Cameron opened his eyes and blinked a few times while he waited for his brain to catch up. Where was he? Okay, he was at the lodge at Four Mile Creek. He smiled. Cole and Laura’s wedding. Piper. He turned his head. She was still here, curled up in a little ball beside him. He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her back against him.
“Hmm?” She lifted her head and smiled up at him. “Oh. Hi.”
He chuckled. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“I still am.” She smiled and closed her eyes again.
He rested his head back down on the pillow and hugged her to him, wondering if she was going to wake up and want him. After a few minutes, he realized that she’d gone back to sleep. He smiled to himself and shook his head. She was definitely different from what he was used to. She wasn’t crawling all over him for more sex, and she wasn’t scurrying off to the bathroom to fix her makeup before she talked to him. She’d just rolled over and gone back to sleep. That should keep his ego from getting too inflated.
He lay there a little longer, wondering if he, too, could get some more sleep. He couldn’t, so he slid out of bed and went to take a shower. If she wanted to hang out today, he hoped she didn’t plan to spend the whole morning sleeping.
He needn’t have worried. By the time he got out of the shower she was up and sitting in the chair by the window sipping a coffee.
“Good morning, sleepy head.”
She looked embarrassed. “Good morning.”
He went and squatted in front of her, resting his hands on her knees. “Did you sleep well?”
She pursed her lips. “I’m sorry. I never sleep in like that.”
“It’s not a problem. It’s not like it’s late or anything, and besides, I’m kind of flattered that you slept so well. I was a little worried that I’d wake up to find you gone.”
She nodded. “I thought you would. I planned to leave when I woke up.”
“I hope you’ll change your mind.”
She pursed her lips. She looked adorable. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes were still puffy with sleep. “Why?”
“Because you said you were going to hang out with me today.”
“Do you still want to?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
She shrugged. “Because that was last night, and this is this morning.”
“And what does that mean?” He thought he knew, but he wanted her to explain.
She shrugged again. “You know.”
“No, I don’t. Tell me.”
She blew out a sigh. “Okay. I’m feeling embarrassed. We wanted to sleep with each other. We did. I stupidly suggested we could hang out today, and you’re too nice a guy to say no. I’m giving you an out here.”
He blew out a sigh of his own. “Well, thanks, but I don’t want it. I want to hang out with you. Why do you find that so hard to believe?”
She still looked sullen. “Because you need to get home. Because it’s silly for you to keep coming back here to see me when you can get all the sex you want at home. You must have lots of willing women to keep you busy.”
Cameron nodded. “I told you last night, and nothing’s changed. I want to spend some time with you, get to know you. Don’t you want to? Just say if you don’t.”
He could see the hint of a smile now. “Okay. I do. I’m just a little confused and a little scared.”
“What are you scared of?”
“Of making a fool of myself. Of expecting too much.”
He cocked his head to one side.
“I mean, you made clear what you’re like. I just don’t want to go expecting anything from you.”
“For starters, I think you took what I said a little too far.”
“Which bit?”
Did he really have to spell it out? She was staring at him. Apparently, he did. “The bit about me being a womanizer. I’m really not that bad. Yes, I see a lot of women, but only women who …” How could he put it? He only slept with women who slept around? That sounded bad. It sounded worse than it was—or was it really that bad?
“Well, I’m not a woman who … I don’t know what you were going to say, but I don’t think I’m the kind of woman you usually go out with.”
“You’re not.”
“So why bother?”
“Because I like you.” He was starting to wonder why bother, too. It didn’t need to be this complicated. He just wanted to hang out with her. It shouldn’t be this hard. If she wanted to go, maybe he should just let her go?
He got to his feet. “It’s up to you, Piper. I’d like to spend the day with you, but it’s your call.”
She got to her feet. “Okay. See you then.”
He watched as she pulled on her bridesmaid’s dress and collected her purse. He went to her as she reached the door. “That’s it? You’re leaving?”
She smiled. “Yeah. I need to have a shower and get changed. I can’t go down to brunch like this. I’ll see you down there?”
He smiled. “Okay.”
Once the door had closed behind her, he shook his head. He’d been thinking that she was making things too complicated, and then he’d been the one who overreacted thinking that she was leaving, walking out on him, when all she was doing was going to get changed. He went back through to the bathroom to finish getting ready. She really had his head turned around.
~ ~ ~
Piper let herself into her room and leaned back against the door. Was she crazy or what? Cameron was being so sweet and trying to be understanding, and she was being completely irrational. She liked him too much. That was the problem, plain and simple. Somewhere in the middle of the night as she’d lain there enjoying the feel of him all around her, she’d realized that she liked him far too much.
It’d been a year since her last relationship ended. She and Grant had been together since he’d worked with her flying cargo. He’d moved on quickly to fly for the regionals, and that had changed things between them. She’d been a little envious that he’d gotten the opportunity that she never had, but at the same time, she’d been happy for him. She’d supported him. He’d soon started to act like he was better than her. He seemed to think that flying for the airlines made him something special. Maybe it did. The flight attendant that he’d started seeing behind Piper’s back seemed to think he was pretty special. Piper had been sad, but the breakup had been overshadowed by her mom’s death a few weeks later. Since then, she’d found it easier not to bother dating.
Cameron had woken her up to her desires. At first, she’d thought it would be easy to sleep with him and be done with it, but now she knew better. She liked him. He was on her mind all the time, and she didn’t need that. He was a player; he’d told her so. He might want to come back up here a few times to play with his new toy—that’d be her—but then he’d move on. She should be fine with that, but she liked him. As a person, as a friend—a potential boyfriend. None of that was realistic, so she’d be better off to avoid him completely. Stop it before it started. She’d only end up making a fool of herself. She knew it. But that was dumb, too. If she was going to make the most of every moment like she’d promised herself she would after her mom died, then she should just jump in with both feet and enjoy it while it lasted.
She pushed away from the door and headed for the shower.
Twenty minutes later, she made her way down the grand staircase to the lobby of the lodge. There were familiar faces milling around everywhere. Jason, Smoke’s partner at the airport—her other new boss—waved when she spotted him. She went over to him and his wife, Rochelle.
“Morning. Where did you disappear to last night?” asked Jason. “I thought you’d be around to catch the bouquet.”
Piper could feel the heat in her cheeks. Laura and Smoke must have come back after she and Cameron had left.
Rochelle pushed at her husband’s arm and smiled at Piper. “Leave her alone. It’s none of your business.”
“Sorry.”
Piper smiled. “No problem.”
“Hey, guys.” They all turned to greet Luke, another of the pilots who worked for Smoke and Jason. “What time does this brunch start? I’m starving.”
Rochelle laughed. “You’re always starving, but this time I’m with you. Why don’t you find Angel and ask her?”
Luke gave her a sour look, making Jason and Rochelle laugh. Piper didn’t join them. She knew that Luke liked Angel, the woman who ran the lodge. She thought Angel liked him, too, from what she’d said at the bachelorette party the other night, but they’d never gotten together. Piper could relate that Luke might feel a little uncomfortable about the whole thing and didn’t need people laughing at him. She pointed toward the double doors that were just swinging open. Laura and Smoke came out from the function room and started to usher everyone in. “It looks like it’s starting now,” she said.
They moved forward in a big crush of people. Piper looked around her as she went, wondering if Cameron had come down yet. Maybe he was glad to be rid of her? She spotted him talking to his parents at the bottom of the stairs. He turned and met her gaze and beckoned her over. She didn’t react, not sure she wanted to go.
Luke elbowed her in the ribs. “There’s your man; he’s calling you over.”
“He’s not my man.” Ugh. Why did she have to react like a kid?
Luke gave her a knowing smile. “I think he’d like to be. How about you relax?”
She gave him a grateful smile. “Thanks, Luke. I’m going to try.”
“Go on. I know how confusing it can all get, but take your chance, see how it pans out. You’ll only regret it if you don’t.”
She nodded and pushed her way through the crowd to join Cameron and Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton. She was surprised when Cameron slid his arm around her shoulders and pecked her on the cheek. “There you are.”
She looked up into his eyes. “Here I am.” She didn’t know what else to say.
His parents both smiled at her. “I’m glad we got a chance to see you. We’re just leaving,” said Mrs. Hamilton.
Piper’s heart sank. That meant Cameron would be going, too.
“At least we will be if Chelsea ever manages to get herself ready,” added Mr. Hamilton with a frown.
Cameron punched his arm. “Give her a break, Dad. You only decided you were leaving ten minutes ago.”
Piper looked up at him, wondering if he’d just called her over to say goodbye. He smiled down at her. “Dad got a call he has to go back and handle, but I’m staying until tonight.”
Relief washed through her. Mrs. Hamilton smiled at her. She seemed to understand how she felt. “Yes, we didn’t want to steal Cam away from you this early in the morning. You two should enjoy the day together. We’ll send the plane back tonight.”
Cameron smiled and nodded. He looked pleased. Piper smiled back. She was pleased, too, and she didn’t see any point in hiding it.
Chelsea came trotting down the stairs with her bag over her shoulder.
“There you are,” Mr. Hamilton scowled at her.
“Take it easy, Dad.”
Piper had to wonder what the dynamics were in their family. Mrs. Hamilton caught her eye. “Don’t worry, he’s not being mean. Chelsea and her father are just too much alike.” She smiled. “Girls and their daddies. Are you like that with yours?”
Piper shook her head. She realized Cameron and his dad were both looking at her waiting for her answer. “I never knew him.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.” Mrs. Hamilton looked contrite.
Piper smiled “Don’t be. My mom and I did just fine.”
Chelsea reached the bottom of the stairs and joined them. “What are we standing around for? Let’s go if we’re in such a hurry.” She looked at Piper and gave her an apologetic smile. “Are you coming?”
“No.” Piper shook her head rapidly.
“I’m not either,” said Cameron with a grin.
“So why do I have to go?” Chelsea scowled at her dad.
“Because I need your help, young lady.”
Cameron grinned at Piper. Whatever was going on didn’t seem like it was anything too serious. She relaxed a little. “She’s right. You should get going,” he said.
Mr. Hamilton rolled his eyes and looked at Piper. “These two keep me on my toes. I hope you’re going to be on my side?”
Piper raised an eyebrow, not understanding what he meant.
Mrs. Hamilton smiled. “We’re guessing you’ll be coming out to see us. He’s trying to rope you in to be his ally when you do—since the three of us like to gang up on him to get our way.”
Piper had no clue what to say. She was hardly expecting to be going out to visit them. But Mr. Hamilton was smiling at her encouragingly. He seemed like a great guy. She smiled at him. “I’ll be your ally anytime you need one.”
Cameron groaned, and Chelsea laughed. “What have you done?” she asked.
“Evened up the numbers a little,” said Mr. Hamilton. “It’s about time I had someone on my side. Now can we please get going?”
Cameron kept his arm around her shoulders as they watched them make their way through the stragglers in the lobby and out to the front door.
“How are they getting to the airport?” she asked. It seemed like the easiest question she could go with.
“Gene came for them. He’s their pilot, but he tends to act as their driver, too, when they travel.”
Piper nodded as if she understood. She didn’t. She couldn’t imagine having a pilot rather than being the pilot. Even that was a stretch. Being a pilot—one who got to fly real live people around—was still very new to her, and it was a huge step up from what she’d been doing until now. She had a feeling that this Gene guy who flew for the Hamiltons—and drove for them—would have looked down his nose at her when she was flying cargo.
“Are you hungry? Are we going to get brunch?”
“I am. I’m starving.” They made their way inside and joined the line at the buffet. It seemed Cameron was just carrying on as if all the weirdness hadn’t happened between them this morning, and they were going to spend the day together and hang out. She was grateful for that. It was what she wanted, and she didn’t want her hang-ups and misgivings to spoil things.
~ ~ ~
They found a seat at an empty table and Cameron smiled as he watched Piper tuck in.
“You really were hungry, huh?”
He was relieved when she smiled back. “Yeah. I don’t know what it was, but somehow I worked up an appetite.”
He laughed, hoping that she was referring to last night.
“Listen,” she said, “I’m sorry I weirded out on you this morning.”
“That’s okay.” He was surprised and pleased that she brought it up.
“It really isn’t. Can we start again?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I mean start fresh from the point where you said you’d like to spend some time together, get to know each other? I’d like that, too. This morning I was a little overwhelmed to be waking up with you. I was feeling a little insecure. I told you it’s been a while since I’ve dated anyone, and I figured it might be easier to just bow out.”
Cameron nodded. He understood how she felt. “That’s okay. I understand. I can hardly hold it against you, can I?”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve been just as bad. I was blowing hot and cold with you. The last couple of weekends, I wanted to see where this might go, but then I kept talking myself out of it.”
He was relieved when she smiled. “Yeah. You did leave me wondering a couple of times.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I haven’t really dated anyone in a while either.”
He watched her face. It looked like she was about to argue with him, but then she seemed to change her mind. He thought she understood what he meant. There was a difference between sleeping with someone and dating them. “So, what are you saying?”
“That maybe we should try it.”
“Dating?”
He nodded. He liked the idea. He wasn’t sure how it’d work out, but hell, a lot of couples just saw each other on the weekends when they lived in different places.
She smiled. “Okay.”
“Did you two finally get it together?”
They both looked up to see Cole and Laura standing there. Cameron looked at Piper, and she smiled and gave him the slightest nod.
“Yeah,” he said with a grin.
Cole gave him a stern look. “You’d better be good to her. She’s my wife’s best friend and my best pilot.”
Cameron laughed. “No pressure then?”
“No, no pressure at all,” said Piper.
“Yes, there is,” said Laura. “You’d better be good to him, too; he’s my new brother-in-law.”
Cameron laughed. “Thanks, sis. What time are you guys leaving?”
“We’re heading out soon. We’re just making the rounds saying our thank yous.”
“Did you see Mom and Dad?”
“Yeah. We told them we’ll come over for dinner when we come back.”
“Awesome.” Cameron knew how much his parents would love that.
Cole turned to Piper. “And you know what you’re doing next week?”
“Yep. I’m going to be in the office with Rochelle Monday and Tuesday, and then I’m flying for Jack and Pete Wednesday and Thursday.”
“Great,” said Cole. “We’ll see you next weekend, then. Will we see you?” he asked Cameron.
Cameron grinned. “Yep. I’ll be here.”