Page 72 of Caught in the Middle

However, she didn’t think she’d be selected. She knew her work was of the skill level sought out, but she’d applied on a whim, ready for something new, a change in her life. She thought this could serve it.

Now, as she walked alongside Cam, she felt herself torn. Normally, she’d jump at this opportunity, but there was a small part of her heart that felt as though it walked beside her rather than in her, like she’d given a piece of herself to Cam this week that she didn’t want to take back. She felt like one of those women she rolled her eyes at for choosing love, or lust, or whatever was sprouting here, over their careers. She wasn’t the type, she told herself, she’d never been that type. But what twisted her gut was that she wasn’t sure what staying or going meant for her.

If she turned down the acceptance, replied and said that she was no longer interested, then she’d miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She would be receiving exclusive access to sites that weren’t open to the public, as well as the incredible chance to hear and learn from the experts themselves. However, she’d also get to nurture whatever it was between her and Cam, explore it and see what might happen.

If she accepted it, she had no doubt there would be other doors this would blast open for her, the career boost it would offer, and she’d have the adventure of a lifetime. But was this really what she would still consider an adventure of a lifetime? And did she want the change in trajectory this type of photography would offer her career? Could she and Cam still explore this spark between them if she was halfway across the world for three months and struggling to make their new schedules coincide just to talk?

There was a tug in her heart suggesting that maybe for the first time in her life, she didn’t feel like the road less traveled was the most desirable. Was there anything wrong with choosing to explore a life shared with someone instead of another country?

The thoughts swarmed and spun round and round in her head like a tornado, threatening to make a natural disaster of her mind. Did a decision like this define who she was? Would it define her career path? Her personal life? She sighed.

Cam squeezed her hand to offer comfort. “Do you have to decide right away? Is it something you can think about?”

She rolled her head back, looking at the sky as she squinted. She’d left this part out so far. “They need to know as soon as possible. I’ve not been checking my emails this week, so I haven’t seen it. With the amount of planning and preparation that would go into the trip, they’d like me to fly in for meetings on Monday, which means I would need to get back home first and prepare.”

Cam didn’t know his chest could restrict any further. He nodded in confirmation. “How soon would you leave?”

“I’d fly home tomorrow. Thankfully, my aunt would be able to help watch over my apartment while I’m gone, but there’s still stuff I’d need to get done first.”

Cam stopped and turned toward the ocean, Emma watching him as their hands drifted apart. He gave her a reassuring smile as he saw the worry and stress sketched into her face. He stuck his arm out, pulling her into him as he snaked it around her shoulder.

They stood like that, watching as the waves rolled in, listening to the background noise of the water, birds, and other guests.

He took a deep breath, letting the peacefulness of the moment drift into him so that he might never forget how good she felt this close. Then he said, “I know you don’t need my input or support, but I still want you to know I feel so damn lucky to now know you and I’m proud of you and this job opportunity.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze and felt as she snuggled in closer, wrapping her arm around his waist. “Whatever you want to do, I’m in your corner. If we need to book you a flight tonight, let’s do it. I want to see you happy.”

Emma felt like crying, trying her best to blink back the tears. His words shouldn’t matter so much, but dammit they did. He did. “What about us?” she whispered, scared to know the answer.

He turned his head and pressed a kiss to the top of hers. “I’ll still be here,” he promised. “Not a day will go by that I won't miss you, but it’s only three months. We already live in two different states, what’s a country?”

She laughed at his effort at humor, feeling her heart swell. She straightened up and turned toward him, her arms wrapping around his neck. “I know we have a lot to still figure out between us, even before my news.” She looked into those blue eyes, a sense of home cascading her in a blanket of warmth. “But I don’t want to risk losing you.” She swallowed, feeling vulnerable and insecure with the admission. It was still so new between them, but her gut told her not to ignore the feelings inside her. “Would this be too much?”

Cam lightly rubbed her cheek as he cupped her face. “If any part of you wants to accept the offer, then listen to that, because that’s the only thing you’re at risk of losing.” He leaned in, his lips a lingering promise on hers. “I’m a sure thing, Emma. I’m already yours.”

She wasn’t sure when the tears started or how she got so lucky to have found this man, but she was suddenly overfilled with emotions of gratitude, joy, nerves, fear, uncertainty, and hope. She leaned forward to kiss him, and she swore her heart offered up its thanks as she savored this moment with him.

Chapter 27

“Are you nervous?” Cam asked, looking at Emma sitting beside him as they waited for the rest of their party to join them for breakfast.

She blew out a breath that suggested the answer was yes. “I hope they’ll understand.” Last night, she and Cam decided to forgo a dinner date just the two of them in order to spend the evening with everyone. She didn’t want to ruin their last night together by announcing she needed to fly home the next day.

“Of course they will,” he assured her. “They’ll be excited for you.”

After they reached their room after dinner, they found themselves entangled in each other’s arms again, a whirl of heat and passion taking over. Cam knew part of it was fueled by the knowledge it would be the last time they saw each other in person for three months, and he’d wanted to savor every moment with her. He could tell she had been feeling the same way as they held onto each other late into the night. Once their breathing slowed and their hearts calmed, they finally discussed what all was to come.

“I know, but still,” her voice cut off as she saw people walk in, but it wasn’t them. They’d asked if they could all do breakfast together this morning. “I’m springing my leaving on them out of the blue. I don’t want them to be caught off guard.”

He gave her knee a reassuring squeeze under the table. “We’re doing this together,” Cam said. “It’s not like you’re the only one leaving today and we didn’t even get flights booked until last night. I don’t think they’ll mind that you waited until this morning to tell them.”

Emma tried telling him to stay the final day, but he insisted that it wouldn’t feel right being here without her. He booked the earliest one home he could find, his flight leaving an hour before hers. Whatever money Henry might be out for his unused ticket home on Saturday, he would insist on the man letting him pay it back.

Whenever Emma had brought up him flying to North Carolina with her, he’d wanted to say yes. Unfortunately, he knew she’d need to get on the next flight out the following day and his being there would only make her leaving and packing that much harder. She was hoping to see her aunt before she left, and he knew he’d have a hard time letting her get anything done as he’d be unable to keep his hands off of her.

“Here they come,” she said in a rushed whisper like they might be caught doing something they weren’t supposed to.

Sure enough, Asher and Lauren were headed their way and five minutes later Henry joined them followed by Lulu. Cam could tell they didn’t expect anything was up as they all fell into their normal casual conversations, ranging from the remodeling Henry wanted to do to his home office to the new skincare brand deal Lauren had secured for next month.

As he ate, he could practically feel Emma’s restraint as she waited to break her news. She had insisted on waiting until breakfast was almost over, something Cam swore she must’ve learned from Henry.

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