”

“Read them all. Some of them more than once.”

“What’s your favorite thing to read?”

“I love adventure stuff, like books about people who’ve climbed Mount Everest. I always thought I might do that, but after I blew out my knee, I sort of gave up on that.”

“Yet you transported me down the bunny slope on your bad knee?”

“That was nothing.”

“It was very sexy.”

“Was it now?”

“Uh-huh.”

They soaked for a long time in contented silence before Cameron said, “Can I get rid of this?” She held up her empty wineglass. “It’s getting in my way.”

He took the glass and put it with his on the shelf next to the tub.

With her hands free, Cameron moved onto Will’s lap, straddling him.

Cupping her bottom, he brought her in snug against his erection as she kissed him so sweetly he nearly moaned from the desire for more.

“I really love your hot tub.”

“I really love my hot tub with you in it.”

“How does the whole getting-out process work?”

“I recommend it be done quickly. Are you ready to get out?”

“I’m dreaming of that massage I was promised.”

“Then let’s get to it. I’ll go first and get a towel ready for you.”

Cameron moved off his lap, and he scurried out of the tub. The frigid air took his breath away and killed his erection when it connected with his wet skin. He hastily wrapped a towel around his waist and then held one for her. “One, two, three …”

She let out a squeal as she emerged from the tub.

He whipped the towel around her and scooped her up to carry her inside, which made her squeal a second time.

“That,” she said when they were settled in front of the fire, “was hot.”

“I’m making all kinds of points tonight.”

“Not just tonight.” She smoothed the damp hair off his forehead and ran her fingertips over the stubble on his jaw. “From the very beginning, you’ve been racking up the points with your thoughtfulness.”

“And from the beginning, you’ve been blowing me away with your sweetness.” He kissed her palm. “Your curiosity.” Her wrist. “Your kindness.” The inside of her elbow. “Your beauty.” Her lips. “Now about that massage …”

He tucked her under the down comforter and was gratified by her sigh of contentment as well as her bee-stung lips. She was so bloody gorgeous. He couldn’t believe she was lying naked in front of his fireplace. What a lucky bastard he was to have met her and caught her interest, and how desperately he wanted to keep it now that he had it.

In the kitchen he retrieved the almond-scented massage oil he’d gotten at the store as well as the special balm they sold to combat muscle soreness. He was hard as a rock just thinking about rubbing oil all over her soft skin. “Ready, baby?”

“Mmm, so ready. How do you want me?”

“Is that a multiple-choice question?” Her low chuckle only made him harder, if that was possible. This massage was going to be sweet torture. “Let’s start with you facedown.”

She turned over and wrapped her arms around a pillow.

“Can you put your hair up?”

From around her wrist, she produced an elastic band that she wound around her hair while remaining facedown.

“That was quite a feat.”

“Lots of practice. My hair is always in my way.”

“I love your hair. You can’t ever, ever cut it. Ever.”

“Never cut my hair. Got it.”

He rubbed the oil between his hands to warm it and then began with her shoulders, using just enough pressure to soothe and relax her. Judging from her sighs and moans, he was hitting all the right spots.

“Amazing,” she whispered. “Feels so good.”

“I’m just getting started.”

“If your goal is to get me to stay here with you forever, I’m sold. Where do I sign?”

The throwaway comment hit him like a blow to the solar plexus. If only it were that simple. But rather than touch that grenade, he moved down her back and then skipped over her bottom—for now—to focus on her legs.

“Will?”

He looked down to find her watching him. “Hmm?”

“I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry.” He bent to press a series of kisses to her back. “I don’t know about you, but I feel like we’re living a bit of a fantasy right now, and it’d be really nice if we could take this time together and enjoy it without stressing out about what happens when you have to leave.”

“That would be nice.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.” He picked up the tub of muscle rub. “Ready for the good stuff?”

“That wasn’t the good stuff?”

“That was a warm-up for the good stuff.”

“I’m ready.”

“Tell me if it hurts too much.” He massaged the cream into her bruised bottom, being extra gentle because he knew how sore she was. He’d once been new to skiing, and vividly remembered not being able to move for days after his first lessons.

“Oh my God, that feels crazy good. What is it?”

“It’s muscle balm with eucalyptus and menthol that we sell in the store.”

“Is there anything you don’t have in that store?”

“We don’t have most of the gadgets you love so much.”

“I’m finding I can live rather nicely without them.”

“There you go again. Giving me hope.”

“We’re in the fantasy, remember?”

“Right. Keep reminding me, will you?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

How could she sound so relaxed and content when he was about to explode from wanting her? The massage suddenly felt like the worst idea he’d ever had, especially the part about rubbing the cream on her sexy ass. This was killing him, and he couldn’t take it anymore. “Want to turn over?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“Nope.”

Resigned to taking a cold shower to relieve the ache in his groin, Will drew the comforter over her.

“Will?”

“Yeah?”

“Get a condom.”

It took a moment for her order to permeate his lust-fogged brain, but when it did, he hustled to his bedroom to wash his hands and fetch protection and was back before she could change her mind. He had a moment of clarity, during which he wondered if his dogs would be traumatized by what they were about to witness, but he couldn’t bring himself to care about that.

He dropped to his knees beside her.

“Like this,” she said, rising up to her knees and elbows.

It was official. He was a total goner. Will drew the comforter down over her back, revealing the sweet ass that had sparked his rampant desire. It was all he could do not to lose it at the sight of her offering herself up to him so brazenly. “Are you sure you’re not too sore, baby?”

“I’m very sure.”

He moved into position behind her and reached around her to test her readiness. As his fingers slid through the moisture between her legs, he realized the massage had turned her on as much as it had him.

“Please, Will. Now.”

He didn’t need to be asked twice, especially in that husky, sexy tone of voice. Aligning his cock, he grasped her hips and drove into her. She came instantly, forcing him to think of every unattractive thing he could call to mind to keep from joining her. He wanted this to last longer than ten seconds. It took all the control he could muster to weather the sexy storm of her inner muscles clutching him, along with her gasps of pleasure.

And then he began to move, trying to be mindful of the fact that she was sore from skiing. But she was so hot and so sweet and so tight that his entire world was reduced to the incredible pleasure. He pushed into her and wrapped his arm around her waist, holding still while trying to regain some sanity.

“Will,” she said, her breath escaping in tiny pants that made him throb inside her. “Don’t go slow. Feels so good.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

She covered his hand with hers and squeezed. “You won’t hurt me. I love it.”

That was all he needed to hear. Something inside him seemed to snap as he gave her what she wanted—what they both wanted. He’d never been so turned on or so desperate to come in his life. His balls ached with need as he reached around to find her clit hard and throbbing under his fingers.

She cried out and came harder than the first time, which shattered him. He drove into her so forcefully that her arms gave out, sending him even deeper into her sweet heat. Collapsing over her, he ran his tongue over the bumps and grooves of her backbone as he continued to throb inside her. He reached under her to cup her breasts and felt her nipples tighten against his palms.

“Are you okay down there?” he asked after a long period of silence.

“Mmm.” Her inner muscles contracted around his cock, making him gasp from the pleasure. “That was amazing.”

“Totally amazing.” He couldn’t stop kissing her or licking the salty almond-flavored moisture from her back. While his body cooled and recovered from the intense release, he knew in his heart that she was the woman he’d waited his whole life to find. It became very clear to him that he’d do whatever it took to make this work, even if it meant giving up his life in Vermont to be with her in the city.

He’d do it if he had to, but he really hoped he wouldn’t have to.

Cameron devoted the next week to website research, which was usually her favorite part of any project. She loved delving into a business or organization and getting to the heart of what made it special. In the case of the Green Mountain Country Store, she’d decided at the outset that what made it special was the family who ran it.

She spent Monday evening baking cookies for the local nursing home with Molly, Hannah, Ella and Charlotte, all of whom were shocked to discover that she’d never baked a thing in her life, though none of them actually said so. Since she couldn’t very well tell them that she’d grown up with a chef in residence who’d studied at the Sorbonne, she brushed it off as a lack of interest.

“We’ll have to teach you,” Molly declared, dropping an apron over Cameron’s head. The chocolate chip, snickerdoodles, peanut butter blossoms and oatmeal-raisin cookies they made that night were among the best she’d ever had.

“Could we feature these recipes on the website? They’d make for a nice addition to the family section.” Cameron asked as she bit into her second snickerdoodle. She had to admit there was something incredibly satisfying about eating a treat she’d made herself.

The other women exchanged glances, all of them looking to Molly for a verdict.

“I don’t see why not,” Molly said. “They were passed down from my mother, and I bet she’d be delighted to share them with others. That’s a great idea, Cam.”

Cameron basked in the glow of Molly’s approval. She had a full-fledged crush on Will’s mom. Warm and funny and stern and loving all at the same time, Molly joked around with her daughters, critiqued their baking skills and ran the entire operation like a kindhearted drill sergeant.

After the last of the cookies were in the oven, the three sisters went into the family room to watch The Bachelor, much to their mother’s dismay. The four of them had a huge and humorous argument, with Molly asserting the many ways the show set back decades of progress for women everywhere and the girls proclaiming not to care.

“It’s a train wreck that I can’t not watch,” Charlotte said as she led her sisters to the TV.

When Molly caught Cameron staring at her when the two of them were alone in the kitchen, she stopped what she was doing and raised a brow. “Do I have flour in my hair or something?”

“No, no,” Cameron said, mortified to have been caught staring. “It’s … I … I think you’re so cool.” Heat rushed to her face. “I’m sorry. I must sound like such a dork, but I’ve never met anyone like you.”

“Where are my children when I’m receiving such a lovely compliment?”

“I’m a total dork, but I love how you’re baking up a storm one minute and espousing women’s rights the next.”

“You’re not a dork, honey,” Molly said with a gentle laugh. “You grew up without a mom, so it’s only natural you’d gravitate to someone who describes herself first and foremost as a mother.”

“Your kids were so lucky to have you.”

“And I was lucky to have them.”

“I might be a little bit in love with your family.”

“You couldn’t pay me a higher compliment.” Molly’s eyes and smile were warm as she squeezed Cameron’s hand.

Screaming from the family room preceded the sisters’ return to the kitchen.

“Oh my God,” Hannah said. “They must pay these girls to be as hideous as they possibly can. How can they go on national TV and act this way?”

“I bet most of them forget they have to go back to their real lives after the bachelor dumps them,” Ella said as she topped off everyone’s wineglass.

“I’d do the show in a second,” Charlotte said. “Imagine how much fun it would be to get paid to be catty and nasty.”

“Charley,” Molly said, frowning.

“What? How could it be any worse than my dating disasters right here in Butler?”

“She does have a point, Mom,” Hannah said.

Charlotte tossed a handful of flour at her sister, narrowly missing a direct hit to Hannah’s face.

“Girls!” Molly went from amiable to stern in the blink of an eye. “Do not start that!”

“Used to happen all the time,” Hannah said, smiling at Cameron.

“They’d make a bloody mess of my kitchen,” Molly said.

When Will picked her up at ten o’clock, he teased her about the flour on her face and her slurred speech. She’d lost track of how many bottles of wine the five of them had consumed, but she was enjoying the blissful buzz of wine and sugar coursing through her veins as well as the ache in her ribs from nonstop laughter.

Molly hugged her good-bye. “I hope you’ll consider our home your home whenever you’re in town, Cam.”

“Thank you so much for a wonderful evening. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun.”

“We did, too.”

When they got back to his place, Will enjoyed discovering that alcohol made her horny and had been more than happy to accommodate her every desire.

On Wednesday, Will drove her to his grandfather’s for lunch. When they pulled up to Elmer’s house, Cameron laughed at the three-level sign that hung from his mailbox: JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, NOTARY PUBLIC, FREE ADVICE.

“Is he really a JP?”

“Sure is. He marries three or four couples a month, and he’s forever notarizing something for someone. Free advice is the backbone of his business, however.”

“That’s fabulous. I love this town.”

He gave her an odd look that she didn’t have time to question before Elmer was bounding down the stairs from the front porch to greet them both with hugs. Cletus followed him out of the house, and sure enough, the word clitoris popped into Cameron’s mind, making her want to bite her tongue so she wouldn’t call him by the wrong name.

Will sent her a devilish smile that told her he knew exactly what she was thinking. And then he deliberately let his gaze wander down the front of her, making her desperately wish they were alone.

Elmer said good-bye to Cletus and shepherded Will and Cameron into his cluttered house.

“Welcome to Gramps’s museum, where everything he’s ever owned is proudly displayed.”

“Don’t be insolent, young man,” Elmer said, his tone full of affection for his grandson. “I like to be able to enjoy my stuff, and what good is it if it’s all stashed in closets where I can’t see it?”

“That’s very true,” Cameron said, earning her a wide grin from Elmer.

“I like this girl, William. Don’t mess it up, ya hear?”

“Ah, yeah, Gramps. I’ll do my best not to.”

“If he does,” Elmer said, winking and nudging Cameron, “you know where to find me now.”

“I sure do.”

As Will groaned, Elmer drew a platter of sandwiches from the fridge and a bag of potato chips from the counter. “I didn’t know what you liked, Cameron, so I got some tuna and some turkey. Hope that’s okay.”

She loved the thought of him going to the grocery store and thinking about what she might like to eat. “That sounds wonderful.”

They passed a delightful afternoon with Elmer, poring over photos and ledgers and journals that detailed the store’s early history. He told her about the Depression and the devastating impact of rationing on the families in the valley. The store his parents founded had given them a way to help out during those sparse years, and they’d found their life’s work—and his—in the process.

Cameron took photos of Elmer and filled pages in her notebook. Rather than take priceless items that could never be replaced if lost or damaged, Cameron photographed pages from the ledgers as well as the photos from the store’s humble beginnings.

By the time she left with promises to return again soon, she was fully in love with another member of Will’s family, and Will said he’d learned a few things he hadn’t known about the store and its origins.

Cameron spent time with each member of the family and gained in-depth knowledge of every corner of the business. She took hundreds of photos and spent hours exploring the store, befriending employees who were more than happy to share what they knew about the store and its products.

On Thursday, she had lunch with Hannah, who’d come into the office to deliver her latest jewelry creations to Will.

“I’ve been thinking about your suggestion,” Hannah said tentatively after they were seated at the diner.

Cameron had been thinking about it, too, but she held her tongue to give Hannah a chance to share her thoughts first.

“I love the idea of a sanctuary for other women who’ve been through what I have. I love the notion of keeping Caleb’s memory alive by using the home he loved to do something good for others.”

“That sounds wonderful.”

“Except …”

“Except what?”

“I wouldn’t have the first clue how to go about making it happen.”

“Well, that’s where I come in. I could help you set up a website and Facebook presence and anything else you might need.”

“That’s very nice of you, but I couldn’t afford to hire you.”

“You wouldn’t have to hire me. I’d love to do it for you pro bono.”

“I couldn’t let you do that! You have a business to run!”

“You have to understand … I know what happened in Iraq had very little to do with 9/11, but at the time we thought it did, and it was my city that was attacked by terrorists. This feels like something I could do to give back to people who gave so much after that horrible day.”

Hannah’s eyes filled as she shook her head. “Caleb had interest from professional hockey teams, but he chose to follow his father into the army. The 9/11 attacks happened a couple of months after he was commissioned.”

“Let’s work on this together and make his sacrifice continue to count for a long time to come.”

“I’d love that, Cameron. Thank you.”

“I’m not being entirely altruistic,” she said with a smile, hoping to cheer the other woman. “It’ll give me more excuses to come visit your brother.”

“I’ve never seen him so happy, but I worry about him, too.”

Cameron sighed at the reminder that the fantasy wouldn’t last forever.

“Do you two talk about what happens at the end of next week?”

“Not if we can help it.”

“I hate that it’s such a quandary. Instead of celebrating the fact that you’ve found each other, you have to think about how you’re going to make it work long-distance.”

“Does anything ever really work long-distance?”

“It can. I’m sure.”

Megan dropped their plates on the table with as much finesse as she normally did. This time, however, she stared down Cameron who refused to wilt under her glare. “When are you leaving?”

“Very soon.”

“Good.”

Cameron and Hannah burst into laughter as soon as Megan stormed off.

“At least he’ll have Megan to soothe him when I go,” Cameron said jokingly, even if the thought of another woman soothing him made her seethe.

“God help us,” Hannah said. “More important, God help him!”

God help them all, Cameron thought as she dug into her salad. They were going to need all the help they could get.