Her Forever Hero (Unexpected Heroes) (20 page)

“I found you on the campus, but you were with a group of people and you were laughing. I thought you looked really happy. I didn’t want to risk interrupting that. I’d heard you’d had a rough go of things for a while.”

“Yes. Even without me saying a word, I’m sure the gossip stretched all the way back to Sterling,” she said with bitterness.

“It’s not that people like to gossip. It’s that they care about their own when you’re from a small town, Grace.”

“I didn’t need them to worry about me, Cam. I was doing just fine.”

“In two seconds flat, you go from open and trusting to instantly closed off again. I was once your friend and your lover. You don’t need to shut me out,” he told her, turning her head and forcing her to look at him.

Grace had to fight the sudden urge not to cry.

“Well, Cam, I think our ‘stroll down memory lane’ is over,” she said, untangling herself from him and standing.

“Why do you always run the second you start feeling something?” he asked, not chasing her but sitting there and holding her gaze.

“Because I learned a long time ago that to open myself up only hurts me. I learned that dreams are for fools, and the past is best left where it belongs.”

She had no more strength to talk about this. Walking quietly away, she went back to the guest room she’d stayed in before her ordeal in the snow.

Grace knew she wouldn’t get much sleep after that talk—not when she knew how close Cam was, and especially when she knew that his arms would be open for her if only she were brave enough to step into them.

Grace sipped her tea and enjoyed the warmth of the rays of sunlight beaming through the large living room windows as she worked on her laptop. She was changing the dinner menu for the fourth time, since the bride now seemed to have a vendetta against seafood. Instead of getting upset, she decided to just continue working, reminding herself the paycheck was a good one.

At least the snowstorm had come and gone, and this would be her last night in Cam’s house. So she certainly had that to look forward to.

She should have gone over to Sage’s place—Sage and Spence had rushed home as soon as they heard about what had happened—but she was using the pretense that she had to do some more work with Cam and it would be easier to just stay there. Her new house would receive its final inspection tomorrow, and her furniture was being delivered as well.

She could finally leave the apartment and have beautiful views of the Montana countryside once again. Not that she didn’t have spectacular views at Cam’s place.

When the front door opened and she heard footsteps across the floors, she thought nothing of it. Maybe one of the hands needed something, or possibly it was Sage coming to visit. She could have gotten off work early. It was doubtful, but miracles did happen.

Turning around, she instead found Martin Whitman walking into the room, and she couldn’t help but smile. It had been months since she’d seen him, and usually she was so busy fighting with Cam, she didn’t get to enjoy one-on-one chats.

“Mr. Whitman, what a pleasure to see you,” Grace said as she stood up and went to him. “Cam isn’t back yet. He’s running late with a client.”

Martin was truly a kind man and one of the most giving people she’d ever known. He was the first to jump in and help a neighbor, and the last to leave when something needed doing. His laughter was infectious, and so many times during her childhood she’d envied the Whitman boys for having such a father. She’d always wondered what it would be like to grow up in a house so filled with love.

“I came to see you, Gracie,” he said, stopping in front of her and then pulling her in for a bear hug. “You’ve been running around so much, I keep missing you. When I found out about your scare in the snow, I told Cam I must come over and see for myself that you were all right.”

After Martin held Grace long enough that she was afraid he’d squeezed all the oxygen out of her lungs, he drew back and looked at her. “You have circles beneath your eyes, young lady. You’re not getting enough rest. Did Spence give you a full checkup?”

The love and worry was evident in his eyes and tone of voice. It choked her up for a moment and she was unable to answer him. Blinking rapidly so she wouldn’t show him how much his parental concern meant to her, she turned her head and took a deep breath before looking him in the eyes again.

“I have to admit, I was pretty scared out there in the snow, but it all worked out. Cam found me, got me warm, and force-fed me for two days. I’m still a bit worn-out, but I’m tough. I’ll be back to a hundred percent by tomorrow.”

“You’ve always been a fighter, Gracie. I remember your determination to lift those hay bales every summer. If the boys could do it, then you were darn well gonna do it, too. That first summer, you sure had some sore muscles, but you also earned the respect of every one of my ranch hands,” Martin said as he led her to the couch and the two of them sat down.

She laughed. “I’ve never liked being one of those girls who just sits on the sidelines while someone else does all the fun stuff.”

“Sitting on the sidelines isn’t all that bad. You get to watch all the chaos that is sure to happen if you wait long enough.”

“You’ve always enjoyed a bit of disaster,” Grace said, a big smile lighting up her eyes. “But you’re always the first one in to help clean it up.”

“I sure missed you all those years you were gone. I hope you’re planning on staying for good now,” Martin told her with a stern look. “I understand the need to go out there and find yourself, but this is your home. Once you live in a place like Sterling, there’s no leaving. The town gets into your blood and it will always call you home.”

“That’s because wonderful people like you live here, Mr. Whitman. I’ve been to a lot of places, and I’ve never felt as happy as I do here.”

“I can’t believe no one managed to snatch you up in the years you were away,” he said with a laugh. “You’ve always been such a kind and beautiful girl. You know, I always hoped that you and Cam would marry so I could call you my daughter.”

“I would have loved to have you for a dad,” she said, avoiding the rest of his statement. “Are you hungry? Thirsty? I know this isn’t my place, but I can’t believe I didn’t offer you something the moment you came in.”

“I know how to find things around this place. Cam is actually pretty organized,” he said before standing. “I think I’ll have coffee and something sweet, if you have it.”

“I’ll make a fresh pot. I could use some, too. And Cam’s cook just made a Bundt cake that’s the best thing I think I’ve ever eaten.”

The two walked into the kitchen, and Martin sat at the table while Grace made coffee and pulled the cake from the fridge.

“I’m going to miss Sally,” Grace told him as the coffee finished percolating and she poured them each a cup. “The creative ways she turns ordinary food into masterpiece dishes is out of this world. She’s spoiled me rotten in a few days’ time. I wish I’d learned how to cook better.” It was just one more disadvantage she’d had in growing up in such a cold home. “My mom wasn’t the milk-and-cookies type,” she said with a brittle laugh. “My dad wasn’t so hot in the kitchen, either.”

“I know you don’t like to hear this, Grace,” Martin said after she joined him at the table. “But you’re strong enough to know that you’re important. I know your parents have put you through the wringer, but you have to remember that you’re a survivor and what your parents have done or said, or didn’t do or say, doesn’t define who you are.”

“I was just making a joke, Mr. Whitman. I know that.” Grace wished she had just kept her mouth shut.

“There are a lot of truths in jokes,” he told her.

“Sometimes,” she said, then lifted her coffee cup to her mouth to keep herself from saying more. Why did she want to bare her soul to this man? It had always been that way. She blamed his eyes, his beautiful, soulful eyes.

“I’m not going to push you, Grace. And I know you have Sage, and Spence, and Cam, and even Michael and Jackson. Our family loves you as one of our own. As long as you know that, you’ll always be just fine.”

“I do know that,” she said, her voice quiet.

“All right, we’ve gotten that out of the way. Tell me what you’ve been so busy with lately.”

Grace somehow managed to switch gears, and spent the next fifteen minutes telling him about her event-planning business. It was easy to talk to him because he seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say.

“. . . so I am locked in to planning Kitty Grier’s wedding. She’s a spoiled socialite who wants her way about everything. I haven’t even met the groom, and most likely won’t until the wedding day. In those circles, the wedding isn’t about the man, it’s all about how much the bride can outdo her so-called best friends’ weddings. I’m not saying I don’t enjoy large weddings. I’m just saying that sometimes it gets a little over-the-top.”

“I like over-the-top weddings. But the groom most certainly is a part of the ceremony,” Martin said, chortling.

“Yes, yes, he is,” Grace said with a sigh.

“You will make a beautiful bride one day, Gracie,” Martin said, taking her hand again.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever marry. It wasn’t like I had a good example of marriage from my parents.”

“No, you didn’t, but, oh, how I loved my wife before she left this world. It was far too soon. And I have many friends in beautiful marriages,” he told her. “And just look at how happy your best friend and Spence are right now.”

“Yes, I’ve never seen Sage so happy, but that’s because Spence puts her on a pedestal. That man would die for her,” Grace said with only the slightest taste of envy on her tongue.

“I’ve seen a certain person look at you in exactly the same way that Spence looks at Sage,” Martin said with a raised eyebrow.

Grace didn’t know what to say, and she was saved from having to answer by Cam, who picked that moment to walk through the door.

“You both went silent awfully fast when I came in,” Cam said, and his lips quirked up at the corners.

When he gave his dad a hug, then kissed her on the cheek, Grace was shocked to realize that, yes, she wanted him to gaze at her the way Spence did at Sage. How sappy could she get?

But at the same time, that thought terrified her. Because if he did, she would have to let down the walls of protection around her heart. And Grace didn’t think she could do that—because if she let them down and her heart was broken again, it would never be repaired.

“I’ve enjoyed the visit, Grace—and tell Sally that her cake was the second-sweetest thing in the house—but I must run,” Martin said. “I have a date.” He stood, then bent down and kissed the cheek opposite the one Cam had just grazed with his lips.

“Leaving as soon as I get in, Father?” Cam asked.

“I always want to visit with you, son,” Martin told Cam. “But time is money—for you, at least. Don’t you do anything to my girl.” And then he was gone, leaving his son alone with Grace—exactly where Cam wanted to be.

“I wonder what he thinks I’ll do to you,” Cam said. Hell, he wouldn’t mind doing all sorts of things to or, better, with her. First and foremost, he’d like nothing more than to carry her upstairs to his room and finally make proper love to her. Those teasing sessions they both seemed so set on were getting a little old, although they were better than nothing.

“You’ve been known to play less than fair,” Grace told him as she picked at her barely touched slice of cake.

“You know that man has always loved you, don’t you?”

Cam sat down and grabbed an extra fork from the table, then took a large bite off her plate. Grace pushed it toward him. She’d lost her appetite.

“Yes, and I’ve always had a soft spot for him. Your father is a kind and gentle man,” she said, adoration shining in her eyes.

“He has his grumpy days . . . but not too often.” Cam finished off the cake in no time before getting up and pouring himself a cup of coffee.

“I can honestly say that I’ve never seen your father in a bad mood. I don’t believe he’s capable of it.”

“The time my brothers and I decided to make a long rope of his expensive silk ties and climb from the second-story window—I’d say his language was pretty darn harsh,” Cam said, thinking back fondly. The “rope” had broken halfway down, with Cam landing on what would be his very bruised ass.