Where There's Hope_A Well Paired Novel

by Marianne Rice

  Cameron rubbed his hands across his scalp, which was now covered in a short, clean style, and puffed out a sigh, the air clouding around his face.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Anything.”

  He blew into his hands. “I want you to be honest. Don’t try to spare my feelings. In my opinion, straight-forward honesty holds more weight than putting words delicately.”

  “Okay.” She’d always been honest with him. Too frank, if anything.

  “Are you embarrassed of me?”

  “What? Of you?” This wasn’t what she was expecting.

  “You’re a respected member of the community. A business owner. A single mother with an impressionable young daughter. And you’ve been seen with a convicted criminal. A man who’s served nearly a decade of time, a third of his life in prison. A man who lives in a shabby apartment above a convenience store. It would be natural, normal even, for you to be embarrassed of me. So I guess I’m not asking if you are. I guess I’m telling you that I understand and don’t hold it against you. I’d be cautious too if I had a daughter.”

  Hope’s throat swelled with sympathy and understanding. Of course, he’d put her feelings ahead of his own. It had to hurt like hell, being betrayed and ostracized by your own family and to come out completely empty-handed on the other end. Of course, he didn’t trust anyone with his feelings. And she hadn’t done anything to earn his trust.

  She’d berated him and hit him in his Achilles heel over and over again the first few weeks she saw him and hadn’t done much to rectify the pain she’d caused him. It wasn’t until he mentioned his criminal past that she’d even thought of it. Once she fell in love with him, the past didn’t matter. She loved who he was today. The man standing in front of her, shivering in the cold and sacrificing his coat for her.

  “You want honesty?”

  He brought his gaze back to her and nodded.

  “My daughter is my life. I’d do anything for her, including protecting her from the hate and evil in the world.”

  Cameron closed his eyes and his chin tilted lower toward his chest. Hope joined their hands together and held them to his chest.

  “I want to surround her with kindness. With honesty. With love.” She brought his knuckles to her lips and kissed them. “You asked for the truth, so I’ll give it to you, and I expect honesty in return. I’m not asking if you feel the same way or asking you to return the feelings, but I need to tell you. I love you, Cameron. I fell in love with you some time ago, and I don’t regret it for a second. I want you in her life. In my life. In our life. If you’re not ready to offer your heart or give your love, I’m okay with that. But stick around, please? I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you. Again.”

  The air grew cold again around them as she studied his jawline go from tense to relaxed. He opened his eyes and stared at her, the expressionless poker face still shielding her from seeing what was going on inside his head.

  His chest continued to rise and fall in steady succession against their joined hands. When she thought they’d freeze into stiff statues, he finally spoke.

  “So. Does that mean you’re not embarrassed of me?” Amusement danced in his eyes and tugged at his lip.

  “Now you’re just fishing for compliments.”

  “I don’t think a man could hear a nicer compliment than what you just said to me.”

  “It was more than a compliment.”

  “So I’m aware.” Cameron tucked his hands behind her back, under the warmth of his huge coat and surrounded her body with his. “And for the record...” He swooped down and kissed her, working his way from the corner of her mouth to the center until their tongues danced and played and warmed each other. When her core was thick and warm with his love, he pulled back. “I love you too.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CAMERON NEVER THOUGHT he’d be excited to see a ballet. Heck, fifteen years ago he would’ve throat punched someone for even mentioning the ballet around him. And here he was today, thirty-five-years-old and shopping for a tie for the first time.

  He’d had a closet full of them when he was younger. Ties his family’s personal shopper purchased, steamed and hung in his closet, never to be worn once Cameron hit double digits.

  Since Delaney had to be at Merrill auditorium Friday afternoon for a run-through before the evening’s performance, he picked up Hope and Delaney after breakfast and drove them to Portland. He didn’t mind the added expense of booking a hotel room for two nights. Granted, he’d rather share a bed with Hope, but with Delaney in the same room, that wasn’t an option.

  Their alone time had been limited once again to stolen kisses during down times at work and after the restaurant closed. The staff knew why he lingered once the sign on the door flipped to Closed and paid no heed to him sipping decaf at the bar or helping Hope clean up the dining room. It was all good and well, though. They stayed up late watching a movie on her couch while Delaney was upstairs doing homework or sleeping, or they’d talk on the phone from the comfort of their beds. Or, rather, her bed and his sleeping bag on the floor.

  While the girls were at the auditorium, Cameron toured the Old Port on foot, shopping for a tie and a special gift for Delaney. And maybe something for Hope as well.

  She had said she didn’t want to inconvenience him by taking the day off to drive to Portland, but he’d insisted. Besides, he was paid by the job, not necessarily the hour, and was ahead of schedule on the Timberlain boat. Spending time with the Windward girls was at the top of his priority list.

  He slowed his pace and took his time checking out the shop windows. The center of town was all a bustle. Town workers and shop owners were busy hanging wreaths on their doors and decorations in their windows while the last lights were being hung on the big tree in the town square.

  Cameron had seen signs and heard talk from shop owners about Santa’s visit tonight and the ceremonial lighting of the tall tree. They’d miss the evening festivities since Delaney was dancing tonight, but he’d take them around town tomorrow night, after her afternoon performance.

  With a lightness to his step and a new appreciation for the holidays, Cameron whistled while strolling through downtown, checking out the menus of the small pubs. Kid friendly was important for this weekend, and he’d find a romantic restaurant to bring Hope to some other time. A weekend getaway sometime when Delaney was at her friend’s house.

  His cell phone vibrated in his pocket, bringing a smile to his face. The only person who texted or called, or hell, knew his number, were his boss and Hope.

  “Hey, beautiful.”

  “Aren’t you chipper? I figured you’d be bored. I feel like we took advantage of you. Bummed ourselves a ride and ditched you for three hours.”

  “Sweetheart, you can take advantage of me anytime you want.”

  “I’ll remember that.”

  “Good. How did rehearsal go?” Cameron leaned against a light post and watched the foot traffic go by as he talked with Hope. Tomorrow they’d be the couple holding hands, Delaney by their side. Like a real family.

  “The girls are really nervous. But excited too. They want to swim in the hotel pool before they have to be back here. Do you mind?”

  “You told me to bring my swimming trunks, so I figured there’d be a pool somewhere this weekend.” He had to shop for that too. The last time he’d been in a pool was at the Rickers summer party. He was twenty and wrecked out of his mind. Sometime after Jimmy Ricker’s folks went to bed, they all streaked—girls and boys—and had an orgy in the pool. Cameron had no idea who he’d hooked up with and wasn’t proud of himself the next day. Drinking and drugs were one thing, but he tried not to take advantage of girls.

  The girls at the party had no idea what they were getting themselves into. It wasn’t one of Cameron’s finer moments. If he could black out his life between the ages of twelve and twenty-two, he’d be fine with that.

  “Cameron?”

  “Yeah. Sorry. You were sayin
g?”

  “We’re heading back to the hotel now. Will we see you there, or are you busy?”

  “I’ll walk you back. I don’t want you two alone on the streets.”

  “It’s daytime, and we’re with the entire group. People are going to be fleeing from us, not chasing us down.”

  That made him feel better. Portland was a fairly safe city, but Hope and Delaney meant too much to him to risk them getting hurt. “Be careful.”

  “You too. A single guy walking the Old Port. You must have a flock of girls following at your heels.”

  “I’ve been keeping them at bay.” He chuckled and headed toward the hotel. If he walked fast, he’d beat them there.

  “So we’ll see you back at the hotel?”

  “I’ll race you there.” He tucked his phone into his jeans pocket and walked as fast as he could without looking conspicuous. A single guy running down the sidewalks of Portland would look suspicious. He’d had too many experiences being on the other side of the law.

  His daily runs kept him in shape, and he wasn’t even breathing hard by the time he got to the hotel. He heard them before he saw them, loud, shrill voices all competing to speak over the next. It reminded him of Delaney’s birthday party. Hope must have Tylenol in every corner of her house. Hopefully, she brought some with her on the trip.

  First the girls rounded the corner, oblivious to Cameron holding the door open for them, babbling and waving their hands in the air, taking selfies as they talked and walked. The women were more appreciative, giving him a thank you or a flirtatious smile as they stepped inside.

  Shelby Franklin, McKenna’s mother, whom he met at the restaurant one night, recognized him and stopped to place a hand on his forearm before walking through the doorway. “Hope says you’ve been a godsend. Thank you for driving her and Delaney down. I’m glad she has a...friend with her this weekend.”

  Hope was the last to enter. “Have you been waiting long?”

  She looked so pretty in her bright blue winter coat, her white and blue scarf wrapped around her neck, and a matching hat pulled low over her head. He wanted to unzip and unravel her until she was naked in his hands.

  “Waiting isn’t a problem.”

  “That’s right. Man of patience, you are. Let’s see how you handle fourteen girls in the indoor pool.”

  “Let’s see how I handle seeing you in a bathing suit,” he mumbled under his breath, following her to the elevators.

  The next few hours were a whirlwind. He didn’t know how Hope stayed so calm. Between the squealing and giggles and echoing in the pool area to the gossip from the other women as they soaked in the hot tub, Cameron was ready for bed.

  It was awkward at first, being the only guy who brought a bathing suit. Most of the other dads were hanging out by the bar. A few lounged by the pool, but he was the only male in swimming trunks. The mischievous grin on Hope’s face wasn’t lost on him either. She knew what she was up to.

  He’d tried to opt out of the hot tub, but the women hollered for him to join them. Even though Hope’s suit was a modest one-piece, it didn’t do much to hide the curves and soft skin he knew laid underneath. When she stepped in front of him his eyes had a will of their own, dropping to her heart-shaped butt, noticing how her bathing suit rode up one cheek just a bit more than the other.

  Tempted as he was to reach out and touch, he kept his hands to himself and slid into the hot tub next to her. She rubbed her foot against his calf while the women gossiped about the parents who never came to recitals, a few bragged about their daughters’ talents, but most were nice. Cameron avoided conversation and pretended to sleep, resting his head against the edge of the hot tub.

  There were moments when Hope would slide her hand up his thigh, getting dangerously close to his crotch, and he’d push her away. She’d laugh, and the women thought it was at their conversation. Thankfully the jets formed enough bubbles to keep Hope’s antics private. There’d be payback. For sure.

  When they were pruned and hot, they got out of the hot tub one by one, giving the girls a five-minute warning. After lots of splashing and screeching, they finally got out and dried off too, heading to their separate rooms.

  “It’s going to take about an hour to get ready. The rest she can do in the dressing room,” Hope said as she punched the button in the elevator for the fifth floor.

  “Doesn’t she need to eat?”

  “I can’t eat before a recital. I’ll throw up.”

  Delaney was skinny, for sure, but he’d seen her eat. She wasn’t one of those thin girls who refused food.

  “I brought some snacks for before the show. We’ll go out and have a real dinner after.”

  “Okay. I guess I’ll see you at the theater?”

  “You can hang out with us in our room if you want. Mom brought plenty of food.”

  “You sure?”

  Delaney shrugged her shoulders. “Sure. Why not? Mom will be less crabby if you’re there.”

  “Hey, I’m not crabby.” Hope playfully swatted Delaney’s butt as she dashed out of the elevator and ran toward their room. “She’s the one who gets crabby if I don’t get her hair and makeup right.”

  “Uh huh,” Cameron teased. “Regardless, I’d love to hang out with you ladies, as long as you promise they’ll be no screeching. You have Tylenol with you, I’m assuming.”

  “I don’t leave home without it. Come on. You deserve a drink as well. I don’t have anything in the room, but I’ll buy you one at dinner tonight.”

  Cameron took the key card from her and unlocked the door, holding it open for Hope and Delaney. “No drink necessary. Your company is all I ask for.”

  “You’re a charmer, Cameron Smithfield. That’s for sure.”

  Funny. No one had ever accused him of being such a thing before. Like the ballet, once upon a time he would have been offended by the comment. How times change. Being young and carefree was overrated. This was where it was at. Thirties, in love, and happy with life.

  He didn’t try too hard to follow along with the story of the Nutcracker, but rather kept his attention on Delaney. She was hard to spot at first, as all the girls in the snowflake and flower scene looked alike. Hope tugged at his arm each time Delaney came out, her eyes fixated on her daughter. Cameron was torn between watching his niece perform on stage and watching Hope’s radiant face light up with pride.

  “She’s beautiful, isn’t she? I love watching her dance.” Hope felt around for his hand and gripped his fingers in hers.

  The familiar tug at his heart tightened again, but not in a restraining way. Instead, it comforted, warmed him from the inside out. When the show was over, he’d had a basic understanding of the plot: there was a girl, a toy nutcracker, a bad mouse, and lots of dancers. He’d look it up tonight while he lay in bed alone, wishing he was on the other side of the wall with Hope.

  After a late dinner with a few of Delaney’s friends and their parents, he and Hope dragged an exhausted ballerina back to the hotel.

  The next morning came too soon, with another round of hair, makeup, and light eating before Delaney’s afternoon performance. Rich and Diane came down as well, their arms full of flowers and balloons they unloaded in the hotel room before the performance. They also brought an overnight bag, deciding to stay the night as well. Delaney would be delighted when she returned.

  The second performance was better now that Cameron knew what the heck was going on. Plus, he knew where to look for Delaney and with familiar pride, he helped point her out to her grandparents, not that they needed help locating her.

  He used Hope’s phone to take pictures and videos and was the first to stand at the end of the performance, clapping and whistling with excitement. He didn’t care if he looked like a hick, he was damn proud of his niece.

  “She was fabulous, wasn’t she?” Hope hugged him and then her parents. “I’m so proud of my little girl.” She wiped her eyes and held her hands over her heart as if slowing it from beating so fast.
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br />   “A stunning performance by all the girls,” Diane said, hugging Hope again. “You’ve done a wonderful job raising her, honey.”

  “Thanks, Mom, but I have nothing to do with her talent or dedication to her dance. It must be—” Hope flicked her gaze to Cameron and then up to the stage. “It’s in her heart. She loves dancing.”

  Cameron swallowed, a tinge of guilt coating his gut. His family sucked. His genes sucked. Justin sucked. It wasn’t fair that Delaney was born with his crappy heritage. Thankfully she made the best of what she had and turned her Smithfield genes into something positive.

  He and Rich hung around the lobby while Diane and Hope went backstage to get Delaney. Families and guests lulled about, complimenting the performance, chatting about the holidays, and making plans for future get-togethers. When Rich excused himself to say hello to a friend, Cameron people watched and listened to the crowd, fascinated by the differences in body language, talk, and style.

  In prison, he did that as well—observed. The little girl in the princess dress with sparkles in her hair. The mother holding a sleeping baby. A toddler crying about his empty juice cup. An elderly man struggling to button his coat.

  He was about to walk over to the man to help when he caught hold of a familiar woman in his peripheral vision.

  The hairstyle was different, short instead of long and pulled back, the skin was looser, the wrinkles more defined, but it was her. No matter how many years had passed and how little time he actually spent with her growing up, he’d always recognize her.

  His mother. His gut clenched with an unfamiliar feeling. It wasn’t of grief or anger or even hurt.

  It was pity.

  She’d aged and not well. Always mousy and under Thomas’s control, Cameron was surprised to see her standing alone. He glanced around, expecting to hear his father’s dominating voice, but if he was here, he wasn’t close by. Which was odd.

  Janice wrapped her Burberry scarf around her neck, the same scarf she wore when Cameron was a teenager, and slipped on her gloves. She ducked her head and worked her way through the crowd, heading out the doors, alone.