Finally Found (10 page)

There was something about a kitchen that always made Cammie feel so calm, so in control, so at home. Adam’s kitchen here in the
Hamptons was no different. In fact, it might have been even better, since it was so well equipped. She could make pretty much anything she wanted. Oh, and given the guest list she was anticipating, she wanted to make practically everything.

After careful thought, she envisioned a nice candlelight event. There were some questions about the music, but she was leaning toward quiet music playing over the sound system instead of a live group. There would be a heavy buffet to go along with the cocktails. She was picturing a lot of seasonal drinks…egg nog, wassail, and mulled cider. There would be a two carving stations for ham and prime rib. This could be the party of the season…the party to start it all.

There were so many ideas competing in her head. Would the hour never be up? Would she never get to share these ideas with Adam? She smirked at the idea that she was actually excited to talk to Adam. Venturing into the great room, she saw him instantly, sleeping in the chair. Her initial reaction was pretty Camstandard. That’s what her family would call it. Yes, around the house there was the Camstandard and Cinnystyle. Her sister had a way, flair, while Cammie was simply predictable.

When she saw Adam sleeping, first her thought was that once again she was reminded that he couldn’t be trusted. He couldn’t even be left unattended or she would return to find no work had been accomplished. Then there was that moment of guilt as she walked closer and realized that he had scribbled notes and more notes. There were pages and pages of concepts and ideas. No wonder he was worn out. That, and the fact that he had been up early to ensure she had breakfast and coffee.

With a sigh she backed away. The very least she could do would be to make sure he had food when he woke up. They had passed a grocery store and a market on the way in the night before. She would simply retrace her drive and go there. It wouldn’t take long. She could whip up something amazing in no time and he would realize that his efforts to promote her would not be in vain. She was talented. She was capable. She was totally worth it.

When Adam woke, startled by the ringing of the phone, he realized as he rushed into the kitchen that Cammie wasn’t there. How long had he been asleep? Had she given up and run off on him. He picked up the phone distractedly, hoping that somehow it might be her.

“Hello?” He asked both confused and concerned.

“Adam, it’s Haley…” She began seriously.

“I’l
l have to call you back.” Without even thinking, he hung up the phone. He could see that her vehicle was gone, but the question was whether or not she was coming back. Wandering through the house, he explored the guest room and discovered all of her belongings were still there, nice and neat in a big black duffle bag. He shivered. Did every woman have a big black duffle bag to squish her life into and run off? He was headed back out of the room when he heard a car door slam.

Cammie had returned. He breathed a sigh of relief even as he wondered why it bothered him so much. After all, her presence made more work for him. Her absence meant a week of leisure. He frowned. He’d had entirely too much leisure in this lifetime. It was time to make his life count. And the best way to do that was by helping others.

Smiling, he headed to the door just in time to help her as she struggled to open it. “Let me get that,” he said as he tried to collect the bags from her arms.

“I’ve got this but if you want to help, there’s still plenty more in the trunk that still has to be carried in.” She brushed by him and continued on toward the kitchen.

Shrugging, Adam walked to her car and saw that she wasn’t joking. The entire trunk was positively packed with groceries. He was still standing there eyeing the bags when she was suddenly at his side.

“Yo, genius, these bags aren’t going to carry themselves into the house.” And without another word, she simply started grabbing the bags and loading the plastic handles onto her hands.

“This can’t all be for Friday, can it?” He asked. “I said cocktail party, not four course meal!”

She laughed and responded lightly. “Nah, but I for one do not plan on missing out on my favorite cooking holiday just because I’m stuck here with you.”

Giving himself a mental head slap, he realized that he had all but forgotten National Football and Turkey Day. Since he had no use for football and little interest in turkey, he had spent the last few years looking at it as a day off, a drinking holiday, an opportunity to sleep in, a day to recuperate from all the debauchery the night before. He and Sam had not celebrated it since their parents passed away. Well, in truth, maybe Sam had and he simply hadn’t been invited. He tried to picture Sam and Neville eating alone at that big long table in that cold empty dining room. It wasn’t a pretty picture.

In an instant, he began to imagine Thanksgiving here, at the Hamptons house. Though they had celebrated Christmas here on occasion, they had never enjoyed Thanksgiving anywhere but in the city. Father had suggested it once, but mom claimed that it was too much work to transport all that food, since her preparations began days in advance. And every year after the same discussion, his father would agree. It looked like all of that was changing this year.

Without thinking, he headed to the kitchen and the phone. Cammie was unloading groceries and putting them away in the fridge, freezer, and pantry. She was humming happily to herself. Adam was distracted for a moment. She looked absolutely lovely. When she was like this, he had no difficulty at all remembering that she wanted her coffee light and sweet. She all but radiated joy at the moment and Adam wanted nothing more than to be a part of it.

He slowly picked up the phone, reluctantly dialed his brother’s cell phone, and suddenly spoke words that he never imagined he’d be speaking. “Sam, why don’t you and Haley come to the Hamptons house for Thanksgiving?”

“Well, we were hoping you would come here. We have Ellen, Ryan, and little Abigail coming over. You remember them, right?” His voice, which had started sternly, was slowly softening, becoming more normal.

“Yes, but all the food is here. Do you have any food there?” He leaned against the counter.

“Neville was going to…”

“Your next words had better be…help us pack the car to come to the Hamptons. Seriously, Sam. We’ve never had Thanksgiving here. I’m here. Cammie’s here. Food is here. Come here.” And he waited. He knew that eventually Sam would see reason.

“Thanksgiving is supposed to be kind of special,” he said in tone that suggested Adam should know what he meant.

Adam straightened. “Are you popping the question? We can make it super special. All you’ll have to worry about is how to react when she comes to her senses and turns you down! Bring everyone with you. Come the night before. Stay for the weekend. We have so much to talk about. And I need your help…” He smiled widely.

Damn, he should have used that approach from the beginning. Sam never denied him help. He was the big brother who had been given the daunting task of looking out for his younger brother all those years ago. He smirked. He could just about hear the inner conflict waging inside Sam at the moment.

“Fine. I’ll make the arrangements.” Sam sighed. “You owe me for this one.” Then the phone disconnected.

It was amazing. He had pulled it off. Everyone was coming here for Thanksgiving. “Hey, doll!” He called over to Cammie, lost in her own world.

She paused and looked up at him once she had finished pouring the sugar into the canister. “Yes. And for the record, I’m not sure I like you calling me ‘doll.’” She frowned at him.

“Well, I know I detest you calling me ‘genius.’ Get over it.” He chuckled. “Just thought you should know we’re having company for Thanksgiving.”

“Great,” she shrugged as she turned around and tossed the empty bag in the garbage.

“I’m springing this on you after you have returned from the grocery store.” He watched and waited for her reaction.

“I know.” She moved over to grab the flour and add that to the appropriate canister.

“You are a girl, right? I mean…I thought girls were supposed to freak out over this kind of thing. You’re meeting the family, celebrating a holiday together, and cooking for probably more people than you anticipated.” He leaned on the counter and watched her, waiting for it to sink in.

Sighing, she looked at him with raised brow, “First of all, these people aren’t my family. They are yours. Second, it’s not like we’re dating. Not only are you not my type, but this is a business arrangement. And finally, because this is my business, kind of my thing, I always expect more people than RSVP. So, does that about cover it? Can I finish unloading the groceries in peace, and then we can talk ad campaign over lunch. I thought I’d do something simple today like sandwiches. You do eat sandwiches, right?”

“Let me get this straight…you’re not freaking out and you’re going to make me a sandwich? Too bad I’m not your type because right now, you are the girl of my dreams.” And with that, he turned on his heels and headed back out of the kitchen.

They ate their sandwiches while chatting over the plans. Adam discovered very quickly that he liked being in charge. He wasn’t accustomed to that, but now, here he was, running the Hamptons house and Cammie, too. That last part almost gave him the most pleasure of all. If only she didn’t have such a strong stance on the whole no sex part. He really wanted to see if they were as passionate in bed as they were out of it. He had never fought with anyone like this before. It might not seem like a big deal to most guys, but there was something about being able to fight with someone and not worry that it was going to escalate into something ugly and dangerous. He had grown up with friends who spent much of their childhood with their stomachs in knots. Their parents fought constantly, there were repeated threats of divorce, and they never even seemed to like each other much let alone love each other. He never wanted that. Living with his family was so different.

For years, he slept around. There’s no tension in that. There’s no commitment, no responsibility. He could be charming and sweet and devoted for four or five hours and get on with his life. He never had to wonder whether they would fight like cats and dogs or get on like lambs and lions. The few women he had brought to the Hamptons house over the years had been such a huge disappointment that he had stopped doing that. He grew tired of trying to evict one girl after another. He detested needy chicks that had to be entertained every moment. That was why Cammie was such as lovely change of pace in every respect.

While he slept, she went grocery shopping. She didn’t ask for money, of course he had made it perfectly clear that for the time, he didn’t have any. He hadn’t had to ask her to stay or beg her to leave. She was her own person. She was driven and determined. She seemed perfectly capable. And if her cooking was done as well and as efficiently as she did everything else, this would be a holiday to remember. Hell, it would be a holiday season to remember. She was going to rock the catering industry and put at least one company out of business. He rubbed his hands as they sat near the roaring fire. He smiled as he imagined that dusty old Dinners by Dash having to work as a greeter at the local Wal-Mart. Even that was too good for the cranky old bat.