Return to Passion

by Carla Buchanan

  Remington needed a lawyer before he got too deep into this. He needed someone who would be willing to dig into the morality clause of his company and give him an honest, objective answer to the question of how the company could deal with the fallout from her announcement, if there was any. He also needed to prove to Camille that she wouldn’t jeopardize his run for mayor. It was indeed a seemingly impossible task, being that they lived in Fairdell, but he had confidence in himself and the people who loved Camille to make this happen for her. And after a few calls and some explaining, he had his allies in place. But first there was a person he needed to see. He got into his car.

  Sonya had set this course of events into motion by crying to her mother and father. She’d have to be set straight so she wouldn’t cause any further problems for him and Camille. He just hoped the woman wouldn’t do anything unreasonable or out of line during his visit. He didn’t want to have to hurt her feelings since he wasn’t that type of man, but he would if she continued to threaten the future he was trying to build with the woman he loved.

  He wondered what had provoked Sonya to go to her father, but if Remi really thought about it, it was obvious that she was jealous of Camille. She’d no doubt thought Remington would eventually give up on running from her and give in to his grandfather’s original wishes. She had not anticipated the old man’s easy acceptance of Camille and her career. She must’ve decided to go to the one person who could deny her nothing—her father. Felix Brandt had been the one to advise Remi on his run for office. The man had known about the petition and had been the one to call him when it had been approved. Needless to say, Sonya’s mother had seen this as a step toward her daughter, never thinking Remington might have other plans for his personal life. It was probably a personal insult to both of her parents for Remington to dismiss their daughter even though he had never agreed to any type of future with Sonya.

  Remi was suffering from a case of complete frustration. He clutched his hands tightly on the steering wheel of his car as he thought about what he could lose. Not the election or the company he ran, but Camille. Losing her again wasn’t an option.

  On the way he talked to her father and asked him to try to keep her in Fairdell. He texted Anna about moving up Camille’s coming-out party. Then he talked to Charlie and asked him to look over the ethics and morality clauses in the company contract and the man had given him better news than he expected—news about Camille that could help sway the town’s opinion. She’d been donating anonymously to the town’s recreation center. Her generous contributions had kept the place open and the kids off the street. Only Charlie knew of her donations because he was her lawyer. The information was more than Remi could’ve hoped for—ammunition if it came to that.

  Then Remi called his grandfather, and Frederick did not hesitate to extend his support, saying once he was done, the majority of the town would see Camille as a saint. Remi was grateful for everyone’s help, especially from Camille’s father and Charlie. Those two men could’ve left him to deal with it all by himself after the way his omission was hurting Camille, but they did not. Both had said they wouldn’t allow her to sacrifice her happiness again no matter what Camille said.

  It was time people started making sacrifices for her and not the other way around.

  It was late in the evening, but Remington couldn’t wait to complete this errand. He knew it could wait until the next day, but he wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing this issue was hanging over him. He needed Sonya to call her father off and tell the man the truth. He’d done some thinking on the way over and the only conclusion he could come to was that Sonya had lied about the nature of their relationship to her mother and father. He’d make sure she set her parents straight before her father started a slander campaign against Camille. Remington could deal with the man coming after him, but Camille was off-limits.

  “I’m going to go by and be with Camille,” Remington recalled Charlie saying as he took another street that would lead him to his destination. Remi couldn’t believe the possessive, involuntary growl that had erupted from deep within him at Charlie’s words. Remi had known there wasn’t anything romantic in the suggestion, but he couldn’t help his reaction. Though, Charlie didn’t seem at all bothered and had actually chuckled. “I’m going to try and calm her, so she won’t bolt. She’ll listen—I think. I’m sure she was more shocked by the news. But you do realize that it won’t get past her that you knew about this long before she returned. She’ll not let that go very easily.”

  It had made him angry with himself for keeping anything from Camille. He didn’t regret his decision but he didn’t like that he’d hurt Camille with his omission. He’d do it all over again the same way if it meant Camille was closer to being his than not, but the guilt was still there.

  But if he lost her...

  No. He couldn’t lose her. It was not an option.

  Chapter 19

  “Remington? What brings you by so late? Is something wrong?”

  Sonya smirked as she reached for her robe. Remi thought she was trying to close it more, but she instead uncovered just a bit more cleavage, allowing her hand to linger to garner his attention.

  “We need to talk.”

  Pushing past Sonya, he walked into the living room of her home. She lived alone in a house her father had purchased for her. It was a nice house; he’d been in it on several occasions when their families had traded places for events they shared. He remembered having a good time in the space, but now being there made him uncomfortable and angry.

  “I’m sorry, Remi,” Sonya blurted, but it sounded more like an invitation for something else rather than an apology. She closed the distance between them and placed a hand on his chest. “I’m really sorry for what Daddy has done, but—”

  Remington looked down at the inappropriately placed hand. He then looked back to her. Not wanting to react too hastily while alone in her home, he gently removed her hand. “There is no ‘but,’ Sonya. I am with Camille and you need to accept that or—”

  “Or what?” Sonya fumed. “Us being together was always the plan, Rem. It’s what my parents want and what your parents would’ve wanted, God rest their souls.”

  “Don’t call me that and don’t you bring my parents into this. Don’t try to guilt me into being with you. It won’t work.” Remington rubbed a hand down his face and put distance between them. “I thought I could come over here and talk reasonably with you—let you know how I felt without hurting your feelings, but—”

  Remington’s words stopped when Sonya dramatically collapsed to the floor in tears. “Do you hate me so much that I can’t even call you by the nickname she gave you? I love you, Remi,” she said once her act had ceased.

  Remington rolled his eyes and asked God for help in this. He took a deep breath and sighed. “Sonya...you and I both know that you don’t love me. You love the idea of who I am or what I may become, but you don’t love me. Can we at least be honest here?” Remi asked, frustrated with Sonya’s dramatics. When she didn’t answer he leaned back on one of the barstools in her family room and continued. “We have never had a relationship and you know that. I don’t know what you told your father, but you need to fix this. I am engaged. There is nothing temporary about Camille and me. I need you to accept that.”

  “I can’t accept what I feel isn’t right. She’s not right for you, Remi. I am. I can be—”

  “A friend. And if you aren’t willing to be that then I suggest we cut all ties to one another. As a matter of fact, I think it would be best if you started searching for another place to work. I’m giving you ninety days to do so. I’ll help in any way I can, but I doubt it’ll be in the way you want. I can’t be what you want, Sonya. It doesn’t matter what your feelings are about my fiancée because it won’t change the way I feel about her.”

  Remington’s anger was ratcheting up so he decided he needed to c
alm down and take a different approach. “You once told me you wanted to be happy. If that wasn’t a lie then you should realize a marriage of convenience and circumstance is not what you want,” Remington said sincerely, hoping that taking a softer approach would get through to her.

  Moving to help Sonya from the floor, Remington reached for her but she refused his offer. She stood on her own, closing her robe that had fallen open. Sonya then looked to him and he knew all the fight had left her when her eyes met his. “You’re right, Remi. I did tell you that. But...but I also have a mother who expects me to—”

  Remi knew it was a risk, but he placed his hands on her arms and she immediately stopped talking. She was hopeful for a moment and then deflated as he spoke. “Your father is a good man and I’m sure all he wants is for you to be happy, your mother, as well. You’ll find the man who’s meant for you and, hey...if he’s rich and good-looking all the better, right?”

  Nodding and smiling slightly, Sonya said, “Remington Krane, you are truly a wonderful man with a big heart and... I’m sorry. This town will be lucky to have you as their mayor and I’ll make sure my father doesn’t do anything to make the journey harder.”

  Remi stepped away from Sonya. He turned away from her. There was nothing left to say. He believed her words and had known her long enough to see through her tricks. This was no trick.

  “But don’t think I’ll be singing Camille’s praises anytime soon,” she added. “I may want you to be happy, but I couldn’t care less about your precious ‘Love Bug.’”

  “Ladybug,” he corrected, looking back over his shoulder. “And thank you for being honest. I never expected you to want to fake a friendship with her. I just ask that you back off and respect my happiness.”

  “I can do that. For you.” Remington raised an eyebrow in question, hoping he hadn’t been wrong about her previous sincerity. “Friends, remember? Oh, and I’ll expect a hefty compensation package and glowing references.”

  Remington chuckled. He felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. However, there was still the issue of whether or not he and Camille were still a couple. Because if they weren’t, this was all for nothing. He wished he could go and see her, talk to her. He wished he could explain, but Camille would need more than just his words for her to believe they could make it through the scrutiny and still have the life they’d dreamed about as teenagers. She’d need tangible evidence and he’d make sure she had that. She’d need to see the truth with her own eyes. Because now that she’d returned to him and introduced him to such passion and love, Remington wasn’t about to give that up without a fight.

  * * *

  Camille had shown up at home and had gone to be alone to look over the documents that had been sent to her home. At first she wondered who could’ve done this to them, but then she realized it didn’t matter. The information in those documents was the truth and who exposed Remi wasn’t important.

  The date on the initial petition was months ago, which meant Remington had been keeping his secret the whole time. He could’ve volunteered the information, but he’d chosen to keep it to himself. And while she believed in her heart he’d done it with good intent, it didn’t change the facts. She was still a writer of erotic fiction and the people of Fairdell wouldn’t see him as a kind, God-fearing, capable leader if she was his potential first lady. She’d been willing to deal with being the wife of the president of Krane Foods. Krane was a business and as Frederick had said, no one could deny she’d done well for herself on the business end. Her writing could’ve been explained away as a career, one she’d chosen before she and Remi fell in love. But with politics, things weren’t always so black and white. There was a gray area that made someone with a career like hers an easy target for people in a town like theirs. It would boil down to the immorality of her career and Remington would lose because the devout would no longer trust or believe in his ability. They’d think Camille could influence him—his faith—because of the words in her books. It was a disaster waiting to happen.

  Camille had fallen asleep with the copy of the petition lying next to her.

  She woke to a knock on her door some time before midnight. Charlie. He demanded to talk to her. She’d refused...until he said, “I think you may be able to marry Remi.”

  Camille figured that Anna and her father had filled Charlie in on what was going on. But if that was the case then how did he think he already had a solution? It made Camille curious. Was it really possible Charlie had found a solution to her problems?

  She let Charlie pull her from her room and down the steps, past the living room where a sleeping Anna lay on the love seat and on into the attached dining room. Once they sat at the table he asked her to tell her version of the events since she’d arrived in town. She wondered why he was bothering, but she told him everything—from when she arrived up until she woke up to his insistent knocking on her bedroom door. And she didn’t just recall the events, she made sure Charlie understood her feelings of joy and happiness as well as the pain she felt when she realized she’d have to leave Remington because she knew he would never be the one to admit he needed to let her go.

  “Why are you asking me to tell you all of this? It’s taken over an hour and saying it aloud has done nothing but make me surer of my decision. I have to go back to New York and forget about Remington Krane...for good this time. I can’t ever come back here,” Camille said, resigned to her fate.

  “And what about Reese?”

  “I can fly him out to see me or we can take vacations together or—” Charlie gave her a look. It was obvious he knew Reese Ryan just as well as she did. The man would never put up with her flying him all over the place to see her, never returning to her family home. “What are you getting at and what is it that you had to tell me earlier? You said—”

  “I lied.” Camille gaped at Charlie. He shrugged. “I had to get you to open the door. But it was also proof and an admission that you aren’t ready to give up on being Mrs. Krane just yet.”

  Anna giggled from her perch on the love seat. Apparently she hadn’t been asleep and had heard the conversation. She sat up with her hair falling behind her and said, “He’s right and you know it.”

  “He may be right but Charlie lied about being able to help, Anna. There’s no way to change the facts. And what kind of wife would I be to Remi anyway? I can’t remember the last time I went to church. And can you imagine me trying to host a dinner party or plan some charity event? I am what you’d call persona non grata in this town, nor am I very social. Certainly not the wife of a mayor.”

  Anna shook her head. “This is just you trying to come up with excuses—”

  “Facts, not excuses,” Camille huffed. “I’m done talking about this.” Rising from her seat at the small table and nearly knocking her chair over, Camille ambled over to the sectional couch and propped her foot up on the ottoman. Looking at the piece of furniture made her insides clench in longing and remembrance. She and Remi had been intimate on this spot. Despite Camille’s heartache, the memory made her smile.

  “How about you don’t make any decisions tonight, maybe wait a few days?” Charlie said and plopped down next to Camille. He brought her out of her pleasant reverie and then pulled her petite form to his side. “We’ll have clear heads in the morning. We can talk about it then, right, Anna?”

  Anna grunted and then turned into one of the couch pillows. She was so strange sometimes. Camille had never seen the woman sleep in a bed. She even slept on the couch in her own home. Camille shook her head and yawned. She ignored Charlie’s declaration and said, “I’m going to fly out in the next day or so. I’m sure Anna and I will have to come up with a new plan of action for my big reveal. You and Daddy should come to New York for a few days.”

  “Not to burst your bubble, but the publisher thinks having the reveal here in your hometown is more personal and I’m inclin
ed to agree,” Anna said as if she wasn’t asleep a few moments ago.

  “Surely we can get that changed.”

  Anna hesitated, but stood by her initial response. Camille suspected there was more Anna wasn’t telling her, but decided she needed to listen to Charlie and get some rest. It was already three in the morning.

  * * *

  A few days had passed and Remington was on edge. He’d yet to hear from Camille, but he knew she was still in town. He’d reached out to Reese and the man had told him that he needed to hurry and do whatever it was he was going to do because Anna had flown out to deal with another client and it was getting harder to convince Camille to stay until her event was held.

  He’d had that conversation the day before and now he stood before Reese after a very interesting church service.

  “Your grandfather is something else,” Reese said to Remi. He couldn’t help but agree. Frederick had decided that he needed to give a twenty-minute testimony and had spoken of his deteriorating health and had worked up to a near sermon over the importance of not judging others unless the person doing the judging was willing to succumb to the same scrutiny. He’d talked of love of family and community and how life was too short to allow petty biases to rule thoughts and opinions. He’d also spoken about losing Remington’s father in that accident at sea, which he rarely did in front of others. He’d ended with announcing Remington’s engagement to Camille as well as proclaiming that Remington would be the town’s next mayor. By the time he was done, those in the church were shouting and agreeing with Frederick Krane’s every word.