The interruption was enough to bust Jake and Rachael out of their bliss bubble, and they stopped to watch their friends. Rachael wiped away a tear as something passed between her and Elena. Then Jake caught Camden’s eye and lifted his chin in approval. Jake, who knew Camden’s past.
And that broke the spell. A jagged bolt of guilt at his betrayal cut through Camden’s soul. He didn’t belong here, holding a beautiful woman and her sweet, adorable daughter in his arms. They weren’t his, they’d never be his. Even if it felt right.
But, maybe, it was time for a change.
Legend ended the song laughing and clapping for ‘the little show stealer’ as he called Tina. They set her down as everyone clapped.
“Guess I didn’t have to do anything stupid after all,” Camden said as Elena hugged her daughter. “Tina had a way better idea.” He touched Elena’s cheek and she looked at him. “Everyone here adores the two of you now.”Most especially me, he thought, biting back the words. “Now when I show you around, I’ll have to fight off the paparazzi.”
Elena looked like she was going to laugh, then her eyes went serious. She looked at the top of her daughter’s head, kissed it, then stood and led the little girl off the floor as the next song started. Camden followed, his gut knotting again.
“Did I say something?” he asked.
“Look,” she said. “I appreciate your offer, I do. But, I’m gonna be pretty busy trying to get Tina settled in to a new life here. She needs me. I’m all she’s got.” Her smile held equal parts bitter and sweet. “My focus is my daughter, always has been.” She lowered her voice, “And with you around, I’m in danger of forgetting that.”
Yeah. And you put me in danger of forgetting what I’ve lost. But he could never tell her that. Camden took Elena’s hand in his and kissed her fingers. “Thanks for the dance, pretty lady.”
Elena’s eyes went soft when his lips brushed her knuckles. “I can never thank you enough for saving my daughter’s life and keeping us safe. Don’t think for a minute that I don’t appreciate you and everything you did.”
“Just my job,” Camden said, every fiber of his being drawn to the bar, to a glass of Pappy, to the oblivion it would bring.
Elena smiled. “If you say so.” She pulled out her phone. “I’m gonna call a Lyft back to the Collins’s house. I need to get the little show stealer to bed before she gets too tired and makes a scene that’s not so cute.”
Tina frowned up at her mom, threatening to make good on Elena’s prediction.
“I don’t think you’re capable of anything but cute,” Camden said as he went to his knees. Tina went right to him and he hugged her tight.
Bitter and sweet.
“Let’s go, pepita,” Elena said. She took her daughter’s hand and turned to leave.
Camden took a step toward the bar.
He stopped.Nope.No way was he going to leave things like this.
“Elena, wait.”
She stopped walking and turned back. “What? Did I forget something?”
“No, but I did. Forgot to tell you, you have no choice.”
She tilted her head until her chin almost rested on her right shoulder, pursed her lips, and stared at him out of her left eye. “No choice about what, exactly?”
No choice but to let me into your life so I can show you that you don’t have to do this alone,he thought.That I am head over heels for you, and I adore your daughter as if she were... His heart squeezed even as he felt that old guilt and betrayal. Was he doing the right thing?Tell her. Just tell her, his heart pleaded.
“It’s, uh, California law that I have to show you around. Newcomers must have a chaperone so they don’t overdo it on all the awesomeness and hurt themselves.”
Yup. I’m an idiot.
Elena cracked up. “Seriously?”
But at least I’m a funny idiot. Camden held up his palms. “Hey, I don’t make the laws, I just enforce them where necessary.”
Elena shook her head and sighed, but at least she was still smiling. “I’ll think about it.”
“And I’ll see you when you come back.”
“Goodnight, Mr. Bains.” Elena did a mock-curtsey.
“Goodnight, Ms. Martinez. And Miss Martinez.” He tipped an imaginary top hat. Then he watched them exit. But this time, instead of his heart feeling anchor-heavy, it felt light as a feather. Hopeful.
When he reached the bar, he ordered only one glass of Pappy. Camden needed his mind clear and his wits sharp if he was going to form a plan to win over Elena Martinez and show her that he was the man she could always depend on to have her and Tina’s backs.
And to convince his conscience to leave the past behind and let him have a chance at creating a family.
* * *
