The Price of Passion

by Maureen Child

  “Guilty as charged,” James replied with another grin. “Anyway, wanted to let you know that I don’t see a problem with your membership at all. Burt might not be happy about it, but I’m looking forward to welcoming you all the way home.”

  Cam’s features cleared, and Beth could almost see tension drain out of his body. “Thanks, James. I appreciate it.”

  “Not a problem. It’ll be good to have you as a member.” He hugged Beth again and said, “Now, I’m off to find a beer. You guys have fun.”

  “Well,” Cam murmured, “that’s one worry off the table.”

  “I’m glad for you,” she said, and found she meant it. It was another tie to Royal. Another thing to keep him here, and that was more important to Beth than she would have thought.

  The music changed again and this time it was perfect for a two-step. Beth tapped her foot in time and Cam must have noticed.

  “The band’s good. You want to see if we’ve still got it?”

  She looked up at him and, damn it, smiled. The two-step had always been their dance. They’d even won a couple of contests as kids. “It’s been a long time.”

  “Like riding a horse, darlin’,” he assured her, and took her hand, leading her to the wooden dance floor erected for the party.

  They took a spot in the crowd. Cam’s right hand was positioned behind her left shoulder, and Beth rested her left arm atop his. His Stetson shaded his eyes, but she saw the shine there anyway and bubbles of pleasure raced through her. A couple of years ago, she never would have guessed that she and Cam would be dancing together again.

  And then they were moving, sliding into the steps as if they’d never been apart. He was smooth and easy to follow. Their steps were quick, then slow, and they seemed to glide together effortlessly. When he spun her around she swayed with the movement, then right back again. They moved around the dance floor, part of the crowd yet separate. Their eyes locked and the years fell away.

  In a blink, Beth remembered all the nights by the lake with the car radio blasting so they could practice their steps. And she remembered how those practice sessions had always ended in the back seat of her car—or his. Passion-fogged windows had encapsulated them in their own private world as they lost themselves in each other.

  She moved with him so seamlessly it was as if she’d been born to be with him. And when the music ended, they danced on, oblivious, until laughter from the crowd woke them from the trance they were in. Cam smiled down at her, and Beth felt her heart take another tumble.

  How could she love him so much? How could she risk her heart again? And how could she not?

  “Hey, Cam!” They both looked to where Tony was standing at the edge of the dance floor. “If you’re finished, I want you to meet someone.”

  “Go,” Beth said, stepping out of his grasp and waving one hand. Grateful for the reprieve, she stepped off the dance floor. She could only take so much magic in one outing. She needed a little space to clear her head, or to hope for clarity, anyway. “I’ll see you later.”

  “I’ll hold you to that,” Cam told her, lifting one hand to cup her cheek briefly.

  That slight touch sent heat skittering through her, and Beth knew she was in real trouble. She watched him stalk off to meet Tony, then she slipped into the crowd again. When a woman’s hand took hold of her arm as she passed, Beth nearly groaned. She just wanted some time to herself. Maybe under the shade of a tree to help ease the heat crouching inside.

  Her aunt Piper gave her a rueful smile. “I saw that performance. You guys still dance together like you were born to it.”

  Beth turned to look back at the dance floor, where other couples were moving in tandem to another song.

  “Piper,” she said, looking back to the other woman, “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  Her aunt winked. “Looked to me like you did.”

  “Dancing? Sure.” Beth laughed a little and hated that it sounded so pitiful even to her own ears. “But everything else? It’s a mystery to me.”

  Piper laid one arm around Beth’s shoulders and steered her through the crowd until they found a semi-deserted spot. “Honey, you still love him, don’t you?”

  She could have denied it, but what would have been the point? “Ridiculous, isn’t it?”

  “No.” Piper shook her head, her short, dark brown hair swinging into an arc and then settling back into its perfect cut. “It’s not.”

  Beth wanted to believe her. Piper had always been more of an older sister to Beth than an aunt, and they’d shared a lot of secrets over the years. Piper knew all about Beth and Cam. Knew what had happened. Knew what it had done to Beth. How Cam’s leaving had sent her into a sort of spiral that she’d had to dig her way out of on her own.

  “Am I just supposed to get over it?” she asked, not really expecting an answer. “To move on and not remember what happened before?”

  “Of course not,” Piper said quickly. “How could you? It was horrible, and at the time I wanted to find Cam Guthrie myself and slap him silly for what he did.”

  Beth’s lips curved at the thought and at the loving loyalty.

  “But, honey, you already got past it.” Piper tucked Beth’s hair behind her ear. “You built a good life. You stand on your own two feet and don’t owe anyone an explanation for what you do with that life.”

  “Thanks. I do know that. Really.” Beth sighed and said, “It’s just I don’t know if I can let myself love him this time. What if he leaves again? What if we break up and I drop into that black hole I was in before?”

  “And what if the world stops turning and we all fly into space?” Piper laughed, hugged Beth hard, then stood back and gripped her shoulders. “You don’t get a guarantee, Beth. You get chances. Whether you take them or not is up to you.”

  “And I don’t know if I should.”

  “I do.” Piper waited for Beth’s gaze to meet hers. “Go for it, sweetie. Always take the chance when you get it. Living a life with regrets isn’t the way to go.”

  Beth heard something in her aunt’s voice that worried her. “Hey. Are you okay?”

  A bright smile lit Piper’s face. “Of course. Aren’t I always?” Her gaze slid past Beth then and she said, “Oh, damn.”

  Beth looked and her shoulders slumped. Her mom, Ava, was here, arm in arm with Keith Cooper. All of Beth’s life, she’d known that “Uncle Keith” was in love with her mother. The weird thing was that Ava never seemed to notice. Since Beth’s father died, Keith had been around Ava at all times. And it looked like that wasn’t going to stop.

  “I really thought after they got home from Europe that Keith would give up and move on,” Beth muttered. “Does Mom have zero clue that the man is crazy about her?”

  Piper said only, “Don’t worry about your mother, Beth. Ava’s a smart woman. She’s not as oblivious as you think she is.”

  It didn’t look like it to her. “I hope you’re right.”

  In an instant, everything changed.

  Suddenly the firefighters were hustling kids off the trucks, jumping into their uniforms and driving off, sirens screaming. Most in the crowd cupped their hands over their ears, and Beth winced at the noise. “What do you suppose is happening?”

  She glanced at Piper, but before she could answer, Sebastian and Sutton rushed up to them.

  “There’s a fire at one of our WinJet plants,” Sebastian said. “I just got a call from the security company.”

  “The plant outside Royal,” Sutton put in to clarify, since there were a few manufacturing plants to take care of the private plane orders they received every year.

  The twins were identical in every way, and right now even their grim expressions were mirrors of each other.

  “At least it’s Saturday,” Piper said quickly. “So no one’s there to get injured.”

  “No,” Sutton muttered da
rkly. “We’re pushing a deadline, so we’re running two shifts. They’re working today.”

  “Oh, my God...” Beth’s whisper was lost in the nervous, excited chatter springing up all around them.

  “We’re headed over there now,” Sebastian said, and grabbed Sutton’s upper arm.

  “I’ll be right behind you. I’m getting my car,” Piper informed them.

  “What’s going on?” Cam came up behind Beth, and she was grateful to feel his steady calm.

  “There’s a fire,” she said. “At one of our manufacturing plants.” Turning to look at him, she added, “I’m riding over with Piper, but first I have to find Gracie. Let her know I’m leaving.”

  Cam looked to Piper and said, “You go ahead. I’ll bring Beth.”

  Piper looked at the two of them and nodded. “See you there. I have to find Ava.”

  “I’ll tell Zeke. He can find Luke,” Beth said as Piper hurried away.

  “Come on.” Cam grabbed her hand and led her through the crowd. In one corner of her mind, Beth was amazed at how the crowd seemed to part right in front of him. People made way. Whether it was Cam himself or the fact that they could tell there was an emergency, she didn’t know. But she wouldn’t have been surprised to find it was simply Cam’s commanding personality that had people stepping out of his way.

  She paused when she saw Zeke, still on the dance floor. This time, he was doing a complicated ten-step with his friend, Reagan Sinclair. Reagan’s long, dark brown hair flew out behind her like a velvet cape as she laughed up into Zeke’s face.

  “Sorry to break this up,” Beth said, tugging at Zeke’s arm. “Reagan, I really need Zeke.”

  “No problem.” Reagan looked concerned but didn’t slow them down with questions.

  Quickly Beth explained everything and watched the fun in Zeke’s eyes drain away and be replaced by solemn resolve.

  “Reagan, gotta go,” he said. Then he turned to Beth. “I’ll find Luke and we’ll meet you at the plant.”

  Beth and Cam set off again and found Gracie near the donation table talking to James Harris. It only took a minute to explain what was happening and that she needed Gracie to take charge of the rest of the party.

  Cam’s truck was parked close by, and before long they were on the highway leading out of Royal. “So talk to me,” he said. “This is a WinJet plant?”

  “Yes,” she replied, willing them to go faster. “Sebastian said there’s a whole shift working there today to make up time on back orders. If the fire...”

  She didn’t even want to think about it, really. A fire sweeping through the plant could spread quickly. Anyone caught inside was in real danger. There were so many potentially flammable things stored there. Chemicals used in working on the planes, paints, fiberglass... Fire was the absolute worst thing that could happen. She could only pray that everyone had gotten out safely.

  Cam didn’t ask any more questions and didn’t offer meaningless platitudes, for which she was grateful. He only grabbed her hand and held on. Beth curled her fingers around his, thankful for the support. As they neared the turnoff, she could see thick black smoke snaking up into the sky and twisting in the breeze. “Oh, God.”

  Cam took the turnoff and drove straight to the front of the parking lot, where Beth’s family was already gathered, watching the firefighters attack the blaze. Beth was out of the car before he’d put it in Park, and Cam wasn’t far behind her.

  Beth grabbed Sutton’s arm. “Did everyone get out?”

  He looked down at her and his features were tight. “Everyone’s out, but three of the men on the line were hurt.”

  “How bad?”

  “Bad enough,” Sebastian said darkly, and nodded a greeting as Cam came up behind Beth. “There’s smoke inhalation, a couple of second-degree burns, and one of the guys broke his leg when he jumped off a ladder to get out.”

  “But they are out and they’re going to be fine,” Zeke put in.

  Absently, Beth noted Cam draping one arm around her shoulder. She liked it. It spoke of solidarity and silent comfort, both of which she needed at the moment.

  Sebastian turned to look at all of them, and his gaze flickered briefly when he noticed Cam’s arm around Beth. But he stayed on subject when he said, “The men have already been transported to Royal hospital. They’re being taken care of, and everyone else is being checked out by the EMTs, just in case. The real question is how did the fire start in the first place?”

  Good point. Beth watched Nathan Battles, his face set in grim lines, walk up to join them. “Sorry to see this, but the fire captain says they’ll have it out in another hour.”

  “Can we go in then?”

  Nathan took off his hat and ran his forearm across his forehead. “Probably not. The fire marshal has to inspect the property, then the arson inspector will be out to do the same.”

  “Arson?” Beth repeated, shocked at the idea.

  “You can’t be serious,” Piper said. “Nate, you know us.”

  “I’m not saying the fire was deliberately set,” Nathan clarified a second later. “That’s standard procedure for a fire. We have to find out how the blaze started.”

  “He’s right,” Sebastian said, never taking his gaze off the firefighters now shooting foam at the flames licking at the roof. “We take care of business. First priority is making sure our people are safe. The rest we’ll handle as it comes.”

  Sutton moved off to talk to the fire captain, and a moment later, Sebastian, Luke and Zeke joined him. Piper and Ava stood to one side with Keith. The expressions on their faces told Beth they were feeling as stunned and worried as she was.

  Looking up at Cam, she asked, “Can you drive me to the hospital? I want to check on the injured men.”

  “Sure,” he said. He caught her hand and Beth threaded her fingers through his. His warm, steady grip on her hand made her feel complete in a way she hadn’t in years. In spite of everything that had happened between them, she realized in a flash that Cam was still the only man she wanted. The only man she would ever love.

  She just didn’t know what that meant. For either of them.

  Nine

  Over the next week, the Wingates concentrated on the aftereffects of the fire. The family gathered at the main house for more meetings than Beth could count. Piper was staying with them rather than making the drive from Dallas every day, and Ava and Keith were practically inseparable. Beth wanted to worry about that, but frankly she already had too much going on in her mind.

  Not the least of which was why she hadn’t heard from Camden since the day of the fire. He had to know what she was going through. So why was he avoiding her? Was he regretting becoming involved with her again? Was he trying to subtly let her know that she couldn’t depend on him? If so, he was doing a hell of a job.

  And besides Camden and the fire concerns, Beth still had her foundations to take care of. She had a lot of things going on and she couldn’t exactly say Sorry, I’m mentally fried and have no time to garner your donations. So, in between worrying about Cam and attending the family meetings, she was running around town trying to make sure she didn’t let anyone down.

  Which was why taking a break for lunch with Piper and Gracie felt like a vacation.

  Especially at the Courtyard shops. Only four miles outside Royal, it felt like a different world. Oak trees shaded the area in front of the small coffee stand that sold cakes, cookies and espresso-based drinks both iced and hot. There were a dozen delicate round tables that boasted bright pink umbrellas and iron scrollwork chairs. The café was kept busy by all of the shoppers thronging to the eclectic gathering of stores at the Courtyard.

  The property used to be a ranch and the big red barn was still standing. Now, though, it housed Priceless, an antiques store and crafting studio. There were shops for local craftsmen making everything from artisanal soaps to stained
glass, and every Saturday, booths sprang up like mushrooms for a farmers market. All in all, the place almost demanded that you relax. Sit for a while. Do some retail therapy and take a mental break. Just what Beth needed.

  “There was a report on the radio this morning. The men who were injured are saying the sprinkler system at the plant malfunctioned.” Gracie winced as she said it, obviously not wanting to heap more trouble on the situation.

  And there went the break.

  “I know,” Beth said, and glanced at Piper before turning back to Gracie. She and the family had agreed to keep what they’d found between them, but Beth considered Gracie family. They’d been friends forever, they worked closely together, and Gracie had proved herself time and again to be extremely trustworthy.

  So Beth didn’t feel the slightest twinge of guilt telling her old friend exactly what was happening. “The injured men have all hired lawyers. They contacted us yesterday.”

  “Lawyers?” Gracie repeated, looking from one to the other of the women. “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “No, it isn’t.” Piper picked up her coffee and took a sip. “They’re talking about suing the company. Their lawyers made us aware that a formal suit will be filed within the month.” She set her cup down and leaned back in her chair. “It’s not exactly unexpected, but it is one more thing landing on top of an already miserable situation.”

  “Sebastian’s furious,” Beth said. “Not with the employees so much as he is with the whole mess. He’s determined to get to the bottom of how this happened in the first place. It doesn’t help that we still haven’t been allowed back into the plant.”

  Leaning forward, she kept her voice down so no one else would overhear. “He and Sutton have done an internal investigation already. They’ve been checking over safety inspection reports, and, apparently, the company wasn’t up-to-date on the inspections.”

  “You’re kidding,” Gracie murmured. “That doesn’t sound right.”

  “No, it doesn’t.” Piper frowned thoughtfully. “We’ve never had safety issues at any of our companies, so there’s obviously something wrong. We just don’t know what it is.”