Red Wine and Roses (The Hamiltons Book 1)

by SJ McCoy

She smiled. “I’d love to have breakfast with you, but I think I’ve already decided. I’m going to talk to Smoke, and if he wants to give me a job, then I’m going to move here.”

  Chapter Three

  “Can I get you anything else?”

  Cameron raised an eyebrow at Piper, and she shook her head. He smiled at the server. “Just the check, thanks.”

  “Let me pay?” asked Piper when he’d gone. “You shouldn’t have to pay for breakfast when all you did was listen to me ponder the pros and cons of moving here.”

  He smiled. “I enjoyed listening, and besides I can’t let you pay.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”

  “Because I’m a gentleman.” It was true. He’d been raised a gentleman, and it was a much better answer than telling her that he never let a woman pay for breakfast. He wasn’t sure she’d like hearing that. And now that he thought about it, he wasn’t sure that he liked it either. What did it say about him? He had breakfast with a lot of women—and it wasn’t usually because he’d just bumped into them on an early morning stroll.

  The server came back and put the check in front of him. He gave Piper a questioning look. He didn’t want to offend her if she was adamant about paying her own way. He was relieved when she smiled. “Thank you.”

  They got up from the booth where they’d been sitting and made their way through the bar on their way out. Cameron nodded at the guy who owned the place. Ben. He was a friend of Cole’s.

  “Have a great day, guys,” he called.

  He held the door open for Piper to go out ahead of him, and once they were back in the sunshine in front of the restaurant, it hit him that they were probably about to say goodbye—and he didn’t want to. “Are you meeting Laura this morning?”

  She smiled up at him. “I don’t know. I told her not to worry about me. I’m fine, and she and Smoke haven’t seen each other all week.”

  Cameron smiled. “I know. I felt bad about coming up here when they get so little time together. I told them not to worry about me, too. So, what do you say? Do you think we should tell them we have plans of our own, so they don’t feel the need to come babysit us?”

  Piper chuckled. “Definitely.”

  “I don’t just mean tell them we have plans. I mean make a plan.”

  “What kind of plan?”

  “I don’t know. I was thinking I’d go for a walk this morning. How does that sound?”

  “It sounds like the same thing I was going to do.”

  “Good, do you want to walk together?”

  “Why not?” She said with a smile.

  Cameron pulled out his phone and tapped out a message to Cole.

  You guys take your time. Piper and I have had breakfast.

  We’re going for a walk. Don’t hurry down here on our account.

  He waited for a response, but it was Piper’s phone that beeped. She smiled as she read the message. “It’s Laura. She wants to know if I’m okay.”

  Cameron laughed as he watched her tap out an answer. “What, she thinks you might need rescuing from the creepy dude you’ve been landed with? What are you going to tell her?”

  Piper laughed with him. “No. I just told her I’m perfectly happy to hang out with you and that the two of them should take their time.”

  Cameron smiled. “Perfectly happy, huh?”

  She laughed. “Only because I’m not aware of the potential downsides, yet.”

  Cameron shook his head. “I guess I walked myself right into that one, didn’t I?”

  She shrugged. “Do you need to go back to your room for anything?”

  “No. I’m good to go if you are?”

  She looked down at herself, and he followed her gaze. She was no doubt indicating that, in jeans and hiking boots, she was all set, but he was far too distracted by the way her shirt stretched across her full breasts and the way her jeans hugged her rounded hips.

  “I’m ready.”

  He brought his gaze back up to meet hers, afraid she’d caught him checking her out, and at the same time wishing that she had and that she’d liked it and was telling him that she was ready to take him back to her room and … damn! He needed to get a grip. “Great. Let’s go. I was checking out the maps in my room, and it looks like this path follows the river a ways and then loops back around. How does that sound?”

  The way she smiled at him made him feel like she’d been having the same thoughts he had, about going back to her room instead of out for a walk. “Sounds great.”

  ~ ~ ~

  It was eleven thirty by the time they made it back to the resort. They’d been out a lot longer than Piper had expected, but she wished they had the whole day together. Cameron was great company. He was one of those all-around good guys. He was polite and attentive, but at the same time fun and engaging. She got the feeling he was attracted to her. She’d caught him checking her out enough times. But he’d been the perfect gentleman. Which was a little disappointing.

  She was back in her room. Laura had called a few minutes ago, and they were going to go over to her store. Apparently, she and Smoke had finally decided on a date to get married—and it was two weeks from today! That meant it’d be all systems go to get everything set up. And that was a good thing. It’d help Piper take her mind off Cameron. She sighed. Or would it? He was going to be Smoke’s best man, so she knew she’d see him at least one more time, at the wedding.

  Her phone beeped, and she picked it up. It was a text from Laura.

  I’m in the reception. Are you ready or should I come up?

  I’ll be right down.

  She was a little disappointed when Laura told her that Smoke and Cameron were going to have lunch here at the resort while they went over to the other side of the lake. Laura’s jewelry store was in a shopping plaza over there.

  She stared out the window on the way.

  “Are you okay?” asked Laura.

  “I’m great. I just can’t stop staring at this place. It’s so beautiful. Everything about it. The lake, the mountains.”

  “It’s a bit different from home, isn’t it?”

  “Just a lot.”

  “Are you really going to talk to Smoke about a job?”

  “Yes. I am. I thought I should wait until Monday, though. You two only have the weekend, and you must have a million things to take care of, now that you’ve set the date.”

  Laura laughed. “Yep. I know it’s crazy. Two weeks is nowhere near enough time, but we’ll make it happen.”

  When they got to the plaza, they stopped in to Laura’s store first. Her assistant, Maria, was running the place and obviously didn’t need Laura for anything. After that, they were headed to the lodge. Apparently, Ben, who owned the resort, also ran the lodge here and had offered the venue for Smoke and Laura’s reception.

  As they made their way across the plaza, she turned to look at Laura. “You have it all figured out, don’t you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve got the store, but you don’t need to worry about it because Maria is so capable. You get to travel. You’ve got a man who adores you, but isn’t around all the time to smother you.” Her smile faded a little. “You’ve even got your mom here now.”

  “Yeah. I know I’m lucky the way it’s all worked out.”

  “I don’t think luck had anything to do with it. You’ve worked hard—you’re smart, you’ve made it happen.”

  Laura smiled. “I make the most of what comes my way, too. Smoke and me, that was just luck.”

  “Yeah, I suppose no matter how smart you are or how hard you work, you can’t make the right guy just walk into your life, can you?”

  “No, that’s pure luck if you ask me. Are you feeling lucky?” Piper smiled but didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to embarrass herself if Laura didn’t mean what she thought. “I don’t know Cameron that well, but I like him.”

  Piper nodded. “I’m not sure I should say anything, but if I did, I think I’d say the
same.”

  “I thought so.”

  “Anyway,” Piper was keen to change the subject, “where are we going? Isn’t the lodge that way?”

  “It is, but I want to stop in and see Holly first. I want to talk to her about our dresses. She’ll be able to tell me where I stand the best chance of getting a wedding dress on two weeks’ notice.”

  “You’re sure you want me to be your bridesmaid?”

  “I’m sure I’m sure. What’s up, don’t you want to?”

  “I’d love to, but you have so many friends here; wouldn’t you rather ask them?”

  “No. You’re my best friend and my oldest friend. I want it to be you. And besides, I couldn’t ask just one of them, and I can’t ask all of them. This is the best way. Plus, this way you’ll be paired with Cameron. You can’t tell me you don’t like that idea.”

  Piper smiled. She couldn’t deny it, but she didn’t have to admit it either.

  ~ ~ ~

  “What did you and Piper do this morning?” asked Cole.

  Cameron shrugged. “We had breakfast then went out for a walk.”

  Cole gave him a hard stare, but he just laughed. “Unlike you, I know how to hang out with a woman as a friend. Don’t worry, I’m on my best behavior.”

  “Sorry.” Cole blew out a sigh. “This place just makes me nervous. It seems everyone who comes here meets someone and falls in love and changes the course of their life. You’ve got your life on track, you don’t need to change it—especially not for a woman.”

  “I thought it was working out well for you.”

  “It is. I don’t mean that.” Cole looked around the deck of the restaurant. He and Cameron had stayed here to have some lunch while Laura had taken Piper over to her jewelry store on the other side of the lake. “Things couldn’t have worked out better for me.” He smiled. “Laura and I have figured out a date we can get married. I hope it’s going to work for you.”

  “Of course, it will. I’ll make damned sure I’m free. When is it?”

  “Two weeks from today.”

  “Damn! You don’t mess around, do you?”

  Cole chuckled. “I think it’s more like we messed around for so long, that when we finally got serious about naming a date, we just wanted to get on with it.”

  Cameron pulled his phone out of his pocket and frowned as he checked the screen. This wasn’t going to be easy. His heart sank as he checked the date. He was scheduled to meet with the purchasing team from one of the big retailers on the Friday and then spend the weekend schmoozing with them.

  “Are you busy?”

  “Not anymore.” He smiled as he tapped out a text to Mary Ellen. She was going to hate him for this one. “Nothing’s going to get in the way of me being your best man. Have you told the folks yet?” Business was business, but family was so much more important to him. Always had been.

  “No, we’re going to call them later. We had to see if the chapel was available and talk to Ben about a venue.”

  “And it’s all working out?”

  “Yep.”

  “Wow, then I guess it’s just meant to be.”

  Cole chuckled. “I didn’t think you believed in fate.”

  “I don’t. I believe in making things happen, but when it’s this easy, you can’t help but feel you’re getting a helping hand from somewhere. So, you’re doing it all here? Where’s this chapel?”

  “Just out of town a little ways, right on the water. It’s,” Smoke shrugged, “quaint is the word, I guess. You know me. I don’t care where it is, I just want us to be married.”

  “And what about Laura? Is she going into overdrive setting it all up?”

  “Not really. She wants to keep it simple.”

  Cameron gave him a sly smile. “Will there be any bridesmaids for your best man to play with?”

  Cole scowled. “Only one.”

  “Piper?”

  “Yeah. Am I imagining it, or do you like her.”

  “Sure, I like her.” There was no reason not to be honest with his brother. “She’s a good-looking woman, she’s funny, she’s smart, and you can’t say you haven’t noticed how hot she is?”

  “Of course, I have. That’s what had me worried to start with. It’s not like you to pass up on a hot chick, but you seem like you like her, too.”

  “She’s different. She’s not like the women I usually date. She’s like a breath of fresh air.”

  Smoke sighed. “I should stop being an asshole about it then, right?”

  “I didn’t say you were being an asshole.” He did want Cole to drop the subject, but he didn’t want to say so.

  “But we both know I am. I want to say I’m looking out for you. I don’t want to see you get snared by someone who’s not good enough for you.” Cameron scowled. “I don’t mean Piper isn’t good enough,” added Cole. “I mean no one’s going to be good enough for you in my eyes. Plus, it’s not straightforward for you, is it? You need to marry someone who’ll be an asset as your wife. Someone who’ll be good for the business and everything. Piper doesn’t strike me as someone who’d be comfortable in your world.”

  Cameron shook his head. “Who said anything about getting married? I like her. She’s fun. That’s it. If she’s going to be your bridesmaid, I’ll see her again in a couple of weeks.” Married? Hell, that wasn’t on his radar. Not for a long time yet. He hadn’t dated anyone in a while; it was easier to keep his relationships simple and purely physical.

  “Yeah, sorry. I just know what this place does to people. You go on one date, and the next thing you know, you’re head over heels in love. Guys drop like flies around here.”

  “Would it be such a bad thing?” It wasn’t what he wanted, but he was curious why his brother was so dead set against him falling in love. Maybe Piper was someone he could fall in love with? And where had that thought even come from?

  “I guess not. I’ll butt out, huh?” Cole gave him a sheepish grin.

  Cameron chuckled. “Now there’s a good idea.” He’d be happy to drop the subject completely.

  Chapter Four

  The next week passed in a whirlwind for Piper. She talked with Smoke and accepted a job. She couldn’t wait to get started. He’d asked how she felt about stepping in wherever she might be needed, and she’d told him honestly that she loved the idea. She wouldn’t be restricted to one thing or another. She’d get to fly for his corporate clients, fly whatever charter jobs came up, and help out in the flight school as an instructor.

  Once the decision was made, she flew back to Texas to pack up her life. It was amazing how quick and easy it was. She ordered one of those storage units that they bring to you, and you fill up with your stuff. In just two days, she had the house empty and the unit full. The guy who came to pick it up assured her that it would be kept safely in the warehouse until she needed it, and then they’d move it to wherever she wanted. If she came back here, they’d deliver it right back to her, and if she made the move to California a permanent one, then they’d ship it out there to her. She didn’t ask how much that would cost. She’d deal with that detail when and if she had to.

  Giving her notice at work was a huge relief. She sat in the scheduler’s office and smiled sweetly at him when he told her that giving no notice like this would cost her all the paid holidays she’d accrued. They both knew she’d never have gotten to take them as paid holidays anyway. He’d screwed her over on the roster every chance he got.

  When she left the airport for the last time, she felt free. She went to the cemetery, wondering if it would be tough, but it wasn’t. In the year since her mom was buried here, Piper had always felt like she was coming to visit a headstone, not her mom. Her mom wasn’t here in this place. She wasn’t even in the house. She was with Piper, wherever she went. She’d be as close to her in California as she was here.

  She took a little time for herself when she got back to Summer Lake and lived like a tourist for a couple of days. She took a boat out on the lake, went four-wheeling i
n the mountains, and went out to the riding stables where she made fast friends with the girl who owned the place, Lily. She was another one of Laura’s group of friends, and it reassured Piper that this was the right move for her. She was going to have a great job here; she was going to have friends. She was going to be happy. By the time the weekend rolled around again, she felt as though she’d made the best move of her life. She was excited about the future—and as much as she tried to deny it to herself, she was excited at the prospect of seeing Cameron again.

  She knew he was coming for the weekend. He was arriving on Friday evening, and she was hoping that they might get to spend some more time together this weekend. She was fairly sure that he was attracted to her. She was dead sure that she was attracted to him. So, hopefully, maybe, they might spend some time together and do the things that two people who are attracted to each other do.

  She sat down on the bed. Ben had given her a great rate on a room here at the lodge for however long she needed it. She was going to start looking for a place soon, but she wanted to get a feel for what her life was going to be like first. She needed to buy herself a vehicle; that had to come first. She didn’t want to spend all her savings on the rental car she had at the moment. She’d like to get a place in town; she’d like to be able to walk everywhere when she wasn’t working. But if she was going to be at the airport at all hours, then she might need to live closer to it, plus, it’d be cheaper out there than in town.

  She got up again and went to look out the window. She’d been perfectly happy to entertain herself for the last couple of days. She didn’t mind horseback riding or boating by herself, but she felt a little less comfortable going out to dinner by herself. Especially on a Friday night. Laura was coming back tonight, but Piper had told Smoke that she’d see them over the weekend. She was sure that they’d want some time to themselves. She could see the deck of the restaurant from here and smiled when she spotted a large group who’d pulled a couple tables together. They were all Laura’s friends. That made her feel better. She’d go down there in a little while and join them.

  ~ ~ ~

  Cameron pulled up in the square at the resort and sat there for a moment. Was he nuts? He’d had a crazy week at work, and he had so much to get through before the Evanson purchasing team showed up on Wednesday, but here he was. He’d come back to Summer Lake for the weekend. To be here in case he could help out with any wedding preparations—he was the best man, after all. Ha. Who was he trying to kid? He’d love to be of use to his brother if he was needed, but Cole had everything covered. He was here because he wanted to see Piper again. He’d had the toughest time getting her out of his head all week. Larissa had been waiting for him when he got back on Sunday night. How the hell she did it, he didn’t know, but she was just getting out of her car outside his building when he pulled up. She’d tried to invite herself in with him, but Cameron had managed to send her home, claiming he was too tired after his trip. Of course, she’d assumed that he was too tired because he’d spent the weekend screwing someone else. He couldn’t explain to himself, let alone to her, why he didn’t want to sleep with her. He’d had a raging boner for most of the weekend, and Larissa would have willingly provided him with some relief, but it wasn’t Larissa he wanted. He had a nasty feeling that pent-up frustration wasn’t because he wanted sex. It was because he wanted Piper.