by Aurora Rey
* * *
They ventured out eventually. Lauren dragged Cam to her favorite restaurants, to the Met, and past the building where she used to work. They met up with Anja for drinks and had bagels from the deli down the block. She showed off the parts of the city she loved, but even as she did so, Lauren realized how much her heart was no longer there.
Despite her initial protest, Cam helped her pack. She even took charge of getting the donate piles to Goodwill while Lauren met with a Realtor. Lauren was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Even though she’d only been in her apartment about five years, it had appreciated nicely and she stood to make a nice profit on it.
Cam asked whether she wanted to see her parents, but Lauren deflected. She’d have to introduce them eventually, but there was no rush. They’d judge her decisions as rash anyway. Maybe she could invite her mother over for a visit. Albert had been her uncle after all, even if they’d not been close.
By the time she and Cam boarded the plane at JFK, Lauren had this almost overwhelming feeling of wanting to be back. It was, she realized, a longing for something she’d not had before, not really. It was a longing for home.
Cam, still marveling at their upgraded seats in business class, squeezed her hand. “You okay?”
Lauren took a deep breath. “I am.”
“It’s okay if you’re having some cold feet, or regret, or whatever. I won’t take it personally.”
“It’s not that, I promise.”
“What, then?” Cam looked genuinely worried.
“I’m,” she struggled for the word. “Overwhelmed. But in a good way.”
“You really don’t need to sugarcoat things for me. I don’t want you to change your mind, obviously, but I want you to be honest. This will never work if we’re not honest.”
The earnestness that, when it opposed her, seemed frustratingly insurmountable, now warmed her heart. “I agree, and I am being honest. I’m so ready to be back at the inn, back in the pub. I didn’t realize how attached I’d become until I left.”
“Oh.” Cam’s face relaxed and she looked relieved, if not entirely convinced. “I guess I didn’t think of it that way.”
“It’s not a sacrifice, Cam. Netherfield is where I want to be. I have no doubt about that at all.”
It was Cam’s turn to take a deep breath. “I’m sorry it’s hard for me to believe that. Seeing you here, so clearly in your element, makes me wonder if you’re going to regret it in the end.”
The conversation with Charlotte came to mind. “I’m not Amelia. I’m making this decision with my eyes wide open.”
Cam paled. “Did Charlotte tell you about her?”
“She did.” Lauren winced. “But not in a gossipy way, I promise. Just the broad strokes.”
“It’s fine. I’m not mad. I feel bad I didn’t tell you about her. Or that we haven’t really discussed past relationships at all.”
Lauren smiled. “We’ll get there.”
Cam nodded. “Okay. Still, I’m not…I didn’t mean to hint you were anything like her. Or that she’s someone I’m still hung up on.”
“I know. I don’t think that.” She really didn’t. But she also knew some scars ran deep and triggers weren’t always logical.
“The difference between Netherfield and New York is pretty dramatic, though.”
The captain came over the intercom, announcing they were next in line for takeoff and telling the flight attendants to take their seats. Lauren turned her hand over in Cam’s, lacing their fingers together. “I’ll always love New York, but I’d be lying if I said it ever really felt like home. It was more like playing a part, if that makes sense.”
“It does.”
Only in articulating it did Lauren realize how true it rang. The thing was, she played the part so well, the lines had started to blur. Netherfield didn’t feel that way. If anything, it felt like a piece of her she hadn’t known was missing. “I’d be on this plane, or a plane at least, no matter what.”
Cam chuckled. “Right.”
“I’m really glad to be on this one, though, with you.”
“Same.”
The intermittent taxiing ended and the plane stopped moving altogether before hurtling down the runway. Cam closed her eyes and her grip on Lauren’s hand tightened. “Are you afraid of flying?”
Cam shook her head slightly, but didn’t open her eyes. “Not afraid. Just not my favorite thing.”
The significance of Cam showing up at her apartment hit her. Not just a romantic gesture, but one that put her out of her comfort zone in every possible way. She waited until the plane leveled slightly, the ascent less pronounced. She brought Cam’s fingers to her lips and kissed them. “Thank you for coming to New York.”
Cam opened her eyes then. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for the deposition. You should have had someone by your side.”
It felt, strangely, like a distant memory. And so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. “You came. That matters more than you could possibly know.”
“It was the least I could do after being such an ass.”
“I’m sorry I kept it from you. And I’m still sorry I handled the article the way I did, that I played along in the first place.”
“No, I get why you did.” Cam shrugged. “I reacted the way I did because I’m in love with you.”
What a magical thing. Lauren let herself soak it in, imagine the future that was about to unfold. “The feeling is completely mutual.”
Chapter Thirty
Lauren hung up the phone and took a deep breath. She’d just turned down two million dollars. A small giggle escaped her lips. It was followed by another, then a guffaw. The next thing she knew, she was laughing almost hysterically. Two million fucking dollars.
She knew she wasn’t going to take the offer. She’d not even gone forward with the listing. But when the VP from Atlas left her a message asking to talk about the property, she couldn’t resist. She wanted to know what someone like him would pay for the Rose & Crown, for her own satisfaction, but also as a point of reference. Not that she was looking to buy another place to flip. No, if anything, she wanted to help others who’d made that leap. Having a sense of how the big fish valued properties like hers could come in handy.
She’d kept her composure when he tossed the number out there. It’s not like it was more than she would have come up with herself if she’d had to put a price on it. It was that someone was willing to give her that much money—the reality of it more than some hypothetical list price. It was knowing what she could do with that kind of money. And perhaps most of all, it was knowing that money was no longer the most important thing in her life.
A knock on her office door pulled her back to reality. “Come in.”
She thought it might be Mrs. Lucas coming in with tea, or Charlotte wanting to pick her brain about another idea she’d had. But when she looked up, she found Cam smiling at her from the doorway.
“Should I ask about the maniacal laughter or do I not want to know?”
Lauren took a deep breath and stood. Part of her hesitated to tell Cam for fear it would make things weird, or that Cam wouldn’t trust that she’d only taken the call out of curiosity. But keeping things to herself had gotten her into trouble. More, she didn’t want her relationship with Cam to have secrets, even secrets of omission. “I just got an offer on the pub.”
“You did?” To her credit, Cam didn’t balk.
“I mean, I never went through with the listing, so not like a written offer or anything. I had a call from an executive at a hotel chain I worked with once and I wanted to see what he had to say.”
“And?”
“And he offered me two million dollars.” She looked up and did a quick mental calculation. “Like, one and a half million pounds. Maybe one and a quarter.”
“Lauren, that’s a lot of money.”
“I know. I didn’t accept, obviously, but I wanted to know what someone like him would value the place at.” She
closed the space between them and gave Cam a kiss. “Hi.”
Cam frowned and her eyes got very serious. “Maybe you should.”
“No, I shouldn’t. I swear that wasn’t my intention. Please believe me.”
Cam shook her head, and Lauren’s stomach twisted into a tight coil. Please don’t let this turn into a fight. “I told you I was wrong to try to control what you did with this place. I meant it.”
Lauren smiled, let relief loosen some of the knots. “I don’t want to sell.”
Cam continued to frown. “Don’t want to or think I don’t want you to? I don’t want you passing up a golden opportunity for me.”
Just like Cam’s flying across the ocean to declare her love, the statement made Lauren’s heart swell. “I’m not looking for a golden opportunity.”
“But you don’t want to be an innkeeper for the rest of your life, either. With that kind of money, you could start your agency. Here, obviously.” Cam lifted her shoulder. “I’m not saying I want to let you out of my sight or anything.”
Right. Because they’d worked that out. Lauren wasn’t keeping secrets and Cam wasn’t assuming the worst. “Do you know how much it means to hear you say that?”
“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it. We can’t build a future on you doing things because you think it’s what I want.”
Lauren wound her arms around Cam’s waist. “Do you know what I want?”
“To start your own agency.”
“Yes.” Lauren closed her eyes and tipped her head back and forth. “But that’s not the only thing, or even the most important.”
Cam tensed. “You’re going to say me, and as much as I love hearing that, it worries me. You can’t settle. If you settle you’ll be miserable and, worse, you’ll end up resenting me. I couldn’t take that.”
The worry in Cam’s voice tore at her heart. She put a hand on either side of Cam’s face. “I’m not settling. I like my life here and I don’t want it to change. I’d rather take my time and start out a little smaller than sell out for the quick profit.”
Finally, Cam smiled. “Watch it, Ms. Montgomery. You’re starting to sound like me.”
Lauren quirked a brow. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“I’ve been told that I’m stubborn and resistant to change.”
Much like the phone call earlier, the giggle manifested and escaped before she could stop it. Cam glowered, but there was no malice in it. Lauren bit her lip. “Sorry.”
“I was trying to be nice, you know.”
“I do. And I know what the Rose & Crown means to you.”
Cam shook her head. “It doesn’t mean anything if it costs me you.”
“Well, like I said, I don’t want to sell. So, it looks like you’re stuck with it. And me.”
“Good.”
This time, Cam’s arms went around her waist. Lauren couldn’t think of a single place on earth she’d rather be. Cam leaned in and kissed her, long and slow. It felt like a thousand promises in that kiss. Lauren soaked them up and tucked them away in her heart. She’d never been big on promises, at least not the kind that weren’t about meeting deadlines and satisfying customers. She was learning, though, and Cam was turning out to be a patient teacher.
Maybe that’s why they clicked. They each had a lot to learn, after years of being convinced they had it all figured out. She’d managed to teach Cam a thing or two; Cam had taught her plenty as well. And some things they were figuring out together. That might be the best part of all. The realization made her smile.
“What are you grinning about?” Cam asked.
Lauren considered. “You. Us. The idea of happily ever after.”
“That sounds like something I can get behind.” Cam let out a sigh. “I wish I’d brought cocktails so we could raise a toast.”
Happiness radiated out from her core, leaving her tingly and warm. “You know, I know this great little bar. The cocktails are on point.”
“Really? Maybe we should check it out.”
She took Cam’s hand and led her back the way she’d come. In the pub, a couple dozen people chatted and laughed over drinks and food. Not bad for four in the afternoon. Charlotte stood behind the bar, chatting with a couple who’d checked into the inn the day before. She made some hand gestures and the couple left. She caught sight of Lauren and Cam and smiled. “Hello, love birds.”
Cam said, “We need drinks, Charlotte. We’re celebrating.”
Her eyes lit up. “Ooh, what are we celebrating?”
Lauren grinned. “Not selling the pub.”
“Is that news?” Anja, who’d arrived back in town the day before, gave her a questioning look. She and Charlotte remained resolute in keeping their relationship open, but they’d been spending more and more time together. Lauren imagined it was only a matter of time until Netherfield took the place of New York as Anja’s home base.
Cam shook her head. “Apparently not, but she was just offered a boatload of money for it and turned it down, so it’s official now.”
“You did?” Anja asked.
“I did. I’ve grown quite fond of this place.”
Charlotte nodded, as though getting confirmation of something she’d known all along. “Well, I’m glad to hear it.”
Lauren considered how lucky she was to have Charlotte, who’d become not just an employee, but a trusted friend and colleague. “How would you feel about taking on more responsibility around here?”
“Really?”
“Yes. You’re already running the bar. Mrs. Lucas has made it clear she’s content with her role. There’s going to be a lot more to do if reservations and pub patrons stay where they are. I don’t want to sell the place, but I don’t want to be a full-time manager, either.”
“And you’re offering me the job?” Charlotte’s voice was incredulous.
“You know how things run better than anyone, wouldn’t you say?”
Charlotte took a deep breath, stood up a little straighter. “I’d say so.”
“You have great ideas, but a good head on your shoulders, too. Even more, I trust you completely.”
She looked from Lauren to Cam. “Was this your idea?”
Cam shook her head. “This is the first I’m hearing of it. I think it’s a bloody good idea, but it wasn’t mine.”
“We can talk about salary and such. You’ll be wanting a raise with the extra work.”
Charlotte nodded, although it seemed to Lauren that was the last thing on her mind. “Right.”
Anja smiled. “I think this calls for drinks all around, then.”
Cam said, “Agreed.”
Charlotte gestured to the bottles behind her. “What’ll it be?”
Could this day get any better? It was hard to imagine. “Gin Flips seem the most fitting, no?”
“Coming right up.”
Lauren thought back to the day Cam had first made the cocktail for her, crafted specifically for her new drink menu. She’d been impressed with Cam’s skill and more than a little attracted to her. At the time, the sentiments had seemed far from mutual. Those feelings hadn’t gone away, of course, but now? She chuckled. Now, she had so much more.
“What are you snickering at?” Cam asked.
She looked at the woman she’d come to love more deeply than she thought possible. “I was just thinking about how far we’ve come.”
“Should I be concerned you find it so funny?”
“Not funny, at least not funny ha-ha. It’s more,” Lauren searched for the right word, “magical.”
Cam raised a brow. “Magical?”
“Think about it. The worst moment of my life set the stage for the best decision I ever made. And you hated me at first. Look at us now.”
“I didn’t hate you.”
“Dislike, then, with a heaping side of distrust.”
Cam frowned. “That’s sort of true. I’m sorry for that.”
Charlotte set a drink in front of each of them. “Cheers, lovelie
s.”
Lauren leaned over and gave Cam a kiss. “I was marveling at the now, not complaining about the beginning.”
Cam opened her mouth but seemed to reconsider. “Right. The now. I’ll drink to that.”
Lauren picked up her glass. Cam, Anja, and Charlotte followed suit. “Here’s to the now.”
Cam raised hers. “And to the future.”
“And not selling the pub,” Charlotte said.
Anja looked at them both, then at Charlotte. “And here’s to love.”
They clinked glasses to a chorus of “to love.” Lauren sipped her drink, the notes of honey and lavender now familiar, but still exciting. Truly the perfect cocktail. Kind of like things with Cam. So much more than she’d bargained for, and utterly perfect.
Epilogue
One year later.
Lauren stepped back from the curb and put her hands on her hips. “A little to the left.”
Cam adjusted the sign. “How’s that?”
“Perfect.”
A bit of banging and then Cam descended the ladder and joined her on the street. “That looks quite nice.”
She’d slaved over the Wilspell logo for weeks, wanting something quirky but elegant. Something that was a far cry from the KesslerAldridge logo she’d come to see as stuffy and overbearing. Something that suited the name itself—Anglo-Saxon for welcome news. Cam had humored her, listening to her go back and forth and even offering some suggestions of her own. In the end, she was thrilled with the result. It suited her and the brand she hoped to build.
Technically, Wilspell had been open for a couple of months. She’d leveraged the press from the relaunch of the Rose & Crown to score three clients. Small, owner-operated inns, but still. It was a start.
She’d not expected to move from the cozy little office behind the bar for at least a year, but when the mess with Philip was finally settled, she found herself with a tidy nest egg. Half of it she set aside to start building a house with Cam and for them to take a trip to celebrate their engagement. The rest she poured into her new business, including its very own storefront right on Baker Street.
