Hometown Holiday Reunion (19 page)

“Hey, Jeff. What's up?”

“Look, I know you resigned and everything,” his former boss replied, getting right to the point as usual, “but I've got an offer you might not be able to pass up.”

Now that he'd committed to staying in Oaks Crossing, Cam wasn't all that interested in anything other than finding someone to sublet his Minneapolis apartment. Then again, Jeff Burlingham had promoted him from the crew to foreman and encouraged him to pursue the education he'd put off for so long. Cam figured the least he could do was hear the man out. “Is that right? What've you got in mind?”

“The architect for my next job just bailed on me, and I'm up against a deadline that won't budge. I'm hoping you can help me out.”

“I'm not accredited for that kind of work yet,” Cam reminded him. “You need a pro.”

“I've got the plans. I need you to do the specs and run the project. You've been doing that for a couple years now, anyway. This would just make it official. And it pays better.”

There was the kicker, Cam thought morosely. To balance the books, he'd been running the Oaks Café for a small salary that wasn't nearly enough to cover his portion of Mom's nursing care. Alex and Natalie couldn't contribute any more than they already were, and the savings he'd been tapping into were gone. He was fairly confident that Erin would end up purchasing the building from them, but even if Natalie expedited the sale and closing, the influx of cash would come too late to be of much help.

If he couldn't come up with a way to bring in more money, they'd be forced to cut back on the one thing that Cam refused to tinker with: Mom's visiting nurse. Her recovery was still maddeningly slow, but she was making steady progress every week.

“I appreciate your confidence in me, Jeff, but I'm not so sure.”

“This project is scheduled to break ground in two weeks, but that's not gonna happen unless I can find someone who's qualified to step in and make it work. If you sign on, I'll bump your foreman's pay by twenty percent.”

Cam quickly did the math and almost dropped his phone in shock. “You're kidding.”

“I'm desperate,” Jeff corrected him tersely. “This isn't a personal favor. It's business, and I need an answer from you ASAP.”

Cam had never been one for overthinking things, especially not when someone presented him with a golden opportunity like this. He'd always approached tough decisions with logic, and that approach had never steered him wrong. As great as the idea seemed on the surface, he had more than just himself to consider now.

“I'll let you know tomorrow,” he finally said, just as Erin appeared at the end of the aisle with the missing shelf support he'd been hunting for. “Thanks for the offer, Jeff. I really appreciate it.”

He disconnected and took the brace from Erin, whose grim expression told him she'd heard more than enough of his conversation. “I'm guessing that was your boss.”

“Yeah.”

“He needs you back in Minnesota?”

Cam nodded, and while he bolted the support into place, he filled her in on the rest. She didn't say much, but when he was finished, she gave him a stern look. “You're not seriously thinking about turning that down, are you?”

“Well, yeah, I was.”

To his surprise, she smacked his shoulder. “Why on earth would you do that? This is what you've been working so hard for. So now you're considering throwing all that work and education away? For what?”

She was without a doubt the most aggravating woman he'd ever known. It didn't help that not long ago, he would've agreed with her line of reasoning. But now, he put aside logic and went with his heart. “For us. I love you, and Parker, too. I want us to be together.”

“Don't you dare put this on me,” she spat, backpedaling to get away from him. “If you want to stay for yourself, fine. But if you do this for any other reason and it doesn't work out, you'll be miserable. And you'll blame the person who kept you here when you really wanted to go.”

“Kept me here?” he echoed in disdain. “You really think you've got that kinda hold on me?”

Her eyes flashed defiantly, reminding him that her fiery spirit was the thing he'd always liked most about her. “Well, isn't that what you're saying?”

Cam tried to hold on to his anger, but it was no match for this strong, determined woman who loved him enough to let him go. Sherry had left him in self-defense, but Erin was fighting him to ensure his happiness with no regard for her own. It was maddening and sweet, all at once. Just like Erin. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

“All right, then.”

Her stony expression softened considerably, and he slid his arms around her, drawing her close for a long, lazy kiss. Pulling back, he rested his forehead on hers with a deep sigh. “Love you, bug.”

“I really wish you wouldn't call me that.”

“I know.”

Epilogue

“I
s it always this busy?” Glenda asked Erin when they caught a breather from a steady stream of customers and phone calls on a Saturday morning.

“When we've got a new batch of kittens from the shelter playing in the front window, it is,” Erin replied with a laugh. Handing her friend a bottle of cold water, she added, “Business has been great ever since we opened, but I guess you weren't counting on such a hectic pace when I hired you to work here part-time.”

After a long swallow of water, Glenda smiled. “The extra money definitely comes in handy, and my kids love coming here to visit while I'm working. It's a real boost for the Canine Helpers, too. All those business cards I brought in the other day are gone, so I'll have to print up some more for you to give out.”

“You can do that back in my office if you want, assuming you can find the card stock in all that mess. I really need to wade through everything and design some kind of system. Between the business and all the school events Parker's been involved with, I just can't seem to find the time.”

Glenda glanced at the window in the front door with a little grin. “Why don't I take care of that for you? It looks like you've got a customer who might prefer the personal touch.”

Before Erin could ask what on earth she was talking about, Glenda was already on her way toward the back of the store. When the bells over the front door jingled, Erin turned to find Cam strolling into the shop. Hectic as her morning had been, it all disappeared the moment she saw him.

Coming around the counter, he slid his arms around her and pulled her in for a long, toe-curling kiss. Drawing back, he gave her the lazy grin she'd come to adore. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself.” Picking up a stack of invoices from the counter, she fanned her face with them. “That was quite the greeting.”

“The Oaks is in the black for the second straight month, and Dad loves the office I outfitted for him at the house, so I'm having a killer day. How 'bout you?”

“I just finished the books, and thanks to Bekah's website, Pampered Paws is this far from turning a profit.” Holding her thumb and forefinger a quarter of an inch apart, she couldn't help gloating just a little. “I think it's safe to say we're a big hit.”

“That's fantastic. Congratulations.”

“Thanks, but there's more. I got a call from that vet Josh's friend told him about. Heather Fitzgerald.”

“And?”

“She finished her residency last month, and she'll be available soon. We're going to do a video chat next week, but from what I heard today, I think she might be just the kind of person we're looking for to fill that position at the rescue center.”

“Also fantastic.”

She was still getting used to his understated way of celebrating, but after a moment she picked up on the excitement that he was trying so hard to mask. The gleam in his eyes alerted her that there was more he wanted to tell her. “Okay, your turn. What's got you in such a sunny mood?”

“Is Parker around?”

“Upstairs figuring out a strategy for that new video game you bought him, so he can beat you next time you guys play. Why?”

Without explaining, Cam said, “Call him down here, wouldya?”

She couldn't imagine what was going on, but she did as he asked. When the three of them were together, Cam stood opposite them and looked from her to Parker and back. After being in such a hurry, all of a sudden he was hesitating, and her instincts told her something very important was about to happen.

“I've always been the kind of guy who prefers to be on my own,” he began in a straightforward manner that did absolutely nothing to ease her mind. “That way, no one ever got close enough to hurt me. Unfortunately, it also meant that no one ever got close enough to see who I really was and decide if they liked me or not.”

“I like you, Cam,” Parker chimed in earnestly. “I think you're the best.”

Honest gratitude softened his chiseled features. “Thanks, bud. That means a lot to me.”

“I guess you're okay,” Erin commented, hoping to lighten the mood a bit. “I mean, we've been together every day for the past few months and haven't killed each other yet.”

“Y'know, that's what I love most about you,” he said with a warm smile. “You always tell it like it is.”

It wasn't the most romantic thing she'd ever heard, but then again this was Cam. He could be almost brutally direct, but she never wondered what he was thinking or if he was being straight with her. When he told her he loved her, she believed him without question. It was a huge improvement over all the time she'd wasted on dead-end relationships, trying to guess what a man was thinking. “Come to think of it, I feel the same way about you.”

“I was hoping you'd say that.”

Fishing around in the front pocket of his jeans, he pulled out the kind of little velvet box every girl dreamed of getting someday. To be honest, she'd almost given up on ever receiving one herself. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Let's find out.” With the maddening grin that used to aggravate her beyond measure, he opened the box with a little creak. Nestled inside was a vintage diamond ring that couldn't have been more her style if she'd gone to the jeweler's and chosen it herself.

Gazing up at him in amazement, she gave him her biggest, brightest smile. “Cam, it's gorgeous.”

“I'm glad you like it.” Looking from her to Parker again, he said, “I love you both more than I ever thought was possible. Will you guys marry me?”

“You mean, like, be a real family?” her son stammered, eyes shining with delight.

“A real family,” Cam confirmed, glancing over at Erin. “Whaddya say?”

“I say yes,” Parker blurted, wrapping his arms around them both in an exuberant hug.

“What about you, bug? I know I'm not perfect, but I can promise you I'll always do my best.”

The vow came straight from his big, generous heart, and it was the most wonderful gift anyone had ever given her. Erin rested her hand on his cheek and smiled up at him. “That's all I could ever need.”

“Is that a yes?”

Realizing that she hadn't officially answered his question, she laughed at her own foolishness. “Yes.”

Parker whooped in excitement, dancing around them while Cam slid the beautiful antique ring onto her finger. Lifting her hand to his lips, he gave her the warm, gentle smile she'd come to adore, knowing it was meant especially for her. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

From outside, she heard cheering and a growing swell of applause. Bracing herself for what she knew she'd be seeing, she looked out to the crowd that had somehow gathered in front of the shop without her noticing. She'd been so focused on Cam and his life-altering request that she'd missed the fact that twenty or more people had clustered together on the sidewalk in front of Pampered Paws.

“What did you do?” she demanded with a laugh. “Invite half the town?”

“To possibly watch me crash and burn? Not hardly.”

“Then what are they all doing here?”

Turning back, she realized that while everyone had been cheering on their engagement from their vantage point on the sidewalk, now their attention was fixed on the deep window well full of adorable kittens. Tapping the glass, children were making smooch faces while their parents traded looks that even from a distance said, “Should we?”

“Looks to me like you're gonna have some disappointed customers,” Cam noted with a chuckle. “You've only got half a dozen kittens, and there's three times that many people out there.”

“Not a problem,” Erin assured him, picking up the cordless phone and pressing the speed dial for the Oaks Crossing Rescue Center. “Hey Sierra, it's me. We're having a run on kittens here in town. Can you send someone out with that batch of calicos we got the other day? Oh, and send Abby, too. If they tag-team these folks, I'm sure she and Parker will have them all adopted out in no time. Thanks a bunch.”

Her waiting customers had apparently decided the coast was clear, and they began filing in the door, most of them making a beeline for the kitten playpen.

When she hung up, she saw Cam grinning at her, shaking his head. She had no idea what he thought was so funny, and she asked, “What?”

“You're amazing, y'know that? No matter what problem comes up, you've always got a solution.” Leaning in, he gave her a quick kiss. “I've never been into smart women, but I gotta admit you're starting to grow on me.”

“Is that why you're marrying me?”

“That, and you've got a great kid.” As he angled his eyes toward Parker, his face took on a pensive expression. After a moment, he went on, “Something just occurred to me. Your adoption's almost done, and I know after that you were gonna change your last name. What would you think of changing it to Stewart?”

The boy gave Erin a questioning look. “Is that what you're gonna do?”

“Yes. I'm pretty traditional when it comes to things like that.”

He thought that over for a few seconds and then nodded. “Parker Stewart. That sounds good.”

“Yeah, it does,” Cam approved, putting an arm around both of them for a cozy family hug.

Standing there with two of the handful of guys she'd ever met who disproved her “boys are stupid” theory, Erin smiled at each of them and added her opinion.

“Perfect.”

* * * * *

If you loved this tale of sweet romance,
pick up these other stories

in the
OAKS CROSSING
series

from author Mia Ross.

HER SMALL-TOWN COWBOY

RESCUED BY THE FARMER

And check out these other stories

from author Mia Ross's previous miniseries,
BARRETT'S MILL
.

BLUE RIDGE REUNION
SUGAR PLUM SEASON

FINDING HIS WAY HOME

LOVING THE COUNTRY BOY

Available now from Love Inspired!

Find more great reads at
www.LoveInspired.com
.

Keep reading for an excerpt from A
TEMPORARY COURTSHIP
by Jenna Mindel.

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