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“And he owns this café,” the dark-haired woman with glasses chimed in.
“Why do you think I suggested having tea here? Great food and an even greater view,” Gretchen said. All the women giggled.
Cameron! Of course they had their eye on him. After all, he was a single, gorgeous Alaskan male. A hottie, according to the ladies. Paige’s chest tightened. Her cheeks suddenly felt warm. She fought against a sudden urge to tell the women to back off. The feeling terrified her since she had no claim on Cameron. Sure, he was Emma’s father, but he was no longer hers. She had no right to be upset, although her out-of-control pulse hadn’t quite got the message.
“And what about that pilot with the killer smile?” another of the ladies asked. “I couldn’t take my eyes off him.”
“Go for it, Dahlia. He’s single, unlike that rugged-looking sheriff. I heard he just got married a few months ago to a journalist who came here to write a story about Operation Love,” Gretchen said with a knowing look. “See, ladies. There really are happily-ever-afters in this town.”
Paige walked away from the table with the empty tray in her hands and an unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach. She knew she had no right to feel territorial about Cameron, but the thought of him settling down with one of these women bothered her deeply. The emotions traveled all the way down to her gut. She wasn’t in love with him anymore, so why did she care so much?
Feeling on edge, she walked back toward the kitchen as she battled against a huge, gnawing feeling in her belly. Rather than dwell on the jealousy eating up her insides, she wanted to focus on something positive. Running into Declan had been a nice surprise. To be greeted so warmly by a friend here in Love restored her hope that one day the townsfolk might view her in a better light. If he was to be believed, she had been missed by many of the villagers.
“Declan seemed mighty glad to see you,” Cameron said, quirking his mouth.
“He hasn’t changed one bit,” Paige said with a chuckle. “He’s something else.”
“That’s for sure,” Cameron muttered. He set a cup down on the counter with a bang.
She couldn’t miss the big frown on Cameron’s face and the fact that he was being short with her. His tone was sharp. After such a nice day when they had actually enjoyed some light moments together, it felt like a slap in the face. Yet another rejection from Cameron. They were back to square one. What had she done? Or had Cameron just remembered that he neither liked nor trusted her?
Paige let out a wounded sigh. She had volunteered to work at the café today because she wanted to put her best foot forward and show Cameron that she could pitch in and help out when needed. Even if he didn’t realize it, she was still part of the fabric of this town. But it didn’t matter, she supposed. No one seemed to recognize that fact but her.
Would she always be considered guilty by association?
“Why don’t you sit down for a bowl of salmon chowder? You’ve been on your feet for hours.” Unbeknownst to her, Cameron had walked up behind her. His voice was full of a gentleness that caught her by surprise.
Salmon chowder? Although she would have liked to turn Cameron’s offer down and leave in a huff, her stomach was growling like a grizzly bear. She had sat down earlier for a grilled vegetable sandwich, but things had been so hectic that she’d barely swallowed a few bites. From what she had observed in the kitchen, Cameron had created an impeccable menu for his establishment. He’d really knocked it out of the park by combining coffee and culinary items such as reindeer pizza, homemade baked goods and mouthwatering sandwiches.
Before she knew it, Cameron had pulled out a chair for her and motioned her to sit down. Paige nodded her head and sat down.
A few seconds later Hazel came to sit beside her. She let out a grunt. “Oh, these dogs are killing me.” She swung her booted feet up onto the chair across from her. “These bones of mine are aching something fierce. Enjoy your youth while you can.”
Paige paused to admire Hazel’s boots. “I remember when those boots were a twinkle in your eye. I’m real proud of you for going the distance and producing them. It sounds like you’re about to make a big splash.”
Hazel threw her arms heavenward. “Can you believe it? You could have knocked me over with a feather when Grace suggested that we mass-produce my boots as a way of earning revenue for the town. Now everyone is all fired up about it. God’s favor is what I call it.”
“Love is blessed to have you,” Paige said.
“That’s mighty kind of you to say, considering the way I treated you,” Hazel said, blinking away tears. “I’m ashamed that I didn’t support you when you needed me. We just all felt so betrayed by Robert. He was a friend of this town. Beloved by all. I’m not trying to hurt your feelings, but it was such a terrible blow. Can’t say if we’ve ever fully recovered from it.”
Paige reached across the table and squeezed Hazel’s hands. “I know how hard hit this town was by what my father did. And I know I can never fully make amends for what happened, but I want to try to make things better. Not just because he asked me to, but for Emma. So she can hold her head up high in this town.”
“Emma will never have a problem being accepted in Love. I’ll see to that,” Cameron said as he put two bowls of salmon chowder down in front of them. He placed a basket of piping-hot bread in the middle of the table along with two root beers. The smell of the bread was so delectable she felt like kissing Cameron for bringing it to them.
Paige looked up and met his intense gaze. She knew without a doubt that his word was bond. She smiled at him, feeling secure in the knowledge that he would always make sure Emma was protected and loved in this town.
Cameron smiled back at her. Even though she tried to keep her cool, it did funny things to her insides. She felt like a giddy schoolgirl. Cameron turned right around and headed back toward the kitchen with the empty tray.
Hazel sent her a questioning look.
Paige shrugged. “When Cameron smiles, he’s pretty irresistible. He gives me mixed signals, though. One moment he’s grinning, while the next he’s a bear. It was easier when I left town and he didn’t care at all about it. At least then I knew where things stood between us.”
“Didn’t care?” Hazel sputtered. “If that man had cared any more, he’d be six feet under.”
Six feet under? “Wh-what are you talking about?”
Hazel let out a huff of air. “Say what you will about Cameron, but when he loves, he loves hard. Losing you was like losing a limb, Paige. He wasn’t eating or sleeping or living in the first few weeks after you left. If you ever tell him I told you, I’ll deny it, but in the beginning he was so torn up he could barely get out of bed.”
