Page 30 of Cameron

How much more could she take? This was why she’d needed that night alone with Cameron and why she’d let herself sleep with a man she barely knew.

Tears welled in her eyes and she walked down the hall toward the family room needing some time alone. Somehow she had to get through this wedding and not let her mother know how worried she was about the ranch. She feared what the report would show.

With tears filling her eyes, she came around a corner and bumped into Cameron.

“Sam,” he said. She glanced up at him and shook her head. “What’s wrong?”

Taking her hand, he led her up the stairs and into his room. Shutting the door behind them, he sat her on his bed and wrapped his arms around her.

“Everything,” she said. For the next five minutes, she told him about the man who walked into the reception area looking for Edward. And when she confronted Edward, how he planned on shutting down her business.

“I put my inheritance into making this a successful business. Mother is going to be devastated when she learns the truth about Edward. What am I going to do, Cameron? Casey is pulling areport for me and should get it to me tomorrow. I’m terrified of what I’ll learn.”

With him holding her, the tears fell, and he made comforting sounds while letting her cry. What if they lost the ranch? What if she lost everything? Then what would she do?

“Sometimes things don’t work out like we want them to,” he said. “Sometimes life throws us a curve ball and we either have to get out of the way or catch it.”

What was that supposed to mean?

Leaning back, she gazed into his eyes and his lips covered hers. For just a few moments, she was getting solace in his arms. For just a few moments, she was being comforted by this man that she adored.

And yet on the other side of that door, her crazy world waited.

Releasing his mouth, she sighed. “I’ve got to go. The rehearsal dinner is tonight and then tomorrow is the big day.”

“If you need me, you know where to find me,” he said.

Reaching up, she caressed his cheek. “Thank you. The time spent in your arms has been the best part of this week. I’m going to be sad to see you go.”

“Me too,” he said, leaning down and kissing her softly on the lips again. “Me too.”

CHAPTER 11

Cameron watched as Sam walked down the hall and wanted to pound his fists into a nearby wall. He’d wanted to tell her the truth. To confess everything so she would know, but he couldn’t. It would only add more pressure to her and she was under enough stress.

Watching her go through this alone made him so angry at her worthless brother. The report he’d received this morning from Tucker confirmed his worst fears. Edward owed a racketeering firm a lot of money. Nearly half a million dollars and today they’d sent their first henchman to collect.

If he didn’t pay soon, they’d be taking a piece of his hide as retribution.

The thought of Sam having to face the man alone sent fear spiraling through him. This was quickly coming to a head, and any day now, the mob was going to want their money.

In full.

First, Edward would lose a finger. Then they’d break his legs, and finally he’d lose his life. But first, they wanted to see if he would actually pay them.

Cameron had been on his way to Edward’s office when he’d run into Sam and seen her so distressed that he had to stop andcomfort her. The woman had no idea what she was about to face, and he wanted to confess his part in Edward’s scheme, but this wasn’t the time.

With his offer in hand, he went in search of Edward once again. He’d already made arrangements for a car to take him to the airport in the morning.

He was ready to go home.

The bunkhouse that held the guest rooms was next to a big extravagant barn. It was where the rehearsal dinner would be held tonight and even the wedding tomorrow. The office he was searching for was in the big house and he hoped that Sam was in the barn setting up for the rehearsal dinner. He didn’t want her to hear what he had to say to her brother.

The wedding party had all gone to Bozeman today. Yes, he would make an offer, but what Tucker, his cousin, had found out about the man made him despicable.

Edward had a choice. If he took Cameron’s offer, Cameron would insist Edward go into rehab. The man needed help or he would do this again. He’d been doing it since college. It was time for him to get help for his addiction.

Soon enough, Sam would hate him. Soon enough, she wouldn’t want anything to do with him, but he hoped she would at least stay here at the ranch with her mother. There was no way he could throw her and her mother out to the wolves. This was her home.

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