Page 90 of Caught in the Middle

He took a step inside, not sure if his mind or heart were working. She was here. Emma was seated by herself at the single table, the glow of candlelight making her even more beautiful.

Cam took a deep breath, sliding the door shut behind him. But then he hesitated. Of all the ways he’d thought about seeing her again, the many ideas of what it’d be like or how he’d feel, he had never expected it to be so soon or like this. She started to rise, the flash of worry in her eyes, and like some unseen bond between them, he felt the pull tug him from his stupor.

“I’m sor–” she began at the same time he said, “You’re here.”

Emma now stood, her hands clasped in front of her as she looked at him, as handsome as he’d been a week ago. If only she could take back the way she’d treated him.

She nodded. “I’m here.”

He slowly walked forward. The steps small. “Why?”

She refused to look away. “For you,” she whispered.

“But your job,” he supplied.

She shrugged. “It was just an opportunity. I’ve built a career.”

He stopped a few feet away, his eyes never leaving hers.

“I would rather be here,” Emma added.

Cam looked her over, swallowing as he tried to steady his voice. “I said I would wait.”

She blinked back the tears but not fast enough as one slid down her cheek. “I didn’t want you to.” Her head angled to the side as she added, “And I didn’t want to.”

A second passed as they stared at each other, and then another and another until Cam didn’t know if he was breathing.

“I don’t want you to give up your dreams for me,” he said quietly. “I want to help you achieve them.”

She smiled. “I told you I didn’t care about my name in fancy publications. I want to experience life and do the things I love surrounded by good people.” She took a small step around the table, towards him. “And I want all of that with you if I didn’t push you too far away…”

Cam’s face split into a grin as he was already moving, noticing she met him in the middle as he slung his arms around her and pulled her in. He buried his head into her neck, marveling at how good it felt to have her back in his arms.

Emma was crying into his chest, his embrace like feeling the sun on her skin for the first time, a radiant sensation filling her heart and across her body. She turned her head and his mouth found hers as she snaked a hand up into his hair, kissing him with every ounce of her being. He returned the sentiment, his lips settling in over hers.

It felt right and Emma thought her heart might burst at the joy she was experiencing. He kissed her and kissed her, and she did so back, all that was left unsaid passing through them in those light and passionate moments, each kiss growing deeper and more primal.

Knowing where this was headed if they didn’t regain their self-control, they slowed, Cam pulling back to place a gentle peck on her forehead. “I missed you so damn much,” he admitted.

“I did too.” She hugged him tighter, not wanting to ever let him go. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, then she peered up to look at him. “I’m so sorry. I was hurting and instead of facing myself and dealing with the turmoil of how I treated my family, I took it out on you. I didn’t want you to go,” she said. “I never wanted you to go. I just didn’t want to face myself or you, or anyone for that matter.”

“I know,” he said.

“I’m sorry, Cameron.”

He smiled. “I’m sorry, too.”

She frowned. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“I shouldn’t have left, shouldn’t have let you walk away from me that easily.”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t think I was giving you any other option.”

He didn’t drop his arms from around her. “Then I’m sorry for the plan I had to bombard you at your apartment when you got back.”

She looked at him with surprise. “You were going to show up on my doorstep?”

He stroked her jaw with the back of his finger. “I told you I’d wait. I’d still be here,” he said. “But I didn’t say I would leave you alone.” She smiled that smile he loved so much as she let out a laugh. “Speaking of which,” he glanced around as if realizing just whose restaurant they were in. “How did this all come about?”

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