“Possibly.” Her voice is low. Based on her body language, she’s nervous to tell me more. I start to tell her it’s okay, but she continues. “Ever read the Frontier Rising saga?”
My eyes widen and my jaw drops. “No way. You’re C.L. Barnes?”
Frontier Rising is one of the most popular science fiction book series in years. I may not have read them, but anyone breathing has heard of these books.
And I’ve been pining over the author for weeks like a lovesick puppy dog.
“Please don’t make a big deal out of it. I’m still just Cami—the same klutz who ran into you outside Sweet Cakes.”
I shake my head and regain control of my emotions. She’s right. While this makes her even more fascinating to me, it doesn’t change a thing. “Sorry. You surprised me is all. I wouldn’t dream of treating you any differently than I have been.”
“Thank you.” Her expression softens, and she gazes at me like she’s about to say something else, but doesn’t. Instead, she wraps her scarf around her neck and hugs her purse to her chest. “My car is probably warm by now. I should let you go.”
I rub my hands down my face, my next breath heavy. I don’t want her to leave, but I can’t think of any reason to ask her to stay.
Instead, I nod and say goodnight. “I’ll keep in touch about the supplies we ordered today. Should be able to start in a few weeks.”
“Sounds good.” She starts for the door handle, then pauses. “Thanks for letting me share today. That’s not easy for me.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll always lend an ear if you need to talk.”
She tosses me a faint smile, and I don’t miss that her hand is shaking when she opens the door. Is she shaking because of me or the cold?
Fuck, I hope it’s me.
I watch Camille as she gets in her car and backs out of the parking lot. I sit in my truck long after she’s out of sight, unable to get my arms and legs to move so I can drive home. I want her, and I don’t know how to get her. I can’t just ask her out like I would any other woman, can I? That’d probably scare Camille off. But then she looked at me the same way I looked at her. I didn’t mistake the attraction and heat I saw in her eyes. That was as real as me sitting here, freezing my ass off.
“Damn, I thought dating was hard when I was young,” I mumble to myself as I put the truck in reverse. There’s nothing I can do about this tonight. Camille’s not going anywhere, and neither am I. I’ve got time to figure this out.
CHAPTER 6
CAMILLE
My phone buzzes beside my laptop. I’ve been working in my study for hours, and my new novel is finally starting to take form. It’s about time, too. My agent has been buying me more time for months now. If I don’t get it together soon, I’m going to disappoint a lot more than just my editor. My fans are relying on me to get this book done. The release date has been delayed twice already, and I can’t delay it again. I’ve already made them wait too long for the final installment to the series.
I glance out my window to an unfamiliar sight. Large snowflakes are falling from the sky. A thick layer already covers the ground. I had no idea it’d still be snowing in April. It wasn’t something I thought about before I chose northern Montana.
Nothing like starting a house renovation in the middle of a snowstorm. At this rate, my driveway will be impassable by morning.
I hope not. I’m excited to see Adam again.
A few weeks have passed since we went to Kalispell and ordered the kitchen cabinets and appliances. We shared a lot on the trip, and I feel closer to him than anyone else right now—including all of my friends and most of my family back home. Aside from Rachel, he’s the only local I really know well.
Adam and I talked several times about supply deliveries and start dates, but we never managed to find the time to meet in person. On the days I planned trips into town, he was out working on other projects. I’m disappointed we keep missing each other. I sense he’s disappointed, too. Every time he’d call, he’d find some reason to stay on the phone with me. Usually to tell me about some of the parks and hiking trails he loved or the summer festivals the town held. We’ve made plans to visit these places once the weather improves. I’m both excited and nervous about what that could mean. Is he just being nice, or could these be considered dates?
But tomorrow he’ll start work on my house. Assuming this snow doesn’t stop him from coming.
Then, I’ll see him almost daily for however long this takes.
It could take months.
My willpower is about to be tested.
Despite my excitement, I’m nervous about seeing Adam. He stirs emotions in me I’m not ready to deal with. Soon, I’ll have no choice but to face those head on. I’m not very good at dealing with my emotions. I refuse to talk to anyone about the loss I endured when that accident took my husband and son. Hell, I didn’t even tell Adam about Alex because his loss hit me harder than losing Mark. The only person I open up to is my daughter. Telling Adam about Mark is a huge step for me. I’m even surprised I said anything.
As far as I’m concerned, it isn’t anyone else’s business how I feel. If I want to share, I will. Trying to force me to talk about it only pushes me away. It’s one of the reasons I had to move. My family and friends wouldn’t let it go. I needed to move past this last phase of mourning in peace.
Maybe that’s why it was so easy for me to tell Adam. He didn’t ask. In fact, he refused to. He respected me enough to not push me. That’s all it took to get me to talk.
