It was dusk when Blake approached Tomas’s room at the end of the hall. A nurse came out as Blake reached the door, and Blake was about to say hello, when she heard Cam’s voice coming from inside the room. She’d waited all day before riding in with Sloane to see Tomas, wanting to give Cam the space she seemed to have wanted. But Blake, apparently, hadn’t waited long enough.
She heard Cam speak again, and she didn’t want to pry, but she needed to know if Cam intended to stay.
“Excuse me,” Blake said to the nurse, catching her before she got too far away. “Do you speak English?”
“Yes.”
Blake pointed at the door, which was partially ajar. “Do you know if the woman with the short, dark hair is going to be leaving anytime soon?”
The nurse came back and looked inside.
“Santi? I don’t know. She’s been here all day.”
“You know her?” Did Cam know everyone in this part of Mexico?
She shrugged. “She’s been here all day and she bought us all lunch. Everyone on the day shift knows her now.”
Blake stared at her in disbelief. But she didn’t know why anything she heard about Cam surprised her anymore. Cam was undeniably a very gracious, well-liked person who did a lot for people. The nurse further verifying that wasn’t what amazed her, it was how she was feeling in response to that verification that was astonishing.
A loud gasp, followed by a short shriek, came from the room. The nurse and Blake both pushed the door open farther. Cam was standing next to Tomas’s bed in the firm embrace of a woman and three children. They were smiling through tears, all of them talking at once.
“What’s going on?” Blake whispered to the nurse.
The woman listened for a moment, then returned the door to its previous position.
“Sounds like Santi has offered to cover any medical costs and to help support them until he recovers.” She leaned in and listened some more. “They are very grateful.”
Blake could hear their gratitude through the emotion in their voices. Her own heart was full and heavy with the weight of Cam’s generosity.
The door was pulled open without warning. One of the children blinked at Blake and the nurse, who quickly excused herself and hurried down the hall.
“Uh, hi,” Blake said as everyone turned to look at her.
“Hola,” the young man holding the door said.
Cam said something and the woman hugging her came to Blake, arms wide, and clung to her affectionately as she escorted her into the room. She spoke quickly and motioned toward Cam and then to Tomas, who gave Blake a tired but genuine smile.
Blake nodded, unsure how to respond.
“She’s glad you’re here,” Cam said. “They’ve been wanting to thank you.”
“Oh. I—tell them—”
“Don’t try to tell them it’s not necessary. They won’t accept that.”
“Oh.” Blake took the woman’s hands and squeezed. “De nada. De nada.”
She beamed at Blake, nodded, and enveloped her in a tight hug. She waved over the children who embraced her too. Blake smiled at them and at Tomas, who looked better than she’d expected. Then she glanced at Cam who appeared sentimental.
“That’s his wife, Alicia,” Cam said. “And their children, Gabe, Pedro, and Izza. They are good people,” Cam said. “A very close family.”
Alicia led Blake to Tomas, who thanked her and told her how he was feeling, most of which was translated by Cam. Blake discussed his condition with him, learned what his doctors had said, and reassured him he was going to be okay. She was so happy he was doing so well.
When his eyes grew heavy a few moments later, Blake gave his hand a squeeze and said good-bye. Alicia took her place and brushed his hair with her hand and kissed his face.
Blake said good-bye to the kids and quietly walked to the door. Cam joined her, reaching for the handle before she could.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt your visit,” Blake said. “I thought—”
She stepped into the hall as Cam held the door for her.
“He needs to rest,” Cam said. “So, don’t worry about it.”
Blake’s phone alerted her to a text. She pulled it from her back pocket, read it, and sighed. “Damn it, Sloane.”
“What is it?” Cam asked as they made their way toward the main entrance.
Blake was texting back. “I don’t know. She’s acting crazy.”
Another text came in response to hers. She dropped her hands. “What the hell?”
Cam questioned her with her raised brow.
“She says she can’t come and get me like we had planned. Something about—being tied up and she can’t get away any time soon. I don’t know. She’s not making a lot of sense.”
Cam made a noise like she wasn’t surprised.
“What?” Blake asked.
“She messaged me about an hour ago and asked if I was still here at the hospital. And if so, for how much longer. I told her I was leaving around seven.”
Blake checked the time on her phone. She slid the device in her pocket and rubbed her temples.
“I can’t believe her.”
Cam laughed. “They are clever, those friends of yours.”
“They’re insane.” They exited through the main doors and stepped out into the night. Blake stopped at the curb and searched for a cab.
Cam looked back at her when she realized she wasn’t next to her. “You coming?”
“No, I’ll just get a cab or something.”
“Why?”
“I’m—pissed and embarrassed. I can’t believe the extremes they’ll seem to go to to—”
Cam cocked a single eyebrow. “Throw us together?”
“Yes. And I don’t want to intrude on you.”
Cam came back to her and took her hand. “Come on. I can use some company, so you aren’t intruding. As for Sloane and McKenna? You can chew them out when we get back.”
“I can’t wait,” Blake said, falling into step next to her, trying her hardest not to melt at the simple feel of her hand in hers. What would walking on the beach with Cam hand in hand be like? Would it be as nice as this? She imagined it would be even better.
They reached the Land Rover and climbed inside, both buckling up. Cam pushed the button to start the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. Blake was uncertain at how Cam was going to be on the ride home. She’d been distraught earlier about having to drive Lexi’s vehicle and though she seemed at ease now, Blake wondered if she truly was.
“Are you feeling better today? After having rested last night?”
“If you could call it rest.”
“I wasn’t referring to our—”
“I know. But even after you left, I didn’t get much sleep.”
Cam tightened her one-handed grip on the steering wheel and Blake tried to get a better look at her expression, but the interior glow from the dash wasn’t sufficient enough for her to discern subtleties.
“I do feel better knowing Tomas is doing well. Seeing him today helped a lot.”
“You really care about him and his family.”
Cam glanced at her. “They’re my friends and they’re good people. So, yes I care.”
“You care a great deal,” Blake said.
Cam didn’t respond for a few seconds. “What do you think of the Rover?” She was making an attempt to sound lighthearted and she even smiled.
“It’s very nice. It still smells new.” She ran her hand along the side of the leather seat.
“Think Tomas and his family would like it?”
“I—don’t know.”
“They only have one vehicle right now. Tomas’s little truck. The kids usually have to ride in the bed when they all go somewhere together. Makes me nervous. So, I’m going to give them this.”
“Do you think they’ll accept it?”
Cam laughed. “I’m sure Tomas will fight it just like he always has when I’ve offered to get him another car, but right now it’s needed more than ever. With his mother, his in-laws, and his wife’s aunt now living with them, they really need another vehicle. A bigger vehicle. So, if I show up with this and give it to Tomas in front of the whole family and explain why it is they need it, I think Tomas will accept it. He’ll say it’s too fancy and too expensive, I’m expecting that. But I’ll just tell him he can sell it and buy something more practical if he wants. Spend the difference on other things. Whatever he wants to do. I just want to make sure this goes to someone special for a good cause.”
“Do you think he’ll sell it?”
“They’ll drive it for a while. Enjoy it. After that, I don’t know for sure. They’re very practical, so they’ll probably sell it. But then again, Tomas is sentimental. He likes this car and he knows what it represents to me.”
“It wouldn’t bother you if he sold it?”
She seemed to think for a moment. “If you’d asked me that before today I would’ve said yes, there’s no way I’m getting rid of it, much less selling it. But after…yesterday and my drive in it this morning, I feel differently. It’s time to let this go. It’s not doing anyone any good sitting in my garage. Giving it to Tomas would be what Lexi would’ve preferred.”
Yesterday.
Was Cam referring to their passionate consummation on the couch, or what she went through with Tomas’s accident? It could be, she surmised, both. But Blake’s mind was fixated on their encounter. It had been replaying in her mind relentlessly. Her body craved her, as if what had transpired between them had only planted a seed of desire, and every moment since, the yearning that sprouted from it grew bigger and thicker, spreading out into her body, invading every crevice until she could feel the ends pressing into the tips of her fingers and toes. She could feel them now, urging, pushing against her skin.
Blake shifted her focus back to Cam’s generosity and change of heart over the car.
“Lexi sounds like she was a lot like you in wanting to help people.”
“She was.”
“I’m glad you’ve found a solution. You seem more at peace than you did earlier this morning.”
“I am, thanks.” She leaned back and exhaled and Blake could sense her relief at her decision.
“It’s very generous of you, Cam. Giving this to Tomas and helping him with his bills while he recovers. It’s very kind.”
Cam looked at her. “How do you know about that? About the bills?”
Blake met her gaze as a tiny surge of panic surfaced. “I’m not supposed to know that, am I?” She tucked her hair back over her ear as she waited for Cam to say something. But she didn’t say anything. Blake explained. “I overheard you talking to Tomas and his family at the hospital. The nurse that had been in the room with you, translated for me when she came out. I shouldn’t have asked her to tell me what was being said, but I heard all the commotion and…well, I’m glad I did.” She watched Cam closely. “It allowed me to see another side of you. One that I had seen glimpses of and knew was there, but really loved seeing completely. You not only give your time and your love and loyalty to people, but you give your money and things that have value to you. That’s not something I see every day.”
Blake saw her swallow and she shrugged just before she spoke.
“Money—doesn’t mean to me what it used to. It’s not everything. Not what life should be about. And I have more than any one person needs, so I help others when I can.”
Blake smiled warmly at her, but she knew she couldn’t see it. It didn’t matter though. Cam had touched her heart and she longed to reach out and take her hand in hers. Cam, however, focused on the road, and they drove the remainder of the two hours home in comfortable silence, with Blake leaving her to her thoughts.
When they neared the turnoff to the dunes, Blake glanced over at her and found her staring at her.
“Why haven’t you said anything about my writing?” she asked.
Blake was totally thrown. She just looked at her.
“Everyone else has asked me things and commented. Even Sloane. But not you.”
“I wanted to respect your privacy.”
Cam studied her. “I appreciate that. But is that the only reason? You usually aren’t shy about sharing your thoughts and opinions. I thought for sure you’d have something to say about what I do. Even if you’ve read some of my work and disliked it, you’d say something.” She grinned toward the road.
“I haven’t read your books,” Blake said.
“Maybe that’ll give you something to look forward to. So you can razz me about how silly and unrealistic they are.”
She was joking but Blake couldn’t bring herself to laugh.
Cam questioned her again. “No? Maybe not. They’re probably not your thing. Just like the romances.”
Blake stared out the window into the darkness, thinking about Cam’s question. She hadn’t read any of Cam’s work, but she had heard of her and her books. Her own mother was actually a fan. And Sage had done nothing but talk about her since the night of the beach fire, filling in the gaps of her knowledge.
Cam was successful, popular, and apparently, a very good writer. And, according to Sage, rather wealthy. But Blake didn’t care about any of that. Her success wasn’t what crawled into her chest and made her ache with a torturous sweetness and excitement. The way she felt went a whole lot deeper than that, but until now, she hadn’t been able to fully discern it.
They pulled off the main road and Cam changed the setting on the Terrain Response system to sand as they began the drive through the dunes. Blake tried to keep her focus on the well-packed dirt road, but that insistent desire growing and twisting inside her made it impossible. Her heart raced and she had so much she wanted to express to Cam but knew how difficult it would be to get a private moment to do so back at the beach.
She closed her eyes, gripped the door, and tried to steady her breathing. And then she spoke into the dark silence between them.
“Pull over.”