Chapter 22

twenty-two

Cam floated in and out of a dream as it slowly registered that someone was pounding on his bedroom door. His eyes flew open as he sat up in a rush, blinking in the bright sunshine while Fi stirred next to him.

"Dad." Brady wiggled the doorknob. "I can't get in your room."

"I'll be right there," he called as Fiona opened her eyes, sitting up just as quickly as he had.

"You let me fall asleep," she hissed in a whisper, hurrying off the mattress, grabbing the clothes she'd let tumble to the floor when he pinned her up against the door several hours ago, then ran toward the bathroom.

"Not the bathroom," he whispered as he got out of bed, yanking on his boxers. "The closet."

Fi quickly changed directions, closing herself in the walk-in space.

Moving to the door, Cam smiled as he opened it enough to poke his head out. "Hey, buddy."

Brady frowned. "Your door was locked. The rule is no locked doors."

"You're right." He glanced behind him toward the floor and closet, making sure there were no telltale signs of Fi that Brady might see. Because Fiona had been absolutely right. Brady didn't miss much. "I don't know what happened."

"Can I lay in bed with you? I'm not tired anymore, so I brought a book." He held up the Seattle book he was currently obsessed with.

"Actually, I'm pretty hungry this morning," he said, opening the door wider as he turned to grab a fresh T-shirt from his drawer and then his phone off the floor where it sat on the jeans Fi had taken off him. "What if we head downstairs and have some breakfast?"

"Okay." But Brady's frown returned as he stood in the doorway. "Why is your bed so messy?"

Cam scratched his jaw. "I tossed and turned a lot."

"Because you couldn't sleep well?"

"Exactly." Settling his hand on Brady's shoulder, he steered him down the hall. "How about we make something special this morning? Maybe pancakes or waffles since it's Sunday."

"Yeah! Let's have pancakes!"

"You've got it." He let his shoulders relax, confident that Fi was on her way down the deck steps as they headed down the stairs. He could only thank his lucky stars for locks because that had been a hell of a close call. His need for Fi had made him careless. "Do you want bacon or sausage with your pancakes?"

"Sausage. And eggs, too."

Cam raised his brow. "Are you growing or something?"

Brady grinned. "Yup. I'm getting bigger for big kid school."

"Pretty soon, you'll be as tall as me."

Brady chuckled. "Someday I will be but not yet. Probably in fifty days."

"Hopefully, it'll take a little longer than that."

They moved past the office, and Brady gasped when he glanced toward the big window. "Look! It's Fiona!"

Cam clenched his jaw as he watched Fi quickly walking toward the borrowed truck, barefoot and in her wrinkled clothes. "There she is." He immediately selected Fi in his texts.

Brady spotted you.

He watched Fiona lift her phone and stop dead. Then she turned, heading back toward the house.

Brady ran to the front door, opening it. "Fiona! You're here when it's early!"

She grinned. "I am." Her eyes were still sleepy and her hair disheveled as her gaze met Cam's. "I thought it would be fun to have breakfast with you guys."

Brady jumped up and down. "Yeah!" He grabbed Fiona's hand, pulling her into the house, letting the door slam behind them. "We're having pancakes and sausage and eggs."

"That sounds great."

"How about you grab the pancake mix for us and the maple syrup from the fridge," Cam suggested.

Brady took off down the hall. "Okay."

Cam stared at Fiona. "I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "You didn't do it on purpose."

"I definitely didn't." He studied her gorgeous face, wanting her again. "You forgot a couple of things."

She snorted out a laugh as she looked at her sandals among the pile of Cam's and Brady's shoes and her purse still sitting on the bench. "I figured that out on my way to the deck. I was going to text you when I got to the truck so you could bring me my stuff. I'm just happy I had my phone on me, or I would've been knocking on the door."

He grinned, glancing over his shoulder, listening to Brady chattering away in the kitchen as he pulled Fi against him, wrapping his arms around her. "I've wanted to wake up with you all summer, but not like this."

She smiled, kissing him. "It made the morning exciting."

He huffed out a laugh, kissing her again. "I like your optimistic spin on a near disaster. How about some breakfast?"

"I'd love some."

Capturing her hand, he walked with her down the hall, letting her go as they moved closer to the great room. "Let's make something delicious."

Brady grinned as he dragged a stool up to the counter in the way that he did when he wanted to help. "Yay!"

"I can put your plate in the dishwasher," Brady said as he got out of his chair, moving to Fiona's side as she finished her last bite of scrambled egg.

Smiling, she nodded as she set her fork down. "That's really nice, buddy. Thank you."

He picked up her plate. "Helping your best friend means you're being kind."

She grinned, forever in love with Brady Bennet. "Yes, it does. Being helpful is a very kind thing to do. And you helped make such a delicious breakfast, too. The gluten-free pancakes were so good ."

Brady smiled. "Yup."

"What about the chopped liver over here," Cam asked from his seat next to Fiona's. "Do you want to help him out with his plate, too?"

" Dad ," Brady said as he shook his head. "You're not chopped liver. But you have to wait your turn because you're my second best friend."

Cam laughed one of his big laughs, winking at Fiona as Brady walked off with her plate. "Got it."

Chuckling, she touched Cam's hand. "You're a great second best friend, though."

"Yup," Brady agreed as he walked back to take Cam's plate. "That's why you get to play with me when you're not at work. You make really cool Legos."

"Thanks, bud," he said as he slid his thumb along Fiona's knuckles when Brady walked away again.

Moments later, Brady came back, stopping next to Fiona. "Do you want to play Legos with us and swim in the lake?"

"I do, but I'm helping my friend Melody for a little while today."

Brady nodded, but his disappointment was apparent as he looked down at the floor. "Okay."

"We're setting up her classroom at big kid school," she said as she settled her hand on his shoulder. "But I'm coming over later. Maybe we can play Legos and swim then."

Brady smiled. "I'm going to draw you a picture while you're gone."

She beamed, always adoring Brady's creativity. Because his imagination was top-notch. "I would love that. What will you draw for me?"

"It's a surprise," he whispered, moving closer to her ear, getting into the spirit of being mysterious.

"That sounds exciting," she whispered back. "I can't wait to see what you make."

Cam stood, grabbing the maple syrup and the tub of butter, then headed for the fridge. "Why don't you get dressed and get a head start on brushing your teeth, secret artist. We have to take care of a couple of errands before you can get to your drawing."

Brady looked at Cam. "You'll come upstairs and check my teeth for cavity bugs?"

Cam nodded. "I'll be there in a couple of minutes."

"Okay."

Fiona stood. "I should get home. I'll see you in a little while."

Brady hugged her. "Bye, best friend."

"Aw," she said as she hugged him back. "Bye, buddy."

Brady ran for the stairs and stopped abruptly. "Don't come back too soon so I have time to make your picture."

She huffed out a quiet laugh. "I'll be sure to take a long time."

"Okay." And then he disappeared down the hall.

Fiona pushed in her chair. "He's such a sweetie , Cam."

Smiling as he walked her way, he closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around her waist as he pulled her against him. "He's pretty great, even when he's unintentionally rude."

Grinning as she returned his embrace, she stood on her tiptoes, kissing him. "Thanks for breakfast. Everything was truly tasty."

"You're welcome." He kissed her this time. "You'll be over this afternoon?"

She nodded. "I'll bring Brady's new backpack."

"Sounds good." Then he pressed his lips to her forehead, pausing there for several seconds as he pulled her closer.

Smiling, she closed her eyes, savoring his sweet gesture.

"What do you want for dinner?" he finally asked, holding her gaze again.

"How about you surprise me?"

"I can do that." He tucked her hair behind her ear. "And you're still feeling good about the water park next weekend?"

She nodded her enthusiasm. "Absolutely. I can't wait."

"I'll call and get us a reservation when Brady and I get back from our errands. We'll tell him about it tonight."

She grinned, thrilled at the idea. "That sounds perfect."

He glanced toward the hall before he moved in for another kiss, deepening it slowly, sliding his tongue against hers.

She hummed, wrapping her arms tighter around him, getting lost in the moment.

Eventually, he eased back. "I'll walk you to the door."

"Okay." Smiling, she took his hand, walking with him down the hall, stopping to grab her purse and slip on her sandals. "I'll see you guys later."

He nodded. "We'll see you. Have fun with Melody."

"Thanks." Stepping outside, she headed for the truck, looking up and grinning when Brady knocked his hand against his bedroom window. She waved as he did, chuckling before she turned away.

But her smile dimmed as she started walking again, remembering that she had one full weekend left in Maple Ridge. Then she would board her plane and be gone. Getting behind the wheel, she shook her head, choosing to focus on the day ahead as she turned over the ignition.