Page 51 of Don't Back Down

The moment passed, and she had gotten over herself enough to go through the menu with the girls, when Liz suddenly let out a groan. “Oh crap! Michael’s here, and he’s coming over.”

“Be nice,” Patricia said. “Ladies have disagreements in private, understand?”

Rusty took quick note of the nervous expression on the man’s face and felt sorry for him. She didn’t have to know what had happened between them to know Liz could be a real diva.

“Liz. Mrs. Caldwell. What a nice surprise,” Michael said, and gave Rusty a curious look and a smile, waiting to be introduced, which left Liz with no option without being rude to Rusty in the process.

Liz sighed. “Rusty, this is my friend Michael Devon. His father owns Hotel Devon, on the other side of town. Michael, this is my cousin, Rusty Caldwell. She’s visiting us for a while.”

Rusty gave him her best smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Michael.” And then she saw Cameron walking into the restaurant and froze. “Oh my God. Oh my God!” she said and stood, staring fixedly at the man coming toward their table.

Everyone, including Michael turned around to see what had caused this reaction, and the moment Michael saw Cameron Pope approaching them, he gave Liz a hard glare.

And then Rusty started smiling and walking toward Cameron, and when he suddenly picked her up off her feet and kissed her in front of all the diners like there was no tomorrow, Patricia and Liz audibly gasped.

There they stood in the middle of the restaurant, talking animatedly in low undertones, and they kept touching each other as if reluctant to lose contact. Finally, Rusty turned and pointed toward their table, then grabbed Cameron’s hand and led him over.

“This is the best day ever!” Rusty said. “Everyone, this is Cameron Pope. We met five years ago at a hotel in Virginia. He was shipping out the next day and I was in town for a meeting.”

Cameron put his arm around her shoulders. “We spent every hour I had left together, and her memory is the reason I’m still single.”

Rusty blushed.

Cameron pulled her closer, eyeing the people at the table and waiting to be introduced.

Rusty shook her head. “Where are my manners? Cameron, this is my aunt, Patricia Caldwell, her daughter, Liz, and Liz’s friend Michael Devon. I’m just learning Cameron lives here, so you all may already know each other.”

Cameron shook his head. “I knowwhothey are, but we’ve never met.”

And in that moment, Michael Devon had to accept that his jealousy of Pope was misplaced.

Patricia’s eyes narrowed. “I think you held the door for me the other day as I was coming out of the bakery.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Cameron said, then rubbed the side of his jaw. “My face was still healing, and I hadn’t shaved in a few days.”

“Healing from what?” Rusty asked.

“Just a hunting trip on the mountain,” Cameron said, and then paused. “Forgive me for interrupting your meal. I have a to-go order to pick up and my dog is waiting for me in the Jeep.” He handed Rusty a card. “Call me. We have a lot of catching up to do.”

Rusty slipped it in her pocket. “I used to pray you would make it home, and now I see my prayers were answered. I’ll definitely call you later today, if that’s okay?”

Cameron laughed, and the sound carried across the room, turning heads again.

“Okay? Lady, if you didn’t, I’d come looking for you to find out why.”

Then he kissed her full on the lips again, nodded at Michael and her family, then went up front to pick up his to-go order and walked out.

Rusty sat back down in her chair with a plop. Her cheeks were pink. Her eyes were full of tears, and her voice was shaking. “Oh, Aunt Pat. Do you believe in love at first sight?”

Patricia smiled. “I’ve heard it’s possible.”

Michael put his hand on Liz’s shoulder. “Liz, I miss you. May I call you tonight?”

Liz sighed. Considering she’d just witnessed the death of her last fantasy, it was probably a good idea to pick up where they’d left off.

“I suppose,” she said, and picked up her menu, leaving Michael to walk away on his own. She gave Rusty a long look and then grinned. “Well, Cuz. You’re something of a dark horse, aren’t you?”

Rusty shrugged. “Not really. He’s the only man I ever wanted, and when he disappeared from my life, all I knew was I didn’t want a second best.”

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