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“I’m going to try.” She reached up on her toes and kissed him gently. “I can’t wait for the night to begin .”
Fuck. Yeah, he wasn’t going to make it to Christmas morning. That ring would be on her finger before midnight .
“I’ve got everything down here. Go get ready .”
Cami ran to the opposite end of the room and disappeared through the French doors and took the back entrance to her apartment .
Evan surveyed the activity going on. The stage was set on the far end of the room. They didn’t need to add a dancefloor. There were Christmas trees and lights everywhere. This was one time he hoped the Post did show up and take a million pictures. This was the kind of publicity the town could use .
“Hey, excuse me.” Someone tapped Evan on the shoulder. He turned around to face a guy with graying hair that needed to be cut. It was shaggy on the top and around his ears .
“Yes?”
“I’m looking for Cami Addison. I can’t seem to find her and she’s not answering her cell .”
“Are you dropping something off? I can help.” He didn’t have a fucking clue where anything went, but he’d figure it out .
“Yeah. A contract .”
Evan scratched the back of his head. Cami wasn’t authorized to sign contracts on behalf of the town. “What’s it for?” he asked .
The guy sighed. “It’s between Cami and me. Do you know where I can find her ?”
Evan didn’t like the way this was going. “What is it you need? Cami’s not available right now ?”
“Hey, man. I didn’t fly all the way from Nashville and then rent a car to drive out to the middle of nowhere to talk to one of her minions .”
“Did you say Nashville ?”
“Yeah. I’m Cami’s manager .”
He thought he saw red and black splotches flashing around the guy’s face. “Cami doesn’t have a manager anymore,” he stated. He wasn’t sure where he found the strength to keep from slugging the guy .
“I’m Peter Handle. I’ve been Cami’s manager for almost ten years. I need to talk to her about this contract. It has an expiration date on it, or else I wouldn’t be here. It’s Christmas Eve. You’ve got to realize this is a pretty big deal. Don’t you ?”
It was as if he had cut a hole beneath Evan’s ribs and let the air out in painful breaths. It seeped out, searing him. Why the fuck was this happening again? Cami had a manager? And a contract? Was she going to tell him she was headed back to Nashville ?
No. Fucking no. He wasn’t going through this again. She’d broken his heart before. And he wasn’t doing this. If she wanted to leave, then why should he stop her? Why should he have to convince her that there was no other place like Harpers Point ?
He strolled out of the ballroom and out the door. Peter shouted at him to stop, but he kept going. He didn’t turn around. He didn’t pause. He kept walking. He wouldn’t be the one to be left behind this time .
Twenty-One
Cami
“H as anyone seen the mayor?” Cami shouted over the microphone testing. “Anyone?” She had looked in the kitchen and by the sidewalk .
The ballroom was filling up now with the dates of the volunteers and a few early birds. She couldn’t find Evan anywhere. She tried calling him again, but his phone went straight to voicemail .
She smiled when she saw Ben and Hamp stroll in. “Hey guys.
Have either of you seen Evan? I can’t find him .”
She was wearing the most beautiful gown she had ever worn. She hoped it made up for her prom dress. She was dying for Evan to see her in it. And more excited for him to turn it into a pile of red tulle on his bedroom floor. It was strapless and hugged her breasts. They felt a little tender, but she smiled knowing now why that was .
She had a surprise for Evan. A huge surprise. She wanted to wait until Christmas morning to tell him, but she didn’t think she could wait that long .
The signs had been there all week, she just hadn’t put it together until this morning. She looked at the calendar for her shipping orders and realized the date was circled two weeks ago for her period. She was two weeks late. And if she counted correctly, that meant they conceived this baby their first night together. In the kitchen. It made her giggle a little .
