Camden waited until Gina stood before he opened the door. She squinted and shaded her eyes, her posture stiffening as she realized who it was.
He approached her as Toby got up from a shady corner where he’d been napping and padded over. “Hey, again, I’m sorry about earlier,” he said.
Gina waved him off. “It’s fine.” She scratched Fleur’s head as the dog stared at him. He couldn’t help but notice how similar Gina’s eye color was to Fleur’s—pale gold with a dark brown circle around the iris. Sharp intelligence shone in both sets of eyes.
Camden bent and slowly stretched out his hand below the level of Fleur’s muzzle. She rewarded him with a lick. He scratched the dog’s chest and looked up at Gina. “Tell me about this pretty girl. How long have you had her?”
Gina flashed the briefest—and warmest—of smiles, never taking her eyes off Fleur.
“Found her during a mission in Africa. Can’t tell you which country, that’s classified. I was there during some…civil unrest, we’ll call it. Soldiers had just cleared out a streetful of protesters using tear gas and batons. Lots of arrests, protestors were rounded up and carted off by the truckload. I found her leashed to a pole in a back alley. Someone, probably her owner, had tied a rag over her muzzle, I guess to protect her from the tear gas.” Gina shook her head. “Obviously, their first rodeo. Who the hell brings an untrained dog to a protest without any protective gear, anyway?”
“That’s awful.” Camden scratched Fleur’s head.
“I brought her back to the room where I was staying. Cleaned her up. Fed her. She curled up into the tightest ball you can imagine next to me on the bed. Woke me up the next morning licking my face. I fell head over heels in love. I did try to find her owner, but I imagine he or she was carted off. Possibly killed.” Gina grimaced. “So I moved heaven and earth to bring Fleur home with me. Been together ever since.”
“You saved her life.”
Gina pressed her lips together before answering. “Not as often as she’s saved mine.” She hooked a leash onto Fleur’s collar—pink with silver studs. “Let’s go home, girl.”
Twelve
Dreading whatever favor Cici wanted, Elena decided to just get it over with and call her before dinner with Camden. He’d texted again, promising her that the restaurant was kid-friendly and not too fancy, but the food was phenomenal, so Elena let Tina get herself ready while she made the call.
“Elena.” Cici sounded a little out of breath like she’d been in a hurry but still pleased that she’d called. “Thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly. I have the worst dilemma. The caterers I was hoping to use for the villa went poof, and I’d planned on interviewing replacements the next few days. But, that’s going to take too much time, and after that amazing lunch today, I got this great idea. So, I was wondering—could you maybe ask Delia if she’d be willing to cater an event for around three-hundred people?”
Elena breathed a sigh of relief. Was that all Cici wanted? She put the phone on speaker while she got ready. “Absolutely. I’d love to ask her, but no promises. I have no idea if she does catering, too.”
“Tell her it’s just an open bar and appetizers—you know, small food, not a whole meal. I trust whatever she’d come up with. And we’ll pay extra to make up for the short notice and if she needs to hire extra people—so long as they’re carefully vetted because I don’t want a repeat of Bette’s party. I’m kinda desperate.” Cici’s laugh was full of nervous energy. “The publicity for her restaurant would be amazing.”
“Sure, I’ll tell her and give her your number.” Elena checked her hair in the bathroom mirror and put on a pair of silver hoop earrings.
“Thank you! I mean it. Oh, and, you and Tina are welcome to come as my guests. The twins adore your daughter, and she’ll have other kids to play with there—I’m hiring childcare for the night so no parents have to stay home. I’ll text you the details, though I know Camden will be there and he can tell you, too.” Cici paused. “Maybe you’re already coming as his date?” Her voice had brightened.
Elena frowned at her reflection. Is she serious? Camden can’t bring me as a date, he’ll be working. Not to mention, he’d already warned her away from Cici. She tried to ignore the little voice in her head that chafed at that, as much as he might be right. “Well, we’ll see. I hate to cut this short, Cici, but speaking of, I’ve got to check on Tina.”
“Oh, right. Of course.” Cici sounded disappointed, like she’d wanted to say more. Then she brightened again. “But, I’d love to have lunch again. Just you and me next time so we can really talk.” That nervous laugh came back. “Larry sometimes has no boundaries.”
Elena watched her reflection’s eyes roll. Got that right, Chica. She glanced at the clock. Camden would be there any minute. “Yeah, sure, I’d love to. I’ll get back to you about Delia as soon as I can.”
“Thanks again. I’m so glad we met.” The warmth and palpable relief in her voice made Elena feel sorry for Cici. Did she really not have anyone else she could confide in?
* * *
While Elena was on the phone, Tina had put on a yellow sundress, her bathing suit obvious beneath it. Elena sat her daughter down at the kitchen table to do her hair. “Not sure we’re going to the beach this time, Pepita,” Elena told her as she arranged the little girl’s long hair into two braids.
“Just in case, Mama.” The doorbell rang and Tina jumped up just as Elena finished tying the second bow.
“Wait, let me get it, sweetie.” She raced after Tina.
“But it’s Camden and Toby.” Tina was already reaching for the doorknob.
“Stop. Let me check.” Tina pulled a face and Elena echoed her words back at her. “Just in case.” The briefest image of Lawrence winking at her flashed through Elena’s mind and she shivered.
She looked through the peephole. Even through the fisheye lens, Camden looked yummy in his fitted jeans. His shirt pulled across his chest with just the right amount of tightness to show off his physique without being gross about it. She undid the locks and opened the door.
“Thanks for humoring me and checking first.” Camden rewarded her with a panty-melting smile, making her want to skip dinner and pick up where they’d left off in the library. She became acutely aware of her daughter hugging Toby. What would Tina think if she saw her mother kiss Camden beyond a peck on the cheek? She’d never seen Elena kiss any man except Antonio every time he came home, right before he’d sweep his daughter up into a bear hug. Did Tina even remember those hugs and kisses from her Papa? She’d been so young when they’d lost him. Could such old memories become so fragile they’d crumble to dust, replaced by the sight of Elena and Camden kissing?
And how would Tina feel if Camden just left? Disappeared from their lives like Antonio?
