The Marriage Bargain Read online

  He was quiet for a moment. “I don’t know. I hope so.”

  “Cameron, why didn’t you ever try to make contact? Clearly, you’ve been very successful as an adult.” That was, if his fancy watch was any indication.

  A frown wrinkled his brow. “From all accounts, Glory seemed to be happy. I guess I told myself she didn’t need me stirring up the past. I thought I’d—I don’t know—have more time.”

  “And now? Why did it take you so long to get here?”

  “I was out of the country. Off the grid.” He grimaced. “Way off the grid. I write adventure travel books and it took some time for my office to find me.”

  She hadn’t expected that excuse. “What do you want? I’m sorry to blurt it out like that, but I’m a practical person. I don’t like unanswered questions and I hate surprises.”

  A slow smile spread across his face and those crystal clear green eyes warmed. Her heart picked up speed.

  Huh. That was a reaction to mull over later.

  “I didn’t know where the girls were. Or more important, if they were safe.” He shrugged, spreading his hands. “It’s really very simple. I came for them.”

  “And now that you know they’re safe?” Her voice was soft because she was holding the baby, but what she felt inside had jagged edges.

  He didn’t look away. “I’m still here for them.”

  She shifted the sleeping Emma to her shoulder and patted the baby’s back. “Do you know what Eleanor’s middle name is?”

  “No.”

  “It’s Cameron. Her name is Eleanor Cameron.” The words stuck in her throat—they were so painful and so hard because her friend wasn’t here to say them herself. “I know Glory would want you to know your namesake. She’d want you to be a part of their lives, so I’m not going to stand in your way. But if you hurt them, there won’t be a second chance.”

  “I’m not gonna...” He rubbed a hand over his close-shaved hair, impatience simmering in the move. “Okay, that’s fair, I guess. I haven’t exactly been present the past few years.”

  “Take some time to think about it, because the girls need people who will stick around.”

  He nodded slowly, rising to his feet. He picked up his jacket from the back of the chair where he’d slung it when he arrived. “I haven’t had a family in a really long time, Jules. I’m not about to mess this up. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Juliet watched as he walked across the room, pulled open the door and strode through it. When the door closed behind him, she let her head drop back onto the cushion. Either she was doing the right thing letting Cameron into their lives—and she really, really hoped she was—or she was making the biggest mistake of her life.

  Chapter Two

  Cam stepped out of the rental car and squinted up at the house he’d come to see. He’d called a real estate agent about looking at some properties. Jules had said last night that the girls needed someone who would stick around.

  He’d spent his entire adult life traveling from one exotic locale to the next, moving on just when things started to get real. He was good at short-term relationships, sliding in and out of other cultures with ease.

  It was the long-term ones that gave him pause. But that would have to change if he wanted a relationship with his nieces.

  Tires crunched on the driveway behind him and he turned to see a patrol car cruising toward him. Perfect. Just what he wanted to do today: deal with a cop who wanted to bust his chops for no reason.

  A muscular man with short-clipped hair and mirrored aviator glasses stepped out of car. “Cameron Quinn?”

  “That’s me.” He walked closer to the huge cop, eyes on the hand closest to the service weapon still snapped in the guy’s holster. Cam was a black man on someone else’s property and, like it or not, that made him a target. “Can I help you?”

  The hand slowly extended and a smile spread across the cop’s face. “You don’t remember me, do you? Joe Sheehan. We were in the same class in the fourth grade.”

  Cam gripped Joe’s hand, hyperawareness slipping away as he laughed. “Oh, yeah, it’s been a while. I’m not sure you had those biceps in the fourth grade.”

  Joe chuckled. “No, I was pretty hungry in those days. I heard you were back in town. Planning to stay awhile?”

  “Thinking about it. My nieces are here.”

  Joe nodded. “I know. They live with my sister.”

  “I forget just how small small towns are.”

  The cop laughed again. “Yeah, I moved back a couple of years ago and it was definitely an adjustment. Fortunately, there are some advantages to everyone knowing everyone else, especially if you have teenage kids. Ours can’t do anything without their mom and me hearing about it.”

  “I guess that would be an advantage...if you’re the parent.”

  Joe’s rolling laugh bounced off the house behind them as a black sedan pulled into the driveway. The real estate agent, Cam assumed.

  “So, you interested in this place?”

  “I haven’t looked at it yet.” Cam glanced again at the house behind him. “I guess we’ll see.”

  “Well, it’s a beautiful place. Good luck...and welcome back to town, however long you decide to stay.” Joe backed toward his patrol car. “If you’re around on Saturday afternoon, some friends and I play a pickup game of soccer down at the park. And tell my sister I said to bring you to Sunday lunch at the farm.”

  “Thanks, I will.”

  The real estate agent walked up to Cameron and held out a hand. “You must be Mr. Quinn. Hey, Chief.”

  “Marjorie Ann, good to see you. I was just leaving. Nice to see you again, Cam.”

  The agent, an older lady with a short white bob, had a perky smile on her face. “Shall we?”

  “Sure.” Cam followed her through the front door. He’d asked for something near his nieces—which the agent had delivered—but this house was massive.

  “The whole estate’s in perfect condition and it comes with the furnishings. Everything’s included, right down to the dishes in the cabinets. I know you said you have young nieces. There’s even a beautiful nursery and a playroom.” She walked toward a wide bank of windows and pulled open the curtains.

  It was definitely way more house than he needed. When she’d emailed him the possibilities, he’d almost rejected the property without looking at it because of its size, but wow—that view made him glad he’d reconsidered.

  Rolling pastures stretched out behind the house, swirling fog still lingering. A clear blue pond reflected the slightly rosy sky. In that second, he could see two little girls cartwheeling on the lawn. “It’s very nice.”

  The agent’s heels tapped across the wide pine plank floor. Her thick Southern drawl drifted back from the kitchen. “Gourmet eat-in kitchen. Top-of-the-line appliances. Fully stocked with anything you might need, except the food, of course.”

  He followed her into the expansive room. Once again his eyes were drawn to the windows and the large farm table in front of them. A family could sit and linger around that table. “And that building down the hill, that’s the barn?”

  “Yes. There’s a small apartment on the second floor. Any questions so far?”

  “Do you think it would it be possible for me to rent the place until the closing date if I make an acceptable offer?”

  The older lady turned to him, a delighted expression on her face. “Why, yes. I think that could be arranged. I don’t believe the owner has any interest in the property at this point.”

  “Write it up at full price. It’s worth that, probably more.” He could see the dollar signs like stars in her eyes and smothered a laugh. “Let’s try and get this done today. I’ll come by your office in an hour or so to sign the paperwork.”

  That brought an instantaneous furrowed brow. “That timeline’ll be pushing it, but I’ll do my best
. Feel free to look around. I’ll just head back to the office and get started.”

  He walked her out before turning back to the great room to look around. The space had warm wood tones and comfortable furniture. He envisioned a puzzle on the round table in the corner and a cozy fire burning in the fireplace. Laughter echoing off the vaulted ceiling.

  Half-embarrassed, he shook off the thoughts. He couldn’t shake off the longing as easily.

  Cam tried out the word: home.

  He’d been traveling for more years than he could count. A few months here and a few months there. He’d had all kinds of adventures all over the world and people paid him to write about them.

  Was it possible that he could build a life here? Have family nearby? He wouldn’t have considered it until he’d seen the faces of those little girls, seen their beautiful eyes full of sass and darkened with sorrow.

  He wasn’t a family man, but with that first glimpse of his nieces came a rush of love and a desire he’d squashed for years. He wanted roots. He wanted...

  Home.

  * * *

  “So he just knocked on the door and introduced himself?” Juliet’s older sister, Wynn, sat on a stool beside the frosting station in the kitchen of the bakery, her eleven-month-old baby sleeping in a stroller beside them. “Girl, that is gutsy.”

  Juliet looked up from the tray of doughnuts she was filling with pastry cream. “I know. I wanted to hate him, but I couldn’t. It was obvious that he was blown away by the girls.”

  “Of course he was. We’ve all fallen in love with them.”

  Jules paused in her work to glance at her phone. Nothing.

  “It must’ve been hard to come back here after what happened with his mom and stepdad. It was hard for me and I had you guys.” Wynn paused. “Jules, what’s going on with you? I’ve never seen you so tied to your phone. You’ve checked it at least six times since I’ve been sitting here.”

  “It’s the girls’ first day at day care. I’m a nervous wreck. It’s only been a few weeks. What if I’m pushing them too hard?”

  Wynn shrugged, but Jules noticed she glanced over at the stroller, where Addie Jane lay sleeping. “You have a business. You can’t take off forever. Did they fuss, going in?”

  “Not really. Eleanor saw a friend from church and she was excited to play. She’s outgoing like her mom.”

  “See? It’s going to be fine. What about Emma?”

  “Stuck her bottom lip out, but didn’t cry. The ladies in the baby room are sweet. They’ve already sent me one picture of her, playing with blocks on the floor.” Jules slid a doughnut over to Wynn and twisted the pastry bag to keep the pressure on the tip as she continued.

  “Thanks. I’m glad you’re testing the waters before I have to put A.J. in there.” Wynn glanced at the baby again. “She looks angelic when she’s sleeping, doesn’t she?”

  Jules laughed. “Yeah. It’s when she’s awake that’s the problem.”

  “No kidding.” Wynn paused in the act of taking a bite, doughnut in midair. “How are you sleeping?”

  Jules slid the tray of doughnuts into the waiting rack, pulled out a tray of vanilla cupcakes and picked up a different piping bag. “Sleep? I don’t sleep. It’s my first day back at work and already I feel like I’m failing them.”

  “I know this is going to be difficult to hear, Jules, but you’re not perfect—and that’s okay.”

  “I like being good at things.” She paused in making her signature frosting swoops on the cupcakes as Wynn snorted. “Stop it. I’m being serious. Besides, this is important. Glory left the children with me, but she didn’t really give me any advice on how to deal with her mother, who’s drunk texting me all the time, or...whatever.”

  “Whatever, like Glory’s brother showing up?” Wynn licked her finger and grabbed a napkin from the table.

  “Yeah, exactly.”

  “What does he look like?” Wynn tapped on her cell phone’s keyboard.

  “You know the biracial doctor on Grey’s Anatomy? Like that, but with more intense eyes.”

  “Whoa.” Wynn turned the phone around to show Jules the picture she’d pulled up from Cam’s author website.

  “Yep, that’s him.” Jules sighed. “So if the situation’s not awkward enough, I’m also tongue-tied because he’s that good-looking.”

  “That’s so rough.” Wynn’s words were compassionate, but the laughter behind them gave her away.

  Jules rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the sympathy.”

  “Anytime. So have you heard from Garrett about a court date for finalizing the guardianship?”

  “No, but he said when he gets word from the clerk, he’ll let me know as soon as possible.”

  The baby stirred and Wynn jumped up with a panicked look on her face. “Uh-oh. I better get back to the office. I know you’re anxious to get all this finalized, but don’t worry. Garrett knows this stuff inside and out.”

  “I know.” Wynn’s law partner was well-known for his skills in family court. But Jules wouldn’t breathe a sigh of relief until the legal papers were signed by the judge.

  She picked up the piping bag again. She had two more trays of cupcakes to frost and then she was going to check on her babies at preschool. Maybe that made her a helicopter mom, but she didn’t really care. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for those girls.

  * * *

  An hour later, Cam pushed open the door to Take the Cake, which he found on Main Street next door to the Hilltop Café. He hadn’t been in Juliet’s business before, but he was impressed. It had a charming homey feel, with some reclaimed architectural pieces on the walls and a couple of tables that looked like they came out of someone’s barn. However, even those tables were glossy, and the glimmer of glass from the bakery case gave the whole place a polished, intentional look.

  The door from the kitchen swung open and Juliet came into the customer area with Emma in some kind of contraption strapped to her chest. She stopped short when she saw him. A hesitant smile curved her lips, lighting her eyes. “Oh. Hi.”

  He smiled back. “Looks like you have company today.”

  Jules crossed her arms around the sleeping baby. “She... I went by to check on her and the day care workers said she was having a hard time going down for a nap, so I brought her back with me. I know it’s probably not the right thing to do, but she just lost her mom and she’s had so many changes—”

  “Jules, you’re not gonna get any judgment from me. I think it’s fine.”

  “You do? Okay.” She took a deep breath. “Sorry, still new at this mom thing. Can I get you something?”

  “I didn’t have breakfast. How about a cup of coffee and some kind of pastry?”

  “Wintertime, I always have pumpkin bread. I serve it with homemade whipped cream. I also have apple Danish.”

  “Can I have whipped cream with apple Danish?”

  “Now you’re talking.”

  Today she was dressed all in black, which just made her blue eyes look more intense. Her hair was pulled back in a low bun. When she looked up with a smile, he said, “I bought a house.”

  “What? That’s great! Congratulations!”

  “Thanks. I’ve never bought a house before. I mostly live out of suitcases and overnight delivery boxes.” He’d never really thought about how pathetic that sounded.

  “With your job, I guess you haven’t been in one place long enough to settle down before.” She slid a piece of apple Danish from the bakery case onto a plate. A squirt of homemade whipped cream from a stainless steel dispenser and a sprinkle of cinnamon topped it off. It looked amazing. “One second.”

  Jules disappeared into the back and reappeared a few seconds later with a candle, which she stuck into the pastry and lit. “Now. A piece of Danish worthy of your celebration.”

  “Can you join me?”


  She hesitated, glancing behind her at the kitchen, but picked up a bottle of water and eased into the chair across from him, her hand keeping the baby in place.

  Cam blew out the candle with a smile and cut a piece of Danish with his fork, but set it down again. “I didn’t have anyone to tell about my new house...so I came here. Thanks for being happy for me.”

  She smiled, but her lip trembled. “You’re welcome. I wish Glory was here to see this.”

  “Me, too.” He took a bite of his Danish and groaned. “Jules, this is good.”

  “Thanks.” She patted Emma’s little back. “I’m just getting back to work, but luckily I have an awesome assistant who’s been with me awhile. So, you just went out this morning and bought a house?”

  “Technically, I made an offer and they accepted, but yeah.”

  “Where?”

  “Now, that’s the best part. It’s next door.”

  Her eyes widened. “To what?”

  Feeling really satisfied from the apple Danish he’d just inhaled, he grinned at her. “To you. And the girls.”

  “Oh. Wow.” She paused. “The Grayton house?”

  “I’m not sure I heard it called that. Supposedly some country star built a house down here and didn’t realize it would be quite so quiet living in the ‘middle of nowhere,’ as the agent put it.”

  “That’s it. Abbie Grayton built it. I think she was here for about two weeks before she went back to Nashville.”

  “It’s a beautiful house with a pool and a pond. I think I got a little caught up in the idea of taking the girls fishing when they get older.”

  “You fish?”

  He laughed. “I’m an adventure writer. Of course I know how to fish.”

  “When do you move in?”

  “I already did. Or I will, I guess, when I take my suitcase in. I bought the place furnished, and arranged to rent for the month or so until closing.”

  “Wow,” she said again, but she looked a little disconcerted.

  “Jules, when I said I wanted to be a part of the girls’ lives, I meant it. I’ve been on my own a long time. I waited too long to come back, and missed having a relationship with my sister. I don’t want to make the same mistake with the girls.”