“What?” His stomach dropped as Elena looked at him funny, one eyebrow curved up, before she figured it out. “Oh, she’s a vegetarian.”
“Vegan.Dedicatedvegan. I am not. I am whatever is the direct opposite.”
“Think you’re looking for carnivore.” She rewarded him with a grin that did nothing to ease the tension in his boxers, as her eyes narrowed. “Is that why I saw you pushing the braised carrots way off to the side of your plate during dinner?”
“You’re lucky you didn’t see me hide themunderthe plate.”
Still smiling, her eyebrows pulled down in a vee. “But, I fed you while we were hiding at the safehouse and you ate every bite, including the veggies.”
Despite the fact he’d just devoured dinner, Camden’s mouth watered as he remembered Elena’s cooking. “That was different. I would’ve eaten an old cotton tennis shoe if you cooked it. Your cooking’s amazing.”
Elena rolled her eyes. “Oh, stop. What I make is nowhere near as good as what we ate tonight. Those carrots you snubbed were delicious! I got the recipe from the caterers.” Her voice trailed off as her smile faltered and failed as she pulled away a little.
“What’s wrong?”Oh, God, did she feel…does she know I’m ridiculously turned-on right now? Shit.
Elena glanced at John Legend then back at Camden and smiled tentatively. “You probably think I’m just some hick, talking to the staff, asking for a stupid carrot recipe.”
Camden nearly stopped their dancing. “What? Did I not just say that I’m not part of this world, either?”
“But you are. I saw you kiss Bette Collins like she was your own mother, watched you joke around with her during the photos after.”
“That’s different. She is like my second mom now, but that took a while.” Before he’d realized he was going to do it, he stroked Elena’s cheek, letting his thumb trail across her chin. Her eyes dropped to half-mast.Dammit.
He pulled his hand back, and to cover his move said, “Hey, if it’ll make you feel better, I can do something really stupid in front of John Legend up there that’ll make you look like the queen of smooth.”
Elena tried not to laugh. “Oh my God no, you don’t have to do that.”
“Well, I could. I could interrupt the song right now, ask him for his autograph and then say, thanks, Prince.”
Elena’s eyes widened until they looked like brown saucers flecked with gold. “That’sterrible. You wouldn’t.”
“I would, if it made you…comfortable.” He’d almost said happy but pulled back at the last second. Elena Martinez did not need to know that he’d do anything to make her happy. As a matter of fact,hedidn’t need to know that.
Elena bit her lower lip, which made his dick twitch. She looked away, found Jake and Rachael and smiled their direction. Neither paid any attention—they were alone on Planet Newlywed. “I guess I’m going to have to get used to parties like this, since Rachael’s on the verge of stardom.”
“Why? She’ll be here and you’ll be in Nebraska.”Wow. Did that sound strangely harsh? Camden got his confirmation when Elena’s head whipped back around, a hurt and confused look on her face.Ouch. Fuck. Idiot.
“Tina and I are not staying in that godforsaken hellhole.” Her voice sounded flat with a definite angry vibe underneath. “Even with Ernest Deal gone and the town showing signs of actual prosperity,” she shook her head, eyes beginning to gloss with unshed tears, “too many bad memories for us.”
“I know,” Camden said quickly. The song was almost over and he didn’t want Elena to walk away from him hurt, sad, and angry. His gut twisted in knots at the thought. “What that man did to you and Tina, that leaves a mark.”
Elena’s whole body clenched as her eyes squeezed shut. Camden instinctively pulled her close and ran his hand down the length of her silky golden-brown hair. He leaned in close to her ear. “I’m sorry about what he did,” he whispered.
“You don’t know everything he did to us. What he stole from me, from my daughter,” she whispered back. Then she straightened, pulled back, and gave him a big smile that he suspected was more for the crowd watching them than for him. It didn’t reach her eyes.
“Rachael’s pushing for us to move out here. She’s not playing fair, either—she took Tina and me to the beach a couple days ago, and told her if we lived here, she could swim every day if she wanted to. And of course it turns out my daughter’s a mermaid, we just didn’t know it until now.”
“Rachael is devious,” Camden said.
Then some of Elena’s smile rose into her gorgeous eyes. “So it looks like we’re California-bound.”
Camden’s heart pounded at her words. “Hey, once you’re here, I could show you around. I know all the good restaurants.”Why did I say that? No, no, no. This woman is heartbreak in high heels. Back off.
But he did say it. And Elena’s smile shown in her eyes like the rising sun. “I’d like—”
They felt the tug at the same time everyone laughed. Two little hands pulled on Elena’s skirt and Camden’s pant leg. Tina had broken free from the sidelines and run to her mom and the man who saved their lives. Without hesitating, they both picked her up and the three danced. Tina planted a sloppy wet kiss on Camden’s cheek and the crowd lost it.
Camden felt something he hadn’t known for a long time—completeness.
