Chasing Love's Wings (20 page)

“Well your money has nothing to do with why I love you, if that’s something you’re
concerned about.”
 

I shake my head. “No, it’s more that I’m concerned that I’ve freaked you out. That
you—that...I don’t know.”
 

“That I feel inadequate?”

“That’s a good word for it.”
 

“No, I don’t feel inadequate about your wealth, though my own wealth is like pocket
change, compared to yours. And it washes away all the worries I had in regards to
the bar.”

“You were worried I couldn’t afford the bar? Is that why you haven’t been that excited
about it?” I ask, and he nods. “Well, I’ve already made that amount of money plus,
just from Bold, since I told you about it. So no, the bar is not at all a loss in
my book. While I’d love to hand my friends money left and right, I don’t believe that
they would like it very much, and the subject of money always comes between friends
and I don’t like it. Beau knows, of course, because of Mick. Jolene has an idea and
I’m sure Naomi does too. Look, it’s not a big deal, and more than anything it doesn’t
drive who I am. Sure, I like nice clothes and expensive shoes. I carry expensive purses
and I indulge when it comes to things like spending some time in Tarah with you. But
at the end of the day, Tristan, I am still me, and I’ve worked very hard to keep that
because I don’t want to throw my money around and I don’t want people to take advantage
of me or my generosity.”
 

He leans forward on the couch, putting his elbows on his knees, and I can tell that
he’s lost in thought. He doesn’t stay that way for long. “The amount of money you
have doesn’t change a thing about how I feel about you.” He looks up at me standing
on the other side of the table, and my heart grows a little bigger for him in that
moment and I realize that I love him even more than I thought was ever going to be
possible.

TWENTY-SEVEN
 

******

Tristan

******

“You have another present to open,” she tells me, and it brings me out of my haze
after learning what I’ve just learned about Cami. I had no idea she had that much
money. I knew she was wealthy, that much was obvious, but not
that
wealthy.
 

“I haven’t finished looking at the plans yet,” I say and smirk at her.
 

“They’re kind of boring, really. Just overall layout designs of the kitchen and the
patio, which includes a built-in grill and bar.” She smiles at me. “We can look at
them later. Or discuss them with the designer.”
 

“Who might that be?” I ask her with an all-knowing grin on my face.
 

“Take a wild guess.” She laughs.
 

“Beau.”
 

“Who else? She’s bloody brilliant at what she does.” And just like that her British
accent rings true to form. It’s been a while since I’ve heard it...or I’ve just really
gotten used to it.
 

“That she is.” I grab for the smaller package. “This isn’t keys to some sports car,
is it?”
 

She laughs. “No, but if you want one...”
 

“I’ll buy it myself,” I say with a big grin and a chuckle.

I tear into the package, and the box inside says Rolex. She got me a watch? I smile
and open the box. Inside is a silver-faced, black-banded watch. It’s good sized, too,
but what catches my attention the most is that the face isn’t a typical watch face,
but it is a holographic image of Cami. It’s the picture that is on the background
of my phone and computer. But the image is such that you have to be looking straight
at it in order to actually see it. “Cami, it’s beautiful.”
 

“You like it?”
 

“I love it.” I stand up from the couch and walk around the table, embracing her and
kissing her like there’s no tomorrow. She laughs, ending my attempt to try and take
her back to bed. “It’s perfect. Thank you.” I kiss her again and then reach for the
box, pulling the watch free of its padded cushioning and unbuckling it. “Help me,”
I say, though I don’t actually need her help with it. She does and she buckles it
onto my wrist. I look at it, checking the time. It’s just after one, but I can’t stop
staring at her face on the watch.
 

“I didn’t know how you’d feel about walking around with me around your wrist. So when
I was talking to the designer about it, he suggested this concept. It’s one of a kind,
not only because of my picture, but it is the first one they’ve ever come up with.”
She smiles and I can hear the pride in her voice.
 

“It’s perfect. Thank you so much.” I kiss her again.
 

Just then I hear the door chime and I know that our time alone has come to a close.
 

“The girls do not know about the house.”

“What?”
 

“The boys agreed to unveil it to them after you’d seen it. So leave the plans. They’ve
all already received theirs as well.”
 

“Okay,” I say as I go to the door and open it. Beyond it is the entire gang, and they
all serenade me with an awful rendition of “Happy Birthday” as they file into the
penthouse.
 

It doesn’t take long before everyone realizes that Cami has already given me my birthday
present, and we spend the afternoon hanging around the pool, having a good time and
talking about the house plans.
 

Cami is very animated with her friends, and it strikes me that something might actually
be bothering her. But I don’t want to spoil the fun everyone is having by pulling
her away to talk about it.
 

Shortly before sunset, we all leave the penthouse and go out to the entrance of the
hotel. Sitting there, waiting for us, are two Jeeps. “Where are we going?” I ask.
 

Cami wraps her arms around me. “It’s a surprise.”
 

We all climb in and we’re off. I half expected the docks and a boat, but we actually
go to the south side of the island, rather than the north where the boats are.
 

When we arrive on the beach there is a bonfire going, surround by logs, and off to
the right is a table set out for dinner. I smile when I see Jessie manning the bar,
waiting for us.

Everyone climbs out of the cars, and I pull Cami toward me. She starts before I can.
“You said you wanted something small, and after I talked to Trav and Ty about your
birthday, I discovered that neither one of them knew when it was.” She gives me a
look that tells me she understands. “So, I thought tonight we’d spend it having dinner
on the beach and hanging around the bonfire. Just the eight of us.”

I kiss her. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
 

She smiles and leads me toward the table, where we all gather around. I look at the
group of people before me — everyone laughing and having an amazing time. I can’t
understand it completely, but I am filled with an overwhelming amount of love and
support that I never thought existed...or even realized I was missing in my life.
Then suddenly Cami’s house plans all make sense. We’re a family. All of us. Whether
we have our own families someplace else, we, right here, are one big huge family,
and I want nothing more than to have every one of them around me for the rest of my
life.

TWENTY-EIGHT
 

Before we know it, our friends have already left, our two weeks in Tarah have come
to a close, and Cami and I are back in Phoenix with only a few days to spare before
I head off to New York. Cami is staying here — well, on this side of the country,
at least — for a couple of days. We both agreed on the plans for the house, so she
is going to California to get that started and also to deal with the pressing issues
of Bold and Vincent. But I managed to convince her to stay in Phoenix at least until
I leave. I don’t want to miss any time I can spend with her.
 

Our two weeks in Tarah were refreshing on the levels of needing to be able to reconnect
with one another, to forgo life for a while, and we’re very good about doing that
in Tarah. After the two weeks we spent together and all the talking we’ve done, I
am starting to feel closer than ever to her, and I am starting to feel truly happy
about wanting all the things she has lined up for us: the house in California and
the bar here in Phoenix. Though her confidence regarding the bar is wavering slightly,
I think our pep talks about it have helped; at least that is my hope.
 

“I hate that you’re leaving again.”
 

“You can always come with me.”
 

“I know, but I can’t put this off any longer, I need to deal with Vincent, and then,
to top that off, I need to get things started on the house. When I’m done with that,
I’ll come to New York and spend the rest of your filming days with you.”
 

“Sounds good to me.” I kiss her and grab my bags. “Ready?”
 

“No. I hate this, you know that.”
 

I smile at her. “I know, but it’s a few days, then we have until March before I’m
scheduled on another set. But by then you’re going to be busy with Bold and I’ll be
the one waiting for you.”
 

“Don’t hold your breath,” she says as we climb into the car. “Oh, I forgot to tell
you.”
 

“What’s that?”

“Mick and Beau have set a date.”
 

“Oh, and it is what?”
 

She laughs. “Valentine’s Day.”

I laugh with her. “That doesn’t surprise me, though I expected something like eleven,
twelve, thirteen or something like that.”
 

“Hey, just be glad I convinced them to skip the Justice of the Peace. Plus, if we
push it, the bar might be ready by then and they can get married there.”
 

I laugh. “Why the bar?”
 

“You know them, they don’t want anything over the top, they want to just get married
and be done with it. If the house were going to be done by then, I’m sure they’d do
it there. But at this point we’ll be lucky if we have it by May.”
 

I shrug. “I’m in no hurry.”
 

She smiles at me. “At least I know where I want to get married.”

This surprises me and I look at her in mock shock. “Oh really, Madam Enders, where
might that be?”
 

She gives me a one-word answer: “Tarah.”
 

“Penthouse or beach.”
 

“Beach, sunset.”

“I see you’ve already planned this out.” I can’t help the overwhelming warmth I feel
at her talk of getting married. Especially considering everything she’s said so far
is only consistent with me. It means she’s never thought about this until now.
 

“All except the date.”
 

“Shouldn’t you get engaged first? You know, before you start planning your dream wedding?”
She punches me in the thigh. “Ouch.” She busts out laughing. “Subtle hint received.”
I hold up my hands in defense and she laughs.
 

Our routine at the airport this time is no different than the last time, only this
time she’s crying a little harder. I can’t help but wonder what that’s all about.
But I don’t question it, and faster than I realize, Tyson and I are in first class,
one way to New York City. I don’t think I could get further away from Cami if I tried,
and with each passing minute, the ache in my heart grows and I miss her already.

TWENTY-NINE

******

Cami

******

“Ugh,” I say as I scramble out of bed and head straight for the toilet, where I unload
the contents of my nearly empty stomach. I try and think about what would’ve caused
this except for the fact that Beau and I went out to dinner at a new restaurant last
night. But once I’m done, I feel a little bit better. I crawl back into bed and lie
down. Before I know it, I’m sound asleep.
 

I call Beau around eleven, after I’ve woken up again. Though I don’t throw up, I don’t
feel much better. “Hey, girl,” I say when she answers.
 

“Hey, wench.”
 

I roll my eyes. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, why?” she says. I can hear her concern.
 

“I think whatever I ate last night doesn’t agree with me. I feel like crap.”

“Do you have anything to do today?”
 

“Not really, other than pack for tomorrow, but it can wait until tomorrow.”

“Then I’d just take it easy today, see how you feel tomorrow.”
 

“All right. Need me, call me,” I say.

“Will do.” And she’s gone.
 

I lie back down in bed and continue to doze off and on throughout the day. Finally
around three I start to feel better, and I get up and go downstairs. I make myself
some toast and grab a seat on the couch. I start flipping through channels and end
up watching — against my better judgment - the first
Love is Burning
movie; though I’ve read the books, I’ve never seen the movie. Tristan will kill me
if he knows I’m watching this. But I can’t help it.
 

About an hour into the movie my phone rings. It’s Tristan. “Hi, beautiful,” I say
before he can beat me to it.
 

“Hi beautiful yourself. How are you?”
 

“Tired and lazy.”
 

“Oh, late night last night?”
 

I debate whether or not to tell him about my being sick this morning, but it’s just
what I ate, so I tell him.
 

“Babe, why didn’t you call me?”

I roll my eyes. “You’re in New York, what were you gonna do?”

“Good point.”