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Reaching the café he stopped dead, his gaze riveted to the banner bearing corny cherubs strung across the front windows.
Valentine’s Day.
Hell, he’d forgotten.
In the blink of an eye he was transported back to a year ago when he’d strolled into this place and taken a chance on love again.
If only his wayward wife could take a chance on him.
Slamming his hand against the monstrous glass door, he pushed it open and headed for the furthest table away from the cooing couples. Dirk hadn’t arrived yet, leaving him with too much time on his hands; too much time to look around, too much time to remember…
“Hey, Blane. Long time no see. Though it’s pretty obvious why you haven’t been in, what with the boss lady traipsing around the world. What’ll you have?”
Glancing up, he smiled at Anna, momentarily blinded by her garish orange, pink and purple kaftan.
“And if you say a pair of sunglasses, I’ll spit in your coffee.”
He chuckled. “Sorry. Am I that easy to read?”
Anna propped her ample hips against a nearby stool and sighed. “No. I’ve had that same look from everyone in this place today. No one appreciates a good fashion statement these days.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
He knew jack about fashion. Apart from the fact he loved Cam’s usual café outfit of tight jeans, knee high black boots, and clingy bright pink top. She made a statement and despite his vow to play things cool he couldn’t help but look around in the vain hope she’d come strutting in here with her plait over one shoulder and that sassy gleam in her eyes.
“You miss her, don’t you?”
Understatement of the year, he thought, as he sat back and ran a hand over the back of his neck.
“It’s been too long.”
“She’s crazy about you, you know. Never seen her so happy.”
Jerking her thumb at the banner, she said, “Maybe this fat guy with the bow and arrow has more talent than I give him credit for?”
Had he made Cam happy? Truly happy? The type of happiness she’d do anything to preserve and nurture and build upon?
“She came home this morning but won’t make it in here today.” Anna paused, tapping her gnawed pencil against the pad in her other hand. “Not unless she has good reason to and maybe I’m looking at him?”
“She’s home?”
His nonchalance took a hit at the news he’d been waiting for and it took all his willpower to act casual rather than race to Cam’s apartment.
“I’ll bring you an espresso and you can think about it. But I’ve got to warn you, the chubby cherub’s in a romantic kind of mood today and Valentine’s Day guarantees happy-ever-afters for everyone. No use fighting it.”
A happily ever after for him and Cam? He wished.
Then again, since when had he relied on wishes? He made things happen. He grabbed what he wanted and thrived on a challenge. He’d done it his whole life, first in the construction world, now with resurrecting his marriage.
So what was stopping him from making things happen with Cam?
He’d stepped back like she’d asked, but what if playing it cool had been the wrong tactic?
What if he should’ve pursued her to the ends of the earth to prove how much he loved her?
He found his gaze drawn to the banner again, where Cupid seemed to be smiling down on him, with an arrow aimed in his direction.
“Go ahead, shoot,” he muttered, glancing at the happy couples around him, drawn by the intimate smiles, the touches, the murmured sweet-nothings, wanting what they had so badly.
