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My eyes land on a lone figure leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the room. Randy, silently observing with a drink in his hand. That sourpuss mug of his looks slightly less hostile than usual. He gives me a nod, but there’s no venom, no smugness behind his eyes, and then his gaze flicks back to Cam and his father, watching intently. I thought he looked like John’s guard dog that day I was called upstairs for a meeting. Right now, however, I’m not so sure the dog hasn’t changed his allegiance.
A server comes by and offers us pickings off their tray of hors d'oeuvres. My father scrutinizes the selection before setting on some kind of fried ball. My skin crawls just watching him bring it closer to his mouth.
“You’re actually going to eat that? Do you know how many people have probably touched or breathed on it?”
He pops it into his mouth without hesitating. “Cam and I are going out for a steak when he’s done. I just need something to tide me over. Besides, if I die, at least there won’t be much for you to organize. I’m already in a suit.”
I bark out a laugh, watching his deadpan expression. The corner of his mouth ticks up, and he frowns like whatever he gobbled up doesn’t impress him, but then his gaze goes studiously back to Cam. My Cam.
Talk about a wonder. My father—wearing a suit, making jokes, and guarding my man. Maybe I need to worry about my own life instead of trying to sort out Cam’s. I’ve missed more than I know, and it was right under my nose all this time.
We wait a few more moments in companionable silence. When Cam turns away from his father and starts toward me, I go to him.
“Hi,” he greets, giving me one of his nervous laughs. “Did your dad rat me out? I didn’t want you to worry.”
“No. Randy.”
His brows rise toward his hairline, but he looks to be intact after his exchange with his father. “Randy invited you?”
“He’s a tough one to figure out, honestly.”
He considers this, looking befuddled. When his gaze returns to mine, he flashes me a wary smile, like he’s expecting some kind of scolding.
“I’d have worried regardless,” I inform him. “I don’t like seeing you hurt. It doesn’t mean I don’t have faith in you.”
The anxious lines in his brow dissipate, eclipsed by the affection in his eyes. “I never thought you didn’t. I just needed to find faith in myself, and it would have been too tempting to lean on you if I knew you were here.”
An apology for suffocating him is on the tip of my tongue, but Randy appears in my peripheral. “Carver,” he nods in acknowledgement, but directs his attention to Cam. “How did that go?”
Cam looks as skeptical as I feel about Randy’s interest, but answers plainly. “About how I expected.”
“What did he say?”
He considers his brother for a moment and then glances toward his father. The look on his face is further proof my family is wrong to call him a young man or a boy. There’s nothing but wisdom beyond his years in the calm expression on his face as he shrugs. “It doesn’t matter.”
It sure seems like it would matter since he took the trouble to come here and speak with the man. I’m embarrassed to share a moment of kinship with Randy as we glance at each other in confusion.
“It only matters what I said,” Cam informs us.
Well, damn. My chest inflates with pride. I know deep inside he must be wounded by whatever his father just said to him, but it certainly doesn’t show at the moment. Even Randy looks like he’s been enlightened and, dare I say, impressed.
“Anyone else hungry?” Dad’s voice interrupts the quiet. “They have raw fish. I’m not eating raw fish.”
Cam’s expression turns guilty as he glances at me. He doesn’t need my permission to make dinner dates with my father.
“Is this an exclusive dinner, or do you think there’s room for me?” I ask him, smiling to let him know I don’t care that he didn’t define the ‘things’ he said he had to take care of tonight in Bellevue.
His face brightens. “No. There’s room for one more.”
“Cameron…” Randy hesitates. If ever I’ve seen a man about to swallow his pride, it’s Randy. I take a step to the side to give them the illusion of privacy, hoping it helps his brother relay something kind to him. “About Kiawah Island…I’m sorry. I didn’t want to, but I told myself you’d be better off that far away from Dad.”
“I know.” His calm reply makes Randy look like he just came up for air. “Uh, maybe we can get together some time, and I could meet this Angelica that Mom mentioned.”
The exchange is so mechanical to me compared to my interactions with Miranda and Jesse. It’s like watching two strangers meet for the first time.
Randy looks like he’s never received a gift before and doesn’t know how to unwrap the package. “Sure.” Jesus, now I think he’s trying to smile. “She’d like that. She’s…something else.”
Chuckling, Cam smirks. “I’m sure she is if she’s got you speechless.”
