Chapter 21

Is it time for ice cream now?” Ollie asked that evening as he used Gran’s low stone garden wall as a racetrack for his Hot Wheels. Every time a car crashed to the ground, Jagger jumped and Bowie ran to sniff it, something Ollie obviously found fascinating, as he did it over and over again. Hadley stood by with Kit and Darla, enjoying the dogs’ antics and the beautiful evening on the patio as the sun began to set.

Hadley felt like she was in a different world. Maybe she’d dreamed everything about the other day—the reckless feeling of freedom, the picnic lunch, Cam’s kisses.

Cam’s kisses. Oh, those kisses that made her head reel and her heart squeeze and made her feel light-headed, as if she were eighteen again. Those kisses put Cooper to shame and made her heartache over him fade into the background just like the setting sun in front of them that was currently preparing to plunge into the sea.

Yet she had to be smarter than to get swept away like when she was a girl. She knew it was too soon after Cooper to jump into another relationship, especially with a man who was grappling with his own issues. A man who’d left her before as a result of his own struggles.

Plus, she was in the middle of creating a dog rescue that would soon need a solid commitment if it was to continue. And what about her job?

“Right, Hadley?” Kit asked.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” She was suddenly aware of her friends staring at her on the small patio. “What did you say?”

“Ollie’s haircut. Do you still have time to do it? Please?”

“No, Mommy,” Ollie said, shaking his head vigorously, which showcased his riot of curls. “No haircut.”

Hadley ruffled his mop of hair. “Is Ollie under all these curls? Hmmm. Let me check.” She pushed back the hair covering his eyes and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Oh my gosh, there you are.”

Ollie pushed his hair out of his eyes. “Aunt Hadley, I don’t want a haircut. I like my hair long.”

Kit said quietly to Hadley, “Look. I really believe that if he was older I would say he doesn’t have to follow the crowd and he could just be himself because that’s the way I feel. But I’d also like him to see what he’s doing and also show him there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Too bad Hadley hadn’t taken that lesson to heart herself. If she had, maybe she’d be heading up a whole bunch of dog rescues instead of enabling the bad behavior of celebrities.

Darla sat on the wall next to Ollie and said, “We’re going to make delicious sundaes and you can put anything you want on yours. After your haircut.”

Ollie stuck out his lower lip.

“I have chocolate ice cream,” Hadley said. “And hot fudge sauce.”

“I want vanilla,” he said, hugging Hadley and then giggling.

“…and a puppy,” Ollie qualified, still giggling. “One of your puppies,” he said, pointing at Hadley.

“Oh, one of my puppies, huh?” She glanced over at Kit, who had a stern look on her face. “Tell you what. Let’s do the haircut first and then the ice cream. The puppy you’ll have to take up with your mom.”

“She said no puppy,” he said, sticking out his lower lip again.

“Kit, this kid is so stinking cute.” Hadley kissed his head. “How do you ever discipline him?”

Kit rolled her eyes and laughed. “With everything that’s happened, thank goodness I got a kid who’s easygoing and lighthearted. For the most part.” She blew him an air kiss. “I love you, Oliver Wendell, but it’s time for a haircut.”

“No, Mommy,” her easygoing kid said.

Just then the sun decided to set, flaming down in a spectacular show of orange, purple, and salmon that made Hadley’s breath catch.

“You never forget about the spectacular sunsets when you leave here,” Darla said as she sipped some wine. “It makes it even better when you come back.”

“You’re right,” Hadley said. “I missed them too.” She stole one last furtive glance next door. No lights on. Where was Cam? Had he forgotten her invitation?

Meanwhile the sun plunged below the horizon in one last brilliant ball of light, mesmerizing all of them, even Ollie.

Except Darla, who whispered in her ear, “Why do you keep looking next door? Did I miss something?”

“Oh, no,” she said, downplaying all the rampant emotions that were threatening to burst out of her at any moment. “It’s nothing. Cam might stop over is all.”

“‘Cam might stop over, is all’?” Darla echoed, lifting her brows.

“I’d love to discuss this with you but I have a haircut to prepare for.” Hadley chuckled as she walked into the house and came back with a tall chair with a sturdy back.

When she returned, Ollie was watering her grandmother’s geraniums, and judging by the looks her friends were giving her, they were talking about her behind her back—again.

“I’m scared, Aunt Hadwey,” Ollie said as he eyed the dreaded high-backed chair and the makeshift cape in Hadley’s other hand, which was actually one of her grandmother’s small tablecloths that she’d commandeered.

“Time to put on the Avenger cape,” Hadley said. It was a print tablecloth with a wild floral pattern all over it, but oh well. “And no worries, Ollie. I promise it won’t hurt.”

Ollie crossed his arms and sat down on the wall. “Don’t want it!” he said.

“Ollie, please just let Aunt Hadley cut your hair!” Kit said, her frustration seeping out around the edges.

“We’re going to get the ice cream sundae stuff ready to celebrate when your haircut’s done, okay, Ollie?” Darla steered Kit toward the kitchen. “Call us if you need anything,” she said to Hadley over her shoulder.

Hadley gave Darla a grateful look, but at the same time it occurred to her that she was now on her own to deal with Ollie’s fear.

Hadley wanted this to be the least of Kit’s worries, so she walked around Ollie’s chair and faced him, leaning against the patio table.

Maybe she didn’t know that much about young children, but she did know dogs, and they could be a great emergency distraction if all else failed. She reached into her shorts pocket and pulled out two bone-shaped dog biscuits.

“Will you hold these for Jagger and Bowie?” she asked.

He nodded and held out his hand while she broke them into little pieces as the dogs immediately crowded around, much to Ollie’s delight.

“I have an idea,” she said, pulling out her phone and hitting the search bar. She showed him a photo. “How about something like that?”

His little face lit up.

Oh hurray. “If we start now, the ice cream will be ready when we’re done.”

“Do you promise it won’t hurt?” His eyes, so like Kit’s, were huge and round.

“Promise,” she said, holding out her pinkie to lock with his.

She found her hands shaking a little. Not because Ollie was scared but because she was. And his hair was gorgeous—silky and golden blond—and she felt like she was cutting something precious, like Delilah hacking Samson’s locks. Also, if Ollie or Kit wasn’t pleased with the outcome…well, she wasn’t going to go there.

She wasn’t sure who was more nervous, her or Ollie. Amid a constant stream of chatter aimed to distract and amuse, and the tossing of more dog biscuits than either dog needed, finally it was done.

“Ollie,” she said, putting her hands on his little shoulders. “You look so handsome. Want to see?”

He nodded, his expression wary. Please, God, Hadley prayed. Please let him like it.

She handed Ollie a mirror as Darla held Kit at bay in the doorway.

“What do you think?” Hadley held the mirror so he could see.

He examined himself carefully, scrutinizing from several angles. “I like it.” He gave a wide grin. “I’m handsome. Look, Mommy!”

Thank goodness. As Hadley placed the scissors out of reach of little hands, she realized she’d broken out in a total-body sweat from worry. “Very handsome,” Hadley said.

“Mommy,” Ollie called. “Come see me. I look like Daddy!”

Kit walked over, her eyes tearing up a little. “Yes, you do, my handsome boy!” she said, giving him a kiss.

“I didn’t realize that was the style I was going for, Kit,” Hadley said in a low voice. The last thing she wanted to do was give Kit a reminder of Carson, who probably wouldn’t have cared one way or another about his son’s long tresses.

Kit gave her a hug. “It’s wonderful. How can I thank you?”

“Super cute,” Darla said, taking her turn. “Hadley, you’re really talented.”

“I know,” she said a little smugly. “It was actually fun.”

“Nice fade, buddy,” came a deep voice from behind her.

Cam. The simple sight of him walking over from his back patio started her heart knocking crazily in her chest. He stopped next to her, his arm lightly grazing hers, flashing her a quick and knowing smile that made her knees threaten to buckle, before fist-bumping Ollie. “My man,” he said, to which Ollie grinned even more.

“It’s short like yours,” he said to Cam. “And long, too, on top.”

“Hidden talent?” Cam asked, giving Hadley a head-to-toe look that made her toes curl.

She shrugged and flashed him a smile. “One of many.”

Had she just blatantly flirted with him? One look at her friends showed they were both staring. Well, she couldn’t help the giddy way he made her feel.

Cam, nonplussed, grinned and gave her a long, appreciative look before turning to Ollie. Hadley could barely hear him talking to Ollie and her friends over the sudden swooshing of blood in her ears. She felt dizzy and breathless. Putting a hand to her chest to try to calm her heart did nothing to stop this whole-body meltdown. She was doomed.

“Is it time for ice cream now?” Ollie asked, trying to pull the knotted tablecloth from his neck.

She freed him from the makeshift cape. “Yes, my sweet. Time for ice cream.”

Then just like that, he scooted down from the chair. Kit picked him up and twirled him around. From across the patio, she mouthed, “Thank you.”

Darla turned to Hadley. “I’ll go start dishing out the ice cream. Can I make you a sundae?”

“After all that, I’d rather have wine,” she said. “I’ll be there in a sec. I just want to sweep up.”

When she returned with a broom and dustpan, she found Cam lingering outside. “You’re amazing,” he said quietly as he leaned against the outdoor table, watching her. She pretended to shrug off the compliment, but the heat that rose to her cheeks revealed that she was pleased.

“It turned out all right,” she said as she leaned the broom against the house and they headed inside to join the others. It didn’t seem like he’d been talking solely about her haircutting skills. His look was too intense. Too hungry.

“I’m glad you came over,” she said. “Can you…stay awhile?”

“Sure,” he said. “We can…talk.” He was staring at her in a way that made her forget to breathe.

“Hey, you two, ice cream’s melting!” Darla called.

“You heard her.” Hadley struggled for sense. “Ice cream’s melting.”

So were her insides. Her brain was having a meltdown too.

Ice cream was Hadley’s favorite food, but it could’ve well been a bowl of sand she was eating because her appetite was shot. After the sundaes, Kit went on a hunt to round up all of Ollie’s various little cars and dinosaurs, one of which mysteriously ended up in Jagger’s bed, and she discovered a few more sticking up in the dirt around the potted plants. Cam surprised Ollie by hoisting him up on his shoulders and walking him around the patio, prowling around and growling and pretending they were T. rexes.

“It’s getting late,” Kit said to Hadley. “See you tomorrow, okay?” Ollie was clawing leaves on a tree and he and Cam were making chomping noises. She lifted a poignant brow at Hadley that might’ve meant What a great guy but didn’t say anything. As Cam headed over, Ollie handed Kit a bloom from a bright pink Mandevilla vine that was climbing a trellis on the side of the patio. “Here, Mommy. Put it in your hair.”

Kit stuck it behind her ear and held out her arms for her son. “Time to go, bud. What do you say to Cam and Aunt Hadley?”

“Thank you for the haircut, Aunt Hadwey,” Ollie said, bending to give her a kiss. “Bye, Cam,” he added a little shyly, then kissed him on the cheek too.

“Anytime, buddy,” Cam said, looking a little taken aback. “Next time bring a ball, okay?”

He rubbed his eyes and held out his fist for Cam to bump.

“You just said the magic word,” Kit said. Then she turned to Darla. “I’ve got to go before somebody falls asleep in the car.”

“I’m coming,” Darla said, who had caught a ride with Kit. To Hadley, she said, “Thanks for a fun evening.” Then she dropped her voice and winked. “Hope your fun is just getting started.”

As they left, Hadley could hear Ollie saying, “I’m not going to fall asleep in the car,” as he rested his head drowsily on his mom’s shoulder.

Cam didn’t appear to be in a rush to go anywhere. “She’s so good with him,” Hadley said, desperate to fill a sudden void. Because now they were alone. “It’s hard though. She worries about him not having a male role model. So I’m sure your offer to play ball is much appreciated.”

“Well, I happen to love to play ball,” he said, grinning.

Hadley cleared her throat. “Well.” She grabbed the broom again and did another sweep. She must’ve swept the hair out from under that chair seventeen times. Her obsessive cleaning skills would make Gran proud.

As the sky faded to indigo over the sea and the summer surf churned softly in the distance, she was filled with that familiar longing again, rolling through her stomach and making her heart beat with anticipation—but for what exactly? Sex? Admittedly, yes, sure. For connection, love, the start of a real relationship?

It had only been four months since Cooper. How could she know what she wanted in that short amount of time?

And she was leaving.

And what if he left her? He’d done it once before. She understood all his angst over his injury, his need to restart his life…and how all that uncertainty could lead to another heartbreak.

And that’s not even mentioning the building.

All great reasons to go running in the opposite direction. Yet her heart whispered, Stay. And the very air felt electric with possibility after those incredible kisses on the beach. Try as she might, she simply couldn’t muster up any regrets.

As if sensing her turmoil, Cam walked over to the chair vacated by Ollie. Hadley thought he was going to pick it up and carry it back into the house, but he sat down instead. “Actually…,” he said, raking his hands through his hair and shooting her a sheepish half-smile. “Would you mind?”

“Mind?” Mind what?

He smiled at her confusion. “I’m sort of desperate for a haircut. They want me to take photos tomorrow with the team.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Of course he was, because he could afford a two-hundred-dollar haircut. And getting one for a picture with a high school team? Hardly a hair emergency.

Plus…if he was serious, which she very much doubted he was, in order to cut his hair, she’d have to touch him. And that would remind her again of their time at the beach and…well, she was shaking a little just thinking about it. “I literally haven’t done a guy in years,” she said.

Oh no. Did she actually just say that? “I mean, cut a guy’s hair. I haven’t done an adult male haircut in a long time.”

Okaaay. Maybe that would scare him enough to redirect this conversation.

He sat there unfazed, his full lips quirked up in a smile. “I’m sure cutting hair is like riding a bike.”

“You never forget how to do it?”

“You might fall off and get hurt, but you get back on and discover it’s not so scary as you thought—with the right person.”

She frowned, pretty sure they weren’t talking about haircuts anymore.

Hadley crossed her arms and tried to rein this discussion in. “Maybe I used to cut your hair back in the day when you were saving every penny.” She held up her hands defensively. “But I really don’t want to be known as the one who ruined Tony Cammareri’s hair.”

“You used to do a really nice job, remember?”

Oh no. No, no, no. She did not want to remember. Yes, she used to give him haircuts, but…but there were certain other things that went along with those haircuts. Like talking and laughing and kissing. Sometimes lots of kissing. And other things. Haircuts that devolved into full blown make-out sessions that ended up…well, where they would’ve ended up if those kids hadn’t shown up.

Yeah. She was suddenly having another hot flash, twenty years too soon.

When she’d hated him, she didn’t think about the possibility of him walking into her house and her life and her bed. She didn’t have…fantasies. She didn’t…imagine. When you didn’t indulge in pretending, you didn’t set yourself up for another heartbreak.

And he just might be a heartbreak waiting to happen.

And she was a smart woman. She’d let him break her heart once. But twice? Never.

“You’re not afraid, are you?” he asked.

“Afraid?” She swallowed hard. “Of ruining your hair?” She was as afraid of touching him, yet the pull toward him was a magnet she was completely helpless against. “You can afford to have someone fly in from New York straight to your doorstep and cut your hair. You don’t need an amateur who learned her trade from YouTube videos.”

“Please?” He rubbed his neck in a self-conscious gesture she found endearing. “It’s getting really long.” Then he pointed to the top of the brick garden wall. “Look, all your stuff is right there.”

He was prodding her. Egging her on in his usual amiable, irresistible way.

She was kidding if she told herself this was just a haircut. Touching him would be, in this case…intimate. Sensual. And it would have consequences she wasn’t sure she was ready for.