The night of the gala couldn’t have been more ideal if fairies had sprinkled magical dust to paint the evening sky in hues of salmon and orange and the glassy ocean in deep midnight blues. There was even a full moon over the boardwalk.
The stunning color show made Hadley emotional and breathless with wonder. Or was it that her heart was so full, every sense seemed to be heightened?
In front of her on the grass of the beachside park, a sea of tables was set with bright yellow cloths. The boardwalk, which was doubling as a dance floor, was lined with rows of white lights. And the calmly rolling ocean served as the dramatic soundtrack to a picture-perfect setting.
Hadley had just complimented Maggie Hakutani and her daughter on the gorgeous orange and white gladiolas in tall glass vases on every table that were lit inside with tiny lights.
Everything was ready. It was as if the entire harbor were holding its breath, waiting for the guests, who were starting to arrive.
“Um, excuse me,” a voice said from behind her. “Are you the person in charge?”
She whirled around to find Cam standing there. He wore a simple black collared shirt, khaki shorts, and nice flip-flops, casual attire that most men would be wearing this evening. Darkly handsome, confident, and elegant, he simply took her breath away as he leaned against a tree, looking like everything she’d ever wanted. And he happened to have one of Lucy’s fancy drinks in his hand, which she hoped was for her.
“Hey there,” she said.
“Well, hello,” Cam said, giving a low whistle as his gaze traveled over her. She was wearing a simple black dress overlaid with black lace and cute sandals. Nothing special. But the way he looked at her made her feel…beautiful.
He held out the drink. “They told me to bring this to the badass lady with the headset.”
She shrugged. “All in a day, Cammareri.” Adjusting her headset, she took a sip of the drink he’d brought her and sighed. “That’s delicious. Better take it away until later.”
He snuck a quick kiss.
“I thought there was no PDA.” Not that she was protesting.
“That was just for good luck,” he said. “My way of being helpful.”
She laughed nervously. “That kind of help makes me forget everything I have to do.”
He straightened her headset and took back the drink. “You’re too good for that.”
“Are you nervous?” she asked.
“Yes,” he admitted. “But I’m also really excited. I can’t wait to see people enjoy our food. Thanks for letting my family do this. It meant a lot to my dad and my sister.”
“What does it mean to you?” she asked.
“I know what you’re trying to get me to do. Say I love feeding people.”
“Well?” she asked.
“Okay, fine. Yes. I’m really excited. I’m headed to the food tent now to help out. I think everything else is in control. You need anything?”
They’d agreed she would stomp out fires while he went to check on his family. “All is well—so far, anyway. We worked hard on this.”
“We worked hard on this together,” he amended. “See you after dinner?” He whispered something in her ear as they parted ways.
“See you,” she said weakly as she waved him off. When she finally got her wits about her, she walked over to the boardwalk, where a local band was setting up.
“Your cheeks are blazing,” Kit said with a wide smile.
Darla hugged her. “We saw him kiss you,” she reported like they were back in high school. “On the lips.”
Kit suddenly looked teary.
“Kit! What?” Hadley said.
“It’s…it’s wonderful to see you happy,” she said.
“I’m afraid to say it, but I am happy,” Hadley said. “But I’m not calling this anything. We’re just…we’re just…”
“Completely smitten,” Darla said, letting Hadley take a sip of her gin and tonic.
“Taking it one day at a time,” Kit suggested.
Hadley nodded, swiping at her own eyes. “Both of those.”
“I’m thrilled for you,” Kit said. “I’ve always liked Cam.”
“But Darla was ready to hang him up by the balls a few weeks ago,” Hadley said.
“I know but…I’ve decided he deserves a second chance.” She gave a resigned sigh. “He gave my mom some Giants wear, and she can’t stop talking about how wonderful he is.”
“Speaking of second chances,” Kit said to Darla, “I’ve heard Nick’s been working at your house every day this week.”
“He convinced me to let him fix my porch roof.”
“That’s pretty impressive considering the Cammareris don’t usually touch any house less than a century old,” Kit said. “Has he offered to do anything else for you?” Kit nudged Darla with her elbow.
“It’s not like that,” Darla said, but her fingers flitted nervously around her drink. “I’m just glad we can hold a conversation without getting angry with one another.”
“Nick helped my parents remodel their powder room and only charged them the cost of the materials,” Kit said.
“He’s a nice guy,” Hadley said. “Funny too.”
“He’s the same old Nick,” Darla said. “I mean, I get why I fell in love with him in the first place. He still tells the stupidest jokes. And he still has that same ratty vintage baseball cap collection. One day he showed up with one he bought on our honeymoon in Savannah. Weird, huh?”
Weird. That was one word for it…
“Speak of the devil,” Kit said, nodding toward the boardwalk.
And suddenly there Nick was, walking across the grass near the boardwalk. He stopped to speak to Cam, who was chatting with the valet parking staff. Hadley couldn’t help but notice Darla looking with interest but pretending not to, a move they’d all perfected well during their teenage years.
“Maybe he’ll ask you to dance later,” Kit said.
“What is this, high school?” Darla waved a hand in dismissal. “I don’t want to dance with him.”
As they talked, a woman walked up to Nick and kissed him. He laughed and put his arm around her.
Darla’s eyes grew wide for a flash of a second.
“Oh,” Kit said. “Lauren. I’d forgotten about her.”
Darla tore her gaze away. “I’m definitely not interested in rehashing anything with him. And I hope he’s happy with her. Really. I wish him the best.”
Darla exercised her usual restraint about showing her feelings, but Hadley could tell from the way she forced a convincing tone and the way she suddenly fidgeted with her phone, that she was affected more than she let on.
“Oh, there are my mom and dad, standing by the fountain waving,” Kit said, waving back. “My first night in a century without Ollie and my parents are here to watch my every move.”
“Maybe they’ll leave early,” Darla said hopefully.
“I hope so,” Kit said, “because I’m really looking forward to those pineapple drinks with all the froth.”
“You mean piña coladas?” Darla said.
“Um, they’re called Tequila Sunsets,” Lucy said as she flew by with a large tinfoil-covered pan.
“They’re delicious,” Hadley said. “Lucy created them just for tonight.”
“You did?” Darla asked.
“Not only is it orangey and frothy,” Lucy said, “but it also has a little kick. Let me know how you like it.” She was out of breath as she rushed past them to the food tent.
“I want one,” Darla said. “Right now.”
“Parents or no, I’m planning on having two.” Kit looked across the greenspace, where her mom and dad were both still waving and smiling and trying to attract her attention. They all waved back while Kit let out a telling sigh. “I’d better go. See you both in a bit. Everything looks fantastic, Hadley.”
“Thanks,” Hadley said. “I hope you have a nice time tonight.” Kit deserved to have a little fun, and Hadley vowed to help her more in the future. Maybe she could introduce her to someone. Or babysit Ollie on the weekends.
As she walked off, Hadley asked Darla, “Are you okay?”
“Of course.” Her go-to answer. She survived cancer—she could survive anything. “I know better than to get my hopes up about Nick, okay?” she said. “I was just trying to be his…friend. Since I’m living here now.” She looked Hadley in the eye and gave that smile she always gave when she was trying to be tough and upbeat, which was nearly all the time. Finding Hadley still staring, she sighed hard. “I think I’m just a little…lonely, you know? And sometimes I wonder if coming back here wasn’t such a good idea after all. It stirs up…things.”
“Want that drink?” Hadley asked. It was the first thing that came to her mind. Because she sure wanted one, too, as soon as her responsibilities were done.
Darla grinned. “You read my mind. I’ll go get us some.” She paused. “You and Cam did an amazing job,” she said, changing the subject. “He’s a good guy, Hadley. I hope everything works out with you two.”
“I still have a lot of things to figure out. Like my future. And whether or not it includes him, I…I just don’t know.”
“But you’re figuring it out,” Darla said. “Bravo for you.”
Hadley left to check out the food tent, which was a crazy flurry of activity. Angelo and Lucy were plating food, Nick was hauling trays, teenagers were serving, and Cam…was nowhere to be found. “Can I help?” she asked Angelo.
“Yes,” he said, looking at her over his glasses as he spooned out pasta and then breaking into a giant smile. “You can go sit down and enjoy a nice dinner. We’ve got everything covered.”
“I second that,” Lucy said as she loaded plates onto serving trays.
Well, like father like son. And daughter, she thought.
Outside Cam was serving tables, smiling and laughing, joking. Everyone seemed delighted to have a famous football player not only serve their food but chat them up as well.
Feeling her responsibilities begin to dwindle, Hadley sat down with Darla. Only to have Cam serve their food himself. “Well?” he asked with concern. “Is it warm? Is it good?”
“It’s perfect,” Darla said, savoring a bite of pasta.
“Darla,” Cam said. “I can’t believe you said that.”
She shrugged and took another bite.
“Save room for dessert,” he said quietly to Hadley with a look that made her blush again before he ran off to serve more people.
“Somehow, I have a feeling he wasn’t talking about the tiramisu,” Darla said.
Hadley was glad she didn’t have to respond to that, because the band started playing. They both happened to look over at the light-strung boardwalk, where Kit was standing near the dance floor…with a guy.
“Parents or no parents, look at that,” Darla said.
“Is that Hal? The insurance adjuster from work that keeps asking her out?” Hadley asked. “She doesn’t look very happy.”
Kit was standing with her arms crossed and shaking her head. A Caribbean-beat song was just getting started, and the lit torches gave a fun island vibe as everyone flocked to the boardwalk.
The guy took her recklessly by the elbow and, laughing, headed to the dance floor. The gesture wasn’t overly rough, and they probably wouldn’t even have noticed except for the fact that Kit wasn’t laughing.
The guy was large and muscle-bound and clearly had already had too much to drink. “I’m going over there,” Hadley called over her shoulder, already rushing away, Darla following right behind her.
“C’mon, Kit,” the guy was saying as they neared. “Quit being a tease. You know you want me.”
Hadley, infuriated, was about to do something—not quite sure what the depths of her outrage would come up with—but someone else got there first. A tall, lean guy with a military cut and his own set of muscles wore an expression thunderous enough to freeze Hadley in her tracks. She suddenly recognized Kit’s rescuer as Alex de la Cruz, Carson’s best friend.
“I don’t think the lady wants to dance,” Alex said, inserting himself between Kit and Hal.
Hal held up his hands defensively. “I just wanted to dance, I swear it, nothing else. I just thought—”
Alex hovered over him. Way over him. “Okay, no thinking. If you don’t back off, you’re going to be dancing with me. And I don’t think you’re going to like my rhythm. You get what I’m saying?”
Hal shook his head, backed away, and vanished into the crowd, leaving Kit to stand there, openmouthed.
“Are you all right?” Alex asked.
“I…um, yes,” Kit said, crossing her arms. “Just a little disappointed.”
His brow rose in surprise.
“…because I might’ve liked to see you dance with him.”
He squinted into the distance. “I can still arrange that, if you’d like.”
“I’m swooning,” Darla whispered to Hadley. “I love a guy in uniform.”
“He’s not wearing his uniform,” Hadley whispered back.
“That’s okay,” Darla said. “He’s still going in my next book.”
“Thanks for helping me,” Kit was saying to Alex. “He’s harmless, just a little drunk. When…did you get into town?”
“Just got here,” Alex said, glancing around. “Thought I’d come check out the celebration.”
“I emailed you,” Kit said. “I told you not to come on my account. I really don’t need help with the McKinnon house. I’m sorry if you didn’t receive it.”
“I got your email,” he said. “I’m actually back home to visit my mom. I’m still on active duty until next spring.”
Kit frowned and opened her mouth to say something but Alex interrupted.
“It’s a shame to waste a good song. Want to dance? I promise I’ll do better than our friend there.”
Kit’s eyes widened in shock. “Dance? Now? With you?”
Say yes was the look that passed between Hadley and Darla. Say yes now.
Alex started to sway to the music. “I love this song. C’mon.”
Kit scanned the crowd, maybe to see if her parents were watching. But then she took his hand.
“I can’t believe she just did that,” Hadley said.
“Me neither,” Darla said. “But just FYI, I’d let him work on my house anytime.”
“Is that Alex?” Cam asked, walking up. “Maybe we need to worry more about him than that jerk who was bothering her. I was ready to give him a piece of my mind until I saw you all had it covered.”
“All I know is I never did get that drink,” Darla said. “Shall I bring three?”
Hadley glanced at her watch. “Thanks anyway, but I’m on the clock for another half hour.”
“I’ll get you one,” Cam offered to Darla.
Darla placed a hand on both their arms. “Go dance. I’ll handle it.”
“Shall we?” Cam asked. “Unless there’s something we need to do in the next five minutes?”
“I did want to check with Lucy one more time. But to be honest, the last time I did that she kicked me out of the kitchen.” She set down her clipboard and removed her headset. “I’d love to dance.”
Cam didn’t hesitate to take her hand and lead her onto the boardwalk.
“We haven’t danced together in a long time,” Hadley said as Cam wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Prom, senior year?”
“Father Martin told us not to dance so close that the Holy Spirit couldn’t fit between us.”
He chuckled and held her close. He was wearing…shaving cream and soap, her favorite aphrodisiacs. “No chaperones tonight,” he said with a smile.
“Just the whole town watching us,” she said. But she couldn’t bring herself to look at anyone but him. For that moment, there was just the two of them on a warm summer night, the stars peeking out above their heads, lights twinkling from far out in the ocean.
“Hi, sweetie,” her mom said, suddenly sailing by on the dance floor with her dad. “Hi, Cam. So nice to see you again.”
“You two are a cute couple,” her dad said, winking before turning to her mom. “Shall we show them our moves?” he asked.
“Moves?” Hadley asked with a creeping sense of horror she hadn’t felt since she was a teenager.
Her mom shrugged. “We’ve been practicing.” Her dad pulled her mom in, released her, and spun her around. After which they both giggled and spun away, leaving Hadley shaking her head in wonderment.
“Your parents are pretty cute.” Cam chuckled, pulling her close again. “Speaking of unexpected, look at that.” Hadley craned her neck to follow his gaze.
Cam’s dad was dancing with Mayellen.
“I totally called that,” Hadley said.
Cam didn’t look surprised. “There must be magic in the air tonight. There’s your grandmother and Paul.” He nodded in their direction. “Let’s dance by and say hi.”
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Hadley asked. “I’m afraid we’re going to get a giant I-told-you-so.”
Cam spun them around just in time for Hadley to see Paul chuckling as he slow danced with her grandmother, who was actually dancing. Cautiously, but nevertheless dancing. She was smiling radiantly into Paul’s eyes.
“Well, look at you two,” Hadley said. “Hi, Paul. I love the bow tie. You look terrific, Gran.”
“Well, look at you two,” Gran said. “You make a great team. Everything turned out amazing. Thanks to both of you, I’m certain we’ve raised a ton of money for the new pediatric outpatient building.”
As they were separated from Gran and Paul by the sea of dancers, Hadley asked Cam, “Do you ever wonder if my gran devised our ‘punishment’ for a reason?”
Cam smiled down at her, his blue eyes twinkling. “Well, it turned out not to be punishment after all. Maybe she knew all along.”
“Knew what?” Hadley asked, looking up at his handsome face. “That we could work together without killing each other?”
He shrugged. “Maybe she knew we just needed a reason to set aside our differences.”
She nodded. “I haven’t even thought about the build—”
“Don’t say it,” he warned. “Not tonight.”
“How did we manage to forget our differences?” she asked.
“People grow and change?” he offered.
Maybe so. Despite all the upheaval and the broken heart that brought her home, Hadley felt…like herself for the first time in a long time. She closed her eyes and gave in to the moment as they swayed slowly to the music.
“Do we have more things to do?” Cam asked softly as the song wound down.
Did the music have to end? Did she have to open her eyes? “I should see if Lucy needs anything,” she murmured against his shoulder, “but I think everything’s taken care of.”
“Good. Because I want to take you home.”
She looked up to find him staring at her, his gaze filled with heat. “Better be careful, Cammareri. If you kiss me on the dance floor, tongues will be a-flapping.”
As the music ended, she stepped back. He looked…amused. With the tiniest gleam in his eye that she was coming to recognize well.
“Well, I should probably do a final pass and thank all the workers and make sure that someone puts the chairs—”
“We’ll get it done together,” he said. Before she knew what was happening, he’d planted his lips on hers and kissed her until she was boneless, until she couldn’t hear that the music had stopped or that people around them had stilled.
And then she heard clapping. And saw the faces of all their people—her mom and dad, Nick and Lauren, Mayellen and Cam’s dad. And the very pleased and overjoyed face of her grandmother, who was standing next to Paul one step away from jumping for joy. Even Mayor Chaudhry and the members of the town council were yelling, “Bravo! Bravo!”
Cam, completely nonplussed by the fact that he’d outed them to the entire town, bent and whispered in her ear.
She somehow got her wits about her enough to whisper a few choice things back. And this time—she swore she saw it—he blushed.