“We can make the best of this, can’t we?” Vanni asked hopefully.
Cameron smiled at her, but it was a disappointed smile. Carol flew out from the kitchen, headed toward the dining room with a plate, napkin and utensils in her hands. She had obviously handed off the baby to Lance. “Carol, wait,” Cameron said. “I’m going to have to shove off. My pager,” he lied. “Thanks, but I’m not going to be able to stay.”
“Oh no!” Carol said. “Are you sure?”
He put one hand in his pants pocket. “I’m sure,” he said. He leaned forward and gave Vanni a kiss on the cheek. “You look terrific,” he said. “It’s good to know you’re happy.” He gave Paul a conciliatory slap on the upper arm as he passed and headed toward the door.
Paul squeezed her shoulder. He leaned down to her ear. “I’ll be back.” And he followed Cameron.
Cameron was making fast tracks to his car when Paul called to him. “Hey, Cameron. Buddy. A minute, huh?”
Cameron turned. “It’s okay, Paul. You don’t have to say anything. Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m not worried,” he said, taking another two long strides toward him. The two men were completely different—Paul in his jeans and boots, rough, rugged. Cameron in his linen pants, silk shirt, Italian shoes—possibly the best-dressed man in Grants Pass. “I think you deserve some kind of explanation. About me. Me and Vanessa. This was a horrible setup.”
Cameron put his hands in his pockets, rocked back on his heels and laughed ruefully. “It was pretty ugly,” he agreed. “Maybe more terrible for you and Vanni than for me.”
“I don’t know what Carol told you, and I don’t know why she brought you out to dinner, but I’ve been in love with Vanni forever. I couldn’t tell her that, of course—she married my best friend. God, I’d never have done anything that wrong to Matt. But since… Well, we’ve been through so much together and it just got stronger. It took a long time to iron it out. Man, I’m really sorry if you were misled.”
“I’ve only known her a few weeks, Paul. We’re not exactly confidants.”
“We’re getting married,” Paul said.
Cameron stiffened slightly, but he smiled. He nodded. “Congratulations. I’m sure you’ll be very happy.”
“Look,” Paul said. “It isn’t hard for me to understand you have a thing for her. What man wouldn’t? I want you to know something—this is my fault, Cameron. I should have spoken up sooner. Before Carol set up that first meeting with you. There’s no excuse. I knew how I felt. But Matt hadn’t been gone long and I—” He hung his head, shaking it briefly. “I just didn’t want to upset her.”
“She could have spoken up,” Cameron said.
“Well, it turns out there’s an explanation for that, too. I was real scarce for a while after the baby was born, trying to give her time and to get my head together. It was real hard for me to get into Matt’s territory, even after he was gone. I gave her the impression I wasn’t interested in her in that way.” He shook his head. “I’m not good with women. I’m real clumsy, in fact. But at least it’s finally out—how we feel about each other. Now we move ahead. I’m sorry, man,” he said, sticking out his hand. “You’re a good guy. You have everything. There’s no reason I should win this one.”
Cameron gave a huff of laughter. He took the hand. “Maybe there’s lots of reasons. No hard feelings.”
“Thanks. This, between us—it shouldn’t be hard for her. She’s so sensitive. She’d hate for anyone to be hurt. I happen to know—she thinks highly of you.”
“I know,” Cameron said. “Don’t worry about it, okay?”
“I don’t deserve her, I know that. But I’m going to do everything I can to make her happy. I hope you’re going to be okay.”
“You could gloat, you know,” Cameron said. “You got the girl.”
“Yeah,” he said. “Crazy woman.” He laughed. “A guy like you—you won’t have any trouble. The right one will come along.”
“Paul. I didn’t close the deal, all right? It barely got going. I might be a little disappointed, but that’s all. Vanni and I—we were just friends. In case you think I’m going to be a problem for you.”
“Nah, I know better than that. Didn’t take me long to figure you for a class act.”