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After her father ate a little and had fallen asleep again, Camille went out to call her agent. She updated Anna Vinson on her father’s condition and gave her a rough estimate of when she expected to return. Anna wished her well and encouraged her to take a meeting or two while she was there, though Camille wasn’t sure if she’d be able to do so without hiring someone to help with her father. She often took meetings as a “representative” of Reese Elaine, her pen name, so no one would know she was the person behind the books. It was her way of keeping everyone protected and safe from her secret career.
Twenty minutes after her call, Camille sat in the cafeteria waiting for the home health nurse to meet her. Camille’s cousin Augusta had arranged the meeting because the woman was a friend of hers. Camille was sure this would be a formality since her cousin didn’t deal with unsavory, unreliable or un-Christian-like individuals. It was how most people in this town were, which was what had kept Camille at a distance over the years. A small Southern town where the Bible was law and any deviation was blasphemous was not somewhere she could see herself living out her dream.
A short talk with the nurse was all she needed to feel reassured about her suitability. Now she had the rest of her day ahead of her. She decided to call Augusta, tell her she’d hired the nurse and go get a nap in before she returned to the hospital that evening.
As Camille walked into the lobby, she heard the women at the desk talking. They weren’t trying to whisper and Camille was sure she heard her name followed by a couple insults. When she turned, one of the women she recognized as an ex-classmate gave her a sneer. Shrugging it off, Camille put the barbs behind her, knowing they were something she’d have to deal with because of her history with Remington Krane.
That was a name she tried not to think about, but she had to admit it was him every other thought had gone to since she’d found out about her father. She wondered if she’d see him while she was in town, if he even wanted to see her. She wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t. She’d left him all those years ago and had not looked back. She’d done what she thought was best for herself and Remi, as well as her family and the town in general.
* * *
Remington knew Camille was in town. He knew because he’d heard the gossips talking about her when he’d gone to visit Reese Ryan. They’d been hard on her, which in turn had been hard for him to listen to despite his own need for answers about her departure.
The good news was that Reese Ryan was doing fine and would make a full recovery in a couple weeks. That was all that mattered to Remington because he was sure it was what mattered to Camille.
Now it was time to find the man’s daughter. But first he had to see his grandfather, who’d summoned him to his large estate.
“Have you moved on that property?” That was the first thing that passed Frederick Krane’s lips when Remi walked through the doors of the old man’s sitting room. Remington wanted to curse the man for being so insensitive, but you couldn’t teach an old dog new tricks, and his grandfather was the oldest dog of them all. He was set in his ways and didn’t much like Remi’s way of doing things. He said Remi wasn’t cutthroat enough and that would be his downfall. But the man had not hesitated to hand over the business to Remi when he became ill, knowing that despite his constant gripes, Remi had the right skills to run Krane Gourmet Snack Foods. In addition to that, Remi knew the old man loved him dearly, despite his disapproval.
“Aren’t you going to ask me how Reese Ryan is doing? He is a respected business owner in this town, Granddad.” Remington walked over to the chair facing his grandfather and sat down. “He is also a member of your church, a deacon and assistant superintendent of Sunday school. He’s a perfect representative of what Fairdell is about, plus he’s Camille’s father and—”
“It always comes back to her, doesn’t it? Boy, didn’t you get enough of her abuse when she left you here with your tail between your legs? You know that was the best thing that happened to you, right? The Kranes did not need to have any familial associations with the likes of the Ryans. They aren’t worthy of our time. God forgive me saying it but the Ryan girl is probably more suited for a good roll in the hay, maybe, but never more than that. You know where your future lies and it’s not with Camille Ryan.” He wiped his nose with a tissue but didn’t skip a beat. “And speaking of church, it’s about time for Krane to make its back-to-school donation. The mothers of the church have agreed to help give out supplies. I’ve volunteered you to help Sonya with making sure it gets done. Now Sonya, that is a hot little number and her family has the right connections. She’s the one you need in your life and for your future. Judge Brandt is a moral, God-fearing man who’s taught his daughter and son what it means to be successful. Long ago, her father and yours said you’d be together and I plan to honor your dad’s dying wish.”
Remington had heard this argument time and time again. He knew his grandfather didn’t like Camille because he thought her father’s job was beneath them. However, though Remi did not agree, he didn’t argue. His grandfather would surely have another heart attack if he got him too riled up. But one thing he would not let his grandfather do was tarnish his father’s memory.
“Granddad, you know that was not my father’s dying wish.”
“You may be right about that, but it’s mine. And you don’t have to wait ’til I’m dead to make that happen. They say, give them their flowers while they live and Sonya is one stunningly gorgeous flower. But about that land—” His statement was cut off by a sudden coughing fit.
The home nurse ran into the room and Remington took that as his opportunity to leave. This had happened many times during his visits so he felt no guilt in leaving. The old man would hardly recognize that he was gone now that his nurse’s ample cleavage was in his face.
Chapter 3
Speaking with Charleston “Charlie” Cobb was nothing new. Camille spoke to him often. He was not only her lawyer, he was her best friend, and she loved him. She had no idea where she’d be without having him to complain to or get advice from. He was one of the main reasons she’d quit her teaching job and had gone after her dream. He was behind her all the way and had even paid her rent for a couple months when she didn’t renew her teaching contract so she could focus on writing full-time.
He had accompanied her when she visited her father the second time that day, and had returned home with her. Charlie had then left to run an errand and she’d fallen asleep after a shower, only to be woken up now by a pounding on the door. She had no idea who it was until she remembered that Charlie was supposed to come by after he was done with his errand. Waking up in her old living room had thrown her off and she had no idea he’d return so soon.
He came in with his commanding presence, protective attitude and a six-pack of beer, fussing at her for not asking who was at the door. He pushed past her like he owned the place, heading straight to the kitchen. “Thanks for letting me read those pages,” he said and she looked at him as he returned with a bottle of water. “I think they worked.”
“Eww...you’re using my stories as a guidebook? That’s nasty, Charlie.”
Charlie plopped down on the couch and put his feet on the ottoman. “Hey, you shouldn’t be so good. And it’s not the first time...and it won’t be the last.”
“Eww... Do I know this person?”
“Doubtful, but she kinda puts me in mind of my career rival here in town—your best friend.”
Best friend? She knew what that meant. He meant her one and only enemy, Sonya Brandt. Last Camille had heard she was the lawyer for Krane Foods, which was the most Camille had allowed Charlie to tell her about Fairdell when they talked. He’d informed her that Sonya had been hired with the blessing of Frederick Krane, and their two families had been closer than ever since she’d been working there. That was perfect since Sonya always wanted and felt she was entitled to have Remington anyway. Now she was probably having him anytime she wanted.
Camille wasn’t sure why that thought didn’t sit well with her. She didn’t even want to begin to guess why her mind had gone there.
Camille hated having negative thoughts about anyone, but Sonya was a special case. Camille had often wondered how the woman ever got through law school because during high school she’d never done any schoolwork. It was possible that she’d had others do it for her and that trend probably continued through college. Camille wouldn’t put anything past her. Sonya Brandt was spoiled and stuck up and thought she was God’s gift to men because her father was white and her mother was black. She thought that made her exotic and irresistible.
“Hey, babe, I’m going to go get a beer. I thought I could wait for the food, but I can’t,” Charlie declared once the conversation hit a lull. She’d missed him and often felt guilty that he had to keep her secret. He was her best friend and was often the one answering the questions people asked about her because he lived in Fairdell. He was more like an overprotective big brother than a best friend most times.
The brief silence gave way to thoughts of Remi.
She hadn’t been able to get away from those ever since she’d arrived in town. She couldn’t help thinking about him even when she didn’t want to. But now was not the time. She had other things to worry about, like her father and his return home. She had to make sure the house was clean and there was food in the fridge. She had to—
“I think I hear a car in the driveway,” Charlie hollered from the kitchen. “It’s probably the pizza guy. I left some money on the coffee table.”
She rolled her eyes. Sometimes Charlie forgot about what she now did for a living. She could afford a lot more than a pizza, though she tried to live modestly. She bought the things she desired and she lived the lifestyle she wanted—within limits. Her only splurge was paying off her father’s mortgage. It was the least she could do for the man who’d raised her by himself.
She fished the bills off the table, not having time to go get her purse from the room upstairs. She flung the door open and giggled—the wine she’d been sipping was kicking in. She probably shouldn’t have drunk it on an empty stomach but she’d needed the stress reliever after her flight and visit to the hospital.
She might just guzzle the whole bottle on the next go ’round...or maybe not, because she was hallucinating. How else could she explain seeing Remington Krane standing at the door of her home?
* * *
“Long time.”
Camille was speechless. She’d heard him speak but was still so much in shock that nothing came out except for an embarrassing hiccup courtesy of the wine. And then she took him in. His height, strong facial features, the shaved head and slight beard, the smoothness of his caramel skin, and the very manly scent emanating from his direction made her drift closer to him.
The man was sexy and the sight of him made her libido spring to life.
Camille’s mouth opened and closed until finally she took a step back and said, “Why are you here, Remi?” Her voice trembled and she got angry with herself for becoming a blubbering idiot at the mere sight of her former sweetheart.
“That should be obvious. I came here to see you, Camille.”
“You wha... Why? I don’t unders—”
He didn’t wait for her to finish whatever it was she was going to say. He closed the distance between them and didn’t hesitate to place his large, warm hands on either side of her neck, using the pads of his thumbs to gently stroke her cheeks as if coaxing her to comply with his unspoken demand.
Shock, lust, confusion and longing snaked into every crevice of Camille’s body. The overwhelming sensations made her dizzy. She was so busy trying to figure out what was going on that she had not even realized that it was already happening. His lips had found hers and he indulged in helping her remember times past.
When she started to respond with soft moans, his fingers curled tightly into the hair at the nape of her neck. Remi pulled back, but only a fraction, leaving their lips achingly close.
“Hey, babe, did the pizza get here?” Charlie said as he walked back into the room, obviously not realizing they had a visitor. “I had a hell of a time trying to find the bottle opener. You know you could’ve just left it on the counter.”
Camille couldn’t believe that she’d forgotten Charlie was in the house. She jerked back and when she nearly lost her footing, both men came to her aid before she ended up with her body parts intermingled with the wood of a nearby table.
A large, strong hand landed under each elbow. She was practically lifted from the floor when they righted her. Camille yelped a little and then stepped away from the men. They glared at one another before Charlie spoke first.
“I knew it wouldn’t be long before you showed up.” Charlie took a protective stance next to Camille, folding his arms over his bulky chest. Giving a welcoming look to Remi wasn’t an option for Charlie. He didn’t really care for Remi’s more conservative, good-guy nature. He felt a man who was so loyal and “perfect” had something to hide, though Camille did not agree. Remington Krane was exactly who everyone believed him to be. He was that nice.
She had not even considered that Remi would seek her out. He had not done so in all these years and there was no doubt he had the means and time to do it. She figured he’d gotten over her pretty quickly and had moved on without much thought to what had happened. But, if that kiss and the look on his face was any indication, she was completely wrong. Not that she’d had much time to think clearly in the past few moments. Her brain was still trying to catch up to Remington Krane actually being here and on top of that, acting as if no time had passed between them. His behavior suggested that he was no longer angry with her for the way she left, but now Camille was left to decipher what it all meant. However, her traitorous body was telling her it didn’t care about any of that.
Reeling in her libido, Camille stood tall and mimicked Charlie’s stance. “Why are you here, Remi?” she asked again. She desperately wanted to have his lips on hers again, but that wasn’t what she needed. She needed him to leave. She needed him to stay far away from her. He’d only reawaken feelings she’d kept hidden. She’d left for his sake—for their sake. Her leaving was supposed to be her liberating act—one that left them both free to realize their dreams.
“I’m here for you, of course.”
Had Camille been expecting that response? No. Should she have expected nothing other than the confident man she knew he’d become? Probably.
“We don’t know each other anymore, Remi. That was ten years ago and we were stupid teenagers. Stupid teenagers who made stupid promises they could never have kept. I left, Remi. Obviously you haven’t heard. So, you should probably just...go.”
Tears were forming and threatening to spill by the time she got out the last word. She didn’t think saying the words would hurt her so much. She wanted to turn away so she could experience the full range of her emotions, but she needed to know if she’d hit her mark. Pushing back the tears, Camille squared her shoulders and waited.
“Know you? Well, that is a joke, isn’t it? Of course I don’t know you, Camille. I don’t know the person who lied and said she would stand by me. I don’t know the person who left without so much as a call or a note. You have some nerve, you know that? I should be angry with you. I should never want to speak to you again and here I am trying to—”
“Leave,” Camille said in a low voice. Charlie was her best friend and Remi was nothing more than an ex—an ex whom she still needed to protect despite her true feelings. “Leave, Remington! Get out now,” Camille said and balled her fists at her sides. She then looked at Charlie and he nodded his support, knowing why she had to do this to Remi.
Remi noticed their eye contact, and he glanced from one to the other. “You two together now? Is that what this is about? You finally get her into bed, Charlie?”
Slap.
Camille could not believe she’d just done that and stepped back shaking her hand while Remington held the side of his face in astonishment. Although she had to admit it had worked out perfectly. She’d provoked him to anger and surely he’d leave now and forget about her. It was why this whole act was necessary.
“I deserve that,” Remi admitted. “I shouldn’t have said that and I’m sorry.”
“I said leave, Remington, especially if this is all you came here for.” He really needed to remove himself from the premises because she could almost feel herself slowly giving in. “Maybe...maybe we can talk...”
Had those words fallen from her lips? She’d meant to think them, not say them aloud. Thankfully Remington said, “Forget it,” and turned to walk toward the door. “And just so you know... I forgave you a long time ago,” he said not looking back at her and then walking out the door without another word.
Was this what gum on the bottom of someone’s shoe felt like? Probably pretty close to it. She’d known this encounter would happen, but she didn’t think it would be this soon and she hadn’t expected him to do that when he first saw her.
Camille didn’t know what had driven Remington Krane to go through the trouble of actually stopping by, but he’d left her with a simple, sweet, memorable kiss that had so much power and meaning behind it. It would take a while to get over this, but she knew it was for the best.
* * *
What had come over him, he wasn’t quite sure. Remington had gone over to that house to simply let Camille know that he was aware she was in town and that this time she wouldn’t be hiding from him. He also wanted to tell her that he was sorry about her father and to offer his help in any way she needed.
But the visit had not gone that way.
She had opened the door before he’d had a chance to knock, catching him off guard. He’d planned to give himself a little pep talk before ringing the doorbell but seeing her had made him forget all that.
He’d looked down at her standing there with her mouth opening and closing like a cute little guppy and his little friend down below had started to throb as if asking him if they were both seeing the same thing. They were. Camille had stood there in a pair of sexy little lounge shorts and a tank top with no bra. He even guessed that she might have been panty-less since the shorts left little to the imagination.
His groin had done the moving for him as it took over and propelled him in her direction. He’d not intended to kiss her without even saying hello but other parts of him had other plans and he’d not been in control of his actions.
That was the story he was sticking to.
Then it had all gone to hell with her best friend being there. He knew the man thought of her as a little sister so he couldn’t blame him for his protectiveness. However, when it got in his way, it was annoying.
It was easy to see she had not meant the words she’d yelled at him. It was even easier to feel how she’d responded to his touch. It had been unmistakable. The girl was a woman now and the woman had wanted him.
Remi drove through the streets of town trying to calm himself. He was angry with himself for not sticking to his plan, he was angry with Camille for her reaction to his presence, and he was angry with Charlie for simply existing.
The anger had him driving aimlessly around town, but somehow he had ended up right back at her house. He didn’t go in this time but instead stood outside the gate. He looked over the fence at the shed. He and Camille had spent many a day making out in that shed when they were supposed to be completing a task for her father’s landscaping business.
He smiled as he remembered when he and Camille had first started dating. Mr. Ryan would not allow Remi to set foot in his home. His daughter was only fifteen and a sophomore and he was about to be eighteen and a senior. Mr. Ryan had forbid his daughter to date until she was sixteen but she’d begged him to let Remi come over, vouching for his good nature. Her father was a pushover when it came to Camille and couldn’t say no. After that, Remi became a regular fixture at the Ryan home since Remi’s grandfather had made it clear that he did not approve of his grandson dating someone with such a “common” background.
Remi stood in front of Camille’s childhood home for a while longer before leaving. He noticed the light in her old bedroom was on and briefly watched as her silhouette passed the window. Seconds later the room went dark, which was his signal to stop acting like a stalker.
“God, please watch over the man who raised the woman I love and restore him to full health,” he prayed before getting in his car and returning to his home.
Chapter 4
Two days after her arrival in town, Camille’s father was released to her care and that of that home health nurse. He was given a better prognosis than she’d anticipated, along with the all-clear to return to normal activities as long as he cut down on some of his more strenuous ones.
She’d taken him home to find the nurse already waiting. Camille had cooked a small meal and prepared an area for her father to rest and relax. He’d grumbled and groaned as she’d helped him to the house, but his whole demeanor had changed when he’d laid eyes on the woman who’d be caring for his needs for the next week.
Now as she stepped into the grocery store, Camille thought about her life in New York for the first time in days. She’d have to return to her apartment soon. She had a profession that was ruled by deadlines and she needed to get in touch with her agent to discuss them. The woman was a barracuda and a shark and any other ferocious animal all rolled into one. She could find a bookstore in the middle of Antarctica to sell Reese Elaine books in if she so chose. And she’d done just that if her lengthy phone message that morning was anything to go by. Anna had arranged for Camille to meet with a potential distributor who was also a fan. The woman had agreed to not take any pictures if she could simply meet Camille, the woman attached to the pseudonym Reese Elaine. Her publishing team had wanted to do business with this distributor but it was too costly. The meeting would guarantee a substantial discount for them and make it happen. Camille was just glad she’d packed for this possibility.
To the world—the literary world—Reese Elaine was the author of ten full-length erotic novels and several novellas. Camille had pursued her writing dream at the encouragement of her high school English teacher after Camille had mistakenly turned in a few chapters of her work instead of an essay. The teacher had pulled her aside and given her an application for an internship in New York and had told Camille she had a real future in writing. It was all the encouragement she needed and had been the catalyst that had led her to New York, where she ended up pursuing her degree. Her life had changed that day.
Now she was no longer a teacher of tenth grade English at a private school and hadn’t been for some time. She’d come this far and had not had to reveal her identity to anyone and didn’t see herself doing so anytime soon. And by “this far” she meant a hefty contract for three of her books and even bigger ones for her next seven. It was truly a blessing to be able to do something she loved; she only wished that she could share the good news with her family and friends, but she knew that wasn’t possible. She’d be putting her father’s business and reputation in jeopardy. His clients, church members and friends might not understand that his daughter wrote what conservative people considered pornography.
Reese Elaine was the main reason she’d had to give up Remi. Krane Foods was considered a family-oriented business and her books were nothing of the sort. She couldn’t allow Remi to give up his future for her so she’d chosen for him.