by Skylar Hill
“Silicon Valley can suck it!” Evie called out, before dissolving into giggles.
Cam tried to suppress a smile and failed. “She has opinions about Palo Alto being the epicenter of all things tech, clearly. Don’t get her started on gentrification. She can talk your ear off.”
There was a knock on the door, and Dr. Merrit stepped inside, followed by a tall man with a shock of graying black hair and glasses. He had the silver-fox good looks of an aging Clark Kent, and his easy smile was reassuring as he reached out, shaking Cam’s hand.
“Hi,” he said. “I’m Mark Young. You must be Evie’s sister.”
“Cam. Thank you so much for coming.”
“No problem at all. Aiden and I go way back. I’m happy to do anything for a friend of the family. Jay,” he nodded at James, who nodded back.
“Thanks for this, man,” he said.
“No worries. I was up anyway,” Dr. Young said with a grin. “I work for the Trailblazers and was on call early today.”
“I didn’t realize you’d taken the Trailblazers job, congrats,” James said.
“Thanks. Anyway, let’s look at our patient.” Dr. Young turned to Evie, who beamed at him.
“It’s a parade of hot men tonight,” she stage-whispered to Jess. “It’s like we’re in Shondaland.”
Cam’s cheeks heated up, but Dr. Young just laughed.
“How’s your pain, Evie?” he said, coming over to the bed.
“I’m okay,” Evie said, but she bit her lower lip as she said it, which was the surefire way to tell she was lying. She’d always been like this, denying any pain. It was a holdover from their childhood, and Cam understood that, but it still stung her to see the shades of the scared little girl she had tried so hard to protect.
“Well, your leg is fractured in a few places,” he said. “I’ve taken a look at your chart and x-rays. You’re probably in quite a bit of pain, so let’s get you into an OR so you can start healing, okay?”
“No more waiting?” she asked, and Cam’s heart squeezed at the vulnerability in her sister’s voice. She felt like she was eighteen again, her hands shaking as she screamed at him to get away from her.
“No more waiting,” Dr. Young promised.
“Okay, because it kind of does hurt,” she said in a rush.
“Understandable,” Dr. Young said. “I’m gonna go scrub. And then you and I have a date in the OR, okay?”
“Okay.” Evie said.
Dr. Young shot her a charming smile and walked back over to Cam and James. “They’ll come for her in a moment. Do you have any questions for me before I go scrub?”
“Her leg will be fine?” Cam asked again, to be sure. “She’s very active. She runs every day.”
“Her leg will be fine after some physical therapy,” Dr. Young reassured her.
She took a deep breath. “Thank you,” she said. “So much.”
“I’ll send an intern out with updates for you as much as possible as the surgery progresses,” Dr. Young promised.
“Thanks again, Mark,” James said.
“I’ll see you two after the surgery,” he said.
Cam watched as the nurses came in to get Evie ready. As they prepared to push her bed out of the room, she grabbed her little sister’s hand, squeezing hard.
“Love you,” she said.
“To the moon,” Evie replied.
“And back,” Cam finished for her, like their mother used to.
Evie smiled. “I’ll see you later. Promise.”
Letting go of her hand and letting the nurses take her away was so hard. Cam had to remind herself she was being silly as she followed them out of the room and down the hall. When they reached the double doors of the surgical floors, she couldn’t go any farther.
Cam watched as they rolled her little sister away, trying hard not to let the tears fall.
She’d been here before. There’d been broken arms and ribs and countless bruises. And then there was the last time, when she’d grown up in a split second, with a single decision, and she’d ended up in the ER, clutching her little sister’s hand, covered in blood but still alive.
A gentle hand rested on her shoulder and it should have startled her from her thoughts, but already, she recognized his touch.
Already, it soothed instead of startled her.
“You okay?” he asked.
And again, as before, when she looked at him, all she wanted to tell him was the truth. So she did.
“No,” she said.
He reached out, trailing a finger down the curve of her cheek. She leaned into the touch, into him, her eyes never leaving his.
He kissed her, and it was nothing like the other times.
This wasn’t a kiss to incite or to impassion.
It was comfort and coming home and reassurance and the promise of something deeper than she’d ever expected. And when it ended, she found herself swaying into him, unwilling to be parted.
He pulled her to his side, his arm curling around her shoulder, and it was like she’d always belonged there. “Come on,” he said. “We’ll wait for her together.”
Chapter Nine
James
There were three things that James became very sure of as he sat there with Cam, waiting for her sister to come out of surgery.
The first was that she was devoted to Evie. He respected this, understood it on a bone-deep level. He’d do anything for Aiden, even though there wasn’t much his brother ever needed from anyone.
The second was that it was clear that it had been a long time since someone had taken care of Cam Ellison. So long that she was wholly unused to the idea, maybe even a little spooked at the thought.
Which made the third thing difficult, because what he was realizing was he wanted to do just that: take care of her.
The look on her face in the elevator—how she’d turned to him for reassurance, the fear in her eyes so clear—all he’d wanted to do was make it better. To ease any pain she’d ever felt or would ever feel again. To protect her from all harm.
It was an entirely new feeling, the strength of which should surprise him.
But he was on the edge of something. He’d felt it even before he saw her. There’d been a spark when he’d seen her work and it had fanned into a roaring kind of flame the second he saw her, flushed and wide-eyed and just so damn beautiful. And now…
She’d been in his bed. In his arms. He’d been in her so deep and hard it was a wonder either of them was walking right now. And that… that was a tough image to shake, even if he wanted to. The length of her neck as her head tilted back, the way his name fell from her lips just before she came, how her curls frizzed up, messy and glorious against the dark linen sheets.
She’d risen from his bed into a nightmare, yet she’d stood strong, even though he could see how terrified she was before she laid eyes on Evie and saw for herself she’d be okay.
Cam Ellison wasn’t just a hell of an artist. She was a hell of a woman.
He didn’t just want her for his Studio. It was so beyond that, so fast, it’d make his head spin if it didn’t feel so right.
Time ticked by, the sun shining weakly through the clouds. Twice, an intern came out to give them updates, and then finally, around ten, Mark came out himself, pulling his scrub cap off and smiling.
“Everything went great,” he said. “She’s in recovery, she’ll be waking up in about twenty minutes.”
“Oh, thank God,” Cam said. “Can I take her home today?”
“Tomorrow,” he said. “She’ll need to get used to her crutches and navigating around school will probably be a pain, but she’s a tough one, isn’t she?”
There was a note in Mark’s voice that puzzled James for a moment, until he glanced at Cam. She was looking at the doctor with a stricken expression, like he knew something she hadn’t expected him to. But he smiled at her reassuringly. “It’s okay, Cam,” Mark said. “You know how strong she is.”
“Yes, I do,” she said.
�
�I’ll want to see her at my offices next week,” Mark said, handing over his card.
“Thank you for everything.”
“I’m happy to help,” he said. “James,” he held out his hand and James took it. “It’s great seeing you again. We’ll have to get drinks with Aiden sometime soon.”
“It’s a plan,” James said. “Thanks again.”
“Tell Evie it was pleasure meeting her,” Mark said. “She’ll be back in her room by now. I’ll see you next week.”
Cam let out a relieved breath as Mark left. She turned to him, her eyes shimmering with tears of relief.
“Hey,” he said, reaching out and brushing the moisture from her cheek.
She tried to smile, but it wobbled a little under the weight of her emotion. “Thank you,” she said.
“You don’t need to thank me,” he said.
“This hasn’t exactly been great first-date material,” she said.
He smiled gently, wrapping an arm around her waist, bringing her closer to him. “Is that what last night was? Our first date?”
Her face fell. “Oh, I just meant—“ she started.
“Cam,” he interrupted softly. “Sixteen hours ago I was licking honey off your perfect-as-hell thighs. I’m not freaked out by the word date.”
Her eyes drifted shut for a moment, like she was trying to banish the memory—or maybe savor it.
“I just didn’t want to presume,” she said.
“Presume all you want,” he said. “I’m not the kind of man who gets spooked. Especially not from what I want.”
She bit her lip, staring up at him. “You’re awfully sure of yourself.”
I’ve been sure the second I saw you, he thought. He wanted to say it, but he knew this wasn’t the place. It was too soon. She was emotionally frayed right now. It’d been a long night. He should give her space, let her spend time with Evie.
But he selfishly wanted to stay. To be near her. To watch her with her sister, to hear their stories, to watch Evie tease Cam the way little sisters did around guys their big sisters liked.
“Go see Evie,” he said. “Do you want me to grab you two some food? Breakfast?”
“Oh no, please don’t bother yourself. We’ll be fine,” she said. And there it was again: that uncertainty in her voice. Like the thought of someone going out and getting her breakfast was completely foreign.
“Okay,” he said, because he didn’t want to push. “I know you’ll probably be busy the next few days, but when you get the time, you have my number. I’ll take you out on a real date.”
“Promises, promises,” she said, a sly little smile flitting across her face.
“Come here,” he said and felt a warm flare of pleasure as she did, without hesitation, her face tipping up to his.
He kissed her, his hands wrapping around her hips, pulling her close. She tasted like hospital coffee and her… and it was the best damned thing in the world.
This woman was either going to make or break him. He didn’t just feel it, he knew it.
“Go be with your sister,” he said when they finally pulled apart. “I’ll see you soon.”
When he got outside of the hospital and into his car, he pulled his phone out and dialed Lydia’s number.
“Hey Jay,” she said. “You’ve got five minutes. I’m about to go into a meeting with the bride from hell.”
He laughed. “You’ll tame her,” he said. “You always do.”
“Damn right,” she said. “What’s up?”
“I’m wondering if you know what Cam’s favorite breakfast place is,” he said. He didn’t want to tell her about Cam’s sister just in case she wanted to keep that private—or tell Lydia herself.
“Cam’s favorite…” He could practically see Lydia’s eyes widen in his mind’s eye. “Oh. My. God. You didn’t!”
“I’m a gentleman, Lydia,” he said.
“Oh, my God, you did!” she shrieked. Through the phone, he heard the rapid click of her heels, like she was doing a little dance on the sidewalk. “This is so great.”
“Lydia, the breakfast place?”
“Oh. Right. Sorry. She loves Zell’s Cafe. That’s where we always go.”
“Okay. Thanks,” James said. “I’ll leave you to the bridezilla.”
“Wait! I want details,” Lydia said.
“You know I don’t kiss and tell,” he said.
“There was kissing?!”
He laughed. “Bye.”
He hung up before she could protest, grinning fondly. Lydia was the little sister he never had, and he knew if she didn’t have a wedding to plan with whatever demanding bride could afford her services, she’d be calling Cam up to demand details next.
James took a left at Revolution Hall, circling back to get to Morrison Street, where Zell’s Cafe was. It was bustling, as usual, and when he got to the counter, the older waitress smiled in a motherly way. “Just one, hon?” she asked, looking at him from over her red glasses. Her nametag said Sue.
“I’m wondering if you deliver,” he said.
“I’m sorry, no,” she said.
“I’m wondering if you can make an exception,” he said, flashing a smile. “You see, there’s this woman.”
Sue’s smile widened. “Oh yeah?” she asked.
“A very special woman,” he said. “She had a bad night. Her little sister got into a car accident and had to have surgery on her leg. She loves this place, but she’s stuck at the hospital until her sister’s released. I don’t want them to have to eat hospital food. I’ll pay whatever it takes. Come on, help a guy out?”
“If you’re so gone on this girl, why don’t you bring her breakfast yourself? That’ll win you some major points.”
“I don’t want to push her,” James explained. “She’s… I think she’s been hurt,” he said, finally. He hadn’t voiced it until now, not even to himself, this suspicion that had been forming in his mind. “I don’t want to cross any boundaries.”
Sue’s eyes crinkled as she looked at him. “Well, aren’t you respectful,” she said. “You know what? My shift’s over in ten. I think I’ve got time to make a delivery. What do you want to order for her?”
James smiled. “Let’s play it safe and go with everything on the menu.”
Chapter Ten
Cam
“Hey, sweetie, are you feeling hungry?” Cam asked Evie, who blinked groggily, waking up from her nap and struggling to sit up. Evie had been in and out for the past few hours. “I can order some lunch.”
“Can I have some water?” Evie asked.
“Ice chips?” Cam offered, getting up and fishing a few out of the cup on the bedside table.
They were in a double room, but the second bed hadn’t been filled, so they had the place to themselves. Cam had closed the door after checking to make sure it was okay with the nurse, blotting out most of the hospital sounds, best she could. The noises, all too familiar, set her teeth on edge.
“It went okay?” Evie asked, taking the ice chips and popping them in her mouth.
“Everything went great,” Cam said. She’d been pretty out of it when she woke up the first time, she wasn’t surprised she didn’t remember the confused conversation they’d had before she’d drifted back to sleep. “You’re gonna stay one more night, then you’re going to come home with me for awhile.”
“I’ve got class,” Evie protested.
“Jess is letting all your professors know and collecting your homework and lectures already,” Cam said.
Evie sighed, snuggling back further in her pillows. “I’m sorry,” she said.
“It’s not your fault,” Cam said.
Her sister’s blue eyes filled with sudden tears. “Oh, God, how are we going to pay for any of this? I should go home right now. Another night in the hospital—“
“You do not worry about that,” Cam said quickly, even though the same thought had been nagging at her since the fear over Evie’s well-being had subsided. She had no idea how they were
going to afford this. She’d called Scott to let him know she couldn’t come in today, and he’d been angry, she could tell. She’d have to go back to work tomorrow, even though she didn’t want to leave Evie alone.
“It’ll be okay,” she told Evie, lying through her teeth. “I’ll take care of it.”
“I’m not a baby, you know,” Evie said quietly.
Cam frowned. “I don’t think you are,” she said.
“You treat me like I’m fragile,” Evie muttered, turning her face away from Cam.
“Evie—” Cam protested.
“We’re not little anymore,” Evie said in a rush. “He’s not—“
“Please, don’t,” Cam begged. She couldn’t bear it. Not after the night she’d had. She’d start crying if she had to remember. She might never stop.
Evie took a deep, shuddery breath. “Fine,” she said. “Then I get details.”
“Details?” Cam echoed.
“About the guy,” Evie said. “I’m not so drugged up I forgot about your sexy lumberjack.”
Cam shook her head, trying not to smile. “He’s a client. Or, I guess, he was.”
“You slept with a client?” Evie said, her jaw dropping. “That is not like you.”
It wasn’t. It was so out of character she still couldn’t quite believe she’d done it.
But the second he’d looked at her with those gray eyes that had gone dark like the deep parts of the sea, the moment those words were out of his mouth—tell me what you want—she’d found herself overcome with the curious feeling of being lost and found at the same time.
“I just—I had to,” Cam confessed, and then she hid her face in her hands as she realized what she’d just said.
Evie’s delighted laughter rang out. “Cam’s in luuurrvveee,” she teased.
“Shush,” Cam scolded, embarrassed but grateful that Evie was distracted from worrying.
There was a knock at the door, and then it swung open. A woman peeked her head in.
“Is this Evie’s room?” she asked.
“Yes,” Cam said. “Can we help you?” She wasn’t wearing scrubs, so she couldn’t be a nurse.
