Page 81 of SALT

"I'm not sure that he is. One of the more expensive parts of developing is making the land usable. He had a friend who was gifted land years ago, but he could never do anything with it because of the terrain and the cost of leveling it. After his wife divorced him and left him broke, my dad cleared him a spot on the property his ex-wife didn't want because she deemed it useless, and the rest was history. He started donating his resources when jobs finished early to area men's shelters, and that led to him buying parcels of cheap land, again, cheap because of the developing costs. After making it usable, he'd donate it back to charities that could use it."

"Wow, that's amazing," I say as the bartender slides me my glass. The conversation I had with Orion suddenly hits differently. Why wouldn't Nash want to be part of that? "You must be proud. No interest in taking over the family business?" I ask before sipping my wine.

He shakes his head, and I can tell by the subtle despondence that crosses his face that the topic isn't one he likes to discuss. "Everyone has their why. He has his, and I have mine."

His eyes drag up my body before landing on mine, and a slow smile starts to break across his face. "What?" I question, unable to hold back my own. I find it hard not to smile at anyone who's smiling at me but add in his handsome dimple, and it is impossible.

"What do you say…" He nods toward the dance floor. "Want to take a spin with me? That dress and the way you look tonight deserve to be seen."

"Um…" I slightly turn to Everett and find his conversation has ended, and his eyes are now curiously trained on me. I can't tell if he's waiting for me to make a move or debating making his own. "I…"

Chapter 29

Everett

It's my own fault another man is standing on the other side of my girl asking her to dance. Admittedly, my public displays of affection have been lacking tonight, but not because she's not one hundred percent mine. It's because I haven't wanted to make a spectacle of myself or overshadow this event with the arm candy that's half my age. Sure, Connor gave me his blessing, but he even said that the way we started didn't look right to him in the beginning. He's my son, and even he had a seed of doubt, and that's all it takes. Cameron hasn't seen the ugly side of rumors, the ones that can villainize you, and I want to protect her from that. It's one of the reasons I've felt out of step since we got here. I haven't wanted the world to pop our bubble with their judgment.

The other reason is one I've only ever admitted to her: fear. Everything about Cameron Salt scares me. She's the one thing I don't want to fuck up. So when Nash Atsbury, a guy her age, asks her to dance, the trepidation I've never been able to shake momentarily casts doubt.

"So what do you say?" Nash nudges Cameron's arm in another attempt to pull her away from me, and it's that thought that has me pushing aside my fear; because the fear of losing her is greater than any other.

"I…" she starts, but I cut her off.

"She's with me," I answer for her.

Nash furrows his brow. "Oh, I'm sorry, Everett. Do you mind if I steal Cameron?"

Fucking hell, I internally cringe at the insinuation that he believes I want him to ask me for permission to spin her around the dance floor. The world will continue to see this until I give them something different. My arm circles her waist and pulls her close. The move catches her off guard, and I feel her body tense from my touch before she relaxes into me.

"No, I mean she's with me. If anyone's taking her out there, it's me."

His eyebrows rise and dart between mine and hers, clearly looking for confirmation that he understood me correctly, before he says, "Oh, my apologies." He raps his knuckles on the bar. "Catch you later, Salt."

"Everett, you didn't need to?—"

I spin her around. "Dance with me," I say as I intertwine our fingers. Her eyes lock onto mine, and I know she sees my ask for what it is. I'm ready to tell the world she's my girl in front of all our friends, family, and colleagues. I lead her out to the dance floor when she doesn't argue.

"Ev, you didn't have to do this. I'm happy. I know you care about me."

I clench my jaw, irritated that, with all the truths I've given her, she thinks I simply care.

"Cameron Salt, you make me happier than I ever dreamed possible. No one has ever made me feel the way you do. That's why I'm here with you now. I'm leaving no stone unturned as I collect this moment with you, where no man will ever make the mistake of asking my girl to dance again. Believe it or not, I enjoy being on this side of a jail cell."

She laughs out loud and my heart flutters with the timbre. "You wouldn't. Nash is harmless, and it's not that serious." I tighten my grip around her waist, eliminating any space between us, and she gasps, her eyes flicking around the room where I'm sure we've gained the prying eyes of curious guests, friends, and family.

"Ev, people are definitely looking now."

"Good, that means I'm doing this right."

"People are going to talk."

"Then let's give them something to talk about," I say as I lean my forehead to hers as we dance like no one is watching, eyes locked.

Her tongue slowly moistens her lips before her eyes close, and she says, "I love you, Everett Callahan. I loved you before I had any right to…" She opens her eyes, slowly finding mine once more. I'm not sure what she sees, but it has her suddenly trying to pull away. "I'm sorry."

I capture her hands in mine and place them over my heart. "Slow down, sunshine. You can't tell a man you love him and run away." I pause to pull in a breath of resolve as I let the years I've feared having her like this fall away. I was created to be hers, and that's scary, but now I know my fear was never really fear at all. It was love. Her eyes trail away, and I release her hand to cup her cheek. "Cameron, I need you to hear me. I've never felt love before, at least not the kind shared between lovers. I can't promise I will do it right, but I know there's no one else in the world I want to figure it out with. Never apologize for loving me because I'll never apologize for loving you."

Her bottom lip trembles, and I lean in to kiss away our shared fear of putting our hearts on the line, but before I can cover her perfect mouth with my own, a hand is on my shoulder.

---