Hometown Holiday Reunion

“I’ve been renting the bottom half of the old Johnson place for the past couple of years, but they’ve been hinting at selling it so they can move to Ohio to be closer to their grandkids. When Judge Markham decided to retire in December, he gave me a nice severance and a glowing reference about the administrative work I did for him. It was a decent job, but not really my thing. I mostly stayed because he and Granddad were friends for so long, and I could work flexible hours when I needed to.”

“Because you’re a mom now,” Cam filled in with an incredulous look. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around that one.”

So was she, Erin had to admit. But only to herself. She feared that if she ever voiced the tiniest smidgen of self-doubt, it would somehow get back to Parker’s social worker and she’d lose him to the system she was so determined to rescue him from.

Eight years old, he was on the verge of being considered unadoptable, which meant a forever home was almost out of reach for the shy boy. Over the past few months, she’d made slow but steady progress with him, until he now looked her in the eye without flinching. She hated to consider what might happen to him if he was torn from the life she and her large, loving family had worked so hard to give him.

So, in typical Kinley fashion, she’d simply decided that she wasn’t going to let that happen. “Anyway, I’ve been thinking about starting my own business, and with the apartment up here, this place would be perfect.”

“For what?”

He seemed genuinely interested, and her heart leaped with the excitement she always felt when she talked about the dream that had edged closer to reality over the past year. “A pet store. Not your average one, though.”

“Of course not,” he said with a chuckle. “You never do anything like anyone else.”

There was a tinge of admiration in his tone, and she couldn’t keep back a smile. “You make that sound like a good thing.”

“It is. There’s plenty of boring, predictable folks on the planet. We certainly don’t need any more.” Leaning against the counter that divided the kitchen from the living room, he said, “What’ve you got in mind?”

“All right,” she shot back, eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Who are you, and what have you done with Cam Stewart?”

“Whaddya mean?”

“You’re being nice to me.”

“I’m nice.” When she gave him a wilting look, he laughed. “Okay, maybe that’s a stretch. But I can be pleasant, if the situation warrants it.”

“Meaning this one does?” He nodded, and after studying his serious expression she opted to give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, it wasn’t like he could still stuff her in a locker and stand outside of it laughing his head off while she tried to bang her way free. “Well, I was planning on stocking all the usual supplies, but also some fancier things for people who like to spoil their animals. I’m going to call it Pampered Pets.”

“I like it. Pretty much sums up what you’re offering to your customers.”

“Kind of like the new Wash and Dine Snack Bar you opened next to the café,” she commented, figuring it was only fair to compliment him in return. “We’ve needed a Laundromat for a while, but you went one further and made it into a fun spot to hang out. I’ve heard lots of great things about it from folks at church.”

His chiseled jaw tightened almost reflexively, then slowly eased as if he was making a concerted effort to relax. “Good to know.”

His clipped response warned her that she’d misstepped, and she frowned. “Did I say something wrong?”

“Course not.”

Any fool could see that he didn’t mean what he’d said, but she decided to let the matter drop. She didn’t want to start an argument with someone who had the power to help her make a stable home for Parker and get her new business off the ground. “I’d like to rent this place for three months, with an option to buy when the lease runs out. That gives me a chance to get all my ducks in a row before making a huge commitment I might end up regretting.”

“Yeah, I hear you,” he said with a wry grin. “Wish I could’ve done that with my ex-wife.”

It was Erin’s turn to gawk. “You were married?”

“For more than a year. Sherry and I were about as different as two people could be, but there was something about her.” He punctuated the very personal revelation with a rueful grin. “We both gave it our best shot, but eventually she decided I wasn’t worth the trouble. Considering the way my parents ended up, I don’t know why I thought I could make it work.”

For Erin, the situation was exactly the opposite. Her parents’ marriage had been full of love and laughter right up until the day her father died. That was why she was so picky about her relationships. If it wasn’t wonderful, she wasn’t interested. Which explained why, at twenty-eight, she was a frequent bridesmaid but had never walked down the aisle herself. “Sometimes people change when we’re not looking, and it’s smarter to admit that and move on.”

“Is that what happened to you and whoever’s heart you broke last?”

“You just assume that’s how it ended?” When he grinned, she couldn’t help smiling in return. “That’s very flattering, but actually it was the opposite. He claimed our relationship suffered because I was so preoccupied with Parker, but I got the feeling that wasn’t the whole story.”

“You were probably too much for him from the get-go. Some guys have no clue what to do with a strong, intelligent woman like you.”

She appreciated the boost to her ego, especially since it had come from someone who had no reason to sugarcoat things for her. “Whatever the reason, it wasn’t fun.”

“I can relate to that. The last six months of our marriage were the worst time of my life.” He paused, and his eyes filled with misery. “Until Mom’s stroke, anyway. I guess that takes first prize now.”

Cam had always been the capable type, top five in his graduating class and an all-star point guard and wide receiver throughout high school. Because he’d had so much going for him, he’d been arrogant to the point of being downright cocky. He’d finally come up against something he couldn’t defeat, and Erin’s heart went out to him.

Reaching over, she rubbed his arm in sympathy. “I’m sorry for the reason, but your mom and Natalie must be glad you’re here. They’re proud of those big construction jobs you’ve been doing, but they must like having you around for more than just a quick visit.”

“So they keep telling me, but I have a life to get back to. My boss has been great, but he can’t keep my spot open forever. I’m staying just long enough to get the café and this building in shape to sell so Mom will have some financial security. After that, Alex and Nat should be able to handle whatever needs to be done.”

Always the practical one, Erin thought sadly. Sentimental as a buzz saw, Cam had never been the emotional type, and clearly his divorce hadn’t helped any in that department. More than once, she’d suspected that his lack of empathy came from becoming the man of his family when he was twelve. That was the year his father, David, walked away from his wife and children and never looked back.

Mentioning that now probably wouldn’t go over well, so she kept the observation to herself. “Does that mean we have a deal?”

“Yeah. It’s not like I’ve got buyers lined up outside my door or anything.” The gloom in his eyes lifted ever so slightly, and he gave her a wry grin. “At least with you I know what I’m getting into.”

“That’s the spirit,” she teased, lightly knuckling his chin. “I’m assuming your sister’s got a lease form we can use to make this arrangement legal.”

“No doubt.”

“How much rent are you planning to charge me?” He named a figure, and she blinked at him. “Is that for all three months?”

“Funny. What were you thinking?” She countered, and he winced as if he was in serious pain. “You’re killing me with that. Be reasonable.”

In truth, she’d anticipated the pushback, so she made a show of reconsidering the price even though she’d purposefully gone in low. She might not have a fancy college degree, but one thing she’d learned from all the court cases she’d documented for the judge was how to negotiate. For her, getting the numbers right could be the difference between being financially secure for six months or an entire year. With a new business on the horizon, those six extra months could bend an outright failure into a modest success.

“Okay, how ’bout this?” she suggested in a brisk but friendly tone she hoped would appeal to him. “I’ll split the difference between your rent figure and mine. You leave the For Sale sign on the building, and if someone else shows interest in it we’ll talk about making a change.”

After a few moments he offered his hand, and they shook to seal their bargain. Erin’s previously cautious enthusiasm began bubbling, and she asked, “Can I paint the walls any color I want?”

“Now you’re pushing.”

He hadn’t seen anything yet, she thought with a grin. But since he’d given her what she wanted for a price she could live with, she was willing to overlook his grumbling. “Do you have time to go see Natalie now?”

“Sure.” She started to pull her hand back, but to her surprise, he held on, reeling her closer until they were barely a step apart. “One thing, Kinley.”

“What’s that?”

“No pink.”

She liked having her old nemesis on the ropes this way, making him wonder what she might do to his precious building. Giving him her sweetest smile, she met his dark gaze with a direct one of her own.

“No promises.”

Chapter Two

What a situation this had turned out to be, Cam groused to himself while he signed the papers that would connect Erin to him, at least in a professional way. He wasn’t crazy about being a landlord, but he was pragmatic enough to recognize that his sister was right this time. Renting the empty building was better than continuing to front the costs with little hope of shedding them until spring.

Maybe, if business at Erin’s pet shop took off, his first—and hopefully last—tenant would buy the place and he’d be one step closer to leaving Oaks Crossing behind him for good.

“So, when can I start moving in?” Erin asked, looking from Natalie to Cam with a hopeful expression. “I’d love for Parker and me to be able to start out next year in our new apartment.”

“That’s only a few days away,” Natalie pointed out.

“No time like the present,” Erin replied enthusiastically, reminding him of how he’d always admired the energy she seemed to have an endless supply of.

He suddenly realized that the two of them were staring at him expectantly, waiting for him to answer. Hoping to cover his lapse in manners, he dredged up a compliant smile. It would only be a few days before the lease officially began, and what could go wrong? “Sure. Whatever you want.”

“Will your brothers be giving you a hand?” Natalie asked.

“Not if I can help it. They never listen to me, so it’ll be easier and much less aggravating to do it myself.”

“That’s a lot of stairs to navigate,” Natalie commented, giving Cam one of those nudging looks that he’d always thought women must practice in a mirror so they’d be ready to use for an occasion like this one.

When he refused to bite, her mild expression cooled into an icy glare that told him she meant business. After a few seconds, he had to admit she had a point. Moving an entire household was a lot for one person to manage, and any guy worth knowing wouldn’t leave a woman to handle such a huge job alone. “I can give you a hand getting packed up and moved, if you want.”

That made Erin laugh. “Like you’re gonna listen to me any better than my brothers would.”

“Suit yourself.” Quite honestly, he was disappointed by her reaction. He wanted to be accommodating, but trying to do the right thing had earned him a virtual slap in the face.

“Hang on a minute.” She considered him with a pensive look. “It would go a lot faster with the two of us. Do you still have that old pickup of yours?”

“Course I do. They don’t make ’em like that anymore.”

“Meaning no air-conditioning, power steering or functioning gas gauge,” Natalie teased from behind her desk.

“Less complicated means less things to worry about,” he informed her with a grin. “Plus, when something breaks I can fix it myself. These days, even the best mechanic needs a fancy computer to tell him what’s wrong with a car.”

Erin rolled those pretty green eyes and sighed. “You sound like my big brother. Mike’s always complaining about how impossible it is to repair anything made in the last ten years.”

“It’s a conspiracy to make us all buy new stuff.”

“Yeah, he says that, too.”

Their discussion of modern convenience seemed to be over, and then out of nowhere he heard himself ask, “What do you think?”

He hadn’t meant to say that out loud, but since he had, he did his best to look mildly interested in her answer. Erin had never been anything more to him than his buddy Drew’s annoying younger sister. But this morning, Cam had glimpsed a different side of her that he hadn’t noticed before. She’d always been sassy and too smart for her own good.

Now he knew firsthand what was most important to her and how she used that keen intelligence to get what she wanted. Employing a reasonable, logical argument, she’d convinced him to go along with something that only yesterday he couldn’t have imagined himself agreeing to.

Despite the fact that he’d been forced to give in, Cam had to acknowledge that he was impressed by her tenacity.

“I’m partial to old things myself,” she replied. “They’ve been around a long time, and I think they deserve to be taken care of.”

“Not so much a fan of shiny and new?”

In response, she held out one of her beat-up work boots for him to see. Chuckling, he took his copy of their lease from Natalie’s desk and handed the other to Erin. “Gotcha. So, when did you wanna get started?”

“Yesterday.”

The quick response was so like the determined girl he recalled that he couldn’t keep back a laugh. Opening the office door for her, he bowed slightly as he held it open. “Ladies first.”

“You can save your breath,” she informed him as she flounced past him and out of the office. “Those fake manners of yours don’t fool me.”

“What makes you think they’re fake?”

“I know you,” she shot back. Fortunately, she’d kept her voice down so the other folks on the sidewalk couldn’t hear the venom in her tone. “You haven’t changed a bit since you dated your way through the cheerleading squad in high school.”

“I was a football player,” he joked. “It wasn’t my fault the girls came with the uniform.”

“Whatever.”

She was pointedly ignoring him, even when he stopped and tugged her to a halt. When she looked up at him, he saw a bitterness that made him wish he could undo whatever he’d done to put it there. “You know I was only kidding, right?”

“Of course you were,” she spat back, as if the words tasted sour on her tongue. “You never took me seriously back then, so why start now?”

“I never took you seriously because you hated me.”

“I hated you because you never took me seriously.”

He opened his mouth for a sly comeback, then thought better of it. After all, they were going to be neighbors for at least the next three months. It would go better for both of them if they laid their less-than-glorious past to rest.

Holding up the papers he’d so reluctantly signed, he summoned patience into his tone. “We’re all grown up now, and that’s how I see you. We’re doing business together, aren’t we?”

“Because you don’t have a choice, not because you think it’s a good idea.”

They were finally getting somewhere, he thought. Lightly grasping her shoulders, he met her angry gaze with a calm one of his own. “Trust me, Erin. If I was the slightest bit worried that you were a bad risk, I wouldn’t have agreed to lease you that building. If it makes you feel any better, my foot-dragging was totally personal. It had nothing to do with you.”

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely.” Letting her go, he stepped back and dredged up a wry grin. “Still hate me?”

Batting her eyelashes in a gesture totally out of character for her, she gave him an exaggerated Southern-belle smile. “Not as much.”

“Give it time, darlin’,” he teased in a heavy drawl as they continued down the walk. “Knowing me, it won’t be long till I do something to make you mad.”

* * *

Boy, did he call that one.

“Are you trying to drive me crazy?” Erin demanded when she saw how Cam was packing Great-Grandma Kinley’s china. Snatching the Bubble Wrap from him, she demonstrated on a plate that she took from the small hutch. “Wrap the whole thing twice, then set it down flat in the box. They’re very fragile, and if you put them on end, the rims might get damaged.”

“Okay.”

“These came all the way from Ireland on a sailing ship,” she persisted in frustration. “It would be a shame if they couldn’t survive moving from one side of Oaks Crossing to the other.”

“Sorry. I should’ve been more careful.”

It was the uncharacteristically humble tone that convinced her that his apology was sincere. Once her frantic, record-setting pace had been interrupted, she decided they could both use a breather. Carefully putting the heirloom dish into the padded moving carton, she turned to him and smiled. “Time for a break. I’ve got coffee and water, and I think there’s some cherry pie in the fridge.”

His gloomy expression brightened considerably. “Maggie’s cherry pie?”

“Of course. Mom made an extra for Parker and me and sent it home with us after Christmas dinner. Help yourself.”

Her everyday dishes were already packed, but the silverware organizer sat on the counter waiting for a box. Her resourceful helper tore off a couple of paper towels and served up a piece of pie for each of them.

Biting into a mouthful of his, he hummed in appreciation. “Your mother’s a genius when it comes to food. Must be an Irish thing.”

“It’s supposed to be,” Erin acknowledged with a laugh. “I guess it skips a generation or something, because my niece Abby loves to cook but I can’t stand it.”

“You’re good at other things.”

The compliment caught her off guard, and she gave him a long, curious look. “Did you just say something complimentary about me?”

“Huh,” he commented, as if it hadn’t occurred to him until she mentioned it. “I guess so. Can’t imagine what came over me.”

Mischief sparked in his eyes, and she couldn’t help laughing. “Are you really as bad as all that, or is it just an act?”

“You tell me.”

While they stared at each other, the playful gleam deepened to something she wasn’t sure she liked. The trouble was, she wasn’t sure she didn’t like it, either. Rattled by her conflicting emotions, she fell back on her usual defense. Tossing her head defiantly, she said, “I think you just want people to assume you’re bad so they won’t hassle you.”

“Then why do you keep hassling me?”

“Because I’m not afraid of you,” she informed him, staring him down to make her point more clearly. “I never was, and I never will be.”

The corner of his mouth quirked in an almost smile, and he seemed to take the revelation in stride. “Good to know.”

It was nuts, but she couldn’t shake the impression that the mellow timbre of his deep voice was actually making the glassware on the table vibrate. “I’m glad you’re happy. Now, can we please get back to work?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Eager to get away from him, she turned and headed for Parker’s bedroom to pack up his clothes. While she strode down the hallway, she felt Cam’s eyes following her as she went.

What is he thinking? she wondered before she could stop herself. Because, really, she had no business wondering anything about her enigmatic landlord. After he helped her move all this stuff, they’d probably only see each other long enough to trade the occasional “good morning” or for her to complain that there was no hot water. If all went well, she’d buy his building and shove him several steps closer to returning to the life in Minnesota he was so eager to resume.

Logical and practical, that line of thinking should have reassured her. But for some reason it made her feel sad.

“Is this one ready?”

Cam’s voice startled her, and she nearly jumped out of her skin when he appeared beside her. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

“Not hardly.” He cocked his head with a curious look. “Where were you just now? You looked like you were a million miles away.”

Wonderful. Now he was worrying about her. She really had to get it together, or he’d think she was turning into a flake. Not that she cared one whit about his opinion, of course. She just didn’t want to give him a reason to doubt that she was responsible enough to pay her rent on time every month.

“Just thinking about what color to paint Parker’s new room.” On a whim, she decided to have some fun torturing her new landlord. “He really likes black.”

Cam glowered at that. “Not a chance. You know how tough it is to cover—” Pausing, he gave her a long, assessing look. “You’re messing with me, aren’t you?”

“Just a little. It’s fun.”

“For you,” he growled, heaving the large box onto his shoulder as if it was full of feathers. “Truck or car?”

“Truck. Thank you.” His shocked reaction to her comment made her laugh. “What?”

“You thanked me. Y’know, like you’d do with someone you don’t hate.”

“Tell you what,” she suggested with a smile, “if you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you.”

“I guess that could work. We could give it a shot, anyway.”

“I’m willing if you are.” That sounded way too personal, and she quickly added, “Since we’re going to be neighbors and all.”

Those dark eyes studied her for a few moments, then drifted away as if they didn’t like what they saw. Without another word he headed into the hallway, and she heard his boots thumping down the front hall before the entryway door banged open and closed.

What on earth is his problem? she wondered angrily, snapping open another flat moving box and forming it into the right shape. While she packed the bedding and books Parker had collected, she went over her conversation with Cam in her mind, trying to determine where it had veered from lighthearted to slam-the-door.

When she realized it had been her reference to them being neighbors that set him off, she was puzzled. She was only trying to establish the fact that their connection to each other was professional, not personal. Since he’d been so clear about his aversion to serious relationships, she figured he’d be glad to know she felt the same way. Judging by his response, he was anything but glad. His swift turn from teasing to intense made no sense to her, and that brought her back to something that, as the only girl in a sea of overbearing brothers, she’d believed for most of her life.

Boys were stupid, and a smart girl never forgot that.

* * *

Cam ended up spending a good chunk of his day helping Erin.

He was shocked to discover that it was a lot more enjoyable than he’d expected it to be when Natalie had volunteered him for pack and schlep duty. Even more surprising was the fact that every time he stopped by to check in at the café, things were running more or less smoothly.

“Sure, boss,” Kyle assured him with a competent nod. “You put on extra staff to help with the after-holiday crowd, remember? Everything’s going fine.”

Lately, things had been going anything other than fine for him, and Cam couldn’t quite believe the change was for real. “What’s the word on the cooler?”

“Just a worn-out doohickey that had to be replaced. Fred didn’t even charge you,” the kid added with a grin. “Said to call it a late Christmas present.”

The cavalier attitude rubbed Cam the wrong way, and he came close to ordering Kyle to pay the repairman, anyway. Then he thought again, reminding himself that he was in Oaks Crossing, not Minneapolis. Against all modern odds, Oaks Crossing was still the kind of place where neighbors helped each other out when they could. While he certainly owed Fred some kind of favor in return, Cam decided that trying to force the generous man to accept payment for his services would come across as rude. So, despite the fact that it bugged him, he opted to leave the situation as it currently stood.